MLB Free Agency 2015-16: Looking at Every Team's Offseason Shopping List
The 2015 World Series is officially in the books, as the Kansas City Royals capped off an impressive postseason run with another come-from-behind victory in Game 5 on Sunday night to claim their first title in 30 years.
There will be time to reflect on the 2015 season in the months ahead, but there is no rest for MLB teams in their pursuit of a title, and with the World Series wrapping up, the offseason is officially underway.
All 30 teams have a different to-do list heading into the winter, as each team looks to shore up its roster for a run of its own in 2016.
What follows is a quick rundown of each team's offseason shopping list as things stand here on the first day of the offseason. Things will obviously change as the weeks and months pass, but for now, this serves as a primer for what to expect from each team.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP David Hernandez, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, RP Jhoulys Chacin, RP Brad Ziegler (option), SP Josh Collmenter (option)
Shopping List
No. 1 Starter
The Arizona Diamondbacks have no shortage of starting pitching options, but they are still lacking a true No. 1 starter to front their rotation.
Patrick Corbin could be even better another year removed from Tommy John surgery, and Archie Bradley still has an incredibly high ceiling, but look for the team to explore its options both in free agency and on the trade market to find a true staff ace.
Closer
Veteran Brad Ziegler did a terrific job stepping into the closer's role after Addison Reed flamed out, converting 30 of 32 save chances with a 1.85 ERA.
However, he is still better suited for the eighth-inning role, and the Diamondbacks will be in the market for a more traditional closer to anchor their pen. Joakim Soria is the top option in free agency, while Aroldis Chapman and Craig Kimbrel both figure to be available via trade.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Key Free Agents
C A.J. Pierzynski, RP Edwin Jackson, RP Ross Detwiler
Shopping List
A Power Bat
Outside of All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, the Atlanta Braves really don't have a bat that is going to strike fear into opposing pitchers.
Hector Olivera is expected to step into a run-production role as the team's everyday third baseman next season, but adding another power bat to the mix to help shoulder some of the middle-of-the-order responsibilities would be a nice pickup.
Relief Pitchers
A healthy Jason Grilli and standout rookie Arodys Vizcaino give the Braves two solid bullpen arms to build around, but the rest of the relief corps is up in the air for 2016.
Don't expect them to be in the market for any of the top relief arms out there, but adding a few solid veterans on one-year deals or even minor league pacts seems a likely approach this winter.
Catcher
The Braves signed A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year, $2.5 million deal last offseason to back up Christian Bethancourt, and he wound up seeing the bulk of the action when the rookie struggled.
Bethancourt hit .327/.359/.480 in 202 at-bats after returning to Triple-A, and he's still just 24 years old, so he'll get another shot. At the very least, though, the team will need to target another veteran backup who could potentially step into a bigger role. Re-signing Pierzynski is a possibility.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Key Free Agents
1B Chris Davis, SP Wei-Yin Chen, RP Darren O'Day, C Matt Wieters, OF Gerardo Parra, 1B Steve Pearce
Shopping List
Starting Pitching
The Baltimore Orioles ran away with the AL East title in 2014 at least in part due to a starting rotation that ranked 12th in the majors with a 3.61 ERA.
That ERA climbed to 4.53 this season, though, which was 25th in the league. That, coupled with arguably their best starter in Wei-Yin Chen (31 GS, 11-8, 3.34 ERA) headed for free agency, should at least put the team in the market for a second-tier starter.
Corner Outfielders
Adam Jones remains a staple in center field, but the two outfield spots on either side of him are a question mark for the Orioles moving forward.
Dariel Alvarez and Henry Urrutia could warrant an extended look this coming season, but look for the team to sign at least one proven corner outfielder. One option would be to make a run at re-signing deadline pickup Gerardo Parra.
First Baseman
Losing Chris Davis in free agency would be a huge blow to the Orioles' offensive attack, but it would also leave a hole to be filled at first base, as Steve Pearce is also set to hit the open market.
Prospect Christian Walker is an in-house option, and he's close to big league-ready after hitting .257/.324/.423 with 33 doubles, 18 home runs and 74 RBI in Triple-A. Otherwise, look for the team to target a stop-gap option like Justin Morneau.
Setup Reliever
He doesn't get as much attention as someone like Davis, but reliever Darren O'Day may wind up being the biggest loss for the Orioles this offseason.
The side-winding setup man posted a 1.52 ERA, 0.934 WHIP and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 68 appearances as the team's eighth-inning man this past season. Brad Brach is an option to replace him in the eighth inning, but either way, the team will be in the market for a proven late-inning arm.
Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Rich Hill, RP Craig Breslow, SP Clay Buchholz (option)
Shopping List
No. 1 Starter
After failing to land an ace starter last offseason and instead settling for the trio of Wade Miley, Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson, the Boston Red Sox ranked 24th in the league with a 4.39 ERA from their starters.
