1 Perfect Remaining Offseason Target for Each of MLB's 30 Teams
With undoubtedly the busiest winter meetings in recent memory now in the rearview, to-do lists are dwindling around the league, but there is still a lot of work to be done by all 30 teams between now and the start of spring training.
Max Scherzer and James Shields headline the remaining crop of free-agent starters, with Edinson Volquez, Jake Peavy, Aaron Harang and buy-low options like Brandon Morrow, Brett Anderson and Chad Billingsley also available.
Sergio Romo, Casey Janssen, Rafael Soriano, Francisco Rodriguez and Jason Grilli highlight what is left of the relief pitchers, with a number of lower-level arms likely to find new homes near the end of the offseason.
The position player market is significantly thinner, with Chase Headley, Michael Morse, Alex Rios, Nori Aoki, Colby Rasmus, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jed Lowrie and Stephen Drew representing the best of the bunch.
Finally, there is the trade market, where Cole Hamels and Justin Upton are the most talked-about names, but several others could be on the move in the weeks to come.
So, with all of that said, here is a look at the one perfect remaining offseason target for all 30 teams as they look to shore up the biggest remaining hole on their roster.
Baltimore Orioles: RF Justin Upton
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The Baltimore Orioles have their work cut out for them as they look to replace the production of departed free agents Nelson Cruz (166 H, 40 HR, 108 RBI) and Nick Markakis (177 H, 14 HR, 50 RBI).
It's a task made harder by the fact that the market for bats moved quickly this offseason, and there is not much left in the way of impact hitters on the free-agent market.
Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Marlon Byrd, who had 25 home runs and 85 RBI last year, was one option who was discussed at the winter meetings, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Remaining free agents Michael Morse and Alex Rios could also be relatively cheap options.
However, if the team really wants to make a splash in an effort to keep pace with significantly improved teams in Boston and Toronto, a trade for Justin Upton may be the way to go.
The asking price for Upton will likely start with right-hander Kevin Gausman, and it's unlikely the Orioles will be willing to give up the 23-year-old. If the two sides can work something out, though, Upton would go a long way in offsetting the loss of Cruz in the cleanup spot.
Boston Red Sox: SP James Shields
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After missing out on Jon Lester, the Boston Red Sox moved quickly to their backup plans during the winter meetings, adding a trio of arms to their rotation.
Rick Porcello and Wade Miley were both acquired via trade, while bounce-back candidate Justin Masterson was added on a one-year deal in free agency. Those three join Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly to form what would be the five-man staff if the season started today.
While that is a decent collection of arms top to bottom, the staff is clearly lacking a bona fide ace, and as a result, the Red Sox are likely not finished pursuing arms.
A trade for Cole Hamels is certainly one option, but it remains to be seen if the Red Sox will be willing to meet the significant asking price for the Phillies ace. Instead, the preferred route may be a run at right-hander James Shields, who could likely be had for something in the neighborhood of a five-year, $100 million deal.
The market for Shields has yet to really take shape, but he will no doubt come significantly cheaper than Max Scherzer and will likely make a decision sooner than the Scott Boras client as well.
New York Yankees: SP Edinson Volquez
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A potential reunion with third baseman Chase Headley is still on the table for the New York Yankees, but that could hurt the team's chances of improving the rotation, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
"The Yankees remained engaged. But the way I hear it, as their budget is currently set, if the Yankees pony up what it will take to sign Headley, then they will have to bottom-feed for starting pitching," Sherman wrote.
With Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda all representing varying levels of injury risk, and some combination of David Phelps, Bryan Mitchell, Esmil Rogers and Chase Whitley currently slated to fill the final two spots, signing another starter would be the smarter allocation of resources.
A run at Scherzer or Shields still seems unlikely, and much of the mid-level pitching market has disappeared, but Edinson Volquez is one quality arm that would fit the budget.
The 31-year-old was 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA in a bounce-back season with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, and he is said to be seeking a two-year, $20 million deal, according to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
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Tampa Bay Rays: 1B Michael Morse
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The Tampa Bay Rays' focus at the beginning of the offseason was on trimming payroll, as they traded Jeremy Hellickson, Sean Rodriguez and Joel Peralta to save roughly $8.4 million.
