All 30 MLB Teams' Updated To-Do List Heading into the New Year
In one of the busiest MLB offseasons in recent memory, teams have wasted little time crossing items off of their winter to-do list.
However, as we get set to flip the calendar over to 2015, all 30 teams still have at least a couple of areas to focus on between now and the start of spring training.
Whether it is plugging a roster hole with a free-agent signing, trading off an expensive or unnecessary roster piece or extending a player ahead of free agency, every team has something left to cross off this offseason.
So with that in mind, here is a look at all 30 MLB teams' updated to-do list heading into the new year.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
To-Do List
1. Look for a catching upgrade
2. Add a veteran setup man
Overview
The biggest remaining need for the Arizona Diamondbacks is to find a catcher to replace the departed Miguel Montero, who was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with the $40 million remaining on his contract during the winter meetings.
Tuffy Gosewisch hit .225/.242/.310 with eight doubles and one home run in 129 at-bats as the primary backup last year, while Rule 5 pick Oscar Hernandez and slugging prospect Peter O'Brien are also among the in-house options.
Chances are the D-backs will add someone to be the primary option, with Welington Castillo looking like the top option on the trade market and Nick Hundley and Geovany Soto representing the best of the remaining crop of free agents.
The team could also stand to add another relief arm after ranking 23rd in the league with a 3.92 bullpen ERA last season—and perhaps one with closing experience to serve as an insurance blanket for incumbent Addison Reed.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
To-Do List
1. Try to trade Chris Johnson and B.J. Upton
2. Add starting pitching depth
3. Add a bench bat or two
Overview
Unable to package Chris Johnson or B.J. Upton along with Justin Upton, the Atlanta Braves would still love to unload at least one of those contracts before the offseason is over.
Johnson has a three-year, $23.5 million extension set to take effect this coming season, and after a breakout campaign in 2013, he hit just .263/.292/.361 last year. That being said, the third base market is essentially tapped dry, so the Braves could yet find a taker for the 30-year-old.
Upton will be next to impossible to move, as he has three years and $46.35 million remaining on the ill-advised five-year, $72.25 million contract he was given, and he may wind up simply being released a la Dan Uggla.
The team looks to have a solid five-man rotation with Shelby Miller added to the mix and David Hale set to move to the rotation full-time, but it could use another arm for the sake of depth, as it could run into problems should injury strike again.
After going just 34-for-190 with 10 extra-base hits in pinch-hitting situations last year, the bench again looks like a potential area of weakness, though the market for bench bats is incredibly thin at this point.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a corner outfielder
2. Add a left-handed reliever
Overview
It appears the Baltimore Orioles are set to rely on a bounce-back season from Chris Davis and the returns of Manny Machado and Matt Wieters to offset the losses of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis in free agency this offseason.
As it stands, prospect Christian Walker figures to be the primary first baseman, so the team should still look to add a corner outfield bat. That would allow the Orioles to slide Steve Pearce from right field to first base and give Walker more time to develop.
Nori Aoki is the top remaining option on the free-agent market, and the team also showed interest in Philadelphia Phillies veteran Marlon Byrd during the winter meetings, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
From there, the Orioles figure to be in the market for a left-handed reliever. Andrew Miller has departed in free agency, and Brian Matusz is reportedly on the block, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, as he is projected to earn $2.7 million in arbitration.
Veteran Wesley Wright was signed to a one-year deal, giving the O's another southpaw option, but they could still look to add another low-cost arm to the mix before all is said and done.
Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a legitimate ace
2. Trade Allen Craig
Overview
The Boston Red Sox walked away from the winter meetings with a trio of new starting pitchers, as they traded for Rick Porcello and Wade Miley and signed bounce-back candidate Justin Masterson to a one-year, $9.5 million deal.
Those three are set to join Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly in the starting rotation. But while that has the potential to be a solid group top to bottom, it is clearly lacking the bona fide ace that it takes to make a significant run these days.
