MLB Power Rankings: How All 30 Teams Stack Up 1 Month from Spring Training
It's time once again for an updated look at where all 30 MLB teams stand this offseason, as we are officially one month from the start of spring training.
These rankings were last updated Dec. 31, so any transactions that have taken place between then and now were factored into the changes you'll see in the following rankings.
Notable additions during that span include: Justin Upton (DET), Chris Davis (BAL), Alex Gordon (KC), Wei-Yin Chen (MIA), Ian Kennedy (KC), Ben Revere (WAS), Drew Storen (TOR), Gerardo Parra (COL), Seung-hwan Oh (STL), Alexei Ramirez (SD), Chris Carter (MIL), Edwin Jackson (MIA), Kelly Johnson (ATL) and Carlos Villanueva (SD)
As with any offseason power rankings, these are not simply meant to be a prediction for the year ahead, but instead a look at how teams would stack up with the rosters they currently have if the season were to start today.
Expect plenty more shuffling over the final month, with a number of key free agents still searching for a new home, including Yoenis Cespedes, Yovani Gallardo, Ian Desmond, Dexter Fowler, Howie Kendrick and Tyler Clippard.
Keep that in mind when considering where your favorite team falls in the following rankings.
Note: This time around, we've included a projected 25-man Opening Day roster for each club. The roster projections from Roster Resource served as an invaluable starting point in this exercise, though changes were made based on my own opinions.
In the following projected rosters, (R) indicates a player with rookie eligibility remaining, while a bolded player is a newcomer to the team.
30. Atlanta Braves (Previous: 30)
1 of 30
Team Outlook
The Atlanta Braves have once again had a busy offseason as their rebuilding efforts continue, and as their roster gets increasingly younger and their farm system gets deeper, the long-term outlook looks better and better.
In the short term, though, this could wind up being the worst team in the league in 2016.
The Braves ranked dead last in runs scored (573) and 27th in team ERA (4.41) last season, and trading away both Andrelton Simmons and Shelby Miller won't help improve either of those marks. Atlanta also still lacks a complementary run producer for Freddie Freeman.
Interestingly, the team reportedly has at least some level of interest in Yoenis Cespedes, according to Matt Bowman of MLB.com. It's a long shot to say the least, but he has to sign somewhere, and for the right price, it seems the Braves could bite.
As it stands, they already have too many outfielders. After signing Kelly Johnson, it appears likely they'll either trade or release Nick Swisher or Michael Bourn.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Ender Inciarte | RHP Julio Teheran |
| SS Erick Aybar | RHP Matt Wisler |
| RF Nick Markakis | LHP Manny Banuelos |
| 1B Freddie Freeman | RHP Bud Norris |
| LF Hector Olivera (R) | RHP Williams Perez |
| 3B Adonis Garcia | Bullpen |
| C A.J. Pierzynski | LHP Evan Rutckyj (R) |
| 2B Jace Peterson | RHP Chris Withrow |
| Bench | RHP Jim Johnson |
| C Tyler Flowers | LHP Ian Krol |
| 1B/OF Nick Swisher | RHP Arodys Vizcaino |
| IF Gordon Beckham | RHP Jason Grilli |
| IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio | |
| IF/OF Kelly Johnson | |
| OF Michael Bourn |
29. Colorado Rockies (Previous: 29)
2 of 30
Team Outlook
The Colorado Rockies have been shopping their three starting outfielders for much of the offseason, and after signing Gerardo Parra to a three-year, $27.5 million deal, it now seems even more likely that at least one of them is moved.
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post writes that the team currently has three obvious issues:
- A crowded outfield
- A lack of starting pitching talent/depth
- Jose Reyes and his impending domestic violence case
Presumably, trading one or more of their outfielders could help with their second problem, as they would no doubt be targeting big league-ready starting pitching in return.
As for Reyes, he was expected to be on the block already this offseason with prospect Trevor Story knocking on the door. However, with a potential suspension looming, moving him is now even more difficult than it already would have been given the $48 million in guaranteed money left on his contract.
One way or another, it's fair to assume the Rockies' Opening Day lineup will look different than the one projected below.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Charlie Blackmon | LHP Jorge De La Rosa |
| SS Jose Reyes | RHP Chad Bettis |
| RF Carlos Gonzalez | RHP Jordan Lyles |
| 3B Nolan Arenado | LHP Tyler Matzek |
| LF Corey Dickerson | RHP Jon Gray (R) |
| 1B Ben Paulsen | Bullpen |
| C Nick Hundley | RHP Tyler Chatwood |
| 2B DJ LeMahieu | LHP Chris Rusin |
| Bench | RHP Jairo Diaz (R) |
| C Tom Murphy (R) | RHP Chad Qualls |
| 1B/3B Mark Reynolds | LHP Boone Logan |
| IF Daniel Descalso | RHP Justin Miller |
| OF Brandon Barnes | RHP Jason Motte |
| OF Gerardo Parra |
28. Cincinnati Reds (Previous: 27)
3 of 30
Team Outlook
With Todd Frazier and Aroldis Chapman added to the list of players the Cincinnati Reds have shipped out for prospects in the past year or so, it's clear that the franchise is committed to the idea of 2016 being a rebuilding year in a talented NL Central division.