After finishing 27th in the league in runs scored last season at 3.78 just runs per game, offense is the obvious area of need. Evan Longoria (22 HR, 91 RBI) was the only player with more than 12 home runs and 69 RBI in 2014, and while a healthy Wil Myers would give the Rays a second legitimate power threat, they could still stand to add some thump.
The designated hitter spot produced only a .229/.315/.389 line with 16 home runs and 66 RBI this past season, with David DeJesus and Matt Joyce seeing the bulk of the at-bats.
Michael Morse would give the Rays a more traditional power bat to slot at the DH spot, and he would fit the budget on something like a two-year, $18 million-$20 million deal.
Toronto Blue Jays: 2B Takashi Toritani
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Second base has been a revolving door for the Toronto Blue Jays since the days of Aaron Hill, and last season, the position produced just a .247/.295/.340 line with seven home runs and 48 RBI.
Munenori Kawasaki (49 starts), Ryan Goins (45), Brett Lawrie (26), Steven Tolleson (25), Maicer Izturis (10), Chris Getz (6) and Jonathan Diaz (1) all made at least one start at the position.
The free-agent market is essentially Rickie Weeks at this point, with veteran shortstops Stephen Drew, Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera also options if they are willing to slide over to the keystone.
However, the team could think outside the box with a run at longtime Hanshin Tigers shortstop Takashi Toritani. The 33-year-old hit .313/.406/.415 with eight home runs and 73 RBI last season, and he is a career .285/.372/.412 hitter over 11 seasons in the Japanese Central League.
He has also not missed a single inning over the last 10 seasons, and he turned in a strong showing in the last World Baseball Classic, going 4-for-15 with a double, triple and home run.
The Blue Jays have shown interest in the Scott Boras client, according to Shi Davidi of the Sportsnet.ca, as he continues to weigh whether to make the jump to the States.
Chicago White Sox: RP Neal Cotts
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No team has done more to improve this offseason than the Chicago White Sox, as they have added Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche, David Robertson and Zach Duke to the mix already this offseason.
As a result, there are not many glaring holes left on the roster, but a second left-handed reliever to pair with Duke would be a nice pickup.
There are a handful of solid options still available, including Joe Beimel, Phil Coke, Craig Breslow, Wesley Wright, Joe Thatcher and Tom Gorzelanny. However, the most intriguing southpaw for the South Siders could be Neal Cotts, who pitched for the team from 2003-06 and was a key piece of the pen during their run to the World Series in 2005.
Cotts, 34, posted a 4.32 ERA in 73 appearances for the Texas Rangers last season, but his 3.58 FIP suggests he threw the ball better than his numbers may indicate.
Cleveland Indians: SP Brett Anderson
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The Cleveland Indians rotation really rounded into form during the second half of last season, but relying on Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar to be the No. 2 starter this coming season could be a risky proposition.
Finding a proven No. 2 guy to slot behind Corey Kluber looked like a clear need heading into the offseason, but as the mid-level starting pitching market has dried up, the team's option have become limited, as the Indians don't have a ton of money to spend.
Instead, they could opt to go the reclamation project route, something that paid huge dividends in 2013 when they took a chance on Scott Kazmir.
This time around, it's another left-hander who might have the best chance of rebounding with a big season in the oft-injured Brett Anderson.
Anderson has made just 62 appearances (51 starts) over the past five seasons, and a fractured index finger and bulging disk in his back limited him to just eight starts last season. However, he was 1-3 with a 2.91 ERA (2.99 FIP) in 43.1 innings of work when he was on the field, and the front-line stuff is still there when he's healthy.
It likely won't take more than an incentive-laden one-year deal to sign the 26-year-old, and the upside is that No. 2 starter the team has been searching for.
Detroit Tigers: RP Brian Matusz
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While they moved quickly to re-sign Victor Martinez and have also added slugger Yoenis Cespedes to the mix offensively, the Detroit Tigers have yet to address the bullpen that was a disaster all season, right up to their postseason implosion.
A full season of Joakim Soria and the return of Bruce Rondon will no doubt help, but relying on the incumbent crop of relief arms is risky, to say the least, for a team legitimately looking to contend for a title once again.
Adding a proven left-hander to the mix to pair with Soria in the setup role would be ideal, which is why a run at Andrew Miller made so much sense, but that didn't happen.