James Shields, Max Scherzer and trade candidate Cole Hamels all fit the "ace" mold, and the Red Sox are still very much in the running to land one of those arms before the offseason is over.
There is also still a logjam to be sorted out in the outfield, as Hanley Ramirez, Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Shane Victorino, Daniel Nava, Allen Craig and Jackie Bradley Jr. are all currently in the running for roster spots.
Craig appears to be the most likely player to be moved at this point, as the team has been shopping him, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. Unloading the veteran Victorino to open up the everyday right field spot for Betts would also be nice, but he is still due $13 million in the final year of his contract.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
To-Do List
1. Trade Welington Castillo
2. Add a corner outfielder
3. Try to trade Edwin Jackson
Overview
With Miguel Montero acquired in a trade with the Diamondbacks and veteran David Ross signed to a two-year, $5 million deal this offseason, the writing is on the wall for incumbent catcher Welington Castillo to be traded this offseason.
Castillo, 27, has been the Chicago Cubs' primary catcher the past two seasons, and he was a 4.5 WAR player in 2013 before taking a step backward at the plate this past year.
He still managed a .686 OPS with 19 doubles and 13 home runs, and he hit left-handed pitching to the tune of a .301/.350/.505 line, so the Cubs should be able to find a taker over the next month.
Adding a right-handed-hitting bat with some pop to platoon with Chris Coghlan in left field is one addition the team could still look to make, and Jonny Gomes is one name that has been thrown around as a potential fit.
Finally, finding a way to unload Edwin Jackson would be a major coup, as he is currently set to battle Travis Wood, Jacob Turner, Tsuyoshi Wada and others for the No. 5 starter spot. The right-hander is still owed $26 million over the next two years, and moving him would likely mean eating the majority of that salary.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
To-Do List
1. Extend Jeff Samardzija
2. Trade Dayan Viciedo
Overview
After acquiring Jeff Samardzija from the Oakland Athletics at the winter meetings, the Chicago White Sox were quick to note that they would like for him to be more than just a one-year rental.
"We're going to make every effort in the coming weeks and months to make this a long-term relationship," general manager Rick Hahn told reporters, via Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
The 29-year-old had a 2.99 ERA, 3.20 FIP and 1.065 WHIP in 219.2 innings of work, the second season in a row he has topped the 200-inning mark.
With Adam LaRoche, Melky Cabrera, Zach Duke and David Robertson also signed in free agency, the team is likely finished making significant additions this offseason, but it could still look to unload outfielder Dayan Viciedo.
The 25-year-old has been ousted from the left field job by Cabrera, and while he is a terrible defender with below-average plate discipline, he does provide some intriguing right-handed power with 60 home runs over the past three seasons.
The Seattle Mariners showed some interest but eventually settled on acquiring Justin Ruggiano, so there is no clear landing spot for Viciedo at this point. It's fair to assume he'll be moved somewhere before the offseason is over, though.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a left fielder
2. Add a reliever or two
3. Extend Johnny Cueto
Overview
Despite trading Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon during the winter meetings, the Cincinnati Reds don't appear to be headed for a full-blown fire sale, as they will instead look to bounce back and contend once again in 2015.
That means Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman, Jay Bruce and others won't be going anywhere, and it also means that the team will need to find a viable everyday left fielder. The most obvious target would seem to be Nori Aoki, who would also be a nice fit in the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
From there, the bullpen will need to be the Reds' next area of focus, as they return essentially the same group that ranked 26th in the league with a 4.11 ERA this past season.
Manny Parra is currently their only lefty, aside from Chapman in the closer's role, so the Reds could specifically look to target one of the remaining southpaws.
