MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand After November Hot Stove Action
The MLB offseason doesn't generally kick into high gear until the calendar turns over to December and the winter meetings get underway, but we've had a busy month of November this year.
Jordan Zimmermann was the first marquee free agent to sign, while J.A. Happ, Rich Hill, Chris Iannetta, Alex Avila, A.J. Pierzynski and Franklin Gutierrez are also already off the market.
Meanwhile, the likes of Craig Kimbrel, Andrelton Simmons, Francisco Rodriguez, Joaquin Benoit, Erick Aybar, Nate Karns, Jed Lowrie, Cameron Maybin, Jesse Chavez, Liam Hendriks, Jeremy Hellickson, Leonys Martin, Logan Morrison, Brad Miller, Aaron Hicks and John Ryan Murphy have all moved via trade.
With so much roster shuffling going on already, now seems like the perfect time for the first offseason edition of our MLB power rankings.
The important thing to keep in mind with offseason rankings is that they are not meant to be a prediction for the year ahead.
Instead, they are a look at how teams would stack up with the rosters they currently have if the season were to start today.
Just something worth keeping in mind when considering where your favorite team falls in the following rankings.
The projected rosters at Roster Resource were used as a jumping off point for the projected rosters you'll see in the following article, though some aspects were tweaked to reflect my own personal opinion.
Bolded players indicate a newcomer to the team, while an (R) indicates a player with rookie eligibility intact entering the 2016 season.
30. Philadelphia Phillies (Previous: 30)
1 of 30
Offseason Outlook
With the Philadelphia Phillies still in the very early stages of rebuilding, don't expect much more to be done this offseason after the team already pulled off a trade to add Jeremy Hellickson to the starting rotation.
The 28-year-old Hellickson is a nice buy-low candidate, and at the very least should help eat some innings on a young staff.
A potential trade of closer Ken Giles is the story worth keeping any eye on at the winter meetings. His salary and five remaining years of team control make him an interesting alternative to teams not willing to pay for the likes of Aroldis Chapman or Mark Melancon.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
2B Cesar Hernandez
CF Odubel Herrera
3B Maikel Franco
1B Ryan Howard
RF Aaron Altherr
LF Cody Asche
SS Freddy Galvis
C Carlos Ruiz
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Aaron Nola
SP Jeremy Hellickson
SP Jerad Eickhoff
SP Matt Harrison
SP Adam Morgan
CL Ken Giles
29. Colorado Rockies (Previous: 27)
2 of 30
Offseason Outlook
After trading Troy Tulowitzki in July and declining their option on first baseman Justin Morneau, it stands to reason that the Colorado Rockies have a bit more money to spend this winter than in years past.
It likely won't be enough for them to add the front-line pitching they so desperately need, but they should be able to do better than Kyle Kendrick as far as who they do eventually wind up targeting.
Trading Jose Reyes to open up the shortstop position for Trevor Story is one move they'll likely consider, while selling high on Carlos Gonzalez after he finally managed to stay healthy and productive this past season may be a wise move as well.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Charlie Blackmon
SS Jose Reyes
RF Carlos Gonzalez
3B Nolan Arenado
LF Corey Dickerson
1B Ben Paulsen
C Nick Hundley
2B DJ LeMahieu
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Jorge De La Rosa
SP Chad Bettis
SP Jordan Lyles
SP Chris Rusin
SP Jon Gray
CL Miguel Castro (R)
28. Atlanta Braves (Previous: 29)
3 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Atlanta Braves have continued their aggressive efforts to add young talent this offseason with a blockbuster deal that sent defensive whiz Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels.
They've balked at the idea of trading Freddie Freeman, but could still look to flip either Julio Teheran or Shelby Miller for the right price in the days and weeks to come.
Interestingly enough, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports listed them among the front-runners for the services of Ben Zobrist. Then again, they signed Nick Markakis to a four-year deal last offseason in the middle of what was otherwise a busy sell-off.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Michael Bourn
RF Nick Markakis
1B Freddie Freeman
LF Hector Olivera (R)
SS Erick Aybar
C A.J. Pierzynski
3B Adonis Garcia
2B Jace Peterson
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Shelby Miller
SP Julio Teheran
SP Matt Wisler
SP Manny Banuelos
SP Bud Norris
CL Arodys Vizcaino
27. Milwaukee Brewers (Previous: 25)
4 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Milwaukee Brewers already pulled the trigger on trading closer Francisco Rodriguez earlier this offseason, and there could be a number of other moves made before the winter is over.