Porcello (11 GS, 4-6, 3.53 ERA) and Joe Kelly (11 GS, 8-1, 3.77 ERA) both looked good in the second half, but this team still needs to find that true ace to anchor its staff if it has any hopes of returning to contention.
Relief Pitchers
The Red Sox used 18 different pitchers in relief in 2015, and they combined to post a 4.24 ERA that ranked 26th in the majors while converting 40 of 61 save chances.
Closer Koji Uehara had another strong season, converting 25 of 27 save chances with a 2.23 ERA, but the 40-year-old missed significant time, as his season ended on Aug. 7 when he suffered a fractured right wrist. Overhauling the bullpen as a whole seems like a clear priority this winter.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Key Free Agents
CF Dexter Fowler, OF Austin Jackson, OF Chris Denorfia, RP Clayton Richard, RP Trevor Cahill, RP Tommy Hunter, RP Fernando Rodney, RP Jason Motte, RP James Russell
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
The one-two punch of Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester gives the Chicago Cubs two legitimate front-line starters, but it became abundantly clear once the postseason began that this team was still in need of a third reliable starting pitcher.
Jason Hammel had a good first half before falling off dramatically, while Kyle Hendricks is a solid No. 5 starter but doesn't have much upside. Even if they don't go after one of the elite arms on the market, expect the Cubs to sign at least one starter.
Center Fielder/Leadoff Hitter
Dexter Fowler proved to be a terrific pickup for the Cubs, as he brought a nice mix of power (17 HR), speed (20 SB) and on-base skills (.346 OBP) to the top of the lineup on his way to scoring 102 runs.
Either re-signing him or finding a way to replace him both atop the lineup and in center field is a clear need. The Cubs could also explore bringing back Austin Jackson as a stop-gap option to prospect Albert Almora.
Relief Pitchers
The Cubs bullpen was anchored by strong seasons from Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon, and they unexpectedly got useful contributions from the likes of Fernando Rodney, Clayton Richard and Trevor Cahill down the stretch.
Whether they pursue a trade for someone like Craig Kimbrel or simply add a few veteran arms in free agency, expect the Cubs to make at least a few additions to a bullpen that ranked eighth in the league with a 3.38 ERA.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Jeff Samardzija, C Geovany Soto, IF Gordon Beckham, RP Matt Albers, SS Alexei Ramirez (option)
Shopping List
Third Baseman
After getting a surprisingly solid performance from Conor Gillaspie as the primary third baseman in 2014, the position turned into a black hole from a production standpoint for the Chicago White Sox this past season.
Gillaspie, Tyler Saladino, Gordon Beckham and Mike Olt combined to produce a .226/.277/.345 line with 13 home runs and 50 RBI at the position, so it shouldn't be too hard to find an upgrade. David Freese, Juan Uribe and perhaps Daniel Murphy (if he moves positions) will be the top options on the market.
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
Four of the five spots in the White Sox starting rotation this coming season figure to go to left-handers in Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon and John Danks.
The team could give top prospect Frankie Montas a chance to win the final rotation spot, but if the Sox do go out and try to add a starting pitcher, it will almost certainly be one of the right-handed variety.
Catcher
Serving as the White Sox's primary catcher the past three seasons, Tyler Flowers has hit .228/.284/.372 and averaged 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 38 RBI per year.
While he is a solid defensive backstop, the team could certainly stand to upgrade behind the dish, and it shouldn't be too hard given the fact that Flowers has only been a 3.1 WAR player over the past three years.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Manny Parra, C Brayan Pena, RP Sean Marshall, RP Burke Badenhop, UT Skip Schumaker (option)
Shopping List
Left Fielder
With Marlon Byrd traded to the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline and top prospect Jesse Winker likely still a year away, the Cincinnati Reds will need to address the left field spot this offseason.
The team is in the process of rebuilding right now, and it won't want to block the aforementioned Winker, who hit .282/.390/.433 with 24 doubles, 13 home runs and 55 RBI in a full season at Double-A Pensacola. That makes a stop-gap option on a one- or two-year deal the likely target.
Leadoff Hitter
The Reds got a .241/.290/.334 line out of the leadoff spot in the lineup last season, as Billy Hamilton began the season hitting first before eventually being moved down to the No. 9 spot in the lineup.
Until Hamilton proves he can hit better than the .226/.274/.289 line he posted in 2015, his speed is not of much use atop the lineup, so look for the Reds to target a leadoff hitter this winter. Signing someone like Gerardo Parra or Rajai Davis to play left field could kill two birds with one stone.
Veteran Starting Pitcher
Dating back to the winter meetings last year, the Reds have traded away Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon, as the youth movement is in full effect with the starting rotation.
Anthony DeSclafani, Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen, Keyvius Sampson, John Lamb, Brandon Finnegan and top prospect Robert Stephenson will all be rotation options in 2016, but adding a veteran presence to help lead the young staff and eat up some innings would make a lot of sense.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Key Free Agents
IF Mike Aviles, RP Ryan Webb, SP Gavin Floyd, SP Shaun Marcum, OF Ryan Raburn (option)
Shopping List
Right-Handed Power Bat
Quick, who was the last right-handed hitter to top 30 home runs in a season for the Cleveland Indians?