The Baltimore Orioles are willing to listen to trade offers for southpaw Brian Matusz, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. The 27-year-old former No. 4 overall pick has been terrific since moving to the bullpen down the stretch in 2012, and he posted a 3.48 ERA and 9.2 K/9 in 63 appearances last season.
With the Orioles looking for an outfield bat, a package built around Tyler Collins or Steven Moya could be enough to get a deal done.
Kansas City Royals: RF Alex Rios
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The Kansas City Royals entered the winter meetings looking for a starting pitcher (to replace James Shields), right fielder (to replace Nori Aoki) and designated hitter (to replace Billy Butler). The signing of Kendrys Morales to a two-year, $17 million deal filled the DH spot, but the team is still looking to cross the remaining two items off of its wish list.
Melky Cabrera was the team's top target to fill the outfield slot, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, but he signed a three-year deal with the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.
Heyman lists Colby Rasmus, Alex Rios and re-signing Aoki as options that are also on the team's radar, and for the right price, Rios could be a nice fit. The 33-year-old hit a solid .280/.311/.398 for the Texas Rangers last season, but he managed just four long balls in 492 at-bats, thanks to an abnormally low 2.9 percent HR/FB rate (via FanGraphs).
With some positive regression, he could be a nice right-handed-hitting power source to join left-handed hitters Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas in the middle of the lineup.
Minnesota Twins: SP Kyle Kendrick
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The Minnesota Twins have boasted the worst starting rotation in baseball each of the past two seasons, posting a 5.26 ERA in 2013 and improving only slightly to 5.06 this past season, despite a handful of additions to the staff.
Phil Hughes enjoyed a terrific first season with the team, finishing seventh in AL Cy Young voting, and the team recently signed Ervin Santana to a four-year, $54 million deal at the winter meetings. Behind those two, the group of Kyle Gibson, Ricky Nolasco, Tommy Milone, Mike Pelfrey, Trevor May and Logan Darnell is currently set to compete for the final three spots.
Adding another low-cost veteran to that mix definitely wouldn't hurt, and an innings-eater like Kyle Kendrick could be a nice insurance policy.
The two sides met at the winter meetings, prior to the team signing Santana, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN.
Kendrick, 30, was 10-13 with a 4.61 ERA (4.57 FIP) last season while throwing a career-high 199 innings. He has gone 74-68 with a 4.42 ERA in eight big league seasons, all with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Houston Astros: SS Jed Lowrie
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After addressing the bullpen with the signings of Pat Neshek and Luke Gregerson, the biggest focus for the Houston Astros the rest of the way will be on potential upgrades to the left side of the infield. If the season started today, it would likely be Jonathan Villar (.209/.267/.354) at shortstop and Matt Dominguez (.215/.256/.330) at third base, despite rough numbers from both players in 2014.
The club will only be interested in stopgap options, though, with top prospects Carlos Correa and Colin Moran looking like the future on the left side.
Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reported that the Astros were pursuing veteran Jed Lowrie heading into the winter meetings, and he could be an option at either shortstop or third base. Lowrie hit .249/.321/.355 with 29 doubles and six home runs for the Oakland Athletics last season. The 30-year-old played for the Astros in 2012, before being traded to the A's for slugger Chris Carter.
Los Angeles Angels: RP Tom Gorzelanny
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The Los Angeles Angels have already added starting pitching depth this offseason, and they have a number of in-house options to replace Howie Kendrick at second base, so those two areas appear to be set. They could still use a left-handed late-inning reliever, though, even after acquiring swingman Cesar Ramos from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this winter.
Joe Beimel, Phil Coke, Craig Breslow, Wesley Wright, Neal Cotts, Joe Thatcher and Tom Gorzelanny are all potential options the team could explore, and they should all come relatively cheap on one-year deals.
Gorzelanny was the best of the bunch last year, posting a 0.86 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 23 appearances. He was sidelined until mid-June while recovering from shoulder surgery but returned strong and stayed healthy once he finally got going.
Oakland Athletics: IF Stephen Drew
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The Oakland Athletics may be content heading into the season with a middle infield duo of Eric Sogard and recently acquired Marcus Semien, but at the very least, they would be wise to add some depth to the mix in case either player struggles.
It was a rough 2014 season for Stephen Drew, who signed late after sitting in qualifying-offer limbo, then went on to hit just .162/.237/.299 in 271 at-bats. However, with a normal offseason and a full spring training, he could be a nice bounce-back candidate at a significantly lower price this time around.