Catcher Jonathan Lucroy could be a hot topic at the winter meetings now that the free-agent catching market has essentially run dry, while first baseman Adam Lind is perhaps the most likely player to be moved after the team picked up his $8 million option.
On the other side of things, the team could look to add a third baseman and a center fielder, as Domingo Santana is still better suited for a corner outfield spot despite spending the bulk of his time in center down the stretch.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
SS Jean Segura
C Jonathan Lucroy
RF Ryan Braun
1B Adam Lind
LF Khris Davis
CF Domingo Santana
2B Scooter Gennett
3B Jonathan Villar
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Jimmy Nelson
SP Wily Peralta
SP Matt Garza
SP Taylor Jungmann
SP Zach Davies
CL Corey Knebel
26. Miami Marlins (Previous: 24)
5 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The No. 1 priority for the Miami Marlins this offseason appears to be coming to terms on an extension with NL batting champ Dee Gordon.
The two sides are already working on a new deal for the 27-year-old, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, after he led the NL in batting average (.333), hits (205) and stolen bases (58) this past season while also winning his first Gold Glove.
As for their potential wheelings and dealings, outfielder Marcell Ozuna is still a strong candidate to be traded after seemingly falling out of favor.
The team is looking for pitching in return, specifically a No. 2-starter type to help anchor the rotation behind Jose Fernandez.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
2B Dee Gordon
LF Christian Yelich
RF Giancarlo Stanton
1B Justin Bour
3B Martin Prado
CF Marcell Ozuna
C J.T. Realmuto
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Jose Fernandez
SP Jarred Cosart
SP Tom Koehler
SP Adam Conley
SP David Phelps
CL A.J. Ramos
25. Baltimore Orioles (Previous: 16)
6 of 30
Offseason Outlook
No team stands to lose more this offseason in free agency than the Baltimore Orioles, and that's even after catcher Matt Wieters made the somewhat surprising decision to accept his qualifying offer.
Chris Davis, Wei-Yin Chen, Darren O'Day, Gerardo Parra and Steve Pearce are all free agents.
Ideally the team would be able to re-sign Davis and still make a push to add a quality starting pitcher to the rotation, but that will likely only happen if Davis is willing to take a little less money to stay in Baltimore.
Per Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun:
"According to sources, the Orioles ultimately don’t believe they’ll be the highest bidder for Davis, who is 29 and has hit more homers than any other major leaguer in the past four years. One source said that the organization would not be comfortable agreeing to a $150-175 million deal with Davis, which seems like it could be the market range.
"
At the same time, the Orioles can't wait around on Davis for too long with a number of other potential needs that could be addressed.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
RF Nolan Reimold
2B Jonathan Schoop
3B Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
DH Jimmy Paredes
SS J.J. Hardy
1B Christian Walker
LF Henry Urrutia
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Chris Tillman
SP Ubaldo Jimenez
SP Miguel Gonzalez
SP Kevin Gausman
SP Mike Wright
CL Zach Britton
24. Cincinnati Reds (Previous: 28)
7 of 30
Offseason Outlook
It's been a quiet offseason so far for the Cincinnati Reds, but that's unlikely to continue beyond the winter meetings.
Closer Aroldis Chapman is a lock to be moved ahead of his final year of team control, while outfielder Jay Bruce and third baseman Todd Frazier also look like potential trade chips.
While they have a wealth of young pitching, it might not be a bad idea to add a veteran presence to the rotation to help eat some innings and serve as a mentor.
Moving Eugenio Suarez to left field is something the team will have to consider now that Zack Cozart is back healthy. Suarez is open to moving wherever he's need, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
2B Brandon Phillips
1B Joey Votto
3B Todd Frazier
RF Jay Bruce
C Devin Mesoraco
LF Eugenio Suarez
SS Zack Cozart
CF Billy Hamilton
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Anthony DeSclafani
SP Raisel Iglesias
SP Michael Lorenzen
SP John Lamb
SP Brandon Finnegan
CL Aroldis Chapman
23. Chicago White Sox (Previous: 22)
8 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Chicago White Sox were among the most aggressive teams in all of baseball last offseason, trading for Jeff Samardzija and signing David Robertson, Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and Zach Duke in an effort to make a serious run at contention.