They still have at least one potential trade chip in Jay Bruce, though a mediocre 2015 season and a deep outfield market makes him more likely to be moved come July.
Assuming they don't add any more pieces, the left field battle during camp will be one of the more wide-open position battles in all of baseball.
Scott Schebler, Yorman Rodriguez, Adam Duvall, Ivan DeJesus, Kyle Waldrop, Tyler Holt and Rule 5 pick Jake Cave are all in the mix, though whoever wins will simply be keeping the position warm for top prospect Jesse Winker.
They will also need to decide on a closer now that Chapman is gone. J.J. Hoover has the stuff, but a career 4.1 BB/9 rate could keep him from earning such a high-leverage role.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Zack Cozart | RHP Anthony DeSclafani |
| 1B Joey Votto | RHP Raisel Iglesias |
| 2B Brandon Phillips | LHP Brandon Finnegan |
| RF Jay Bruce | RHP Michael Lorenzen |
| 3B Eugenio Suarez | LHP John Lamb (R) |
| C Devin Mesoraco | Bullpen |
| LF Scott Schebler (R) | RHP Carlos Contreras |
| CF Billy Hamilton | LHP Chris O'Grady (R) |
| Bench | RHP Caleb Cotham (R) |
| C Tucker Barnhart | RHP Blake Wood |
| IF Ivan DeJesus Jr. | LHP Tony Cingrani |
| IF/OF Adam Duvall | RHP Jumbo Diaz |
| OF Jake Cave (R) | RHP J.J. Hoover |
| OF Yorman Rodriguez (R) |
27. Philadelphia Phillies (Previous: 28)
4 of 30
Team Outlook
The Philadelphia Phillies have enjoyed a productive offseason from the viewpoint of a rebuilding team.
They managed to flip their most valuable trade chip in Ken Giles to the Houston Astros for an impressive return package of pitching talent. They also managed to add a number of low-cost veteran arms both to the rotation and bullpen that they could also look to move come July depending on how they perform.
Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis appear to be more or less locked in as the team's middle infielders to start the season, but with top prospect J.P. Crawford expected to arrive at some point in 2016, they could be battling for future playing time.
The same goes for the current trio of outfielders, as Nick Williams and Roman Quinn could both push their way into the MLB picture this coming season.
As far as immediate position battles, the closer role appears to be relatively open heading into camp. David Hernandez may be the favorite, but non-roster invitees Edward Mujica, Ernesto Frieri and Andrew Bailey all have previous closing experience and could seize the job.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Cesar Hernandez | RHP Aaron Nola |
| CF Odubel Herrera | RHP Jeremy Hellickson |
| 3B Maikel Franco | RHP Charlie Morton |
| 1B Ryan Howard | RHP Jerad Eickhoff |
| RF Aaron Altherr | LHP Brett Oberholtzer |
| LF Cody Asche | Bullpen |
| C Carlos Ruiz | RHP Jeanmar Gomez |
| SS Freddy Galvis | LHP Daniel Stumpf (R) |
| Bench | RHP Dalier Hinojosa (R) |
| C Cameron Rupp | RHP Edward Mujica |
| 1B/OF Darin Ruf | LHP James Russell |
| IF Andres Blanco | RHP Luis Garcia |
| OF Peter Bourjos | RHP David Hernandez |
| OF Tyler Goeddel (R) |
26. Milwaukee Brewers (Previous: 26)
5 of 30
Team Outlook
The Milwaukee Brewers' two big moves of the offseason involved trading first baseman Adam Lind and closer Francisco Rodriguez for prospects, so it's clear that like the Cincinnati Reds, they have also resigned themselves to a year of rebuilding.
As far as additions are concerned, they've stuck exclusively to the bargain bin, claiming Will Middlebrooks and Kirk Nieuwenhuis off waivers and signing non-tendered slugger Chris Carter to a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
On the pitching side of things, the first four spots in the rotation will likely go to Jimmy Nelson, Wily Peralta, Matt Garza and Taylor Jungmann, but the No. 5 starter job is wide open.
Zach Davies, Ariel Pena, Tyler Cravy, Tyler Wagner and Jorge Lopez all saw time in the majors down the stretch, while prospect Josh Hader is also knocking on the door.