Drew played second base for the first time last season and held his own defensively, and that versatility certainly adds to his value here in the later stages of his career.
Signing Drew to back up both second base and shortstop, and giving him regular playing time at both spots, could help the A's get the most out of their current middle infield situation.
Seattle Mariners: RF Marlon Byrd
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The Seattle Mariners finally added the right-handed power bat they were searching for when they signed Nelson Cruz to a four-year deal last week, but they still have a hole to fill in right field.
Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune lists Dayan Viciedo, Alex Rios and Seth Smith as potential second-tier targets the Mariners could pursue after missing out on their top target, Melky Cabrera.
One name that has not popped up is Marlon Byrd, but he may be the best fit for a team looking to add more right-handed power to the mix.
The Phillies finally took the first step toward rebuilding when they traded Jimmy Rollins and Antonio Bastardo during the winter meetings, and Byrd could be the next piece shipped out.
The 37-year-old posted a .757 OPS last season with 28 doubles and 25 home runs, and he is fairly reasonably priced, with an $8 million salary this year and an $8 million option for 2016 that will vest with 463 plate appearances this coming year.
On top of his power, Byrd is a positive clubhouse presence and a decent defender in right field, with six defensive runs saved and a 3.5 UZR/150, according to FanGraphs.
Texas Rangers: SP Aaron Harang
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Despite re-signing veteran Colby Lewis and trading for Ross Detwiler in one of the more underrated moves of the winter meetings, the Texas Rangers could still use another veteran arm in the rotation.
The one-two punch of Yu Darvish and Derek Holland is as good as any in the American League, provided both guys are healthy, but the trio of Lewis, Detwiler and Nick Tepesch is shaky at best to round out the rotation.
With the team also in need of a corner outfield bat, a run at someone like Shields or Scherzer is probably out of the question, but a mid-level arm like Aaron Harang could be a nice fit. Harang was 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA (3.57 FIP) on a one-year, $1 million deal with the Atlanta Braves last season, eclipsing the 200-inning mark for the first time since 2007.
That last number is significant when you consider that only one Rangers pitcher (Lewis, 170.1) topped 150 innings pitched last season, as the team was hit by a myriad of injuries.
Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a two-year, $14 million deal for Harang, and at that price, the 36-year-old would be a nice addition for the Rangers.
Atlanta Braves: SP Kevin Gausman
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At this point, the Atlanta Braves appear to be trapped in that dangerous gray area between retooling and rebuilding, so it's unclear just how active they will be in free agency. Instead, their top priority right now may be getting the best possible return for upcoming free agent Justin Upton on the trade market.
With the Mariners unwilling to part with Taijuan Walker or James Paxton in a trade, the best-case scenario now may be a trade with the Orioles.
After losing Nelson Cruz and his 40 home runs to free agency, the Orioles are in desperate need of a power bat and a replacement for fellow free agent Nick Markakis in right field.
Upton would give them the power bat they need to slot behind Adam Jones in the cleanup spot, and it could help them keep pace in a rapidly improving AL East division that has seen the Blue Jays and Red Sox both get significantly better this offseason.
Keeping with the idea that the Orioles want a high-end young arm in return, Kevin Gausman would be the likely target as a return for the Braves. The 23-year-old was 7-7 with a 3.57 ERA (3.41 FIP) in 20 starts last season, and he may only be scratching the surface of his potential.
Now, do I actually think the Orioles are going to part with Gausman? No, but regarding guys the Braves may be targeting in return for Upton, he has to be atop the list.
Miami Marlins: 1B Justin Morneau
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Having found their second baseman with the acquisition of Dee Gordon, the Miami Marlins' biggest remaining priority this offseason is to upgrade at first base. Ideally, the team would be able to find a left-handed power bat to slot behind Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup, and "a deal could come at any time," according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Incumbent first baseman Garrett Jones hit .246/.309/.411 with 33 doubles, 15 home runs and 53 RBI this past season after signing a two-year, $7.75 million deal in free agency.
The team was discussing a possible trade with the Colorado Rockies for Justin Morneau at the winter meetings, though negotiations eventually broke off, according to Tom Singer of MLB.com. Revisiting those talks may be the best option for the Marlins.
