Plugging Each NL East Team's Biggest Hole This Offseason
From top to bottom, the NL East is ripe with riveting offseason storylines. I will be taking over as a virtual general manager over the next few slides in hopes of addressing each team's most glaring weakness with a potential offseason move.
The Washington Nationals remain the clear favorites in the division, but questions linger after another postseason disappointment. Would another dependable bullpen arm strengthen their cause?
The New York Mets and Miami Marlins seem to be trending toward a return to playoff contention on the backs of elite young talent. Both clubs may be one transaction away from busting though the proverbial glass ceiling.
The Mets boast one of the more impressive young pitching staffs in the game, headlined by Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard and NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom.
Meanwhile, Miami recently locked up Giancarlo Stanton for a small fortune and remains diligent in its pursuit of inking Jose Fernandez, Christian Yelich, Adeiny Hechavarria and Marcell Ozuna to long-term deals, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
However, not everything is rosy in the division, as both the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies seem to be headed for rebuilding projects.
The Braves have already unloaded Jason Heyward, while Justin Upton and Evan Gattis remain probable trade targets. Atlanta's young core is still intact, but new GM John Hart seems determined to reshape the club this offseason.
Philadelphia desperately needs to renovate its roster as well, and it may start with a trade of ace Cole Hamels.
So my fellow fantasy front-office mates, let's get to work and see if we can improve each team before the start of the 2015 MLB season.
Philadelphia Phillies: Time to Rebuild, Starting with the Trade of Cole Hamels
1 of 5
Most Telling Stats
- The Phillies finished 2015 at 73-89 and in the bottom 10 in runs, average, OBP, slugging percentage, home runs, ERA, WHIP and batting average against.
- The club's average age is the sixth-highest in MLB.
- Out of MLB.com's top 100 prospects, only three Philadelphia youngsters made the list.
Biggest Need
From 2007-11, the Phillies represented the pinnacle of National League baseball. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins led a vaunted offense, while Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels produced exemplary performances at the front end of the rotation.
But age and the usual injuries that accompany it have caught up to Philly, as the club finished in the cellar of the division this season. Howard, Utley and Rollins all remain, but each player has regressed as he has entered the latter stages of his career.
Ruben Amaro Jr. finds himself in the dreaded spot of needing to strip down his side and start rebuilding.
Yet the longtime GM remains hesitant to ship away beloved club stalwarts. He's demanding a king's ransom for the likes of Rollins, according to Jason Stark of ESPN, and desires a similar return for closer Jonathan Papelbon, via Bill Baer at Hardball Talk.
Even more alarming is the lack of an official offer for Cuban free-agent slugger Yasmany Tomas. The club was believed to be a player in the Tomas sweepstakes only for fans to eventually discover that the Phillies didn't even offer the 24-year-old talent, according to Matt Gelb at Philly.com.
With an aging roster and a depleted farm system, it's time for Amaro Jr. to fully commit to the rebuilding process.
Plugging the Hole
That brings us to Cole Hamels.
Since his debut in 2006, here's how the former World Series MVP stacks up against other MLB aces with at least 1000 career innings:
- Seventh in innings pitched
- 10th in K/9
- Eighth in ERA
- 10th in WAR
Hamels maintained his status as one of the best arms in the game in 2014, tossing over 200 innings for the sixth time. His 2.46 ERA was the lowest of his career, while he fanned more than eight batters per nine innings.
Yes, the Phillies resigned him in 2013 to a six-year deal, but that only makes him a more attractive trade candidate. At just 30, the southpaw is in the midst of his prime and would likely net elite prospects in a return.
Stark believes that Hamels may be moved this offseason or at the 2015 trade deadline. The Cubs and Red Sox seem like obvious fits due to deep farm systems and ready-to-go MLB talent.
Dealing Hamels would signify that Amaro Jr. and the Phillies will have finally bought into the rebuilding process. The lefty ace is the grand prize of the Philadelphia roster. Trading him for prospects could become the catalyst for a Philly resurgence.