That would be Ellis Burks way back in 2002, when he hit 32 as a 37-year-old.
It's no secret the Indians' biggest need is a right-handed power bat, as they got just 58 home runs total from the right side of the plate this past season.
Left-Handed Reliever
With Marc Rzepczynski traded to the Padres and Nick Hagadone undergoing elbow surgery in July, the Indians will almost certainly need to add a left-handed reliever to the mix.
Kyle Crockett (31 G, 4.08 ERA) and Giovanni Soto (46 G, 2.68 ERA in Triple-A) are the top in-house options right now, while the free-agent market is highlighted by Antonio Bastardo and Tony Sipp.
Stop-Gap Center Fielder
The Indians have a terrific center field prospect in Bradley Zimmer, who hit .273/.368/.446 with 26 doubles, 16 home runs, 63 RBI and 44 steals between High-A and Double-A last season at the age of 22.
He could see the majors by the second half of the 2016 season, so the Indians won't want to block him. Chances are they also won't want to enter the upcoming year with Abraham Almonte as their primary center fielder, either, so a stop-gap veteran is the likely target.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Key Free Agents
1B Justin Morneau, SP Kyle Kendrick
Shopping List
Starting Pitching
What else would top the list of biggest needs for the Colorado Rockies but starting pitching?
A 5.27 ERA from their starters this past season was once again the worst in all of baseball, and if they are ever going to have a real shot at contending, that has to change.
There is potential in-house, as Jorge De La Rosa and Chad Bettis were both solid, and former top prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler are still working to figure things out, but they would certainly benefit from adding whatever arms they can find.
Relief Pitching
While the starting rotation remains the most glaring need, the bullpen was not much better this past season, as it also ranked dead last in the majors with a 4.70 ERA while converting 36 of 61 save chances.
Closer John Axford will be back after converting 25 of 31 save chances with a 4.20 ERA, and there are other useful arms, like Jairo Diaz and Rex Brothers, but there is also obviously plenty of room for improvement.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Alfredo Simon, C Alex Avila, OF Rajai Davis, RP Tom Gorzelanny, RP Randy Wolf, RP Neftali Feliz, RP Joe Nathan (option)
Shopping List
Two Starting Pitchers
"I think two starting pitchers added to that rotation will bring down some of these guys that we don’t want to force feed and we want right there in Triple-A and it will give us some of the depth that we need," Tigers general manager Al Avila told reporters, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez will be locked into two spots, while the trio of Daniel Norris, Michael Fulmer and Buck Farmer will compete for the No. 5 starter job, so two mid-level arms seem like the most likely targets.
Relief Pitchers
"The bullpen needs to be addressed,” Avila went on to say in the same interview. “That’s going to be a key."
The Tigers bullpen was the team's undoing during an ALDS exit in 2014, and it wasn't any better this past season. That was prior to trading Joakim Soria, who is now a free agent, at the deadline.
Alex Wilson and Blaine Hardy both had strong seasons in 2015, and Bruce Rondon still has tremendous upside, but this team would benefit from adding a handful of proven arms to the relief corps.
Left Fielder
Anthony Gose figures to see the bulk of the playing time once again in center field, and J.D. Martinez is locked in as the everyday right fielder, but the left field spot is up for grabs this offseason.
The hope was that top prospect Steven Moya would be ready by now, but after hitting .243/.283/.431 and striking out 175 times in Triple-A last year, the team likely won't feel comfortable turning things over to him just yet. At the very least, an insurance policy seems like a must.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Scott Kazmir, OF Colby Rasmus, RP Tony Sipp, RP Oliver Perez, RP Joe Thatcher, RP Chad Qualls (option)
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
The Houston Astros' biggest priority this offseason will likely be coming to terms on an extension with AL Cy Young candidate Dallas Keuchel, but they will also look to add a starting pitcher.
Keuchel will be joined in the rotation once again by Collin McHugh and Lance McCullers, while Mike Fiers, Scott Feldman, Vincent Velasquez and Brett Oberholtzer will all be options to start as well. Re-signing Scott Kazmir or signing a pitcher on that same level seems like the preferred approach.
Left-Handed Reliever
Tony Sipp enjoyed a terrific season for the Astros in 2015, posting a 1.99 ERA, 1.031 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 over 60 appearances, and he's arguably the top left-handed reliever on the market as a result.
The Astros are also set to lose August pickup Oliver Perez to free agency, so whether they pay up to bring back Sipp or sign someone else, they'll need to find a reliable lefty for the bullpen.
Late-Inning Reliever
Along with shoring up the left side of the bullpen, the Astros would also benefit from adding one more proven late-inning arm to the mix. They spent big to sign Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek last winter, and making another run at one of the top arms on the market seems possible.
