All-Acquired 2016 - NL Batters

Given that it's soon after Christmas, what better time to pay attention to which teams have made steps to acquire pieces from their holiday wish lists. Today let's look at position players going to NL teams.

NL CATCHER

Tyler Flowers
Brayan Pena
Christian Bethancourt

Flowers didn't exactly impress during his time with the White Sox, but he's the only acquired catcher who's spent significant time as a starter. Bethancourt probably has the most upside of this group, as he was once considered Atlanta's catcher of the future, but now that he has to contend with Derek Norris and Austin Hedges as San Diego's catcher of the future, his own future is slightly murky.


NL FIRST BASE

John Jaso
Mark Reynolds

One of the most recent acquisitions on this list, the former catcher Jaso is currently slated to form the strong (left-handed) side of a first base platoon for Pittsburgh, despite having logged exactly five innings at the position in his career. Whether he sticks at first in 2016 or beyond, he's the best option for this All-Acquired group, if only because they need Mark Reynolds over at third base.


NL SECOND BASE

Neil Walker
Ben Zobrist
Jedd Gyorko

Positional concerns again lead to Neil Walker getting the nod at the keystone despite the presence of the much more publicized Ben Zobrist, because Zorilla needs to bolster a rather shallow outfield. The switch-hitting Walker is no slouch himself and could be in line for a big free agent contract (and another appearance on this list) next year.


NL THIRD BASE

Mark Reynolds
Gordon Beckham

Reynolds has never been known as a stellar defender, having logged close to -10 dWAR (defensive wins BELOW replacement) according to Baseball Reference. But he did play enough games to qualify at the hot corner in 2015 for St. Louis, and when the only alternative is Gordon Beckham's .607 OPS, he'll have to do for now.


NL SHORTSTOP

Asdrubal Cabrera
Erick Aybar
Jonathan Villar

If this were the AL, or the inevitable future where every team gets a DH, Cabrera would shift over to DH to allow the superior defender Aybar to man shortstop. But since Asdrubal will be counted on to captain the Mets infield in 2016, he's good enough for this group. And if he hits another 15 home runs like he did last year, that will make up for any number of glove related sins.


NL LEFT FIELD

Ben Zobrist
Ender Inciarte
Alejandro De Aza

The versatility of Ben Zobrist is one of the big reasons he received a 4 year, $56 million contract from the Cubs, since they already have a capable infield of the future in place in Addison Russell and Javier Baez. Zorilla is a professional switch hitter who draws plenty of walks (more than he struck out last year), so this contract shouldn't look too bad even as it takes him into his age 38 season.


NL CENTER FIELD

Ender Inciarte
Jon Jay
Peter Bourjos

Inciarte is young enough and promising enough that teams were knocking on Atlanta's door asking about him even just moments after he was acquired by the Braves from Arizona. Bourjos has a superior defensive pedigree and Jay has been in the league longer, but Inciarte is the pure overall choice.


NL RIGHT FIELD

Jason Heyward
Ender Inciarte
Alejandro De Aza

Not only was Heyward signed to the longest contract of any player acquired by an NL team, he was awarded that payday due just as much to his defensive prowess as to his talents with the bat. The acquisition of yet another superstar franchise player by the Cubs (to go with Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo) makes them a force to be reckoned with in the NL Central and could put them in contention for the strongest overall roster in the league.