10 MLB Teams Who Need to Get Busy This Offseason
The New York Mets surprised fans by making a run to the World Series. That New York fan base now wants more than just a pennant.
A professional sports competition such as Major League Baseball is a "what have you done for me lately" business. The Mets are about to learn that the hard way. Winning the National League Championship Series and playing in five World Series games was a pleasant surprise from a team that has been a disappointment for several years.
Welcome to New York, where fans are only truly pleased when they are celebrating titles and attending parades.
We have entered the "hot stove" portion of the MLB calendar. It is that magical time of the year when free-agent ace pitchers sign life-changing deals and when any available sluggers are swooped up by teams willing to overpay for power hitters.
World Series winners are not bought via free agency as they were during the 1990s and parts of the 2000s. True contenders to the throne use this period to build on solid foundations that were previously created via drafts and prior signings.
Each of the 10 teams that are spotlighted in this piece could be in it to win it in October 2016. All of them would do well to get busy this offseason. Every day that passes could represent a lost opportunity for a club that is a few players away from being a World Series contender.
Even the team that celebrated winning it all earlier this month needs to be back on the clock as Thanksgiving Day approaches.
Chicago Cubs
1 of 10
Fans of the Chicago Cubs may still have bitter tastes in their mouths. It has not, after all, been even a full month since the Cubs were swept out of the NLCS by the buzz saw that was the New York Mets. Chicago could do nothing as Daniel Murphy turned into Lou Gehrig and as New York pitchers silenced the bats of the Cubs.
Better days are coming, Cubs fans.
The first order of business is to acquire an ace to link up with Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester. Forbes contributor Evan Massey believes the Cubs should target David Price. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has reported that the Cubs are looking to bring Jeff Samardzija back to the club. Signing either one or breaking the bank for Zack Greinke would put the Cubs in a position to overtake the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Just move fast, Cubs, so that you don't miss out on the starter of your choice.
St. Louis Cardinals
2 of 10
The St. Louis Cardinals are the prototype for building a roster. St. Louis handles its business professionally. The Cardinals have not been among the final two teams standing as of late, but they have, more often than not, been a safe bet to make the playoffs.
Don't look now, but we could be on the cusp of a power shift in the National League Central.
Free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward is going to get paid. This much we know. As Scott Wuerz of the Belleville News-Democrat explained, St. Louis fans are split as it pertains to free agency. Some want the club to splash cash to retain Heyward and to bring an ace such as David Price to St. Louis. Others, however, respect that the Cardinals have been fiscally responsible.
The Chicago Cubs have shown that they are willing to spend money. Chicago was swept by the New York Mets in the NLCS, but the Cubs will nevertheless be picked by experts to win the division, the pennant and even the World Series when pitchers and catchers report in Februrary.
St. Louis needs to re-sign or replace Heyward. The club must acquire a top-notch starter. Choosing what to do with Matt Holliday is, per Jake Hasan of Baseball Essential, also a task that should be completed this offseason. Holliday is, per Spotrac, signed through 2016 with an option for '17. He will also be turning 36 years old in January. The time to fetch anything of worth for Holliday is now.
Even doing all of that may not be enough for the Cardinals to finish ahead of the Cubs in the standings next year.
Pittsburgh Pirates
3 of 10
Fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates really can't complain this offseason. It was not all that long ago when the Pirates were MLB laughingstocks that were out of contention before All-Star Games. Pittsburgh now has a solid core, and the club has done well to provide a starved fanbase with postseason baseball on multiple occasions.
None of that means that fans are not growing tired of one-and-done playoff appearances.
ESPN Senior Writer Jayson Stark explained earlier this week that the Pirates began their offseason in October:
"The Pirates and Marlins quietly worked out a seemingly uneven trade last month that was arranged because Pittsburgh demanded compensation in exchange for allowing highly regarded special assistant Jim Benedict to take a job with Miami, multiple sources told ESPN.com.
The deal, which was announced Oct. 24, sent one of the Marlins' top pitching prospects, right-hander Trevor Williams, to Pittsburgh in exchange for right-hander Richard Mitchell, whom several scouts described as a non-prospect.