Garza will become a trade candidate the second he rebuilds any semblance of value, but at this point they are essentially stuck with him after he pitched to a 5.63 ERA last year.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Jean Segura | RHP Jimmy Nelson |
| C Jonathan Lucroy | RHP Wily Peralta |
| RF Ryan Braun | RHP Matt Garza |
| 1B Chris Carter | RHP Taylor Jungmann |
| LF Khris Davis | RHP Zach Davies (R) |
| 3B Will Middlebrooks | Bullpen |
| CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis | RHP Ariel Pena (R) |
| 2B Scooter Gennett | RHP Zach Jones (R) |
| Bench | RHP Tyler Thornburg |
| C Martin Maldonado | RHP Michael Blazek |
| IF Jonathan Villar | RHP Jeremy Jeffress |
| IF/OF Colin Walsh (R) | LHP Will Smith |
| OF Shane Peterson | RHP Corey Knebel |
| OF Domingo Santana |
25. San Diego Padres (Previous: 23)
6 of 30
Team Outlook
It's been a considerably different-looking offseason for the San Diego Padres than what we saw a year ago, when the front office was wheeling and dealing in an effort to improve the stagnant offense and make a run at contending.
The big signing of the offseason came in mid-January, when veteran Alexei Ramirez agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal to fill the hole at shortstop.
Meanwhile, trading Craig Kimbrel and Joaquin Benoit sparked an overhaul of the bullpen where newcomers Drew Pomeranz and Carlos Villanueva will join Brandon Maurer in the late innings and a pair of Rule 5 picks appear to have a legitimate shot of sticking.
Deciding on a left fielder will be the big battle of spring training, as Jon Jay, Rymer Liriano, Travis Jankowski, Alex Dickerson and Rule 5 pick Jabari Blash all have a shot.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Cory Spangenberg | RHP Tyson Ross |
| 3B Yangervis Solarte | RHP James Shields |
| 1B Wil Myers | RHP Andrew Cashner |
| RF Matt Kemp | LHP Robbie Erlin |
| C Derek Norris | RHP Brandon Morrow |
| SS Alexei Ramirez | Bullpen |
| LF Jabari Blash (R) | RHP Luis Perdomo (R) |
| CF Melvin Upton Jr. | RP Josh Martin (R) |
| Bench | RHP Nick Vincent |
| C Christian Bethancourt | RHP Carlos Villanueva |
| 1B Brett Wallace | RHP Kevin Quackenbush |
| IF/OF Alexi Amarista | LHP Drew Pomeranz |
| OF Jon Jay | RHP Brandon Maurer |
| OF Rymer Liriano (R) |
24. Tampa Bay Rays (Previous: 22)
7 of 30
Team Outlook
The Tampa Bay Rays had the best starting pitching in the American League last season with a 3.63 ERA, and healthy seasons from Matt Moore and Alex Cobb could conceivably make that group even better this year, even after Nate Karns was traded.
As always, the question will be whether the Rays can muster up enough offense to back their pitching staff. As of now, they are banking on Logan Morrison and Brad Miller to bolster a group that ranked 25th in the league in runs scored (644) last year.
Healthy seasons from Steven Souza and James Loney, as well as a repeat performance from Logan Forsythe, would also go a long way toward improving the offensive outlook.
Any team with pitching like the Rays has the potential to contend, but as things currently stand, they seem to be a safer bet for last place in the AL East than a playoff spot.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Kevin Kiermaier | RHP Chris Archer |
| RF Steven Souza | RHP Jake Odorizzi |
| 3B Evan Longoria | LHP Drew Smyly |
| 1B James Loney | RHP Erasmo Ramirez |
| 2B Logan Forsythe | LHP Matt Moore |
| DH Logan Morrison | Bullpen |
| LF Desmond Jennings | LHP Enny Romero (R) |
| C Curt Casali | RHP Steve Geltz |
| SS Brad Miller | LHP Xavier Cedeno |
| Bench | RHP Danny Farquhar |
| C Hank Conger | RHP Alex Colome |
| IF Tim Beckham | LHP Jake McGee |
| OF Brandon Guyer | RHP Brad Boxberger |
| OF Mikie Mahtook (R) |
23. Baltimore Orioles (Previous: 24)
8 of 30
Team Outlook
The Chris Davis saga finally came to an end over the weekend, as he rejoined the Baltimore Orioles on a seven-year, $161 million deal.
That came just days after the team finally appeared ready to move on, having reportedly made an offer to Yoenis Cespedes, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.
It's now highly unlikely they will be willing to spend the money necessary to land Cespedes, though adding another outfielder could still be in the works. The right field position is currently set to be some combination of Nolan Reimold, L.J. Hoes and Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard.