With the bullpen vastly improved this past season—and that was a big reason for the team's massive leap forward—it had 19 blown saves and 30 losses, so there is still room for improvement.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Johnny Cueto, 2B Ben Zobrist, RF Alex Rios, RP Ryan Madson, SP Chris Young, RP Franklin Morales, OF Jonny Gomes, LF Alex Gordon (player option), SP Jeremy Guthrie (option), RP Wade Davis (option), SS Alcides Escobar (option)
Shopping List
Left Fielder
Deciding whether or not to pony up and re-sign Alex Gordon will be the biggest decision of the offseason for the Kansas City Royals.
He'll likely cost north of $100 million, which would shatter the team record for money spent on one player. If the team decides to let him walk, left field will still need to be addressed, and someone like Gerardo Parra could be a great fit on the Royals, as he's a standout defender with good speed.
Right Fielder
The team will also need to address right field, assuming the Royals don't exercise their end of a $12.5 million mutual option on Alex Rios.
Rios signed a one-year, $11 million deal in the offseason but missed significant time with a fractured left hand and wound up hitting just .255/.287/.353 over 385 at-bats. Someone like Marlon Byrd could be a nice target to replace him and provide some needed right-handed pop.
Starting Pitcher
With Johnny Cueto all but certain to sign elsewhere and surprise veteran standout Chris Young also a free agent, the Royals will no doubt be in the market for a starting pitcher of some sort.
Yordano Ventura and Edinson Volquez are really the only sure things for a rotation spot next year, though Danny Duffy and Kris Medlen will likely be in the mix as well. Still, signing another Volquez-like starter this winter would make sense.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Key Free Agents
3B David Freese, C Chris Iannetta, OF Matt Joyce, OF Shane Victorino, RP Wesley Wright, OF David Murphy (option), OF David DeJesus (option)
Shopping List
Left-Handed Hitter
As a team, the Angels hit just .236/.289/.356 with 42 home runs and 190 RBI from the left side of the plate in 2015, and the bulk of that production came from right fielder Kole Calhoun.
There are a number of positions that need to be addressed, most notably third base and left field, and the team will almost certainly target a left-handed bat to fill at least one of those spots. Daniel Murphy looks like a great fit, especially if he's willing to slide over to play third base.
Third Baseman
David Freese missed time to injury once again in 2015, but he was still one of the Angels' more productive hitters, as he posted a .743 OPS with 27 doubles, 14 home runs and 56 RBI.
Prospect Kyle Kubitza, who got a taste of big league action this past year and hit .271/.357/.433 in 457 at-bats in Triple-A, could wind up being the long-term answer at the hot corner. The team will at least need a stop-gap signing to bridge the gap to him, though.
Left Fielder
The left field position produced a dismal .216/.275/.317 line with nine home runs and 51 RBI this past season, as Matt Joyce, David Murphy, Shane Victorino, Collin Cowgill, Dan Robertson and Efren Navarro all made at least 10 starts there.
Murphy was decent after L.A. acquired him at the deadline, but his $7 million option may be more than the Angels are willing to spend on a replacement-level player, so expect left field to be a target.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Zack Greinke, SP Brett Anderson, 2B Howie Kendrick, SS Jimmy Rollins, RP Jim Johnson, 2B Chase Utley (option), RP J.P. Howell (option), SP Bronson Arroyo (option), RP Joel Peralta (option)
Shopping List
Front-Line Starting Pitcher
Whether they re-sign Zack Greinke or make a run at someone like Jordan Zimmermann or Johnny Cueto, expect the Los Angeles Dodgers to walk away from the offseason having signed at least one front-line starter to pair with Clayton Kershaw at the top of the rotation.
Other Starting Pitchers
They won't just be targeting studs, though, as there is significant work to be done on the starting rotation as a whole.
Alex Wood and Mike Bolsinger will be in the running for rotation spots behind Kershaw and whomever else the team signs, and Hyun-Jin Ryu is expected to be back at some point in 2016. But after watching the back of the rotation struggle for much of 2015, L.A. will almost certainly add at least one more mid-level arm as well.
Relief Pitchers
The Dodgers once again had a tough time bridging the gap to All-Star closer Kenley Jansen, as they used a total of 21 different relievers on the year.
J.P. Howell had a great year, and young arms like Yimi Garcia and Pedro Baez have plenty of potential going forward, but a proven right-handed setup man and a few other middle-relief options would no doubt help a relief corps that ranked 19th in the league with a 3.91 ERA.
Second Baseman
Howie Kendrick put up his usual solid numbers in his first season with the Dodgers, but he is now set to hit free agency, and the Dodgers will have a decision to make.
They could re-sign Kendrick, turn things over to prospect Jose Peraza, institute some sort of platoon with Peraza and Kike Hernandez or bring in someone new altogether. There are plenty of options, but second base is still up in the air at this point.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Key Free Agents
1B Casey McGehee, C Jeff Mathis, UT Don Kelly
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
One of the first big decisions of the offseason for the Miami Marlins will be whether or not to tender a contract to Henderson Alvarez, who is projected to earn $4 million in arbitration after making just four starts in 2015.