Finally, the team appears to have until the start of spring training to work out an extension with the aforementioned Cueto, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. He won't come cheap, having emerged as one of the game's best over the past few seasons, but he'll be awfully hard to replace if the Reds can't lock him up.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a reliable No. 2 starter
2. Trade Nick Swisher
3. Open extension talks with Corey Kluber
Overview
The Cleveland Indians starting rotation really rounded into form after the All-Star break last season, as Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and T.J. House all improved significantly behind Cy Young winner Corey Kluber as the season went on.
While all three of those guys will be back once again, relying on one of them to fill the No. 2 spot in the rotation behind Kluber may be asking too much, and the team has yet to make a significant addition to the staff this winter.
Gavin Floyd was added on a one-year deal, but he has had a hard time staying on the field the past few years and will be coming back from elbow surgery.
Speaking of Kluber, the team could open up extension talks with the 28-year-old this winter, as he is set to become arbitration-eligible for the first time next offseason. The late-bloomer will be 33 when he hits free agency for the first time, so he could be more inclined than most pre-arbitration guys to agree to a long-term deal.
Moving Nick Swisher and the $30 million left on his contract over the next two years won't be easy, but he has become expendable with the addition of Brandon Moss, and the team is shopping him, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a starting pitcher
2. Shop Wilin Rosario
3. Add a bullpen arm or two
Overview
The Colorado Rockies actually look to have some upside on the starting pitching side of things, but the rotation is still far from a strength, and they could always stand to add another arm to the mix.
Jorge De La Rosa is back atop the staff, with Jordan Lyles and Tyler Matzek both showing flashes this past season as well. A lot is riding on the continued development of prospects Eddie Butler and Jon Gray, though, as the team is counting on them to emerge as front-line arms.
Beyond pitching, the team's main focus has been shopping catcher Wilin Rosario, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.
Still just 25 years old, Rosario is one of the top power-hitting catchers in the game, with 66 doubles and 62 home runs over the past three years. He's a below-average defender, though, and is better suited as a first baseman/designated hitter type long term.
Addressing a bullpen that ranked 29th with a 4.79 ERA and converted just 24 of 49 save chances last year is another clear area of need, though a return to form from Rex Brothers would certainly help matters.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a bullpen arm or two
2. Explore re-signing Max Scherzer
Overview
The Detroit Tigers have yet to make a significant addition to a bullpen that was a complete disaster last season. And while a full year of Joakim Soria and the return of Bruce Rondon should help, the relief corps still appears to be far from a strength.
Joe Nathan is again penciled into the closer's role, with Soria likely to take over the job if he struggles once again this year. Adding another setup arm to the mix and finding a left-hander to replace Phil Coke are still clear needs before the winter is over, though.
The market for right-hander Max Scherzer continues to be slow to develop, and at this point, there is still at least an outside chance he finds his way back to Detroit before all is said and done.
Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported that the team has had no discussions with David Price about a long-term extension to this point, leaving open the possibility that the Tigers re-sign Scherzer and trade Price.
One of those guys figures to be a long-term piece of the puzzle for the Tigers, but it remains to be seen which one at this point in the offseason.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
To-Do List
1. Look for a third base upgrade
2. Add a low-cost veteran starter
Overview
The Houston Astros have already found a stopgap option at shortstop, signing Jed Lowrie to a three-year deal to serve as a bridge to top prospect Carlos Correa.
Third base could be next.
Prospect Colin Moran is viewed as the long-term answer at the hot corner, but he is still at least a year away, and almost anyone would be an upgrade over what incumbent Matt Dominguez produced last season.
The 25-year-old is a decent defender, and he does have 37 home runs over the past two seasons, but his .586 OPS last season was the second-lowest mark among all qualified players, and his .256 on-base percentage was an absolute disaster.
The team could also look for a cheap veteran starter to help take some pressure off of the young arms at the back of the rotation.
The No. 5 starter spot is currently up for grabs, with top prospect Mike Foltynewicz among the leading candidates for the job. But his next big league start will be his first after pitching out of the bullpen down the stretch last year.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add starting pitching depth
2. Add a left-handed reliever
Overview
The Kansas City Royals have already addressed the three holes that were created by free agency, replacing James Shields, Billy Butler and Nori Aoki with the likes of Edinson Volquez, Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios via free agency.