While it's great to have Davis back in the fold, they have still done nothing outside of taking a flier on Vance Worley to address a starting rotation that ranked 25th in the league last year with a 4.53 ERA.
One name they have been linked to is Doug Fister, though not at his current asking price of $22 million over two years, per Kubatko.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Hyun-soo Kim (R) | RHP Chris Tillman |
| 3B Manny Machado | RHP Ubaldo Jimenez |
| 1B Chris Davis | RHP Miguel Gonzalez |
| CF Adam Jones | RHP Kevin Gausman |
| C Matt Wieters | RHP Vance Worley |
| DH Mark Trumbo | Bullpen |
| 2B Jonathan Schoop | RHP Dylan Bundy (R) |
| SS J.J. Hardy | RHP Chaz Roe |
| RF Nolan Reimold | RHP Mychal Givens (R) |
| Bench | LHP Brian Matusz |
| C Caleb Joseph | RHP Brad Brach |
| IF/OF Ryan Flaherty | RHP Darren O'Day |
| OF L.J. Hoes | LHP Zach Britton |
| OF Joey Rickard (R) |
22. Miami Marlins (Previous: 25)
9 of 30
Team Outlook
The Miami Marlins finally found their No. 2 starter when they agreed to terms on a five-year, $80 million deal with left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.
They also added veteran Edwin Jackson to the mix for the league minimum, as the Chicago Cubs are still on the hook for $13 million for him this coming season. He'll compete for the No. 5 starter job but could ultimately end up back in the bullpen where he pitched relatively well last year.
Chris Johnson was also added in free agency, filling the need for a right-handed platoon option to pair with Justin Bour at first base.
As Joe Frisaro of MLB.com writes, the addition of Chen likely puts an end to any potential trade talks involving outfielder Marcell Ozuna, as the team's target in those talks was a controllable starting pitcher to fill that No. 2 starter role.
With their two biggest needs filled and Dee Gordon agreeing to a five-year, $50 million extension, chances are the Marlins are more or less finished with their offseason.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Dee Gordon | RHP Jose Fernandez |
| LF Christian Yelich | LHP Wei-Yin Chen |
| RF Giancarlo Stanton | RHP Jarred Cosart |
| 1B Justin Bour | RHP Tom Koehler |
| CF Marcell Ozuna | RHP Edwin Jackson |
| 3B Martin Prado | Bullpen |
| C J.T. Realmuto | RHP David Phelps |
| SS Adeiny Hechavarria | LHP Brad Hand |
| Bench | RHP Kyle Barraclough (R) |
| C Jeff Mathis | RHP Bryan Morris |
| 1B/3B Chris Johnson | LHP Mike Dunn |
| IF Miguel Rojas | RHP Carter Capps |
| IF/OF Derek Dietrich | RHP A.J. Ramos |
| OF Ichiro Suzuki |
21. Chicago White Sox (Previous: 21)
10 of 30
Team Outlook
The Chicago White Sox signed Adam LaRoche last offseason in the hope that he could provide some much-needed protection for slugger Jose Abreu, but his .634 OPS and 12 home runs in 2015 did little to scare opposing teams into pitching to Abreu.
Now that role will go to Todd Frazier, who the White Sox acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team deal that cost them a trio of top prospects in Frankie Montas, Micah Johnson and Trayce Thompson.
Frazier and new second baseman Brett Lawrie should both prove to be significant upgrades at what were two underperforming positions a year ago. That should help the White Sox improve what was the lowest-scoring offense (622 runs) in the American League.
The pitching staff has a chance to be a strength behind the trio of Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon and a bullpen that quietly posted a solid 3.67 ERA last season and now has hard-throwing Nate Jones back in the mix.
The AL Central appears to be wide-open once again, and after falling well short of the hype last season, the White Sox could surprise some people in 2016.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Adam Eaton | LHP Chris Sale |
| LF Melky Cabrera | LHP Jose Quintana |
| 1B Jose Abreu | LHP Carlos Rodon |
| 3B Todd Frazier | LHP John Danks |
| DH Adam LaRoche | RHP Erik Johnson |
| 2B Brett Lawrie | Bullpen |
| RF Avisail Garcia | RHP Jacob Turner |
| C Dioner Navarro | LHP Dan Jennings |
| SS Tyler Saladino | RHP Jake Petricka |
| Bench | RHP Zach Putnam |
| C Alex Avila | LHP Zach Duke |
| IF Carlos Sanchez | RHP Nate Jones |
| IF/OF Mike Olt | RHP David Robertson |
| OF J.B. Shuck |
20. Minnesota Twins (Previous: 20)
11 of 30
Team Outlook
The Minnesota Twins have as much long-term upside as any team in the American League, and they showed a glimpse of what should be a bright future when they managed to hang around in the wild-card mix for much of the season last year.