Williams, 23, went into last season ranked as Miami's No. 6 overall prospect and No. 4 pitching prospect, according to ESPN's Keith Law.
"
That move does not fill the hole that the Pirates have at first base. The Pirates lost out on Byung-ho Park when the Minnesota Twins won his rights. Josh Bell is, per Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects, the team's first baseman of the future. Forcing that future to begin in April could be a mistake.
.png?w=256)
Washington Nationals
4 of 10
No team in Major League Baseball was a bigger disappointment than the Washington Nationals. Yes, the Nationals were burdened by injuries. Those setbacks do not erase what was a complete choke by a team that was, on paper, good enough to win the National League East and compete for a World Series title. Those running the club agreed with that assessment, as manager Matt Williams was replaced by Dusty Baker.
Where should the Nationals begin? ESPN Senior Writer Eddie Matz is looking at the Washington bullpen:
"Certain numbers would suggest that the Nationals' bullpen did a decent job, as the team finished sixth in the National League in relief ERA. Other numbers? Not so much. Washington's 23 blown saves were third-most in the National League. From Aug. 1 on, when the team really started to nosedive, Nats relievers blew 11 saves, tied for worst in the NL.
"
Matz expects that Washington will look to deal closer Jonathan Papelbon this offseason. That is understandable following the infamous dust-up that featured Papelbon choking Bryce Harper. Drew Storen could also be departing Washington. Landing a reliable closer should be the first order of business for the Nationals.
Toronto Blue Jays
5 of 10
The Toronto Blue Jays gave baseball fans one of the memorable half-innings of the past decade during the ALDS. At the heart of that frame was the moonshot crushed by Jose Bautista, a home run that was followed by maybe the greatest bat flip you will ever see. The Blue Jays were ultimately topped by the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS, but Toronto fans had plenty of reasons to hold their heads high in October.
Returning to the playoffs will not be an easy task for the Blue Jays.
Ace pitcher David Price was always a rental for Toronto. Price was no longer a member of the Blue Jays the instant that Toronto was eliminated from the postseason. As Shi Davidi of Sportsnet explained, Toronto making a major splash in free agency to sign an ace would "mark a significant shift in recent organizational approach." Look for Toronto to instead attempt to rent once again in July.
Toronto has already gotten busy this offseason. The Blue Jays are, according to Joel Sherman of MLB Network/NY Post, on the verge of signing catcher Marco Estrada to a two-year deal. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has linked closer Aroldis Chapman to the Blue Jays.
Toronto wants more than just a bat flip to remember in 2016.
Los Angeles Dodgers
6 of 10
The New York Mets were a horrible NLDS opponent for the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York had the goods to match Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, which is what happened. The lineup of the Dodgers was not strong enough to slug the club past the Mets and into the NLCS.
The Dodgers have not been a team to sulk following postseason letdowns. Still, it has to burn for the Dodgers that the team once again could not get to the mountaintop. There is also the salt in the open wound that is the realization that division rivals the San Francisco Giants have been good to win a World Series practically every other year as of late.
Other teams look to free agency to bolster their rosters. The Dodgers should begin with one of their own. There is no good reason, none whatsoever, that the free-spending Dodgers should not re-sign ace Zack Greinke. Greinke deserves a salary worthy of one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Dodgers have the funds, and they are willing to spend.
Make it so, Los Angeles.
Houston Mitchell of the LA Times thinks that signing Greinke should only be a start for the Dodgers. He also wants the club to pursue starter Wei-Yin Chen, relief pitcher Darren O'Day and infielder Ben Zobrist. Mitchell also thinks that the Dodgers should contact the Miami Marlins about Giancarlo Stanton.
OK. That might be pushing it.
Kansas City Royals
7 of 10
Congratulations go out to the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are World Series champions, and they are the toast of the MLB world! Kansas City assembled a roster that is the envy among general managers who will be attending the winter meetings next month.
Now what?
