Free Agency, Trade Ideas to Fix All 30 MLB Teams' Biggest Weakness
The postseason is still in full swing, but it's never too early too look ahead to what might be in the cards for each team this coming offseason.
This year's free-agent class is headlined by a foursome of starting pitchers in Zack Greinke, David Price, Jordan Zimmermann and Johnny Cueto, and there are plus arms behind them as well, including Mike Leake, Scott Kazmir, John Lackey, Yovani Gallardo, Wei-Yin Chen, Brett Anderson, Jeff Samardzija, Marco Estrada and Ian Kennedy.
Darren O'Day, Tyler Clippard and Joakim Soria front a relatively thin crop of elite relievers, but there are plenty of lower-level options with Antonio Bastardo and Tony Sipp ranking as the top left-handers.
On the offensive side of things, Yoenis Cespedes, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Chris Davis and Alex Gordon highlight a position-player class that also has its fair share of impact players.
The trade market is harder to predict, but the Cincinnati Reds will likely push hard to deal Aroldis Chapman, and they could sell further depending on how aggressive they decide to be. The Cleveland Indians (Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar) and San Diego Padres (Tyson Ross, James Shields and Andrew Cashner) could both deal at least one starter.
Carlos Gonzalez and Sonny Gray will also see their names swirl in rumors, though the asking price will be high.
As more rumors surface and teams make their offseason plans known, it will be easier to peg who each team is targeting.
Until then, here is a rundown of the biggest weakness on all 30 teams and what each team could do to address it this offseason.
Baltimore Orioles: Corner Outfield
1 of 30
Top Target
Colby Rasmus
Other Potential Targets
Gerardo Parra, Alex Rios, Chris Young, Franklin Gutierrez, Chris Young, Jay Bruce (trade)
Overview
The Baltimore Orioles will likely make an attempt at re-signing Chris Davis, but he figures to wind up elsewhere with a deal north of $100 million.
Despite the likelihood of Davis walking, the team's biggest need does not immediately become first base.
Prospect Christian Walker has little left to prove in the minors, and he has the tools to be a solid everyday first baseman.
The starting rotation could also be pointed to as perhaps the biggest weakness of the team, but after missing on their last big free-agent signing in Ubaldo Jimenez, they may not be quick to make a move there either.
Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman, Miguel Gonzalez and Jimenez figure to fill four rotation spots next year, with Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson both candidates for the No. 5 starter job.
So with all of that in mind, signing a corner outfielder looks like the team's most likely move to address a need, as both positions around center fielder Adam Jones were something of a revolving door in 2015.
Don't expect them to spend big on someone like Justin Upton or Alex Gordon, but they could help replace some of the power lost by the departure of Davis with someone such as Colby Rasmus.
He's earned a raise over the one-year, $8 million deal he signed last offseason after posting a .789 OPS with 23 doubles and 25 home runs and then putting together an impressive postseason.
Boston Red Sox: Front-Line Starting Pitching
2 of 30
Top Target
Jordan Zimmermann
Other Potential Targets
Johnny Cueto, Zack Greinke, David Price, Sonny Gray (trade), Tyson Ross (trade), James Shields (trade), Carlos Carrasco (trade), Danny Salazar (trade)
Overview
The Boston Red Sox won't make the same mistake they did last offseason when they failed to add a front-line starter and entered the year hoping to contend with a rotation full of No. 5 starters.
Technically, they could go without signing a pitcher and the rotation would be set.
Veterans Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Clay Buchholz ($13 million option) should all be back alongside rookie standouts Eduardo Rodriguez and Henry Owens.
However, that's probably not a staff that is going allow them to climb back into contention in the AL East, so instead expect them to target the top arms on the free agent market.
Jordan Zimmermann may be the best fit at this point, but if they wind up striking out on the Big Four starters, they have the assets to pull off a big trade as well.
Sonny Gray would be an intriguing name if he's dangled by the Oakland Athletics, but if not, a deal with the San Diego Padres or Cleveland Indians, who are both expected to be shopping starters, could land them the front-line arm they're looking for.
New York Yankees: Depth and Versatility
3 of 30
Top Target
Ben Zobrist
Other Potential Targets
Sean Rodriguez, Martin Prado (trade)
Overview
Many will be quick to point to the starting rotation as the biggest need for the New York Yankees, but it's unlikely the team makes a splash signing on a pitcher.
Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Luis Severino and Nathan Eovaldi give them a solid four in the rotation as long as everyone can get and stay healthy.
CC Sabathia is still under contract for $25 million next season with a $25 million vesting option for 2017, while Ivan Nova, Chase Whitley, Bryan Mitchell and Adam Warren are also options to fill that No. 5 starter role.
The team will likely add at least one piece to the bullpen as it looks for a right-handed reliever to help ease the workload of Dellin Betances, but that's hardly the team's biggest weakness.
Instead, overall position player depth seems like the most pressing area of need to address, as the aging lineup may not be able to duplicate the relatively healthy season it posted in 2015.
That makes the versatile Ben Zobrist an ideal target.
He could be penciled in as the team's Opening Day second baseman but then move around from there based on what injuries pop up, as he's capable of playing shortstop, third base and both corner outfield positions.