Things didn't work out as planned, though, and now the question becomes just how aggressive they'll be this time around with a number of holes to be plugged.
Other than Jose Abreu at first base, the entire infield is in flux, though some combination of Carlos Sanchez and Micah Johnson figures to draw the assignment at second base.
They may also look to add a right-handed starter to round out the rotation, unless they feel comfortable with Erik Johnson bridging the gap to top prospect Frankie Montas.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Adam Eaton
LF Melky Cabrera
1B Jose Abreu
DH Adam LaRoche
RF Avisail Garcia
C Alex Avila
3B Mike Olt
SS Tyler Saladino
2B Carlos Sanchez
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Chris Sale
SP Jose Quintana
SP Carlos Rodon
SP John Danks
SP Erik Johnson
CL David Robertson
22. Oakland Athletics (Previous: 26)
9 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Oakland Athletics and team president Billy Beane have made it clear that they have no intention of trading either Sonny Gray or Josh Reddick this offseason, so there's a good chance the team does more adding than subtracting between now and the start of the season.
The acquisition of Jed Lowrie has given the team an abundance of second base/third base players and, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the team is likely to trade either Brett Lawrie or Danny Valencia as a result.
Flipping swingman Jesse Chavez, who was set to hit free agency after the 2016 season, for hard-throwing reliever Liam Hendriks and his four remaining years of team control has been perhaps the best under-the-radar move of the offseason so far.
The A's also have a history of activity on the Rule 5 draft front, getting solid production out of Mark Canha this past season and also selecting Nate Freiman in 2013, so keep an eye on who they select if anyone.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Billy Burns
1B Mark Canha
RF Josh Reddick
DH Billy Butler
C Stephen Vogt
3B Jed Lowrie
LF Danny Valencia
2B Brett Lawrie
SS Marcus Semien
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Sonny Gray
SP Jesse Hahn
SP Rich Hill
SP Kendall Graveman
SP Chris Bassitt
CL Sean Doolittle
21. San Diego Padres (Previous: 19)
10 of 30
Offseason Outlook
No team was more aggressive last offseason than the San Diego Padres, as new general manager A.J. Preller threw caution to the wind in his efforts to put a contender on the field.
Unfortunately, the end results was a 74-88 record, as their win total actually declined by three games over the previous season.
Relievers Craig Kimbrel and Joaquin Benoit have already been jettisoned for prospects, and the team could still shop starter Tyson Ross and right fielder Matt Kemp, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Expect the team to add a shortstop of some sort, and they have shown some level of interest in top free agent Ian Desmond, per Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
2B Cory Spangenberg
3B Yangervis Solarte
RF Matt Kemp
LF Wil Myers
1B Yonder Alonso
C Derek Norris
CF Melvin Upton Jr.
SS Alexi Amarista
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Tyson Ross
SP James Shields
SP Andrew Cashner
SP Robbie Erlin
SP Colin Rea
CL Brandon Maurer
20. Minnesota Twins (Previous: 12)
11 of 30
Offseason Outlook
It's been a busy offseason already for the Minnesota Twins, as they traded outfielder Aaron Hicks to the New York Yankees for catcher John Ryan Murphy and also posted the winning bid for Korean slugger Byung-Ho Park.
They've yet to come to terms on a deal with Park, but he's currently in Minnesota meeting with the team and it looks like a safe bet that the two sides will come to terms at this point.
That will likely make third baseman Trevor Plouffe a trade chip, with Miguel Sano moving to third base and Park serving as the primary designated hitter.
Improving the bullpen will become the top priority once Park is officially signed, and flipping Plouffe for some quality relief help is a very real possibility, especially considering his value should be relatively high among a weak crop of free-agent third basemen.
The starting rotation still looks like a weakness, though, and this is a team that may have played over its head a bit last year.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Byron Buxton
2B Brian Dozier
1B Joe Mauer
3B Miguel Sano
DH Byung-Ho Park (R)
LF Eddie Rosario
RF Max Kepler (R)
SS Eduardo Escobar
C John Ryan Murphy
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Phil Hughes
SP Ervin Santana
SP Kyle Gibson
SP Tommy Milone
SP Tyler Duffey
CL Glen Perkins
19. Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous: 17)
12 of 30
Offseason Outlook
Just how aggressive will the Arizona Diamondbacks be in their pursuit of a top-of-the-rotation starter this offseason?