Either way, the rotation figures to be the main focus this winter, as Jose Fernandez and Tom Koehler look to be the only starters locked into rotation spots, while Jarred Cosart, Justin Nicolino, Adam Conley, Jose Urena and David Phelps will be in the running as well.
First Baseman
The Marlins got a terrific season from 27-year-old rookie Justin Bour at first base after free-agent signing Michael Morse proved to be a flop.
Bour posted an .800 OPS with 23 home runs and 73 RBI in 409 at-bats, but he hit just .221/.293/.279 with zero home runs against left-handed pitching, so at the very least, the team will need to find him a suitable platoon partner.
Bringing back Casey McGehee is one option, while the team could also make a run at someone like Steve Pearce as more of a super-utility guy to bolster the bench as a whole.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Kyle Lohse, 1B Adam Lind (option)
Shopping List
Center Fielder
Trading Carlos Gomez to the Houston Astros at the deadline left a clear void in center field for the Milwaukee Brewers heading into the 2016 season.
Domingo Santana saw the bulk of the time there down the stretch, but he was clearly a corner outfielder playing center field, as his defensive metrics (-3 DRS, -26.6 UZR/150) were awful. Prospect Brett Phillips likely won't be ready until 2017, so a stop-gap signing like Rajai Davis or Austin Jackson makes sense.
Third Baseman
With Aramis Ramirez traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline and set to retire either way, third base is now a fairly large hole for the Brewers.
Hernan Perez and Elian Herrera split the playing time after Ramirez was dealt, but both players profile better as utility infielders than everyday options at any one position. Promoting shortstop prospect Orlando Arcia and shifting Jean Segura to third base is one potential approach, but Milwaukee could also go outside the organization to fill the hole.
Veteran Starting Pitcher
The Brewers have a number of young arms set to compete for rotation spots in 2016, as Jimmy Nelson, Wily Peralta and Taylor Jungmann appear to be locked into three spots, and Zach Davies, Ariel Pena, Tyler Wagner, Jorge Lopez and Tyler Cravy will all be in the mix behind them.
Matt Garza is also still owed $25 million over the next two seasons, so he'll be starting if the team doesn't find a way to move him. Still, even with all of those options, adding a veteran innings-eater to provide some depth and leadership is a possibility.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Mike Pelfrey, RP Brian Duensing, RP Blaine Boyer, RP Neal Cotts
Shopping List
Left-Handed Reliever
The Minnesota Twins' top two left-handed relievers beyond closer Glen Perkins—Brian Duensing and Neal Cotts—are both headed for free agency, and the only other real in-house option is Aaron Thompson, who had a 5.01 ERA in 41 appearances.
That should put the Twins in the market for guys like Antonio Bastardo, Tony Sipp or one of the handful of aging veteran left-handers, like Matt Thornton, Oliver Perez and Joe Beimel.
Starting Pitcher
The Twins have not had much luck spending on starting pitching the past few years, as Ricky Nolasco and Ervin Santana both flopped, and Phil Hughes took a big step backward after signing a big extension.
However, the rotation still remains the big weakness for a team that will have legitimate aspirations to contend again in 2016.
Hughes, Santana, Tommy Milone, Kyle Gibson and Tyler Duffey would likely make up the rotation if the season were to start up again today, while top prospect Jose Berrios will be promoted at some point, but the team should still kick the tires on some other options.
Veteran Presence
Torii Hunter provided far more for the Twins in 2015 than just his on-field production, and he will be a tough presence to replace in a young locker room.
That could make someone like Jonny Gomes a potential target, as the Twins look to replace that leader in the clubhouse.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Key Free Agents
LF Yoenis Cespedes, 2B Daniel Murphy, SP Bartolo Colon, RP Tyler Clippard, RP Bobby Parnell, RP Jerry Blevins, 3B Juan Uribe, 2B Kelly Johnson, RP Eric O'Flaherty
Shopping List
Power Bat
Whether they decide to shell out the money to bring back Yoenis Cespedes or opt to target someone else instead, the New York Mets will need to find that hitter who strikes fear into opposing pitchers in the middle of the lineup.
Lucas Duda had another solid season, a healthy David Wright would certainly help and Michael Conforto could take a big step forward, but the Mets offense was nothing short of anemic before acquiring Cespedes, and the team can't afford to regress to that level once again by not adding an impact power bat.
Setup Reliever
Jeurys Familia would appear to be locked into the closer's role for the Mets going forward, and rookie Hansel Robles had a nice season, but the Mets' need of a proven setup option became abundantly clear when they continued to lean on Tyler Clippard and Addison Reed during the postseason despite their struggles.
Reed will be back next season alongside Robles, but adding a veteran setup man—ideally a left-handed one—would help shore up the bullpen as a whole.