However, their pitching staff is still a major hurdle in their hopes of reaching the postseason.
Kyle Gibson, Ervin Santana and Phil Hughes are all solid No. 3-starter types, but Minnesota is instead asking that trio to lead its rotation.
Behind them, some combination of Ricky Nolasco, Tommy Milone, Tyler Duffey and top prospect Jose Berrios figures to round out the rotation. Berrios has tremendous potential, but unless he immediately emerges as an ace, it's hard to see the Twins having the horses to make a serious run.
Offensively, however, they should be significantly better, with full seasons of Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano and the addition of Korean slugger Byung-ho Park.
Will that be enough to propel them to an AL Central title, or will they again be held back by their pitching staff?
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Byron Buxton (R) | RHP Kyle Gibson |
| 2B Brian Dozier | RHP Ervin Santana |
| 1B Joe Mauer | RHP Phil Hughes |
| LF Miguel Sano | LHP Tommy Milone |
| 3B Trevor Plouffe | RHP Tyler Duffey |
| RF Eddie Rosario | Bullpen |
| DH Byung-ho Park (R) | RHP Ricky Nolasco |
| C John Ryan Murphy | RHP Michael Tonkin |
| SS Eduardo Escobar | RHP Casey Fien |
| Bench | LHP Fernando Abad |
| C Kurt Suzuki | RHP Trevor May |
| IF/OF Eduardo Nunez | RHP Kevin Jepsen |
| IF/OF Danny Santana | LHP Glen Perkins |
| OF Oswaldo Arcia |
19. Los Angeles Angels (Previous: 18)
12 of 30
Team Outlook
Two more big free-agent pieces have come off the board in Chris Davis and Alex Gordon, and the Los Angeles Angels have still yet to make a significant addition to their offense.
With Albert Pujols slated to start the season on the disabled list and Erick Aybar traded to the Atlanta Braves in the Andrelton Simmons deal, their lineup is an absolute mess right now behind 1-2-3 hitters Yunel Escobar, Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout.
Left field in particular still looks like a glaring hole, as some combination of Daniel Nava, Craig Gentry and Todd Cunningham appears to be the current answer.
The Angels still look like a clear landing spot for either Yoenis Cespedes or Justin Upton, but the front office has given no indication that it has serious interest in either player to this point.
If the Angels don't sign another impact bat, they run a serious risk of slipping to the AL West cellar, just two years after leading the majors in scoring and winning 98 games.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 3B Yunel Escobar | RHP Garrett Richards |
| RF Kole Calhoun | RHP Jered Weaver |
| CF Mike Trout | LHP Hector Santiago |
| 1B C.J. Cron | LHP Andrew Heaney |
| LF Daniel Nava | RHP Matt Shoemaker |
| SS Andrelton Simmons | Bullpen |
| C Carlos Perez | LHP C.J. Wilson |
| DH Craig Gentry | RHP Deolis Guerra (R) |
| 2B Johnny Giavotella | RHP Al Albuquerque |
| Bench | LHP Jose Alvarez |
| C Geovany Soto | RHP Fernando Salas |
| 1B Ji-Man Choi (R) | RHP Joe Smith |
| IF/OF Cliff Pennington | RHP Huston Street |
| OF Todd Cunningham |
18. Oakland Athletics (Previous: 19)
13 of 30
Team Outlook
The Oakland Athletics' biggest focus this offseason has been on overhauling the bullpen, and rightfully so after their relief corps ranked 28th in the league with a 4.63 ERA and went just 19-35 in one-run games.
Marc Rzepczynski, John Axford, Liam Hendriks and Ryan Madson will join a healthy Sean Doolittle to make up a bullpen that should be a legitimate strength of the team once again.
The bigger question now is the starting rotation, where it appears either Jesse Hahn or Rich Hill will be counted on as the No. 2 starter.
The No. 4 and 5 starter jobs are also very much up for grabs, with Chris Bassitt and Kendall Graveman looking like the front-runners. However, Sean Nolin, Aaron Brooks and Felix Doubront are also in the running, and Jarrod Parker and Henderson Alvarez will be as well once they get healthy.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Billy Burns | RHP Sonny Gray |
| 2B Jed Lowrie | RHP Jesse Hahn |
| RF Josh Reddick | LHP Rich Hill |
| 3B Danny Valencia | RHP Chris Bassitt |
| C Stephen Vogt | RHP Kendall Graveman |
| DH Billy Butler | Bullpen |
| 1B Yonder Alonso | LHP Sean Nolin |
| OF Coco Crisp | RHP Fernando Rodriguez |
| SS Marcus Semien | LHP Marc Rzepczynski |
| Bench | RHP John Axford |
| C Josh Phegley | RHP Liam Hendriks |
| 1B/OF Mark Canha | RHP Ryan Madson |
| IF Eric Sogard | LHP Sean Doolittle |
| OF Sam Fuld |
17. Seattle Mariners (Previous: 16)
14 of 30
Team Outlook
In a lot of ways, the Seattle Mariners have been this year's version of the San Diego Padres.