The team reportedly offered up a six-year, $120 million deal to free agent Johnny Cueto, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, which he declined as he continues to weigh his options.
They are also still hot on the trail of Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda, who GM Dave Stewart has liked for some time now.
"We've scouted him," Stewart told Gilbert. "So he would have to be in consideration. I would think that overall we feel it's going to help our team. He could be another option"
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
RF Ender Inciarte
CF A.J. Pollock
1B Paul Goldschmidt
LF David Peralta
C Welington Castillo
3B Jake Lamb
2B Chris Owings
SS Nick Ahmed
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Patrick Corbin
SP Rubby De La Rosa
SP Archie Bradley
SP Robbie Ray
SP Chase Anderson
CL Brad Ziegler
18. Tampa Bay Rays (Previous: 18)
13 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Tampa Bay Rays picked up a trio of solid contributors in a six-player deal with the Seattle Mariners earlier this offseason, as Brad Miller and Logan Morrison figure to be key pieces of the offense and reliever Danny Farquhar should see plenty of high-leverage work.
The trading may not be finished either, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Relievers Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger have both garnered a good deal of interest, first baseman James Loney is expected to be on the block and the team could still look to flip another young starter for offense even after trading Nate Karns in the aforementioned deal.
This was an 80-82 team this past season despite no one topping 80 RBI and only Evan Longoria (21) slugging more than 20 home runs. Any sort of offensive upgrade and a healthy rotation could mean a return to the postseason.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Kevin Kiermaier
RF Steven Souza
3B Evan Longoria
1B James Loney
2B Logan Forsythe
DH Logan Morrison
LF Desmond Jennings
C Curt Casali
SS Brad Miller
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Chris Archer
SP Jake Odorizzi
SP Drew Smyly
SP Erasmo Ramirez
SP Matt Moore
CL Brad Boxberger
17. Seattle Mariners (Previous: 21)
14 of 30
Offseason Outlook
New general manager Jerry Dipoto has wasted little time putting his stamp on the Seattle Mariners, but there is still further work to be done this winter.
Trading for Nate Karns gives the team some needed rotation depth if they're unable to re-sign Hisashi Iwakuma, landing Joaquin Benoit bolsters a bullpen that took a huge step back in 2015 and Leonys Martin shores up what had been a revolving door in center field.
Signing catcher Chris Iannetta to a one-year, $4.25 million deal is also a nice under-the-radar move that at the very least should allow Mike Zunino some time to figure things out in the minors if need be.
Mark Trumbo is projected to earn $9.1 million in arbitration, so don't be surprised if he's traded or non-tendered and the team looks to go another direction at first base.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
SS Ketel Marte
3B Kyle Seager
RF Nelson Cruz
2B Robinson Cano
1B Mark Trumbo
LF Seth Smith
DH Jesus Montero
C Chris Iannetta
CF Leonys Martin
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Felix Hernandez
SP Taijuan Walker
SP Nate Karns
SP James Paxton
SP Mike Montgomery
CL Joaquin Benoit
16. Cleveland Indians (Previous: 15)
15 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Cleveland Indians are generally quiet when it comes to offseason trades and free-agent signings, as their big move of the winter last year was acquiring Brandon Moss from the Oakland Athletics.
Something needs to be done to upgrade the offense though if they hope to legitimately contend, and that goes double with Michael Brantley expected to begin the season on the disabled list following shoulder surgery.
A stopgap in center field until Bradley Zimmer or Tyler Naquin is ready to step in looks like a clear need, while the team will also need to decide what to do at third base, where Giovanny Urshela, Jose Ramirez and Lonnie Chisenhall are all potential options.
Flipping a starting pitcher for a bat remains a possibility, though the asking price will be justifiably steep on both Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
2B Jason Kipnis
SS Francisco Lindor
C Yan Gomes
1B Carlos Santana
RF Lonnie Chisenhall
DH Chris Johnson
3B Giovanny Urshela
*LF Jerry Sands
CF Abraham Almonte
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Corey Kluber
SP Carlos Carrasco
SP Danny Salazar
SP Trevor Bauer
SP Josh Tomlin
CL Cody Allen
*LF Michael Brantley expected to be sidelined to start the season (shoulder surgery).