Infield Depth
Assuming Daniel Murphy walks and neither Juan Uribe nor Kelly Johnson is re-signed, the Mets will need to add some infield depth in the offseason.
Lining up with Dilson Herrera at second base, Wilmer Flores at shortstop, Wright at third base and Ruben Tejada as the utility infielder looks solid to open the year, but considering Herrera is still unproven and Wright is a safe bet to miss time, more proven depth is a must.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Key Free Agents
2B Stephen Drew, OF Chris Young, RP Chris Capuano, IF Brendan Ryan (option)
Shopping List
Position-Player Depth
Outside of the late-season injury to Mark Teixeira and some time missed by Jacoby Ellsbury earlier in the year, the New York Yankees' aging core of position players stayed surprisingly healthy in 2015.
Counting on that once again would be risky, and adding some position-player depth in the form of a versatile player like Ben Zobrist—or on a lesser scale, Sean Rodriguez or Kelly Johnson—would better prepare the team for any potential injuries.
Right-Handed Reliever
Since the start of the 2014 season, no one has thrown more innings without starting a game than the 174 tossed by All-Star Dellin Betances.
Part of that is the Yankees handing him the ball early and often thanks to how dominant he's been, but part of it is the Yankees simply not having another right-handed bullpen arm they trust. Signing a Darren O'Day or a Joakim Soria could help protect Betances from being burned out in the years to come.
Starting Pitcher
Many would point to the starting rotation as the biggest area of need for the Yankees, but the chances of a splash signing to add a starter appear slim.
As things currently stand, the rotation would be Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Luis Severino, Nathan Eovaldi and someone from the trio of Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia and Adam Warren, with Bryan Mitchell and Chase Whitley providing depth.
That's not a bad potential rotation, but there is no shortage of injury risk, so at the very least, signing a low-cost starter to provide some depth seems necessary.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Edward Mujica
Shopping List
Relief Pitchers
After ranking third in the majors with a 2.91 ERA from their bullpen in 2014, the Oakland Athletics' relief corps turned into a complete dumpster fire this past season, as it posted a 4.63 ERA and converted just 28 of 53 save chances.
A healthy season from Sean Doolittle would help, but this would appear to be a complete overhaul situation with more than just a couple of arms needed to turn things around.
Infield Depth
The A's finally found an infield alignment that worked down the stretch, as they went with Brett Lawrie at second base, Marcus Semien at shortstop and waiver claim Danny Valencia at third base.
That is likely how they will open the 2016 season, alongside a platoon of Mark Canha and Ike Davis at first base, but adding some depth to the mix other than Eric Sogard would be a nice use of whatever minimal funds the team does decide to spend this offseason.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Aaron Harang, OF Jeff Francoeur, SP Cliff Lee, SP Chad Billingsley, SP Jerome Williams
Shopping List
A Veteran Starting Pitcher or Two to Flip at the Deadline
One solid approach to rebuilding that has yielded good results in recent years is to take a chance on signing a veteran starting pitcher looking to bounce back and then flipping him at the deadline if he does in fact rebound.
The Chicago Cubs did it with Scott Feldman and Jason Hammel, using them in deals to acquire Jake Arrieta and Addison Russell, and the Philadelphia Phillies would be wise to do it this winter as they fill out the rotation behind Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff.
Mat Latos, Doug Fister and Bud Norris all fit the bill.
Right Fielder
This Phillies team is not going to be spending big in free agency for the next several years, but it could look to bring aboard some offensive help in the form of an everyday right fielder.
The low-cost route would be to re-sign Jeff Francoeur, who proved to be a pleasant surprise by posting a .718 OPS with 13 home runs and 45 RBI in 326 at-bats.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP J.A. Happ, RP Joakim Soria, RP Antonio Bastardo, UT Sean Rodriguez, RP Joe Blanton, 1B Corey Hart, OF Travis Snider, SP A.J. Burnett (retired), 3B Aramis Ramirez (retired)
Shopping List
Stop-Gap First Baseman
With an $8.1 million projected salary, and after the Pirates shopped him at the deadline despite being a clear contender, Pedro Alvarez's days in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform appear to be numbered.
He was nothing short of a disaster defensively (-14 DRS, -26.4 UZR/150) in his first full season as a first baseman, and while his 27 home runs were nice, he was a 0.1 WAR player at the end of the day.
While an upgrade seems necessary, the team also won't want to block prospect Josh Bell, who reached Triple-A this past season and is the future at the position. A one-year deal for someone like Justin Morneau could be the answer.
Starting Pitcher
With A.J. Burnett retiring and standout deadline pickup J.A. Happ (11 GS, 7-2, 1.85 ERA) boosting his free-agent price tag significantly, the Pirates will be in the market for at least one starting pitcher.
Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke appear to have three spots filled, and top prospect Tyler Glasnow could come along at some point. Perhaps another reclamation project like Mat Latos or Doug Fister could be the answer, though simply re-signing Happ is a solid possibility as well.