A new general manager takes over and sets to work overhauling the roster with a ton of offseason moves, and the team is left looking like it has a legitimate chance to contend as a result.
The big difference is that the Mariners didn't mortgage their farm system in the process, and at least in terms of talent, they were significantly closer to contending heading into the offseason than the Padres were a year ago.
The new-look bullpen will be one of the biggest X-factors, while the No. 5 starter spot should be a good battle this spring between James Paxton, Nate Karns, Mike Montgomery and Vidal Nuno.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Nori Aoki | RHP Felix Hernandez |
| SS Ketel Marte | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma |
| 2B Robinson Cano | RHP Taijuan Walker |
| DH Nelson Cruz | LHP Wade Miley |
| 3B Kyle Seager | RHP Nate Karns |
| 1B Adam Lind | Bullpen |
| RF Seth Smith | LHP Mike Montgomery |
| C Chris Iannetta | RHP Evan Scribner |
| CF Leonys Martin | RHP Justin De Fratus |
| Bench | RHP Tony Zych (R) |
| C Steve Clevenger | LHP Charlie Furbush |
| 1B Jesus Montero | RHP Joaquin Benoit |
| IF/OF Shawn O'Malley (R) | RHP Steve Cishek |
| OF Franklin Gutierrez |
16. Cleveland Indians (Previous: 17)
15 of 30
Team Outlook
The Cleveland Indians were never anxious to part with any of their terrific rotation pieces this winter, and it now appears that trade talks surrounding their starters are all but dead.
Peter Gammons reported that the "calls have stopped since Christmas" on the likes of Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer, so the idea of flipping a starter for an impact bat no longer appears to be a legitimate option.
Instead, the team will hope low-cost additions Rajai Davis and Mike Napoli can help bolster the offense and hold things together until Michael Brantley returns from offseason shoulder surgery.
Lonnie Chisenhall could also be an X-factor, as he hit .403/.474/.552 in the month of August last season. Then again, he followed that up with a .183/.244/.268 line in September, so who really knows what you're going to get from him?
The Indians have the pitching to contend not only for a division title but for a World Series title. It's simply a matter of whether the offense and defense are there to back it up.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Rajai Davis | RHP Corey Kluber |
| SS Francisco Lindor | RHP Carlos Carrasco |
| 2B Jason Kipnis | RHP Danny Salazar |
| DH Carlos Santana | RHP Trevor Bauer |
| 1B Mike Napoli | RHP Josh Tomlin |
| C Yan Gomes | Bullpen |
| RF Lonnie Chisenhall | RHP Jeff Manship |
| 3B Giovanny Urshela | LHP Joe Thatcher |
| CF Abraham Almonte | RHP Dan Otero |
| Bench | LHP Kyle Crockett |
| C Roberto Perez | RHP Zach McAllister |
| IF Jose Ramirez | RHP Bryan Shaw |
| OF Joey Butler | RHP Cody Allen |
| OF Collin Cowgill |
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous: 15)
16 of 30
Team Outlook
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team on the rise with a chance to contend, but they still have a few holes to address.
They have a strong trio of starters in Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller and Patrick Corbin, but the No. 4 and 5 starter spots are relatively weak. While the team does have plenty of starting pitching depth to pull from, it will need a couple of guys to blossom or the rotation could again be a weakness.
The bullpen was in the middle of the pack last year, and the Diamondbacks have not made any significant additions this offseason, as they are lacking in experienced arms aside from Brad Ziegler.
The middle infield duo of Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed is solid defensively, but they provide next to nothing offensively, and third baseman Jake Lamb has also yet to prove himself.
In the outfield, Yasmany Tomas will now be asked to earn his contract as an everyday starter after the team traded a 5.3 WAR player in Ender Inciarte to the Braves in December.
David Peralta, Welington Castillo and A.J. Pollock all had career years in 2015, and while that could be a stepping stone toward even better things in 2016, it could also mean a step back from one or all of them.