15. Los Angeles Angels (Previous: 11)
16 of 30
Offseason Outlook
While the move to acquire Andrelton Simmons from the Atlanta Braves will undoubtedly make the Los Angeles Angels a better team, there is still a lot of work to be done on the position player side of things.
Second base, third base and left field are all clear holes, and the team is in desperate need of some quality left-handed hitting and another run producer to help take some of the pressure off Mike Trout and Albert Pujols.
They have the money to sign an impact bat on the free-agent market, but they could also look to deal from their starting pitching depth to improve the offense.
Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver, Hector Santiago, Andrew Heaney, C.J. Wilson, Matt Shoemaker, Nick Tropeano and eventually Tyler Skaggs will all be options for the rotation.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
2B Johnny Giavotella
RF Kole Calhoun
CF Mike Trout
DH C.J. Cron
*1B Efren Navarro
C Carlos Perez
SS Andrelton Simmons
3B Kyle Kubitza (R)
LF Collin Cowgill
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Garrett Richards
SP Jered Weaver
SP Hector Santiago
SP Andrew Heaney
SP C.J. Wilson
CL Huston Street
*1B Albert Pujols expected to be sidelined to start the season (foot surgery).
14. New York Mets (Previous: 2)
17 of 30
Offseason Outlook
New York Mets fans won't like seeing their team ranked this low after a run to the World Series, and they especially won't like seeing them below the Washington Nationals, but keep in mind this is all based on how the roster currently looks.
And for the Mets, it currently looks like a group that would have an awfully hard time consistently scoring runs. Keep in mind, this team was 53-50 and trailing the Nationals in the standings before acquiring Yoenis Cespedes at the deadline.
He's gone now, and so is standout second baseman Daniel Murphy. Until the team finds a way to replace that lost production, it's hard to view them as anywhere near as dangerous as they were in 2015.
Obviously the rotation is stacked, but they aren't going to repeat as NL champs on the strength of their rotation alone.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
RF Curtis Granderson
LF Michael Conforto
3B David Wright
1B Lucas Duda
C Travis d'Arnaud
SS Wilmer Flores
CF Juan Lagares
2B Ruben Tejada
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Jacob deGrom
SP Matt Harvey
SP Steven Matz
SP Noah Syndergaard
SP Jon Niese
CL Jeurys Familia
13. San Francisco Giants (Previous: 13)
18 of 30
Offseason Outlook
It's no secret the San Francisco Giants have to improve their starting rotation if they are going to have any chance of catching the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Adding one front-line arm to pair with Madison Bumgarner seems like a must, while adding a second starter should also be a top priority unless they trust Matt Cain to stay healthy or Clayton Blackburn to make the jump to the majors.
As for other areas of need, it depends on whether they trust some combination of September standout Jarrett Parker, fellow rookie Mac Williamson and Gregor Blanco to man left field or if they want to try to add another outfielder.
After giving shortstop Brandon Crawford a six-year, $75 million extension, the team could also look to extend first baseman Brandon Belt, according to Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Angel Pagan
2B Joe Panik
RF Hunter Pence
C Buster Posey
1B Brandon Belt
3B Matt Duffy
SS Brandon Crawford
LF Jarrett Parker (R)
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Madison Bumgarner
SP Jake Peavy
SP Matt Cain
SP Chris Heston
SP Clayton Blackburn (R)
CL Santiago Casilla
12. Boston Red Sox (Previous: 20)
19 of 30
Offseason Outlook
As the Boston Red Sox look to put the mess that was their 2015 season in the rearview mirror, new team president Dave Dombrowski is reportedly shopping Hanley Ramirez, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
In that same article, Cafardo notes that the Red Sox are currently viewed as the favorites to sign David Price, and he'd certainly fill the still glaring need for an ace-caliber arm atop the staff.