It's unlikely that Morneau will duplicate the .319 average that won him the NL batting title, but he is still a solid left-handed bat with power, and his $15.75 million salary over the next two years is very reasonable.
New York Mets: SS Jung-Ho Kang
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Korean Baseball Organization shortstop Jung-Ho Kang is set to be posted Monday, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Kang is one of the more intriguing players to come along on the international market in recent years, as he is coming off of a monster season for the Nexon Heroes.
The 27-year-old hit .354/.457/.733 with 36 doubles, 39 home runs and 115 RBI in 497 plate appearances, ranking second in the league in homers and total bases (304) and first in OPS (1.189).
Despite those numbers, he has his skeptics, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe:
"There is still some pushback from scouts who have seen him play on whether he translates to major league baseball. Some of the alarms include the leg kick in his stance that’s very pronounced and lasts deep into his swing. There also has always been skepticism over his ability to play shortstop in the majors.
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No position player has ever made the jump from the offensively driven KBO to the majors leagues, according to Karl Friedhoff of The Wall Street Journal.
The Oakland A's, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets have been named as three teams with interest in Kang, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, while others could be involved as well.
For the right price, he could be a good flier for the Mets, who are set to enter the season with Wilmer Flores as their primary shortstop.
Philadelphia Phillies: C Blake Swihart
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As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to shop essentially everyone on their roster, ace Cole Hamels remains the most intriguing trade chip on the team—and perhaps in all of baseball. The 30-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in the game, and his $114 million salary over the next five years is not the sticking point it may have been a few years ago.
Even after adding a trio of arms during the winter meetings, the Red Sox are still in need of an ace, and Jon Morosi of Fox Sports feels the two sides could still be a fit.
Mookie Betts is likely untouchable, but a package built around catching prospect Blake Swihart and including one or two of the team's many impressive young arms could be enough to get a deal done.
Swihart, 22, hit .293/.341/.469 with 26 doubles and 13 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last season, and he has moved quickly since being taken out of high school in the first round of the 2011 draft.
The Phillies don't have much in the way of organizational catching depth, and Swihart would become the heir to 35-year-old incumbent Carlos Ruiz, who is signed through the 2016 season.
Washington Nationals: 2B Asdrubal Cabrera
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Anthony Rendon opened last season as the Washington Nationals' starting second baseman, but with Ryan Zimmerman moving over to first base full time, Rendon is now firmly entrenched at his natural position of third base.
That leaves strikeout machine Danny Espinosa as the current front-runner to be the Opening Day second baseman, despite the fact that he hit just .219/.283/.351 with 122 strikeouts in 333 at-bats in 2014.
Asdrubal Cabrera was acquired at the deadline last season to man second base for the stretch run, and the team has shown some interest in re-signing him, according to a tweet from James Wagner of The Washington Post.
The 29-year-old hit .229/.312/.389 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 49 games for the Nationals last year, and he has topped 30 doubles and 14 home runs in each of the past four seasons.
Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a three-year, $27 million deal for Cabrera, and considering the Nationals have no clear long-term option at the position, locking the 29-year-old up for three years could be a good move.
Chicago Cubs: LF Jonny Gomes
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As new manager Joe Maddon put it, the Chicago Cubs "won the baseball lottery" when they signed free agent Jon Lester, as he gives them the staff ace they needed to take a big step forward in the rebuilding process.
Jason Hammel was also re-signed on a two-year deal, and those two will join Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and someone from the group of Travis Wood, Tsuyoshi Wada and Jacob Turner to make up what should be a solid starting rotation.
Two-time All-Star Miguel Montero was added as an upgrade at the catcher position, and he should help the team's young pitchers and also provide an offensive boost over incumbent Welington Castillo.
The top remaining target for the team appears to be a left fielder with some pop, and according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs were pursuing Jonny Gomes following the Lester signing.
Gomes hit just .234/.327/.330 with eight doubles and six home runs in 273 at-bats last season, but he is a terrific clubhouse guy and would bring a winning track record to a team with very little in the way of postseason experience.
Cincinnati Reds: LF Alex Rios
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Despite moving Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon during the winter meetings, the Cincinnati Reds are not moving into rebuilding mode and will now look to upgrade in other areas.
"We're in a better position to start looking at some other possibilities to improve our club—the hitter we're looking for and some bullpen depth," general manager Walt Jocketty told reporters following the trades.