Setup Reliever
The Pirates bullpen led all of baseball with a 2.67 ERA in 2015, but it will be losing three key pieces in Joakim Soria (29 G, 2.03 ERA), Antonio Bastardo (66 G, 2.98 ERA) and Joe Blanton (21 G, 1.57 ERA).
Tony Watson and Mark Melancon are still a dynamic one-two punch, and guys like Jared Hughes and Arquimedes Caminero will also be back, but look for the team to add at least one solid bullpen arm to the mix.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Key Free Agents
LF Justin Upton, SP Ian Kennedy, RP Shawn Kelley, SP Josh Johnson, SP Brandon Morrow, SP Bud Norris, RP Joaquin Benoit (option), SS Clint Barmes (option), SP Cory Luebke (option)
Shopping List
Shortstop
Relying mostly on the light-hitting platoon of Clint Barmes and Alexi Amarista, the San Diego Padres got a .228/.279/.365 line with 14 home runs and 57 RBI from the shortstop position this past season.
An argument can be made that the team needs to focus more on defense as a whole, but at the same time, finding a way to get more offensive production out of the shortstop position would be nice. A run at Ian Desmond is not out of the question, while Asdrubal Cabrera would be a much cheaper alternative.
Center Fielder
Wil Myers is not a center fielder, and Melvin Upton can't be counted on as an everyday player.
That leaves the Padres in the market for a center fielder, unless they feel comfortable turning things over to Travis Jankowski.
The 24-year-old hit .335/.413/.425 with 32 steals in 379 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A last year, but he struggled after being called up (.211/.245/.344 line over 90 at-bats).
Starting Pitching
The level of need for a starting pitcher depends largely on what the Padres do on the trade market, as Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and James Shields are all expected to be available for the right return.
Either way, with Ian Kennedy set to hit free agency, the team figures to be looking for at least one starter. Petco Park remains as attractive a destination as any for free-agent pitchers, so it's simply a matter of how aggressive the team decides to be and what direction it is headed for 2016.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Mike Leake, SP Tim Lincecum, SP Ryan Vogelsong, IF Joaquin Arias, SP Tim Hudson (retired), RP Jeremy Affeldt (retired), OF Marlon Byrd (option), OF Nori Aoki (option)
Shopping List
Two Starting Pitchers, One of the Front-Line Variety
The time has come for the San Francisco Giants to waive goodbye to Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong and seriously retool the starting rotation.
Next year's rotation should look something like this, with anything Matt Cain can provide as icing on the cake as opposed to relying on him to fill a rotation spot.
- 1. Madison Bumgarner
- 2. Free-Agent Signing
- 3. Jake Peavy
- 4. Free-Agent Signing
- 5. Chris Heston
Something like signing Jordan Zimmermann to be the No. 2 guy and re-signing Mike Leake to serve as the No. 4 starter would be the best-case scenario.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Hisashi Iwakuma, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RP Joe Beimel
Shopping List
Hisashi Iwakuma
Shortly after taking over as general manager, Jerry Dipoto made it clear that re-signing Hisashi Iwakuma would be a priority for the Seattle Mariners this offseason, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN.
The 34-year-old went 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 20 starts this past season, going 3-2 with a 2.03 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in six September starts.
Relief Pitchers
There has been a pretty obvious connection between bullpen performance and win-loss record for the Seattle Mariners over the past three seasons:
- 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, and it should start with finding a proven closer.
Left Fielder
Seth Smith, Dustin Ackley, Franklin Gutierrez, Mark Trumbo, Rickie Weeks, Brad Miller, Willie Bloomquist, Justin Ruggiano, Shawn O'Malley and Logan Morrison all started at least one game in left field for the Mariners in 2015.
Re-signing Gutierrez and platooning him with Smith would be the low-cost answer to the position in 2016, but the team could also look to make a splash by signing one of the top outfielders on the market. Could this finally be the winter where Justin Upton comes to Seattle?
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Key Free Agents
RF Jason Heyward, SP John Lackey, RP Matt Belisle, RP Randy Choate, RP Carlos Villanueva, RP Jonathan Broxton
Shopping List
Jason Heyward
There is no question the top priority for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason will be re-signing Jason Heyward, as the 26-year-old has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone with an aging group of core players.
Giving up Shelby Miller will be tough to justify if it winds up being for just one season of Heyward, and while it could cost something like $200 million over eight years, it's money worth spending for a Cardinals team with no glaring needs to address.
If Heyward does walk, don't expect the team to break the bank on a different outfielder, as there is nothing wrong with a starting outfield of Matt Holliday, Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty.
Right-Handed Setup Reliever
Jordan Walden was expected to be the primary right-handed setup man for the Cardinals after he was also acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Heyward deal, but he made just 12 appearances before landing on the disabled list with a shoulder strain on May 6.