With that, there are no glaring holes to be filled, but the team is fairly thin on starting pitching behind its projected five-man staff and could be in trouble if injuries become an issue.
Signing someone like Carlos Villanueva or Dustin McGowan who could replace Bruce Chen in the swingman role out of the bullpen would provide some insurance for the starting rotation and also give the Royals another weapon in relief.
The dominance of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland and their ability to get both right and left-handed hitters out makes the Royals' lack of left-handed relievers less of an issue.
However, it's worth nothing that they do have just one southpaw currently projected for a bullpen spot in Tim Collins and no real viable options behind him, so adding another lefty reliever to the mix wouldn't hurt.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a left-handed reliever
2. Explore other second base options
Overview
The Los Angeles Angels have done a nice job adding starting pitching depth this offseason with the acquisitions of Andrew Heaney, Nick Tropeano and Cesar Ramos. They are now prepared should Garrett Richards open the season on the disabled list.
They're still in need of a proven left-handed reliever to join Joe Smith and Huston Street in the late innings, though, and it's something they were without for the bulk of last season.
Brian Matusz is an attractive option on the trade market, and he would represent more of a long-term answer to a problem that has plagued the team for the past few years.
Meanwhile, the second base job is up for grabs after the team traded Howie Kendrick to the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a number of guys expected to compete for the job this spring.
Josh Rutledge, Grant Green, Johnny Giavotella, top prospect Alex Yarbrough and Rule 5 pick Taylor Featherston will all see time at second this spring, but with no clear front-runner, the team should continue to explore other options at the position as well.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a bullpen arm or two
2. Trade Brandon League
3. Add starting pitching depth
Overview
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been as busy as any team in baseball this offseason, as new President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has wasted little time reshaping the roster after coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
Chris Hatcher and Joel Peralta have been added to the bullpen mix, with Brian Wilson, Chris Perez and Jamey Wright gone from last year's relief corps, but the Dodgers could still look to add another reliever or two this offseason.
Especially if they trade Brandon League, who enjoyed a nice bounce-back season in 2014, but is reportedly on the trade market as the team looks to unload some of his $7.5 million salary for the upcoming season. That according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Finally, there is the starting rotation, where the team has decided to take a chance on Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson to fill the No. 4 and No. 5 starter spots.
Those two are both capable of pitching like front-line starters when healthy, but they also have lengthy injury histories to their credit, and the team will need to have reinforcements on hand should they again find their way to the disabled list.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a starting pitcher if Dan Haren retires
2. Extend another core piece
Overview
It's been a busy offseason for the Miami Marlins, starting with the record-setting extension they gave slugger Giancarlo Stanton and including the additions of Dee Gordon, Martin Prado, Michael Morse and Mat Latos to a roster that already had an impressive core of young talent.
Ace Jose Fernandez should be back sometime around midseason, but with veteran Dan Haren expected to retire rather than play for the Marlins after being traded, the team could be in the market for some starting pitching depth.
David Phelps and Andre Rienzo were both added in under-the-radar moves this offseason, so the team has options, but it will be worth kicking the tires on what is left of the pitching market heading into spring training.
Beyond that, the team's biggest focus appears to be on extending more of its core pieces.
Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, Adeiny Hechavarria and Fernandez have also been offered long-term deals, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, and locking up another key piece would be a nice way to cap off a successful offseason.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a bullpen arm or two
2. Add a bench bat
Overview
The only significant free agents for the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason were relievers, with Francisco Rodriguez, Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny all hitting the open market.
Duke signed a three-year deal with the Chicago White Sox, but the other two guys are still free agents, and there is at least a chance they return to Milwaukee before all is said and done. If they are not re-signed, the team will have to do something to address the relief corps.