Those who watched the Royals during the postseason know that the club has a stellar bullpen. Kansas City was not, however, a perfect team in 2015. David Schoenfield of ESPN.com explained:
"The Royals finished third in the American League in runs allowed and sixth in runs scored, so there are areas to address. The bullpen is obviously a strength, but the rotation ranked just 12th in the AL in ERA."
Kansas City may not be the thriftiest of clubs. The Royals also won't be breaking the bank this offseason. Zach Blochlinger of KC Kingdom addressed this when pointing out that pitchers Wei-Yin Chen and Mike Leake could be realistic targets for the Royals.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports believes the Royals will lose two mainstays of the team's World Series lineup. Heyman has claimed that there is a "decent chance" Alex Gordon will sign elsewhere. Heyman also thinks Ben Zobrist will move on.
Filling those gaps is imperative if the Royals are to repeat as champions.
New York Yankees
8 of 10
The New York Yankees do a lot of things well. Being second in their own city is not one of them. That is, however, where the Yankees are this offseason. New York was blue and orange throughout October as the Mets continued to win all the way to a World Series berth. The Big Apple is a Mets town right now, and that might be the case for the next couple of years.
The polarizing Alex Rodriguez is going to continue to play, maybe until his body literally falls apart on the field. You would do the same if you were guaranteed $40 million over the final two seasons of your career, per Spotrac. All the Yankees can do as it pertains to A-Rod is hope that he stays healthy and produces as he did in 2015.
The Yankees have, to their credit, already gotten busy this offseason. Infielder Jose Pirela was sent to the San Diego Padres for reliever Ronald Herrera. Catcher John Ryan Murphy was dealt to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Aaron Hicks.
Those two moves could just be the beginning as general manger Brian Cashman reshapes the New York roster.
Starter C.C. Sabathia, fresh out of a stint in a rehabilitation facility, could, per Ryan Hatch of NJ.com, be on the outs. Veteran first baseman Mark Teixeira has, according to Mike Ortiz Jr. of Did You See That Now, given the Yankees the OK to trade him. ESPN Staff Writer Wallace Matthews thinks the Yankees should pursue ace David Price.
They beat the Mets in 2015. It's now on the Yankees to outdo the Mets.
Cleveland Indians
9 of 10
Each of the following are sure things in life:
- Death
- Taxes
- The Cleveland Indians being a disappointment in April and May
- The Indians needing another bat
- The Indians needing another arm
Offseason acquisitions alone will not fix Cleveland's early-season woes. Manager Terry Francona must find some way to have his team ready to win when it is still chilly along the shoreline of Lake Erie.
This is not to say that the Indians can sit back and relax before pitchers and catchers report. The problem, as was addressed by Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com, is that the Indians will once again not be big spenders in free agency. Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com has put together a realistic list of targets the Indians could pursue.
There is some good talent on that list. Mike Napoli and Justin Morneau stick out. Either would provide a needed boost to the Cleveland lineup.
New York Mets
10 of 10
Even when the New York Mets were cruising past the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS, fans calling into sports-talk radio were already talking about the upcoming offseason and the future of the Mets. That, in a nutshell, describes the nature of the New York sports fan.
The Mets have the makings for what could be a special rotation. Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz should all be there for manager Terry Collins at the start of the 2016 season. Zack Wheeler will return to action at some point during the summer.
There will come a day when the Mets trade one or maybe more of those arms. That day is not today. Collins deserves at least the hope that he will have all five young guns for half of a season. The Mets can worry about the long-term futures of the rotation next offseason.
The events of the postseason, specifically the World Series, showed that the Mets need to bolster the bullpen. Darren O'Day or Joakim Soria could, per Max Wildstein of Scout.com, be answers for the Mets this offseason. Bartolo Colon could also make the shift to full-time bullpen duties. Senior ESPN Staff Writer Adam Rubin believes, however, that Colon wants to be a starter in 2016.
The Mets got a good look at Ben Zobrist during the World Series. New York could, according to Mike Puma of the NY Post, make a former foe a friend this offseason. That would be a solid start for a club that is probably losing Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel Murphy to free agency.
Start spreadin' the news. Mets fans want a World Series in 2016.
.png?w=480)