He'd be temporarily blocking prospect Rob Refsnyder, but there's no reason the team can't sign Zobrist and still give Refsnyder 400-plus at-bats next year depending on where Zobrist winds up spending the most time.
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Tampa Bay Rays: Catcher
4 of 30
Top Target
Chris Iannetta
Other Potential Targets
Alex Avila, Dioner Navarro, Geovany Soto
Overview
It's no secret the catcher position has been a black hole for the Tampa Bay Rays for years now, from an offensive production standpoint.
Just how bad has it been? Let's take a look:
- 2009: .233/.276/.349, 13 HR, 55 RBI
- 2010: .218/.319/.324, 10 HR, 54 RBI
- 2011: .194/.274/.333, 17 HR, 53 RBI
- 2012: .227/.300/.337, 11 HR, 59 RBI
- 2013: .245/.310/.355, 9 HR, 49 RBI
- 2014: .194/.274/.250, 5 HR, 48 RBI
- 2015: .201/.239/.362, 20 HR, 62 RBI
Curt Casali (101 AB, 10 HR) and J.P. Arencibia (71 AB, 6 HR) provided some unexpected pop with a pair of hot streaks, but offseason acquisition Rene Rivera was a huge flop, and the team should once again be looking for a starting backstop.
The Rays have valued defense behind the plate over offensive production, evidenced by recent starters in Jose Molina, Ryan Hanigan and the aforementioned Rivera.
However, at some point they'll need to get more out of the position, and taking a chance on someone such as Chris Iannetta could be the answer.
His 2015 season was not a pretty one, as he hit .188/.293/.335 and eventually lost his job to Carlos Perez.
Toronto Blue Jays: Starting Pitching
5 of 30
Top Target
David Price
Other Potential Targets
Johnny Cueto, Yovani Gallardo, Ian Kennedy, Jeff Samardzija, Jordan Zimmermann, Marco Estrada
Overview
The postseason has not been a pretty place for David Price in recent years, but that won't keep him from being perhaps the most sought-after arm on the free-agent market.
The Toronto Blue Jays will certainly do everything in their power to keep him around after giving up a good deal to acquire him at the trade deadline and then watching him go 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts with the team.
One way or another, though, the team will have to address the starting rotation.
Marcus Stroman will be back for a full season at the top of the rotation, and R.A. Dickey will have his $12 million option exercised.
However, with both Mark Buehrle and Marco Estrada headed for free agency, Drew Hutchison far from a sure thing to win a rotation spot and prospects Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd both shipped to Detroit in the Price deal there are holes to be filled.
Aaron Sanchez will likely move back to the rotation after serving in a setup role during the second half of the season, but the team will target at least one starter on the open market this winter, and seemingly everyone is in play at this point.
Chicago White Sox: Third Base
6 of 30
Top Target
David Freese
Other Potential Targets
Daniel Murphy, Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, Aaron Hill (trade)
Overview
After a surprisingly productive season from Conor Gillaspie in 2014, third base turned into perhaps the biggest weakness for the Chicago White Sox in 2015.
- 2014: .250/.302/.377, 154 H, 11 HR, 71 RBI, 63 R
- 2015: .226/.277/.345, 133 H, 13 HR, 50 RBI, 59 R
Rookie Tyler Saladino took over as the primary third baseman in the second half, and while he flashed some potential offensively and a terrific glove, his .225/.267/.335 line over 236 at-bats does not exactly warrant everyday playing time at this point.
That should put them in the market for a third baseman, and the pickings are somewhat slim, as David Freese and Daniel Murphy are the cream of the free-agent crop.
Freese has always had a hard time staying on the field for an entire season, but when he is healthy, he remains a solid run producer.
Freese had a .743 OPS with 27 doubles, 14 home runs and 56 RBI in 424 at-bats this past season, and something like a three-year, $30 million deal may be enough to land him, depending on how the market shapes up.
Murphy figures to cost even more, so if the team is not willing to make that kind of commitment, a reunion with Juan Uribe to finish up his career could be a fun, low-cost way to address the position.
Uribe was with the White Sox from 2004 to 2008, putting together three 20-homer seasons and serving as the starting shortstop on the 2005 World Series winning team.
Cleveland Indians: Left-Handed Relief Pitching
7 of 30
Top Target
Antonio Bastardo
Other Potential Targets
Jerry Blevins, Neal Cotts, Oliver Perez, Tony Sipp, Matt Thornton
Overview
The big storyline to follow with the Cleveland Indians this winter will be whether they flip Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar in an effort to improve the offense.
However, in terms of addressing their biggest weakness, that would have to be the left-handed side of the bullpen.
On the surface, the bullpen was rock solid, ranking second in the AL and fourth in all of baseball with a 3.12 ERA.
The trio of Jeff Manship, Zach McAllister and Bryan Shaw setting up closer Cody Allen was terrific all season, but the problem is that all of those guys are right-handed.