Jonathan Broxton was acquired from the Reds last August, and he has closer experience and a $9 million salary to match, so the team could use him in the ninth inning rather than paying K-Rod to return.
The bench is the Brewers' other major area of need, as they received little in the way of production from their reserve bats last season.
Gerardo Parra is a solid fourth outfielder and Martin Maldonado is everything you could ask for out of a backup catcher, but the rest of the bench is a weakness, and adding a right-handed-hitting utility infielder with some offensive skills would be nice.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
To-Do List
1. Shop Trevor Plouffe
2. Add starting pitching depth
Overview
The Minnesota Twins look to be a distant fifth in what should be a highly competitive AL Central race this coming season, and while they wait on the continued development of their young talent, it could be a long year in 2015.
With that in mind, the Twins are not likely to make any huge additions this offseason, beyond the two they already made with the signings of Torii Hunter and Ervin Santana.
One player who could be worth dangling on the trade market is third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who is coming off of the best season of his career and is projected to make $4.3 million in arbitration.
Plouffe posted a .751 OPS with 40 doubles and 14 home runs this past season, and with the third base market essentially nonexistent at this point, his value may be even higher. Top prospect Miguel Sano is expected to push Plouffe at some point in 2015, and moving him now could maximize his value.
On the pitching side of things, the team has reportedly shown interest in right-hander Kyle Kendrick, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN.
After posting the worst starter's ERA in baseball each of the past two seasons, any sort of low-cost depth the Twins could add to the rotation would be a solid move.
New York Mets
18 of 30
To-Do List
1. Trade Dillon Gee, Bartolo Colon or Jon Niese
2. Add a left-handed reliever
Overview
With the return of Matt Harvey and the emergence of NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, the New York Mets have the enviable problem of too much starting pitching as things currently stand.
Harvey, deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese, Dillon Gee and Bartolo Colon, as well as prospects Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Rafael Montero, will all be in the mix for rotation spots this spring.
Someone from the trio of Niese, Gee and Colon will likely be traded before the offseason is over, and the team was confident in moving Gee during the winter meetings, according to Jack Curry of YES Network.
The popular area of need to point out with the Mets is still shortstop, but they appear set on the idea of opening the season with Wilmer Flores as the everyday guy, so unless something changes their mind, don't expect an addition there.
The Mets could look to sign a left-handed reliever, though, and the team has cast a wide net in its search for a southpaw, according to Marc Carig of Newsday.
Rule 5 pick Sean Gilmartin is currently the leading candidate to join Josh Edgin as the second left-hander in the bullpen, with Dario Alvarez and Jack Leathersich also on the 40-man roster.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a starting pitcher
2. Add middle infield depth
Overview
With news coming that veteran Hiroki Kuroda is returning to Japan for the upcoming season, the New York Yankees may now be forced to turn their attention to the free-agent pitching market, despite flying under the radar for most of the offseason.
Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia all enter the 2015 season with legitimate injury questions, with Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Capuano currently slated to fill the other two spots in what figures to be a precarious rotation, to say the least.
Whether it is making a run at Max Scherzer and James Shields or aiming lower and going after someone like Aaron Harang or Ryan Vogelsong, the Yankees need to add an arm of some sort before the winter wraps up.
The trade of Martin Prado means some combination of rookies Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela will man second base this coming season, with slick-fielding Brendan Ryan penciled in as the utility infielder.
Adding some sort of middle infield depth, ideally in the form of someone capable of stepping into the everyday job at second base should the young guys struggle, would help provide some stability.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
To-Do List
1. Explore second base options
2. Add starting pitching depth
Overview
The Oakland Athletics have been content receiving little in the way of offensive production at the second base position the past few seasons, with fan favorite Eric Sogard seeing the bulk of the playing time.
Sogard hit .223/.298/.268 with one home run and 22 RBI in 291 at-bats this past season, though he was a 0.6 WAR player thanks to his plus defense.