Are the Diamondbacks a better team thanks to the additions of Greinke and Miller? Absolutely, but they are not without some notable flaws.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF A.J. Pollock | RHP Zack Greinke |
| 2B Chris Owings | RHP Shelby Miller |
| 1B Paul Goldschmidt | LHP Patrick Corbin |
| LF David Peralta | RHP Rubby De La Rosa |
| C Welington Castillo | LHP Robbie Ray |
| RF Yasmany Tomas | Bullpen |
| 3B Jake Lamb | RHP Josh Collmenter |
| SS Nick Ahmed | LHP Matt Reynolds |
| Bench | RHP Silvino Bracho (R) |
| C Tuffy Gosewisch | RHP Daniel Hudson |
| C/OF Chris Herrmann | LHP Andrew Chafin |
| IF Aaron Hill | RHP Randall Delgado |
| IF/OF Phil Gosselin | RHP Brad Ziegler |
| OF Socrates Brito (R) |
14. New York Mets (Previous: 13)
17 of 30
Team Outlook
Do the New York Mets have the best starting rotation in baseball?
No question.
It all boils down to whether the offense can avoid slipping back to the anemic level it was at prior to acquiring Yoenis Cespedes at the July 31 trade deadline last season.
Relative to last year's middle infield duo of Daniel Murphy and Wilmer Flores, newcomers Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera are essentially a wash from an offensive standpoint, so those two won't make a huge difference.
Instead, just how good the Mets will be in 2016 will come down to whether Michael Conforto and Travis d'Arnaud can continue to progress in their development and David Wright can stay healthy.
It may not be a popular opinion, but those are big enough question marks to keep them out of the top 10 in these rankings for now.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Curtis Granderson | RHP Jacob deGrom |
| LF Michael Conforto | RHP Matt Harvey |
| 3B David Wright | RHP Noah Syndergaard |
| 1B Lucas Duda | LHP Steven Matz |
| 2B Neil Walker | RHP Bartolo Colon |
| C Travis d'Arnaud | Bullpen |
| SS Asdrubal Cabrera | LHP Sean Gilmartin |
| CF Juan Lagares | RHP Erik Goeddel |
| Bench | RHP Carlos Torres |
| C Kevin Plawecki | LHP Jerry Blevins |
| IF Wilmer Flores | RHP Hansel Robles |
| IF Ruben Tejada | RHP Addison Reed |
| IF/OF Eric Campbell | RHP Jeurys Familia |
| OF Alejandro De Aza |
13. Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 11)
18 of 30
Team Outlook
The Los Angeles Dodgers finally addressed their starting rotation with the additions of Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda, and while losing Zack Greinke is a major blow, they look significantly better from a depth standpoint than they did a year ago.
Assuming Hyun-jin Ryu is healthy, he should break camp as the No. 5 starter, but they also have Alex Wood, Mike Bolsinger and Brandon Beachy as starting options as well as Brandon McCarthy once he gets healthy. Top prospects Julio Urias, Jose De Leon and Frankie Montas are also knocking on the door.
So while the starting rotation appears to be in good shape, the bullpen remains a question mark, as no significant additions have been made this offseason.
Young arms like Yimi Garcia and Pedro Baez provide some upside, but adding at least one more proven veteran alongside J.P. Howell and Kenley Jansen looked like a must.
There is also still an outfield logjam the team will need to sort out, but the offense should be in good shape with a full season of Corey Seager providing a significant upgrade over Jimmy Rollins.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Carl Crawford | LHP Clayton Kershaw |
| SS Corey Seager (R) | LHP Scott Kazmir |
| 3B Justin Turner | LHP Brett Anderson |
| 1B Adrian Gonzalez | RHP Kenta Maeda (R) |
| RF Andre Ethier | LHP Hyun-jin Ryu |
| 2B Kike Hernandez | Bullpen |
| C Yasmani Grandal | LHP Alex Wood |
| CF Joc Pederson | LHP Luis Avilan |
| Bench | RHP Yimi Garcia |
| C A.J. Ellis | RHP Pedro Baez |
| 1B/OF Scott Van Slyke | LHP J.P. Howell |
| IF Chase Utley | RHP Chris Hatcher |
| IF/OF Alex Guerrero | RHP Kenley Jansen |
| OF Yasiel Puig |
12. New York Yankees (Previous: 10)
19 of 30
Team Outlook
The New York Yankees slip a few spots in these rankings as a result of a couple of teams below them making significant moves and passing them, not because of anything they did as a club.
It's been a relatively quiet offseason in the Bronx, and that was to be expected, but New York has still added a trio of solid pieces in Aroldis Chapman, Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks.
The trio of Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances and Chapman has a chance to be the best bullpen trio in baseball history, and that should help take some pressure off a starting rotation that has potential but is fragile.
The pieces are there for the Yankees to make another run at the playoffs, but they will need to avoid the injury bug once again, and that's tough when you're talking about their core of players in their late 30s.