Miami Marlins: Find a First Baseman and Veteran Starting Pitcher
2 of 5
Most Telling Stats
- Miami first basemen ranked 24th in WAR, 22nd in HR, 22nd in OBP and 23rd in isolated power.
- The club ranked 20th in ERA, with Henderson Alvarez the only starter to post an under-3.00 ERA.
Biggest Need
The Marlins contended well into the second half of the 2014 season, despite losing Jose Fernandez to an elbow injury early in the year.
Giancarlo Stanton displayed his game-changing talent with a monster year, and other youngsters like Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna provided immense contributions to the club's surprising run.
The Fish have already been busy this offseason, signing Stanton to a 13-year, $325 million deal. The contract represents the largest of all time in North American team sports. Inking Stanton proves the Marlins mean business, but they aren't quite where they need to be yet.
Outside of Stanton and the aforementioned Ozuna, the Marlins lacked a legitimate power threat. The club ranked 23rd in runs scored, 21st in homers and 28th in slugging percentage.
The biggest hole is at first base, where Garrett Jones performed admirably in 2014. Yet that production at the position will not be enough to get the club over the hump.
On the mound, Fernandez's recovery from Tommy John remains the top priority. Still, Miami needs to acquire a veteran starter to complement its staff. But with a plethora of reliable big league arms available in free agency, that shouldn't be too difficult.
Plugging the Hole
Bill Baer at Hardball Talk believes that names like Evan Gattis, Chris Davis, Allen Craig and Brandon Moss have been tossed around as options in Miami.
The Braves, Athletics and Red Sox have all made it known they'll be busy this offseason, while the O's have likely been turned off by Davis' lack of production and suspension. So these names make sense.
The left-handed power that Moss could provide the Marlins lineup would do wonders for the protection of Stanton. The A's appear to be active players throughout the winter, and the left-handed slugger could likely be acquired at a reasonable cost.
As mentioned above, the Marlins shouldn't have trouble finding a proven starter. Francisco Liriano would fit nicely into a rotation that is heavy on right-handers.
Atlanta Braves: Trade Justin Upton for Young Pitching Talent
3 of 5
Most Telling Stats
- The Braves trotted out one of the most anemic offenses in MLB in 2014. The club ranked 29th in runs, 26th in average and 24th in OBP, and it struck out at the fourth-highest percentage in the league.
- Despite a litany of injuries to the staff, Atlanta ranked fifth in ERA and first in quality starts.
- The departed Jason Heyward led the Braves in WAR last season.
Biggest Need
What a difference a year makes.
After winning the NL East in 2013, Frank Wren used the following offseason to fortify a young core of players with an eye on a new ballpark opening in 2017.
A year later, the Braves are coming off a losing season, and Wren is out as GM. John Hart has since taken over and made an instant splash, trading hometown hero Jason Heyward to the Cardinals for Shelby Miller.
Hart has made it known that the club is interested in young starting pitching and that nearly every player on the roster is available.
Atlanta is building a nice stable of arms in Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, Mike Minor and Miller. Although Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy each pose gigantic questions about his ability to stay healthy, both are effective starters.
Even Gattis is likely staying put, but it's becoming more and more apparent that Justin Upton may be playing elsewhere in 2015. The younger (and better) of the team's Upton brothers, Justin is entering the last year of his contract on the heels of a monster 2014. He led the Braves in home runs and RBIs.
The Braves aren't likely to re-sign Upton at the end of the season, so keeping the 27-year-old slugger would be foolish. If a team believes it can extend him beyond 2015, then his right-handed power could bring back elite prospects.
Plugging the Hole
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that "Upton's trade market is said to be hot." The Mariners, Rangers and other AL teams have been linked to the outfielder this offseason.
Dealing Upton away will greatly diminish the Braves' ability to compete in 2015 but will pay dividends down the road. The trade of Heyward hints that Upton's days in a Braves uniform are numbered. For Atlanta to return to its winning ways, this is a move that needs to be made.
In the short term, Atlanta can replace Upton with a high on-base outfielder such as Nori Aoki. The free-agent outfielder boasts nearly identical career strikeout and walk percentages. His contact-driven approach would provide the club with something it desperately needs in its lineup.