The left-handed side of the relief corps did not perform well:
- Marc Rzepczynski (45 G, 4.43 ERA)
- Nick Hagadone (36 G, 4.28 ERA)
- Kyle Crockett (31 G, 4.08 ERA)
That's it for lefties who made at least 10 appearances, and with Hagadone undergoing elbow surgery and Rzepczynski traded to the San Diego Padres at the deadline, it's essentially Crockett as the team's lone southpaw currently penciled in for next year.
Antonio Bastardo and former Indian Tony Sipp are the top two options on the free-agent market, but both could command a multiyear deal.
If the team prefers the one-year route, guys such as Neal Cotts, Oliver Perez and Matt Thornton could be better fits.
Detroit Tigers: Starting Pitching
8 of 30
Top Target
Scott Kazmir
Other Potential Targets
Ian Kennedy, Mike Leake, Jeff Samardzija
Overview
New general manager Al Avila wasted little time identifying the Detroit Tigers' biggest needs while talking with reporters about the upcoming offseason, per Chris McCosky of the Detroit News:
"I think two starting pitchers, added to that rotation, will bring down some of these young guys that we don’t want to force-feed. We can put them right there in Triple-A. It’ll give us the depth to get through 162 games.
And then, of course, the bullpen. The bullpen needs to be addressed. We do have some young guys that we like that should be able to help going into next year. But we do have to acquire at least a couple of bullpen arms, and that’s going to be the key this offseason.
"
The team has a whopping $104.8 million tied up in Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Anibal Sanchez, Victor Martinez and Ian Kinsler for next season, so don't expect the Tigers to be handing out any more $100 million-plus deals this winter.
Instead, they'll likely target a pair of second-tier starters and two of the better relievers on the market in an effort to make the biggest impact on the pitching staff with the money they do have to spend.
Best-case scenario: A free-agent haul of Scott Kazmir, Ian Kennedy, Joakim Soria and Antonio Bastardo.
That would give them two solid veteran starters to join Verlander and Sanchez, a reliable closer at a reasonable price and a solid left-handed setup man, and it shouldn't cost more than $35-45 million total in 2016.
Kansas City Royals: Corner Outfield
9 of 30
Top Target
Alex Gordon
Other Potential Targets
Marlon Byrd, Rajai Davis, Franklin Gutierrez, Chris Young, Gerardo Parra, Colby Rasmus, Will Venable
Overview
As it currently stands, the largest contracts in Kansas City Royals history are a pair of five-year, $55 million deals in the form of an extension for Mike Sweeney and a free-agent deal for Gil Meche.
That will have to change if the team hopes to bring back Alex Gordon, who will almost certainly decline his $14 million player option and be seeking nine figures in free agency.
It's hard to say he's not worth that kind of money given his impressive mix of offensive and defensive skills, but a contract that big simply may not be an option for the Royals.
With Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar and Wade Davis all set to hit free agency after the 2017 season and Salvador Perez deserving a raise, they need to start thinking about extending some other core pieces.
Gordon will be their top target, but with Alex Rios also headed for free agency, they will have to think about addressing both corner outfield spots.
A free-agent class of Gerardo Parra and Marlon Byrd may be a disappointing alternative to re-signing Gordon, but it would put the team in a better position financially for the years to come and would address two areas of need.
Minnesota Twins: Left-Handed Relief Pitching
10 of 30
Top Target
Antonio Bastardo
Other Potential Targets
Jerry Blevins, Neal Cotts, Oliver Perez, Tony Sipp, Matt Thornton
Overview
The biggest weakness for the Minnesota Twins is still their starting rotation.
However, after Ricky Nolasco and Ervin Santana both flopped as big-money free-agent signings and Phil Hughes took a step back after receiving a five-year extension, the team may not be quick to throw any more money at the staff.
Kyle Gibson, Tommy Milone and Tyler Duffey all look like solid options going forward, and top prospect Jose Berrios should arrive at some point in 2016, so the rotation figures to be largely unchanged heading into 2016.
On the other hand, the bullpen will need to be addressed.
Blaine Boyer, Brian Duensing and Neal Cotts all headed for free agency, and that leaves the team without one of its top setup men and two most reliable left-handed relievers.
Kevin Jepsen, Trevor May and Casey Fien are still solid options from the right side, but losing Duensing and Cotts leaves the team notably thin on southpaw relievers.
Aaron Thompson (41 G, 5.01 ERA) and Ryan O'Rourke (28 G, 6.14 ERA) would be the top remaining options, so adding at least one left-hander looks like a must.
Houston Astros: Relief Pitching
11 of 30
Top Target
Tyler Clippard
Other Potential Targets
Darren O'Day, Tony Sipp, Antonio Bastardo, Joakim Soria
Overview
The Houston Astros invested significant money in the relief corps last offseason, and the results were impressive, as the trio of Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek and Will Harris helped improve the bullpen's ERA from an MLB-worst 4.80 in 2014 to 3.27 this past season, good for sixth in all of baseball.
However, the team still blew 19 saves, and the bullpen racked up 30 losses, so don't be surprised if the Astros once again make a splash on the reliever market.
Re-signing Tony Sipp or signing a quality left-hander to replace him will be priority No. 1, but after that, expect them to push for someone from the trio of Darren O'Day, Tyler Clippard and Joakim Soria.