The blockbuster deal to land closer Craig Kimbrel will certainly help the bullpen, but they could still use at least one or two more proven arms added to the mix there as well after a rough season by the relief corps in 2015.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
RF Mookie Betts
2B Dustin Pedroia
SS Xander Bogaerts
DH David Ortiz
1B Hanley Ramirez
3B Pablo Sandoval
CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
LF Rusney Castillo
C Blake Swihart
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Rick Porcello
SP Clay Buchholz
SP Wade Miley
SP Joe Kelly
SP Eduardo Rodriguez
CL Craig Kimbrel
11. Washington Nationals (Previous: 14)
20 of 30
Offseason Outlook
Despite a terribly disappointing 2015 season and the losses of Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond, Denard Span and Doug Fister in free agency, the Washington Nationals don't have as many needs to address this offseason as one might think.
Tanner Roark and Joe Ross appear set to take over the two vacant rotation spots, with GM Mike Rizzo indicating the team is comfortable with those two rounding out the staff.
"I'm happy sliding Tanner and Joe in the rotation," he told reporters (via Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post). "With that said, you can never have enough good starting pitching."
The team also has a pair of young players with tremendous upside in Trea Turner and Michael Taylor ready to replace Desmond and Span, and the versatile Danny Espinosa gives them some insurance on the infield.
For now, sorting out the bullpen appears to be the team's top priority. Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen are both on the block, while top options like Aroldis Chapman and Darren O'Day are among their targets, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
3B Anthony Rendon
2B Yunel Escobar
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Jayson Werth
C Wilson Ramos
CF Michael Taylor
SS Trea Turner (R)
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Max Scherzer
SP Stephen Strasburg
SP Gio Gonzalez
SP Tanner Roark
SP Joe Ross
CL Jonathan Papelbon
10. New York Yankees (Previous: 10)
21 of 30
Offseason Outlook
It's been a quiet offseason so far for the New York Yankees, but that figures to change at some point with a number of irons in the fire here in the early stages of the offseason.
The addition of Aaron Hicks has made Brett Gardner a clear trade candidate, though a $13.5 million salary and a dreadful .206/.300/.292 second-half line could make moving him tricky.
The club has also been shopping standout closer Andrew Miller, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, though it would likely take a blockbuster deal for a front-line starter for them to seriously consider dealing him.
For now, it's unclear exactly what the Yankees will do this offseason, but simply standing pat with the current roster seems unlikely.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
LF Brett Gardner
DH Alex Rodriguez
1B Mark Teixeira
C Brian McCann
RF Carlos Beltran
3B Chase Headley
SS Didi Gregorius
2B Rob Refsnyder (R)
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Masahiro Tanaka
SP Michael Pineda
SP Luis Severino
SP Nathan Eovaldi
SP CC Sabathia
CL Andrew Miller
9. Detroit Tigers (Previous: 23)
22 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Detroit Tigers have been one of the busiest teams in the league already this offseason, adding Cameron Maybin and Francisco Rodriguez in a pair of trades and then setting the starting pitching market by signing Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million deal over the weekend.
It's clear the team has no intentions of undergoing any sort of rebuild, despite a rough showing in 2016, and that makes perfect sense given the money they have tied up in their veteran core.
The team will likely add at least one more starting pitcher to round out the rotation, as well as a couple more bullpen pieces after being among the worst relief corps in baseball once again last season.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Anthony Gose
2B Ian Kinsler
1B Miguel Cabrera
DH Victor Martinez
RF J.D. Martinez
LF Cameron Maybin
3B Nick Castellanos
C James McCann
SS Jose Iglesias
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Justin Verlander
SP Jordan Zimmermann
SP Anibal Sanchez
SP Daniel Norris
SP Matt Boyd
CL Francisco Rodriguez
8. Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 7)
23 of 30
Offseason Outlook
It was a foregone conclusion that Zack Greinke would opt out of his contract, and while re-signing him remains a priority for the Los Angeles Dodgers, things have been quiet on that front so far this offseason.
Meanwhile, one of the team's other top targets in Jordan Zimmermann has already agreed to terms on a deal with the Detroit Tigers. Even if Greinke does wind up re-signing, the team may still be in the market for another starter, with the health of Hyun-Jin Ryu still up in the air.
The rotation is not the only area of need, though, as adding a right-handed setup man to pair with J.P. Howell in bridging the gap to Kenley Jansen is also on the to-do list.