The injury was originally expected to keep him sidelined for six to 10 weeks, but it ended up being season-ending. An offseason of rest could get him back to 100 percent, but adding another righty setup arm wouldn't hurt in case the injury winds up requiring surgery.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Key Free Agents
SS Asdrubal Cabrera, DH John Jaso, OF Grady Sizemore
Shopping List
Shortstop
The Tampa Bay Rays signed Asdrubal Cabrera to a one-year, $7.5 million deal last offseason to be their everyday shortstop, and he delivered a solid season with a .265/.315/.430 line that included 28 doubles, 15 home runs and 58 RBI.
He may be able to get a multiyear deal this winter as a result, and he's probably in line for more money than the Rays will be willing to spend. Prospect Daniel Robertson reached Double-A in 2015, but he's still probably a year away, so the team will be looking for another stop-gap.
Catcher
The catcher position has been a black hole offensively for the Rays for years now, dating back to a young Dioner Navarro making the All-Star team in 2008.
Curt Casali and J.P. Arencibia provided some surprising stretches of power this past season, but the position still produced just a .201/.239/.362 line overall.
They won't break the bank for Matt Wieters, but a low-cost signing like Chris Iannetta or Geovany Soto splitting time with Casali could still prove to be a significant improvement in offensive production.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Yovani Gallardo, SP Colby Lewis, 1B Mike Napoli, OF Will Venable, OF Drew Stubbs, OF Kyle Blanks, RP Ross Ohlendorf
Shopping List
No. 5 Starter
Assuming Yu Darvish is ready to go by Opening Day, the Texas Rangers will open the season with Darvish, Cole Hamels, Derek Holland and Martin Perez filling the first four spots in the rotation.
The No. 5 starter spot could go to Nick Martinez or Chi Chi Gonzalez, who both showed flashes this past season, but re-signing either Yovani Gallardo or Colby Lewis also seems like a fairly reasonable possibility.
Gallardo would cost significantly more in both years and annual value, but he's also six-plus years younger and possesses more upside at this point.
With no other glaring areas of need, the Rangers could also kick the tires on some second-tier starters if they're willing to spend a bit more money, and if that's the case, we could potentially be talking about one of the best rotations in all of baseball.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP David Price, SP Marco Estrada, RP Mark Lowe, C Dioner Navarro, IF/P Cliff Pennington, IF Darwin Barney, SP Mark Buehrle (retired), RP LaTroy Hawkins (retired), RF Jose Bautista (option), DH Edwin Encarnacion (option), SP R.A. Dickey (option), IF Maicer Izturis (option)
Shopping List
No. 1 Starter
Whether they re-sign David Price or make a push for one of the other top starting pitchers on the market, the Toronto Blue Jays have a clear need for a second front-line starter to pair with a healthy Marcus Stroman at the top of the rotation.
Price went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts after joining the Blue Jays, and while he struggled in the postseason once again, there is little question the 30-year-old is one of the game's true aces.
Another Starting Pitcher
Beyond landing a top-of-the-rotation arm, the Blue Jays will also need to sign at least one other starter, with Mark Buehrle set to retire and Marco Estrada also heading for free agency.
There will no doubt be interest in re-signing Estrada after he went 13-8 with a 3.13 ERA this past season, but at the same time, he looks like a rather obvious regression candidate (4.40 FIP, .216 BABIP). The Jays may opt to let someone else pay for his 2015 performance and target someone else instead.
Either way, with Stroman and R.A. Dickey looking like the only locks for the 2016 rotation, their interest in the pitching market will go beyond just finding an ace.
Relief Pitchers
Roberto Osuna looks like a future star in the closer's role for the Blue Jays, and they have some other solid bullpen pieces in Brett Cecil, Liam Hendriks and Aaron Loup.
However, there's a good chance eighth-inning man Aaron Sanchez returns to a starting role this coming year, and both LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe will be gone, so expect the team to target a few relievers on top of its search for starting pitching.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Jordan Zimmermann, SS Ian Desmond, CF Denard Span, SP Doug Fister, RP Matt Thornton, RP Casey Janssen (option), OF Nate McLouth (option)
Shopping List
Leadoff Hitter
The Washington Nationals would appear to have a clear replacement for Denard Span in Michael Taylor, but he does not necessarily profile as a leadoff hitter—at least not yet.
While he showed a good mix of power and speed in the minors and has significant upside, the 24-year-old hit just .229/.282/.358 in 472 at-bats as a rookie, and until he cuts down on his strikeouts (30.9 percent) and takes more walks (6.8 percent), it will be tough to bat him first.
Left-Handed Reliever
Matt Thornton posted a 2.18 ERA, 1.065 WHIP and had 18 holds in 60 appearances for the Nationals this past season, but the 39-year-old is a free agent and may not be re-signed considering his age.
Felipe Rivero emerged as a solid second lefty option, making 49 appearances with a 2.79 ERA and 0.952 WHIP, and he could step into that left-handed setup role, but the team will still be in the market for a second southpaw this winter.
All standard statistics and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while defensive metrics like DRS and UZR/150 come via FanGraphs. Projected arbitration salaries come from MLB Trade Rumors.