That hitter the Reds are seeking will likely be a left fielder, as the position is currently a hole after Ryan Ludwick had his option declined and Chris Heisey was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The best remaining free-agent option is 33-year-old Alex Rios, and his price tag should be low enough that the team would still have room to add a bullpen arm or two.
As noted earlier, Rios hit a solid .280/.311/.398 for the Texas Rangers last season, but he managed just four long balls in 492 at-bats, thanks to an abnormally low 2.9 percent HR/FB rate (via FanGraphs). Moving to the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park could help him regain his power stroke, and he would give the team a right-handed bat to split up Joey Votto and Jay Bruce in the middle of the order.
Milwaukee Brewers: RP Francisco Rodriguez
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The one-year, $3.25 million deal the Milwaukee Brewers gave Francisco Rodriguez last offseason received little fanfare at the time, but it wound up being one of the better bargains of the winter. The 32-year-old nailed down his first 15 save chances and finished the season 44-of-49 on save chances with a 3.04 ERA and 0.985 WHIP.
That will likely mean a decent raise and perhaps a multiyear deal this time around, and outside of perhaps Sergio Romo, K-Rod looks like the best remaining bullpen arm on the free-agent market.
The Brewers acquired Jonathan Broxton from the Reds in August, and he's being paid like a closer, with a $9 million salary for 2015, so it remains to be seen whether re-signing Rodriguez is a priority for the team.
Something will need to be done in the bullpen, though, with Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny joining Rodriguez in free agency. And without any other glaring needs, it might be worth spending the money it takes to re-sign the veteran closer.
Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Edinson Volquez
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The Pittsburgh Pirates were wise to make re-signing ace Francisco Liriano their top priority at the winter meetings, and by getting out in front of the Lester signing, it looks like they may have gotten a bargain with a three-year, $39 million deal.
With Liriano signed, the team could turn its attention to bringing back Edinson Volquez, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
However, team president Frank Coonelly did not sound as optimistic that he would be returning, according to Tom Singer of MLB.com.
If the two-year, $20 million asking price reported by Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press is correct, it would be money well spent for the Pirates as they look to keep pace in the NL Central despite the loss of catcher Russell Martin.
Volquez was signed to a one-year, $5 million deal last offseason, and he followed in the footsteps of Liriano and enjoyed a career renaissance in Pittsburgh. He was 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA, earning the start in the NL Wild Card Game.
St. Louis Cardinals: SP Chris Capuano
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With Jason Heyward acquired to upgrade the right field spot, relievers Matt Belisle and Jordan Walden added to the bullpen mix and Mark Reynolds signed as a right-handed-hitting bench bat, the St. Louis Cardinals really don't have any glaring areas of need remaining.
According to a tweet from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the team will go bargain-hunting in January to add some starting pitching depth as an insurance policy for projected No. 5 starter Carlos Martinez
It's hard to predict who will still be looking for work with spring training fast approaching, but one arm that could make sense is 36-year-old Chris Capuano.
The veteran posted a 4.55 ERA in 28 relief appearances for the Red Sox last season, then went 2-3 with a 4.25 ERA (3.85 FIP) in 12 starts down the stretch for the Yankees.
That ability to serve as a swingman adds to his value, and with the Cardinals' left-handed bullpen options consisting of Randy Choate, Sam Freeman, Kevin Siegrist and perhaps Marco Gonzales, adding another southpaw to the mix certainly wouldn't hurt.
Arizona Diamondbacks: C Geovany Soto
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Trading Miguel Montero will save the Arizona Diamondbacks a total of $40 million over the next three seasons, but it has also left them with a glaring hole behind the plate for the upcoming season.
Last season's primary backup, Tuffy Gosewisch (129 AB, .225/.242/.310), is probably best suited remaining in a backup role, and prospect Peter O'Brien is still best suited as a first baseman or corner outfielder. Rule 5 pick Oscar Hernandez is also an option, and he is viewed as a plus defender, but he has yet to play above Single-A, where he hit just .249/.301/.401 last season with 32 extra-base hits in 362 at-bats.
That likely means signing someone from a group of remaining free agents that includes Nick Hundley, A.J. Pierzynski, David Ross and Geovany Soto. Soto probably has the most upside of that group, as he posted a .794 OPS with nine home runs in 163 at-bats in 2013, before an injury-plagued 2014 season in which he was limited to just 24 games.