O'Day is probably the top reliever on the market, but with one sidewinder already in the pen in Neshek, he may not be the best fit for the Astros.
Soria will likely get solid money from someone to close, and that could be an option for the Astros if they'd prefer to use Gregerson in the eighth inning.
If not, Clippard looks like their top target, and adding him to the mix could turn the bullpen into one of the best in the American League.
Los Angeles Angels: Left-Handed Hitting
12 of 30
Top Target
Daniel Murphy
Other Potential Targets
Alex Gordon, Gerardo Parra, Colby Rasmus, Ben Zobrist, Jay Bruce (trade), Carlos Gonzalez (trade)
Overview
Just a year removed from being the highest-scoring team in baseball, the Los Angeles Angels struggled mightily at times on offense this past season.
A complete lack of production from the left side of the plate was at least partially to blame, as they hit just .236/.289/.356 with 42 home runs and 190 RBI as a team, and the bulk of that production came from right fielder Kole Calhoun.
Ideally, the team would add a big bat like Jay Bruce or Carlos Gonzalez to slot between Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in the middle of the lineup, but with one of the weakest farm systems in baseball, the Angels probably don't have the pieces to make that happen.
Instead, targeting someone such as Daniel Murphy as either an upgrade over Johnny Giavotella at second base or a replacement for David Freese at third base could be the way to go.
Murphy is not necessarily a middle-of-the-order slugger, but he's coming off a strong season in which he hit .281/.322/.449 with 38 doubles, 14 home runs and 73 RBI.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post predicted it may not take more than a three-year deal in the $30-40 million range to sign the 30-year-old former All-Star.
However, with each postseason home run he hits, that price is likely climbing, and he's also looking more and more likely to receive a qualifying offer.
All of that will factor into whether the Angels target him, but he could be the perfect fit to add some balance to their lineup and address a need on the infield.
Oakland Athletics: Outfield
13 of 30
Top Target
Will Venable
Other Potential Targets
Rajai Davis, Franklin Gutierrez, Austin Jackson, Alex Rios, Matt Joyce, Corey Hart
Overview
For the past several seasons, second base has been the biggest weakness for the Oakland Athletics from an offensive production standpoint.
However, with Danny Valencia stepping in as the everyday third baseman down the stretch and Brett Lawrie sliding over to second base, the infield alignment now appears to be set for 2016.
That leaves left field looking like the biggest area of need, as Billy Burns will man center field and Josh Reddick will again be in right field, but there is no clear-cut starter in left.
Coco Crisp, Mark Canha, Sam Fuld and Jake Smolinski are all options, and the team will likely try to get something out of the $11 million it's paying Crisp, but adding another outfield bat seems like a good move.
The A's won't be shelling out $100 million-plus for someone like Justin Upton or Yoenis Cespedes, but there are some lower-level options that would make sense.
Will Venable is just a year removed from posting a .796 OPS with 22 home runs and 22 steals while playing for the San Diego Padres, and he's capable of playing all three outfield spots.
Low-cost players with upside are generally favorites of Billy Beane, and Venable may be the best of that group among outfielders.
Seattle Mariners: Relief Pitching
14 of 30
Top Target
Joakim Soria
Other Potential Targets
Ryan Madson, Tyler Clippard, Ryan Madson, Neftali Feliz, Craig Kimbrel (trade), Aroldis Chapman (trade)
Overview
It doesn't take a genius to make the connection between bullpen performance and win-loss record for the Seattle Mariners over the past three years:
- 2013 (71-91): 4.58 ERA (29th), 23 BS, 33 L
- 2014 (87-75): 2.59 ERA (1st), 11 BS, 20 L
- 2015 (76-86): 4.15 ERA (25th), 16 BS, 36 L
Tom Wilhelmsen and Danny Farquhar will both be back next season, and rookies Carson Smith and Tony Zych both showed potential, but a significant bullpen overhaul seems to be in order this winter.
Wilhelmsen and Smith both tallied double-digit saves, and Smith has the stuff to be a standout closer down the lineup, but adding a veteran to handle ninth-inning duties in 2016 could be a good first step in improving the pen.
Joakim Soria is the best option on the trade market, while Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman are both expected to be available via trade.
Taking a chance on Ryan Madson now that he has a healthy season under his belt could also be an option, as he had 32 saves back in 2011 before battling injuries.
Texas Rangers: No. 5 Starter
15 of 30
Top Target
Colby Lewis
Other Potential Targets
Yovani Gallardo, Marco Estrada, Chris Young, J.A. Happ
Overview
A rotation of Cole Hamels, Yu Darvish, Derek Holland and Martin Perez should be enough to make the Texas Rangers favorites to repeat as AL West champs heading into next year, but they will need to figure out who rounds out the rotation as the No. 5 starter.
Colby Lewis and Yovani Gallardo are both free agents, and re-signing one of them may be he team's preferred route.
Lewis is six years older, but he should also come significantly cheaper.
The 36-year-old led the team in innings pitched for the second consecutive season, going 17-9 with a 4.66 ERA in a career-high 204.2 innings of work.