Second base could also be addressed, unless the team feels comfortable with some combination of Kike Hernandez and Jose Peraza manning the position.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
2B Kike Hernandez
SS Corey Seager
1B Adrian Gonzalez
3B Justin Turner
RF Yasiel Puig
LF Andrew Ethier
C Yasmani Grandal
CF Joc Pederson
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Clayton Kershaw
SP Brett Anderson
SP Alex Wood
SP Hyun-Jin Ryu
SP Mike Bolsinger
CL Kenley Jansen
7. Houston Astros (Previous: 8)
24 of 30
Offseason Outlook
With Colby Rasmus accepting his qualifying offer and Jed Lowrie traded to the Oakland Athletics, the Houston Astros may be finished making significant moves on the position player side of things.
A healthy season from George Springer and a full season of deadline pickup Carlos Gomez should mean an improved offensive attack, even without any outside additions made this winter.
The starting rotation would also be solid as things currently stand, though re-signing Scott Kazmir or adding a similar veteran arm to the mix is still a possibility.
The clear need is in the bullpen, where the team was vastly improved this past season but still has plenty of room to get better. Earlier this offseason, it was reported by Jayson Stark of ESPN that the team was "hell-bent" on adding a closer, so expect that to happen at some point.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
RF George Springer
2B Jose Altuve
SS Carlos Correa
DH Evan Gattis
LF Colby Rasmus
CF Carlos Gomez
1B Chris Carter
3B Luis Valbuena
C Jason Castro
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Dallas Keuchel
SP Collin McHugh
SP Mike Fiers
SP Scott Feldman
SP Lance McCullers
CL Luke Gregerson
6. Kansas City Royals (Previous: 1)
25 of 30
Offseason Outlook
How long did the Kansas City Royals front office spend celebrating the team's World Series title?
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe offered up the following:
"The Royals had their organizational meetings a day after their World Series parade in Kansas City," wrote Cafardo. "GM Dayton Moore met with his scouts to go over possible moves for next season. The concern is losing Alex Gordon and Ben Zobrist. The feeling is that Zobrist could re-sign, but Gordon is likely gone."
Losing Gordon will be tough, but committing $100 million-plus to him doesn't make sense as the team has other needs to address and potential in-house extensions to consider as well.
Right field is also a need with Alex Rios gone in free agency, and the team could also stand to add at least one starting pitcher and a bullpen arm or two after Johnny Cueto, Chris Young, Ryan Madson and Greg Holland all departed.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
SS Alcides Escobar
3B Mike Moustakas
CF Lorenzo Cain
1B Eric Hosmer
DH Kendrys Morales
C Salvador Perez
RF Paulo Orlando
2B Omar Infante
LF Jarrod Dyson
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Yordano Ventura
SP Edinson Volquez
SP Danny Duffy
SP Kris Medlen
SP Miguel Almonte (R)
CL Wade Davis
5. Texas Rangers (Previous: 6)
26 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Texas Rangers used a red-hot finish to the regular season to claim the AL West title, and at least on paper they look to be headed for even better things in 2016.
A full season of Cole Hamels, healthy seasons from Derek Holland and Martin Perez and the eventual return of Yu Darvish from Tommy John surgery should give them a formidable staff, though they'll likely still look to add a starter to round out the rotation.
Offensively, they could use an upgrade at catcher and some insurance for Josh Hamilton in left field, but overall they look strong top to bottom.
The unheralded trio of Keone Kela, Sam Dyson and Shawn Tolleson anchored the bullpen, and they should make the relief corps a strength once again. Adding an arm or two to the middle relief mix wouldn't hurt, though.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
CF Delino DeShields Jr.
RF Shin-Soo Choo
DH Prince Fielder
3B Adrian Beltre
1B Mitch Moreland
LF Josh Hamilton
SS Elvis Andrus
2B Rougned Odor
C Robinson Chirinos
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Cole Hamels
SP Derek Holland
SP Nick Martinez
SP Martin Perez
*SP Chi Chi Gonzalez
CL Shawn Tolleson
*SP Yu Darvish expected to be sidelined to start the season (Tommy John recovery).
4. Chicago Cubs (Previous: 4)
27 of 30
Offseason Outlook
If all goes according to plan this winter, there's a good chance the Chicago Cubs will find themselves in the No. 1 spot in these rankings when Opening Day rolls around.
However, for now there are some clear needs to address.
Much of the talk so far this winter has centered around the likelihood of adding another front-line starting pitcher alongside Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, and one way or another the team figures to add an arm to the rotation.