.png?w=256)
New York Mets: Acquire a Shortstop Through a Trade
4 of 5
Most Telling Stats
- Mets shortstops ranked 27th in runs, 27th in steals, 22nd in average and 20th in OPS.
- Overall, New York ranked in the bottom 10 in runs, average, OBP and slugging.
- Ruben Tejada hit .237 and only saved three defensive runs in 2014.
Biggest Need
The Mets continue to inch closer and closer to a return to the postseason, evidenced by a second-place finish in the division this season.
New York has assembled quite the collection of young arm talent. Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom have the makings of a fantastic rotation for many years to come.
It's easy to understand the excitement in Queens, but how can the Mets take that next step?
Bolstering a weak offense would help. David Wright, Lucas Duda and Daniel Murphy remain the only dependable sticks in the Mets lineup. The signing of Michael Cuddyer should give the offense some punch, but other additions still need to be made.
Shortstop is the biggest hole for the Mets, as Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores both struggled through 2014. Mike Puma of the New York Post thinks that the club will attempt to upgrade via trade, as opposed to signing one of the mediocre players available in free agency.
Plugging the Hole
Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew, Jed Lowrie. Those names aren't going to inspire a desperate Mets fanbase.
However, there are some intriguing trade options out there for New York to mull.
Elvis Andrus of the Texas Rangers always seems to be in the middle of trade talks. Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox and Xander Bogaerts of the Boston Red Sox are two other names that might be available for the right price.
Fellow B/R writer Jacob Schafer mentions the Chicago Cubs as the most likely trade partner for the Mets, due to an abundance of shortstops in the organization.
Starlin Castro would fit in well in New York. The 24-year-old has endured some bumps in the road while in the Windy City, so the Cubs may be willing to part with the talented youngster—especially with Javier Baez and Addison Russell waiting in the wings.
With the Mets' loaded rotation seemingly ready for the big leagues, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post has reported that the Mets are dangling veteran starters Bartolo Colon, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee as trade bait. The Cubs are in need of veteran arms, so a deal for Castro may be easier than it appears.
Washington Nationals: Add to an Already Fantastic Bullpen
5 of 5
Most Telling Stats
- The Nats finished in the top 10 in ERA, quality starts and WHIP.
- Washington finished fourth in bullpen ERA and WAR and allowed the fewest HR/9 in MLB.
Biggest Need
Washington ran away with the NL East, winning the division by a mere 17 games in 2014.
As has been the case in recent years, the Nationals were believed to be one of the more complete teams in baseball. Another early postseason exit against the Giants likely frustrated the fanbase but shouldn't diminish the potential of the roster.
Of course, the pride of the team is its pitching staff, headlined by Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister. Zimmermann, Fister and Tanner Roark all posted ERAs under 3.00, while Strasburg fanned more than 10 hitters per nine innings.
Offensively, Washington scored plenty of runs to support its outstanding staff. Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond were bright spots, and Bryce Harper finished the season in superstar form.
With no alarming weaknesses, the Nats can enjoy the luxury of improving an already dynamite bullpen, led by Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen.
Yet there are plenty of available options to improve the steady unit.
Plugging the Hole
James Wagner of The Washington Post discussed various relievers that could potentially fit with the Nationals, including Francisco Rodriguez, Sergio Romo and Pat Neshek.
An under-the-radar option for the club could be Luke Gregerson.
As I wrote in a recent article, Gregerson is one of the more reliable late-inning pitchers in baseball. The right-hander is a ground-ball specialist, producing ground-ball rates of over 45 percent in every season of his career. That includes a 52.2 percent mark in 2014.
Gregerson has been primarily used as setup man during his time in the majors. His acquisition would allow Storen to continue to develop into the closer's role without the pressure of being replaced by someone with closing experience.
Bullpens are important during the regular season but even more crucial in the postseason. A three-headed monster of Gregerson, Clippard and Storen could give the Nats that extra something that's been missing in recent trips to October.
.png?w=480)