It was revealed last week that he pitched the second half of the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee, according to Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News.
Provided he shows no ill-effects of the surgery to clean up that knee, bringing him back on something like a two-year, $15 million deal seems reasonable.
If the team decides to go another route, other second-tier veterans—Chris Young, Marco Estrada and J.A. Happ—could all be potential targets.
Atlanta Braves: Catcher
16 of 30
Top Target
Matt Wieters
Other Potential Targets
A.J. Pierzynski, Geovany Soto, Chris Iannetta
Overview
The Atlanta Braves appeared ready to hand catching duties over to prospect Christian Bethancourt after Brian McCann left in free agency and Evan Gattis was traded to the Houston Astros.
Instead, Bethancourt hit just .200/.225/.290 over 155 at-bats and slowly lost playing time to veteran A.J. Pierzynski before being sent back to the minors to see more regular playing time.
The 22-year-old did hit .327/.359/.480 over 202 at-bats for Triple-A Gwinnett, so there's no reason to give up on him just yet, but adding a veteran backstop will still be a priority for the rebuilding Braves.
Simply bringing back Pierzynski on another one-year deal is certainly an option, but expect them to seriously consider Matt Wieters.
"Matt Wieters would appear to be a natural fit for the Braves in free agency," said Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. "He attended Georgia Tech and owns a home in Atlanta."
The 29-year-old suffered through a down season as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery, but he's not far removed from being one of the best all-around catchers in the game.
He may have to settle for a one- or two-year deal to rebuild some value, but his leadership and receiving ability alone would make him a valuable anchor of the young Braves pitching staff.
Scott Boras is his agent, so getting him to agree to a cost-effective deal will be tricky, but it could be well worth the struggle.
Miami Marlins: Versatility
17 of 30
Top Target
Steve Pearce
Other Potential Targets
Kelly Johnson, Sean Rodriguez
Overview
The Miami Marlins were one of the more disappointing teams in the league in 2015, but there are really no glaring needs in their everyday lineup.
Meanwhile, the pitching staff has a good mix of established arms and young pitchers on the rise. Deciding what to do with Henderson Alvarez will be one of the team's biggest offseason decisions, but adding a starter or late-inning reliever does not look like a clear need.
Instead, the team would be wise to target some versatile bench depth to better position itself to deal with injuries if and when they arise in 2016.
Steve Pearce could give the team a platoon partner for Justin Bour at first base—as he hit just .221/.293/.279 against left-handed pitching—while also serving as outfield depth and a power bat off the bench.
The 32-year-old failed to match his 2014 success this past season, but he still had a .711 OPS with 13 doubles and 15 home runs in 294 at-bats.
New York Mets: Middle-of-the-Order Power
18 of 30
Top Target
Yoenis Cespedes
Other Potential Targets
Justin Upton, Chris Davis, Jay Bruce (trade), Carlos Gonzalez (trade)
Overview
The New York Mets will do everything in their power to re-sign Yoenis Cespedes this offseason, but they will need to have a backup plan in place if he ends up elsewhere.
"I'm not thinking about a contract, but I do know that I will be looking for a contract that is six years or more, has to be six years or more. We'll see what happens," Cespedes told Marly Rivera of ESPN Deportes (via Yahoo Sports).
A six-year, $120 million deal is probably the floor of what Cespedes is worth on the open market, and the Mets would be wise to move quickly before other suitors start to drive up the price.
Justin Upton would be a solid fallback option, though he will likely command an extra year given the fact that he's still just 28 years old.
Chris Davis also fits the bill as a middle-of-the-order run producer, and he's capable of playing right field on an everyday basis if the team were willing to move Curtis Granderson back to center field.
The trade market may be the best route if they can't bring back Cespedes, though, as Carlos Gonzalez and Jay Bruce could both be targets.
The Mets have some solid pitching and shortstop depth to deal from in the farm system, and one way or another they will need to find a way to avoid the offensive struggles that plagued them prior to the Cespedes acquisition this year.
Philadelphia Phillies: Buy-Low, Sell-High Starting Pitching
19 of 30
Top Target
Doug Fister
Other Potential Targets
Mat Latos, Kyle Lohse, Bud Norris
Overview
As a rebuilding team that is several years from contention, the Philadelphia Phillies won't be making any splash free-agent signings anytime soon.
However, they will be looking to add more young talent and to find a cheap way to eat up innings, and targeting bounce-back pitchers with the idea of flipping them at the deadline if they do in fact bounce back has worked for rebuilding teams in the past.
The Chicago Cubs are probably the best example, as they bought low on Scott Feldman and Jason Hammel and then flipped them in trades to acquire Jake Arrieta, Addison Russell and Pedro Strop when they exceeded expectations.
Doug Fister and Mat Latos are probably the two most intriguing bounce-back candidates on the free agent market this year, and both may prefer to take a one-year deal in an effort to boost their stock and make another run at free agency next offseason.
The Phillies have seen plenty of Fister over the years while he pitched in their division for the Washington Nationals, and he's gone 3-2 with a 1.90 ERA in 42.2 career innings against them.