With utility infielder Nick Punto released, adding another infielder to the mix who could potentially push Sogard for playing time makes sense.
The starting rotation could also use some additional depth, following the departures of Jon Lester and Jason Hammel in free agency and the trade of Jeff Samardzija.
Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir are locked into the top two spots in the rotation, with Jesse Chavez, Drew Pomeranz, Jesse Hahn, Sean Nolin, Kendall Graveman and Chris Bassitt all in the mix for a jobs behind those two.
While that young depth bodes well for the future, adding a proven veteran to fill the No. 3 starter spot could put the team in a better position for the upcoming season, and someone like Aaron Harang likely wouldn't cost much.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
To-Do List
1. Trade Cole Hamels for a significant return
2. Trade Marlon Byrd
3. Add a starting pitcher
Overview
The Philadelphia Phillies are not going to move ace Cole Hamels this offseason unless someone is willing to meet their lofty asking price, and understandably so, as he is one of the best in the game.
However, with the team headed for what could be a lengthy rebuilding process, moving Hamels for a big return is the best-case scenario at this point. If the Phillies could ship him out for three or four impact prospects, that would go a long way in kicking their rebuild into gear.
Ideally, the team would also be able to unload guys like Ryan Howard, Jonathan Papelbon, Cliff Lee and Carlos Ruiz, but the chances of that happening are slim at this point.
One guy who does have some trade value, though, is veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd.
With the position player market down to the bare bones at this point, teams looking for a corner outfielder with some pop are left with Byrd as perhaps their best option.
The 37-year-old is due $8 million in 2015, with an $8 million option for 2016 that is likely to vest. That's a reasonable price to pay for right-handed power these days and should mean a decent prospect in return if the team can find a deal to its liking.
As far as staying at least competitive for the upcoming season, adding a starting pitcher to the mix to help replace the departed duo of A.J. Burnett and Kyle Kendrick would go a long way.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
To-Do List
1. Sign Jung-ho Kang
2. Add a starting pitcher
Overview
The Pittsburgh Pirates won the negotiating rights for Korean shortstop Jung-ho Kang on Dec. 22 with a $5 million bid, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, and they will now have 30 days to come to terms on a contract.
The 27-year-old hit .356/.459/.739 with 40 home runs and 117 RBI for the Nexon Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization last year, and while there are legitimate questions about how his game will translate to the MLB level, it's a chance worth taking, and the Pirates' top focus right now should be coming to terms on a contract with Kang.
The move to re-sign ace Francisco Liriano during the winter meetings was one of the best of the offseason, as the three-year, $39 million deal looks like a solid value compared to some of the other contracts that have been handed out this winter.
However, with Edinson Volquez departing, the team is currently set to rely on the trio of A.J. Burnett, Vance Worley and Jeff Locke to round out the rotation.
Burnett was terrible in Philadelphia last year, while Worley and Locke could both be headed for some regression, so adding another capable, low-cost arm to the mix would give the Pirates some needed insurance.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
To-Do List
1. Trade Seth Smith, Will Venable and/or Carlos Quentin
2. Explore middle infield options
Overview
The San Diego Padres have completely transformed their offense this offseason with the additions of Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Derek Norris and Will Middlebrooks. Adding those three outfielders to the mix has left the team with a glut of outfield options, and Seth Smith, Carlos Quentin and Will Venable could all be on the move in the days and weeks to come.
Sliding one of those guys to first base, where Yonder Alonso has underwhelmed since coming to San Diego, is an option, with Smith the most likely candidate to be retained. Either way, expect at least a couple of those guys to be gone by Opening Day.
As for remaining additions, the middle infield now looks like the Padres' biggest weakness, with the disappointing Jedd Gyorko set to man second base and some combination of Alexi Amarista and Clint Barmes at shortstop.
The team has reportedly shown interest in Japanese infielder Takashi Toritani, according to Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star, who also has an offer on the table from the Toronto Blue Jays.