Something like a one-year, $3 million deal would likely get him signed, and if anyone is going to be this year's Kurt Suzuki, it's Soto.
Colorado Rockies: SP Brandon Morrow
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There is certainly some upside in the Colorado Rockies rotation, as Jordan Lyles and Tyler Matzek both showed flashes last season and top prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler should arrive for good at some point during the upcoming season.
Jorge De La Rosa was also re-signed to front the staff, and a healthy Jhoulys Chacin could be in for a comeback season.
That said, this team should still be exploring any and all options to improve its pitching staff, as that has been the weakness of the organization since its inception in 1993.
Brandon Morrow is one of the more intriguing buy-low options on the market this winter, and he could be a great fit in Colorado. His 50.5 percent ground-ball rate last season was likely a mirage, but his 38.3 percent career mark is still solid for a power pitcher, via FanGraphs. He has also done a nice job keeping the ball in the ballpark throughout his career, with a 1.0 HR/9 mark.
If he struggles as a starter, his stuff profiles well in relief, and he could join the long list of pitchers who have enjoyed a career rebirth in the bullpen.
Los Angeles Dodgers: RP Sergio Romo
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Andrew Friedman was wheeling and dealing at the winter meetings, as the Los Angeles Dodgers' new president of baseball operations has wasted little time reshaping a team that has been unable to advance past the Cardinals the past two seasons.
The Dodgers have a new middle infield in Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins, and the outfield logjam has been solved, with Matt Kemp traded to the San Diego Padres, but little has been done to address the bullpen.
After a run on relievers at the winter meetings, the top remaining bullpen arm appears to be Sergio Romo, and the Dodgers have seen plenty of him over the years when he pitched for the San Francisco Giants.
Romo was removed from the closer's role at midseason last year, but he rebounded nicely to post a 0.93 ERA over his final 23 appearances of the season as a setup man.
With Kenley Jansen firmly entrenched in the ninth inning, that's the role he would serve with the Dodgers, alongside J.P Howell, Pedro Baez, Brandon League, Brian Wilson and newly acquired Joel Peralta.
Stealing him away from the Giants, who are interested in re-signing him, would be an added bonus. Romo has a 2.28 career ERA and 10.1 K/9 in 50 career appearances against the Dodgers, so he'd be more than welcome on the other side of that rivalry.
San Diego Padres: 1B/OF Michael Morse
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The San Diego Padres found the impact bat and star power they were in desperate need of with the acquisition of Matt Kemp, but they could still stand to add another piece to the offense.
After ranking dead last in team batting average (.226), OPS (.634) and runs per game (3.30) last season, it's hard to imagine them not improving offensively, and if the pitching staff can match its 2014 performance the Padres could be surprise contenders.
The obvious place to upgrade at this point would be first base, where incumbent Yonder Alonso has been a disappointment and is coming off of an injury-plagued season in which he hit .240/.285/.397 in 267 at-bats.
Michael Morse is probably the best power bat left on the free-agent market, and while he played primarily left field for the Giants last season, he is best suited at first base. The 32-year-old is a career .271/.308/.521 hitter at Petco Park with three doubles and three home runs in 48 at-bats, and he showed last season that he has enough raw power to produce even in a big ballpark.
The Padres have employed a number of first baseman/outfielder types over the past few seasons, but Morse could be one who actually works out and provides the offense with a much-needed boost.
San Francisco Giants: 3B Chase Headley
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Chase Headley finds himself in the enviable position of being the best, and really only, remaining option at third base with a number of teams looking to upgrade at the hot corner.
The 30-year-old hit .243/.328/.372 with 20 doubles and 13 home runs last season while also leading all third basemen with a 28.0 UZR/150 and ranking third with 13 defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.
After failing to re-sign Pablo Sandoval, third base is a clear hole for the San Francisco Giants, with Joaquin Arias, Matt Duffy and Chris Dominguez making up the incumbent options, unless they were to consider sliding Joe Panik over to third.
The team clearly has money to spend after making a serious run at Lester, and while pitching is still an area of need, re-signing someone like Jake Peavy and using the rest of the money to sign Headley could be the smartest move.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the Giants did not want to go to a fourth year with Headley, with Buster Olney of ESPN reporting that Headley has a four-year, $65 million offer from someone.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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