Replacing Dexter Fowler both in center field and as a table-setter atop the rotation is an equally pressing need, though, and at the very least the team needs to find a stopgap to Albert Almora, who is still at least a year away.
The Cubs have the money to sign whoever they decide to pursue and the prospect talent to be serious players on the trade market, so their offseason could go a number of different ways.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
SS Addison Russell
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Kris Bryant
1B Anthony Rizzo
2B Starlin Castro
RF Jorge Soler
C Miguel Montero
CF Matt Szczur
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Jake Arrieta
SP Jon Lester
SP Jason Hammel
SP Kyle Hendricks
SP Travis Wood
CL Hector Rondon
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous: 9)
28 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Pittsburgh Pirates are built for long-term success with a good core in place and more impact help on the way in the minors, but that doesn't mean they can simply rest on their laurels in a cutthroat NL Central.
The starting rotation is the clear need this offseason after A.J. Burnett retired and deadline pickup J.A. Happ signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in free agency.
The team quietly nabbed Allen Webster from the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations after he was designated for assignment earlier this month. The 25-year-old former top prospect could be the latest reclamation project for pitching coach Ray Searage.
Pedro Alvarez (projected $8.1 million), Mark Melancon ($10 million) and Neil Walker ($10.7 million) are all due significant raises in arbitration, and all three are being shopped to some degree as a result, per Jayson Stark of ESPN.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
RF Gregory Polanco
3B Josh Harrison
CF Andrew McCutchen
2B Neil Walker
LF Starling Marte
1B Pedro Alvarez
C Francisco Cervelli
*SS Jordy Mercer
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Gerrit Cole
SP Francisco Liriano
SP Charlie Morton
SP Jeff Locke
SP Allen Webster
CL Mark Melancon
*SS Jung-Ho Kang expected to be sidelined to start the season (fractured fibula/torn MCL).
2. Toronto Blue Jays (Previous: 3)
29 of 30
Offseason Outlook
The Toronto Blue Jays came up short in their run at a World Series title in 2015, then waved goodbye to David Price and Mark Buehrle in free agency, but they still look like the best team in the American League heading into 2016.
J.A. Happ was signed to a three-year, $36 million deal in free agency and Jesse Chavez was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics, which at the very least gives the team depth. Expect them to still make a push to acquire another No. 2/No. 3-starter type, though.
The bullpen is also an area of need, especially if the team intends to return Aaron Sanchez to the starting rotation after he spent the second half as the team's primary setup man.
Meanwhile, the best offense in baseball returns intact, and could conceivably be even better with a full season of Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
LF Ben Revere
3B Josh Donaldson
RF Jose Bautista
DH Edwin Encarnacion
SS Troy Tulowitzki
1B Chris Colabello
C Russell Martin
CF Kevin Pillar
2B Ryan Goins
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Marcus Stroman
SP R.A. Dickey
SP Marco Estrada
SP J.A. Happ
SP Jesse Chavez
CL Roberto Osuna
1. St. Louis Cardinals (Previous: 5)
30 of 30
Offseason Outlook
No team has been better at overcoming injuries than the St. Louis Cardinals, and they have already been dealt a blow this winter when it was announced that Lance Lynn would undergo Tommy John surgery.
The rotation still looks solid, but after Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia all missed time to injury in 2015 and Michael Wacha was sidelined with a significant shoulder injury in 2014, depth is a must.
That said, the No. 1 priority is still to re-sign Jason Heyward.
He has a chance to be a franchise cornerstone, but with Matt Holliday, Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty in the mix as outfield options they do have a contingency plan if he walks.
There is work to be done this offseason, but as things currently stand the Cardinals look like the most complete team in baseball. If the season were to start today, they really have no glaring holes.
Projected 2016 Lineup (as of Nov. 30)
3B Matt Carpenter
RF Stephen Piscotty
LF Matt Holliday
SS Jhonny Peralta
1B Brandon Moss
CF Randal Grichuk
C Yadier Molina
2B Kolten Wong
Pitcher
Projected 2016 Rotation (as of Nov. 30)
SP Adam Wainwright
SP Michael Wacha
SP Carlos Martinez
SP Jaime Garcia
SP Tim Cooney
CL Trevor Rosenthal
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