Seeing him at his best firsthand could be reason enough for the Phillies to make Fister their top offseason target, but don't be surprised if they also go after guys like Bud Norris and Kyle Lohse to fill out the staff behind Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff.
Washington Nationals: Leadoff Hitter
20 of 30
Top Target
Gerardo Parra
Other Potential Targets
Denard Span, Dexter Fowler, Rajai Davis, Austin Jackson
Overview
Denard Span hit .302 and led the NL with 184 hits in 2014, but he played in just 61 games this past season while dealing with a hip injury that eventually required surgery in August.
That left a gaping hole atop the Washington Nationals lineup, as the team went 47-54 (.465) without him and often struggled to set the table ahead of Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman.
Re-signing Span this offseason is an option, and the team could also turn things over to Michael Taylor, who saw significant action this past season filling in for both Span and Jayson Werth.
The 24-year-old Taylor has a nice mix of power and speed and an impressive minor league track record, and he had 15 doubles, 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases as a rookie.
However, he also hit just .229/.282/.358 in 472 at-bats, and until he cuts down on his strikeouts (30.9 percent) and takes more walks (6.8 percent), he really doesn't profile as a leadoff hitter.
That leaves the team in need of a table-setter, and making a run at signing Gerardo Parra could be the answer.
He is a Gold Glove defender at all three outfield spots and has succeeded in the fourth outfielder role in the past, so adding Parra to the outfield mix and letting the at-bats work themselves out between him, Taylor and the oft-injured Werth could be the answer.
Chicago Cubs: Starting Pitching
21 of 30
Top Target
David Price
Other Potential Targets
Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann, Johnny Cueto, Ian Kennedy, John Lackey, Scott Kazmir, Mike Leake, Carlos Carrasco (trade), Danny Salazar (trade), Tyson Ross (trade)
Overview
The Chicago Cubs have arrived well ahead of schedule as contenders, but there is still a clear need to bolster the starting rotation behind Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.
Kyle Hendricks is a solid starter, but he's never going to be more than a No. 4 or No. 5 guy, while Jason Hammel struggled mightily in the second half and the No. 5 starter job was a revolving door all season.
There are some intriguing bounce-back candidates in house in guys like Trevor Cahill and Jacob Turner who could get a crack at a rotation spot, but either way the team is still expected to look for one more front-line arm.
David Price looks like the top target right now if the Cubs want to make a splash, as he has a good working relationship with manager Joe Maddon, and a move to the National League could be attractive for him.
He's far from the team's only target, though, and it could opt to go a lower-cost route by pursuing a veteran like John Lackey or Scott Kazmir on a shorter deal.
Then there is the trade market, where the team attempted to acquire both Tyson Ross and Carlos Carrasco at the trade deadline, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Both pitchers wound up staying put, and both could be targets once again.
Things should get a bit more clear once the offseason begins, but for now we'll just say the Cubs are in the market for pitching.
Cincinnati Reds: Leadoff Hitter
22 of 30
Top Target
Gerardo Parra
Other Potential Targets
Denard Span, Dexter Fowler, Rajai Davis
Overview
The Cincinnati Reds sold aggressively at the trade deadline when they moved Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake and Marlon Byrd, and that could continue this offseason with Aroldis Chapman, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips also looking like trade candidates.
That being said, they will still try to field a competitive team in the interim, and their biggest weakness right now is the leadoff spot in the lineup.
The hope was that speedy Billy Hamilton would emerge as the long-term answer there, but two years into his big league career he has a .287 on-base percentage and a 5.9 percent walk rate, so it's hard to trust him to get on base enough to hit first.
Left field appears to be the clear place to add a potential leadoff threat, as the Byrd trade left a hole there and top prospect Jesse Winker is probably still at least a year away.
Gerardo Parra makes sense as a second-tier target who won't break the bank, and someone a rebuilding team can count on for consistency much like the Atlanta Braves did with their signing of Nick Markakis.
Austin Jackson and Rajai Davis would be cheaper options, and Jackson also brings some upside as he looks to return to his Detroit Tigers form.
Milwaukee Brewers: Center Field
23 of 30
Top Target
Austin Jackson
Other Potential Targets
Rajai Davis
Overview
Speaking of Austin Jackson, he makes sense for another NL Central team in the Milwaukee Brewers after they traded incumbent center fielder Carlos Gomez to the Houston Astros at the trade deadline.
One of the players heading back to Milwaukee in that trade, Domingo Santana, saw significant action in center field down the stretch, but as the defensive metrics show (-3 DRS, -26.6 UZR/150) he's much better suited for a corner spot.
Unloading Ryan Braun would open up the everyday right field spot for Santana, but either way the team figures to be in the market for a more traditional center fielder to help provide defensive support to their young pitching staff.
After a terrific first four seasons in the league while playing with the Tigers, Jackson has struggled the past two years with a .261/.310/.364 line.
He's still a plus defender, though, and at 28 years old there is some hope that his production could bounce back to a point in the right situation.
