While the news of top free agent starting pitcher Max Scherzer agreeing to a 7-year, $210 million deal dominated the baseball world on Monday, two relatively important trades were made involving NL Central teams, one involving a team looking to restock and another from a team quickly rising towards a potential playoff contending team.

Brewers send Gallardo to Rangers:

After multiple reports that a deal between the Brewers and Rangers were close to a trade involving starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo came in Sunday night, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation was first to report Monday afternoon that a trade involving Gallardo had been finalized. Yahoo! Sports Jeff Passan was one of many sources to report the other side of the deal, as infielder Luis Sardinas and prospects Corey Knebel (RHP) and 18-year-old Marcos Diplan (RHP) were headed to Milwaukee in return for Gallardo. Jon Morosi of Fox Sports added that the Rangers are receiving $4 million in cash from the Brewers in the trade. The Brewers confirmed the trade early Monday evening:

The #Brewers have acquired RHP Corey Knebel, INF Luis Sardinas and RHP Marcos Diplan from Texas for RHP Yovani Gallardo and cash.

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 19, 2015

The 28-year-old Gallardo, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, posted a 8-11 record with a 3.51 ERA during the 2014 season with the Brewers. This past season marked the first time in the last six seasons that Gallardo, who has pitched more than 180 innings in six of his eight big league seasons, failed to win at least ten games. Set to become a free agent after the 2015 season, Gallardo will look to provide some stability to a Texas Rangers team that used 64 different players and finished with a 67-95 record in 2014. Gallardo has lodged the sixth-most innings in the majors over the last six years. Across his eight MLB seasons, all of which were with with the Brewers, Gallardo has complied an 89-64 record with a 3.69 ERA.

Sardinas, 21, made his major league debut with the Rangers in 2014, batting .261 with six doubles and five stolen bases in 43 games while spending time at shortstop, second base, and third base. In Milwaukee, Sardinas could serve as a platoon partner for Scooter Gannett at second base.

The 23-year-old Knebel, who was just traded to the Rangers this past summer, also made his major-league debut in 2014, striking out 11 in 8 2/3 innings. Knebel posted a 2.18 ERA over 45 1/3 innings last season for the Rangers’ AAA affiliate.

As mentioned, Diplan, who posted a 7-2 record with a 1.54 ERA in the Dominican Summer League in 2014, is just 18 years old. The Rangers signed Diplan for $1.3 million in July 2013.

Cubs acquire Fowler from Astros:

The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros both officially announced on Monday that the Cubs have acquired center fielder Dexter Fowler from the Astros in exchange for right-handed pitcher Dan Straily and infielder Luis Valbuena.

Fowler, 28, spent one year with the Astros after being acquired from the Rockies in a December 2013 trade, hitting .276 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases. Fowler, who owns a .378 OBP over the last three seasons, is likely to slide into the leadoff spot and handle center field for the club and provide some veteran leadership and stability to a group of young Cubs outfielders, including Jorge Soler and Arismendy Alcantara.

Six months after the Cubs acquired him in a July 2014 trade with the White Sox, Straily is on the move again. The 26-year-old struggled in 2014, posting a 6.75 ERA in 52 big-league innings, but the former top-prospect had success with the Athletics as recently as 2013. Straily is likely to serve as rotation depth in Houston behind starters Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Scott Feldman, Brett Oberholtzer, and Brad Peacock.

The 29-year-old Valbuena has spent the last three seasons with the Cubs, spending time primarily at second and third base. After hitting .249 with a career best 16 home runs in 2014, Valbuena will likely supplant Matt Dominguez as the Astros everyday third baseman. He has a career .229 average over seven MLB seasons with the Mariners, Indians, and Cubs.

Valbuena’s departure helps open up the door for top prospect Kris Bryant, who will likely take over the hot corner for the Cubs sometime early in the season.

Here’s a look at some reactions on the trade and what it could mean for both teams headed into 2015 and beyond from some MLB reporters:
Cubs/Astros Trade Rxns

Feature image used under Creative Commons from Eric Enfermero. No changes made. Image license.