It remains to be seen whether he will be able to stick at shortstop or need to shift to second base, but adding him to the middle infield mix would give the team more options and a potential leadoff hitter if he can duplicate the success he has enjoyed in Japan.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a starting pitcher
2. Explore corner outfield options
Overview
The San Francisco Giants have done little to improve this offseason, as re-signing Jake Peavy and Sergio Romo rank as their only significant moves.
Even with Peavy back in the fold, the rotation looks like a serious question mark behind ace Madison Bumgarner, and the team's interest in Jon Lester could mean it will also make a run at signing Max Scherzer or James Shields to bolster the staff.
Otherwise, it will be Bumgarner, Peavy, Tim Hudson, Tim Lincecum and Yusmeiro Petit making up the rotation to open the season, with Matt Cain in the mix as well, depending on how quickly he recovers from elbow surgery. That's a lot of question marks for a team looking to defend its title.
The loss of Pablo Sandoval was addressed by trading for Casey McGehee, but the Giants could still look to add some offense in left field, where Michael Morse provided a nice boost last season on a one-year deal.
Taking a chance on free agent Colby Rasmus or trading in-division for Seth Smith may be the team's best options at this point. Otherwise, it will be some combination of Gregor Blanco, Travis Ishikawa and Juan Perez manning left field in 2015.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a left-handed hitter to platoon in right field
2. Add a left-handed reliever
Overview
The Seattle Mariners finally landed the right-handed slugger that had been atop their wish list for years when they signed Nelson Cruz to a four-year deal, but there was still a hole to fill in right field, as Cruz will be serving as the everyday DH.
Justin Ruggiano was acquired from the Chicago Cubs after hitting .281/.337/.429 in 224 at-bats as a platoon player last season. That included a .305/.333/.512 line against left-handed pitching, and the best way to utilize him will be to keep him in a part-time role.
That means finding a left-handed-hitting platoon partner to split time with him in right field, with Seth Smith looking like the best option out there at the moment.
The team is also in the market for a left-handed reliever as it looks to shore up what was the best bullpen in baseball last season with a 2.59 ERA.
Joe Beimel served as the second lefty alongside Charlie Furbush last season, and he is still a candidate to be re-signed. Otherwise, Rule 5 selection David Rollins looks like the leading candidate to win the job, unless the team goes after one of the other remaining free agents in Phil Coke, Neal Cotts, Joe Thatcher or Tom Gorzelanny.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add starting pitching depth
2. Open extension talks with Lance Lynn and Jason Heyward
Overview
The St. Louis Cardinals have already addressed their most obvious areas of need, upgrading in right field, shoring up the bullpen and adding a right-handed power bat for the bench.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported during the winter meetings that the team was planning to shop for a bargain No. 5 starter or long reliever type in January to serve as a backup plan to projected No. 5 starter Carlos Martinez.
It won't be a flashy signing, but someone like Scott Baker, Paul Maholm, Carlos Villanueva or Dustin McGowan could be who the Cardinals wind up landing before spring training kicks off.
Beyond that, their biggest remaining focus will be on retaining their own in-house talent, most notably starter Lance Lynn and newly acquired Jason Heyward.
Lynn is projected to earn $5.5 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility, and the Cardinals have a history of buying out players' arbitration years with team-friendly extensions. Lynn could be next, though he won't come cheap after a career year in 2014.
Heyward, who was acquired in a trade with the Braves, is entering the final year of his contract, and after the team gave up Shelby Miller to land him, it will no doubt be looking to make a long-term commitment to the right fielder.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
To-Do List
1. Shop Ben Zobrist
2. Add a low-cost bat at DH
3. Open extension talks with Alex Cobb
Overview
After trading David Price at the deadline last year and Wil Myers this offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays have their work cut out for them if they hope to contend in the AL East, though they still have one of the better rotations in the league.