Another prospect acquired in the Gomez trade, Brett Phillips, looks like the center fielder of the future and if they could get Jackson to agree to a one-year deal as a stop-gap he would be a great target.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Starting Pitching
24 of 30
Top Target
Mat Latos
Other Potential Targets
Doug Fister, Bud Norris, Kyle Lohse, J.A. Happ
Overview
The biggest question mark on the field for the Pittsburgh Pirates the past few seasons has been first base, but with top prospect Josh Bell reaching Triple-A this season, the team will likely just ride it out with Pedro Alvarez until he arrives.
That makes the starting rotation their likely focus this offseason.
Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano are locks to front the staff once again, while Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke are also still in the mix.
Uber-prospect Tyler Glasnow is also expected to arrive at some point in 2016, and he could immediately give the team a third front-line starter.
However, A.J. Burnett is retiring and standout deadline acquisition J.A. Happ (11 GS, 7-2, 1.85 ERA) is a free agent, so the team figures to be in the market for one back-end starter if only for depth.
Re-signing the 33-year-old Happ is certainly an option, but don't be surprised if the Pirates are once again active on the reclamation project market.
Liriano, Burnett, Edinson Volquez, Vance Worley and Joe Blanton all turned out to be terrific values on low-cost deals thanks to the tutelage of pitching coach Ray Searage, so who could be next?
Mat Latos went 4-10 with a 4.95 ERA in a rough 2015 season, but a 3.72 FIP makes him an intriguing bounce-back candidate.
He also saw an improvement in his velocity as the season went on, according to Brooks Baseball, as his stuff appeared to be on the upswing after he'd struggled to regain his form following knee surgery.
Doug Fister and Bud Norris are also potential targets, but Latos looks like the perfect fit on a one-year, incentive-laden deal.
St. Louis Cardinals: Right-Handed Setup Relief
25 of 30
Top Target
Ryan Madson
Other Potential Targets
Jason Motte, Shawn Kelley, Blaine Boyer, Tommy Hunter
Overview
There is no question the St. Louis Cardinals' top priority this offseason will be re-signing Jason Heyward, but if for whatever reason they don't it's hard to say the outfield would be a weakness.
In fact, an outfield of Matt Holliday, Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty with Tommy Pham and Jon Jay as reserve options would still rank as one of the best outfields in all of baseball.
So with that in mind, we'll instead point to the right side of the bullpen as perhaps the team's biggest weakness.
Lefty Kevin Siegrist did a terrific job in the eighth inning role and Trevor Rosenthal was one of the best closers in baseball, but the team lacked a reliable right-handed setup man for most of the year.
Jordan Walden was expected to fill that role, but he was sidelined in April with biceps inflammation, and he never returned. He has not needed surgery to this point, but he's at the very least a question mark for next year.
Rookies Miguel Socolovich, Sam Tuivailala and Mitch Harris all showed potential, but shoring up the bullpen with a veteran setup arm seems like a wise move.
They won't spend big money and years on someone like Darren O'Day or Tyler Clippard, but someone like Ryan Madson could be a potential target.
Don't rule out a potential reunion with Jason Motte, either.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Closer
26 of 30
Top Target
Aroldis Chapman (trade)
Other Potential Targets
Joakim Soria, Ryan Madson, Craig Kimbrel (trade)
Overview
Steve Gilbert of MLB.com wrote the following in an offseason outlook article on the Arizona Diamondbacks:
"The main goal for chief baseball officer Tony La Russa and general manager Dave Stewart over the next few months will undoubtedly be to add more pitching, particularly at least one starter that they know they can rely on as well as another back-end arm for the bullpen.
If they choose to trade for pitching, the D-backs do have a surplus of young players both in the infield and outfield, as well as pitching depth in the organization that should appeal to other teams.
"
The argument can certainly be made that the starting rotation is a bigger weakness than the bullpen right now.
However, the team is at least loaded with starting pitching options; a healthy season from Archie Bradley and a full year removed from Tommy John by Patrick Corbin could give them two front-line arms.
Instead, adding a lights-out closer to allow Brad Ziegler to move back into the eighth-inning role could make the biggest impact, and flame-throwing Aroldis Chapman may be their top target.
"The D-backs made a big push for Reds closer Aroldis Chapman at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline and could pursue a trade for him again over the winter," Gilbert wrote.
A prospect package built around Aaron Blair or Braden Shipley could be enough to get a deal done, though the Diamondbacks would have to include a number of second-tier prospects.
Colorado Rockies: Starting Pitching
27 of 30
Top Target
Mike Pelfrey
Other Potential Targets
Bud Norris, Kyle Lohse, Danny Salazar (trade), Carlos Carrasco (trade)
Overview
After getting an MLB-worst 5.27 ERA from their starting pitchers last season, upgrading the rotation is once again the top priority for the Colorado Rockies.
That being said, convincing the market's top starting pitchers to come pitch at altitude in Colorado is never an easy task, and the team will likely have to settle for lower-level targets once again.
Last offseason, the team wound up signing Kyle Kendrick, who subsequently became by far the least impressive Opening Day starter of any team in the league.
This time around they should be able to do a little better, and Mike Pelfrey looks like one potential low-cost arm that could make sense.
The 31-year-old finished the year at 6-11 with a 4.26 ERA (4.00 FIP) and a 1.476 WHIP in 164.2 innings of work for the Minnesota Twins.