Regardless of whether they view themselves as contenders, it would be wise to shop second baseman Ben Zobrist, who is set to make $7.5 million in the final year of his contract. Chances are that Zobrist won't be re-signed at the end of the season, so expect him to be moved at some point, whether it is this offseason or at the trade deadline.
His offensive skills and defensive versatility make him the kind of player every team would love to have, and if someone is willing to offer up a nice return for him now, the Rays might as well pull the trigger.
Adding any sort of offense they can find at a reasonable price would be nice, specifically at the DH spot, where a group of players led by David DeJesus hit a combined .229/.315/.389 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI last year.
Kicking off extension talks with right-hander Alex Cobb would also be a productive move, and given the team's history of early extensions to the likes of Chris Archer, Matt Moore, Wade Davis, James Shields and others, there is some precedent there.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a left fielder
2. Add a starting pitcher
3. Add a left-handed reliever
Overview
Simply avoiding the disabled list should make the Texas Rangers a significantly improved team in 2015, as guys like Prince Fielder, Shin-Soo Choo and Derek Holland essentially contributed nothing to the cause last season.
That being said, there are still some holes to fill, most notably in left field, where Alex Rios has departed after his option was declined to begin the offseason. Incumbents Jake Smolinski and Michael Choice both have some upside, but adding a more established player would help shore up the offense.
The starting rotation has one of the best one-two punches around in Yu Darvish and Holland, but it is a question mark beyond that, with Colby Lewis, Ross Detwiler and Nick Tepesch currently set to fill out the staff.
Adding someone like Aaron Harang, who is a proven innings eater and is coming off a solid season, to serve as the No. 3 starter could help the Rangers avoid another revolving- door situation like the one they endured last season.
Finally, they will need to replace left-hander Neal Cotts in the bullpen after he made 131 appearances over the past two seasons. Robbie Ross is currently the only southpaw projected to earn a spot in the bullpen.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
To-Do List
1. Upgrade at second base
2. Add a bullpen arm or two
Overview
The Toronto Blue Jays have made some significant additions this offseason, headlined by Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin, but they have still not addressed the revolving door that is the second base position.
As of now, some combination of Ryan Goins, Maicer Izturis and Steve Tolleson would once again man the keystone. The position produced a combined .247/.295/.340 line with seven home runs and 48 RBI this past year.
Japanese infielder Takashi Toritani and free agents Rickie Weeks, Asdrubal Cabrera and Stephen Drew look like the best options at this point, with the team showing strong interest in Toritani, according to Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star.
The bullpen is also a clear area of need, as the Blue Jays ranked 25th in the league with a 4.09 ERA last season and lost Casey Janssen, Sergio Santos and Dustin McGowan to free agency.
Re-signing Janssen is still a possibility, while Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano and John Axford are also options to close on the free-agent market. Otherwise, rookie Aaron Sanchez may wind up handling ninth-inning duties—a risky proposition for a team looking to contend.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
To-Do List
1. Add a second baseman
2. Extend Jordan Zimmermann
Overview
With Anthony Rendon making the full-time move to third base and Ryan Zimmerman shifting across the diamond to first base, the biggest area of need for the Washington Nationals this offseason is at second base.
Danny Espinosa is likely out of chances after hitting .200/.255/.326 with 169 strikeouts in 491 at-bats over the past two seasons, and the team has no other real in-house options.
Asdrubal Cabrera manned the position down the stretch last season after being acquired at the deadline. He is still a candidate to be re-signed and is perhaps the best option available at this point.
The team also continues to deal with the upcoming free agency of Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister and Ian Desmond, who are all set to hit the open market next winter.
Zimmermann has quietly emerged as one of the best pitchers in the game. He has expressed an interest to stay in Washington, according to Chase Hughes of CSN Washington, though only for fair-market value.
Extending him now would be one less thing the team has to worry about heading into spring training. If the Nationals don't extend him, they risk losing him for nothing when they could have traded him for a hefty return.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