What makes him a potential target for the Rockies is his ability to keep the ball on the ground, as his 51.0 percent ground-ball rate was 19th among qualified starters and well above the league average, according to FanGraphs.
Adding a veteran like Pelfrey alongside Jorge De La Rosa, Chad Bettis, Tyler Matzek and former top prospects Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler may not give the Rockies a standout rotation, but that could be enough to be competitive given their offense.
The other possibility is flipping Carlos Gonzalez for a major league starter, perhaps to the offensive-starved Cleveland Indians in exchange for Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Starting Pitching
28 of 30
Top Target
Zack Greinke
Other Potential Targets
Jordan Zimmermann, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Scott Kazmir, Yovani Gallardo, Brett Anderson
Overview
The Los Angeles Dodgers will almost certainly either re-sign Zack Greinke or replace him with someone like Jordan Zimmermann or Johnny Cueto this offseason, but it's the rest of their starting rotation that ranks as the biggest weakness.
Brett Anderson proved to be a terrific gamble on a one-year, $10 million deal, as he went 10-9 with a 3.69 ERA and 1.331 WHIP in a career-high 180.1 innings of work.
Re-signing him is certainly an option, but the remaining two spots in the rotation will need to be addressed as the Dodgers trotted out a staggering 13 different pitchers to fill the final two spots on the staff.
Mike Bolsinger (21 GS, 6-6, 3.62 ERA) showed enough that he at least deserves a crack at the No. 5 starter job next year, uber-prospect Julio Urias remains on the fast track to the majors and Hyun-Jin Ryu is also expected back at some point.
One more quality second-tier starter still seems like an obvious target, though.
An innings eater like Mike Leake or Ian Kennedy would make sense, while someone like Yovani Gallardo could see a significant uptick in his numbers making the move from hitter-friendly Texas to Dodger Stadium.
There is no shortage of options given the Dodgers' limitless funds, but the first priority will be re-signing Greinke or replacing him with another front-line arm.
San Diego Padres: Shortstop
29 of 30
Top Target
Ian Desmond
Other Potential Targets
Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew, Jimmy Rollins, Starlin Castro (trade)
Overview
The market for shortstop Ian Desmond will be one of the most interesting to watch develop this winter, as his asking price will be high but the number of teams in the market to spend big on a shortstop is as low as it's ever been.
The San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox seem like the two most likely teams to invest at the position, and the White Sox may wait another year to do that if they decide to exercise their $10 million option on Alexei Ramirez.
That leaves the Padres as perhaps the only team that will be willing to offer up big money for Desmond, but even then he'll have to settle for substantially less than he could have had from the Washington Nationals.
According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, Desmond turned down a seven-year, $107 million extension offer prior to the start of the 2014 season.
While his 2015 numbers were disappointing, he did bounce back with a .262/.331/.446 line that included 10 doubles and 12 home runs in the second half, so he still won't come cheap.
The sticking point for the Padres could be if Desmond receives a qualifying offer, which seems likely. After mortgaging so much of their prospect talent last offseason, the team may not be quick to give up their top pick this coming year.
Asdrubal Cabrera is a cheaper option to upgrade the position, while the team could also revisit trade talks with the Chicago Cubs for Starlin Castro or Javier Baez.
One way or another, though, the team has to do better than a platoon of Clint Barmes and Alexi Amarista at the position.
San Francisco Giants: Starting Pitching
30 of 30
Top Target
Jordan Zimmermann
Other Potential Targets
David Price, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Ian Kennedy, Scott Kazmir, Yovani Gallardo, Brett Anderson, John Lackey, Marco Estrada, Jeff Samardzija, Wei-Yin Chen
Overview
The San Francisco Giants won three World Series titles in five years on the strength of their pitching staff, and the time has come for significant changes to be made to said staff.
Other than Madison Bumgarner as the team's ace and surprise rookie Chris Heston as the No. 4 or No. 5 starter, the rotation is one big question mark for 2016 and beyond.
Observe:
- Matt Cain: Only 53.2 IP in '15 and a 6.20 ERA
- Tim Hudson: Retiring
- Mike Leake: Free agent
- Tim Lincecum: Free agent
- Jake Peavy: 34, entering final year of contract, only 110.2 IP in '15
- Ryan Vogelsong: Free agent
It's time to let both Lincecum and Vogelsong walk and they can't assume they'll get anything out of Cain at this point, so adding at least two starters this offseason seems to be the likely route.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports pointed to Jordan Zimmermann as a likely Giants target all the way back in August, and he would certainly be a formidable No. 2 behind Bumgarner.
From there, either re-signing Mike Leake or targeting a player in that same secondary tier seems like the next step.
That would make a rotation of Bumgarner, Zimmermann, Peavy, Leake and Heston for 2016, and then top prospect Tyler Beede could potentially step into Peavy's spot once he hits free agency next offseason.
There is money to be spent after the Giants made a serious run at Jon Lester last offseason but fell short, so expect them to be as active as any team on the primary and secondary pitching markets.
All standard statistics and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while defensive stats come via FanGraphs.
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