A big sophomore season from Luis Severino could be a real difference-maker for the pitching staff, and there's no question he has the tools to quickly emerge as a front-line starter.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Jacoby Ellsbury | RHP Masahiro Tanaka |
| LF Brett Gardner | RHP Michael Pineda |
| RF Carlos Beltran | RHP Luis Severino |
| 1B Mark Teixeira | RHP Nathan Eovaldi |
| DH Alex Rodriguez | LHP CC Sabathia |
| C Brian McCann | Bullpen |
| 2B Starlin Castro | RHP Ivan Nova |
| 3B Chase Headley | RHP Nick Rumbelow (R) |
| SS Didi Gregorius | LHP Chasen Shreve |
| Bench | RHP Branden Pinder |
| C Austin Romine | LHP Andrew Miller |
| IF Pete Kozma | RHP Dellin Betances |
| IF/OF Dustin Ackley | LHP Aroldis Chapman |
| OF Aaron Hicks |
11. Houston Astros (Previous: 9)
20 of 30
Team Outlook
The Houston Astros have made just one significant addition this offseason, addressing their need for a power arm in the closer's role by acquiring Ken Giles from the Philadelphia Phillies.
However, they will also have full seasons of Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers after those two were acquired at the July trade deadline last year, so that has to be taken into account as well.
A healthy George Springer could also make a world of difference, as he missed two months last season after being hit in the hand with a pitch and suffering a broken wrist.
"It's definitely a big blow. Springer is in some ways the heart and soul of this team," general manager Jeff Luhnow said at the time of the injury, per Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle.
The Astros were 57-45 with Springer in the lineup, compared to 29-31 without him, so that speaks to his value as a catalyst.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF George Springer | LHP Dallas Keuchel |
| 2B Jose Altuve | RHP Collin McHugh |
| SS Carlos Correa | RHP Mike Fiers |
| CF Carlos Gomez | RHP Scott Feldman |
| LF Colby Rasmus | RHP Lance McCullers |
| DH Evan Gattis | Bullpen |
| 3B Luis Valbuena | RHP Dan Straily |
| 1B Jon Singleton | RHP Josh Fields |
| C Jason Castro | RHP Pat Neshek |
| Bench | LHP Tony Sipp |
| C Max Stassi | RHP Will Harris |
| 1B/OF Preston Tucker | RHP Luke Gregerson |
| IF Marwin Gonzalez | RHP Ken Giles |
| OF Jake Marisnick |
10. Washington Nationals (Previous: 12)
21 of 30
Team Outlook
With the addition of Ben Revere and a resolution to the closer situation achieved in one fell swoop, the Washington Nationals officially move into the top 10 in our offseason power rankings.
Revere answers the big question of who will replace Denard Span as the team's leadoff hitter, and his addition also allows the team to move either Anthony Rendon or Daniel Murphy into more of a run-producing role.
Perhaps even more importantly, the trade to acquire Revere sent disgruntled reliever Drew Storen to Toronto. That should bring some clarity to a messy ninth-inning situation that was created with the unnecessary addition of Jonathan Papelbon at the July trade deadline last year.
However, for all of the offseason additions and subtractions the team has made, the biggest X-factor will be Rendon's health.
It's easy to forget he finished fifth in NL MVP voting in 2014, and the fact that he was limited to 80 games last season was one of the biggest reasons the Nationals fell so far short of expectations.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Ben Revere | RHP Max Scherzer |
| 3B Anthony Rendon | RHP Stephen Strasburg |
| RF Bryce Harper | LHP Gio Gonzalez |
| 1B Ryan Zimmerman | RHP Joe Ross |
| LF Jayson Werth | RHP Tanner Roark |
| 2B Daniel Murphy | Bullpen |
| C Wilson Ramos | RHP Yusmeiro Petit |
| SS Danny Espinosa | LHP Felipe Rivero |
| Bench | RHP Blake Treinen |
| C Jose Lobaton | RHP Trevor Gott |
| 1B/OF Tyler Moore | LHP Oliver Perez |
| 1B/OF Clint Robinson | RHP Shawn Kelley |
| IF Stephen Drew | RHP Jonathan Papelbon |
| OF Michael Taylor |
9. Boston Red Sox (Previous: 7)
22 of 30
Team Outlook
With David Price and Craig Kimbrel both acquired prior to the winter meetings, the Boston Red Sox got their heavy lifting out of the way early in the offseason.
In fact, they have not done much of note since they acquired Carson Smith and Roenis Elias from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Wade Miley during the winter meetings in what could wind up being one of the best trades of the offseason.
Still, those three moves have been enough to again put them among the favorites in the American League, though they are still chasing the Toronto Blue Jays among AL East teams.
Assuming Rick Porcello and Joe Kelly can build off strong second-half performances and Clay Buchholz can stay healthy, the starting rotation has a chance to not only be improved but to be a legitimate strength.
The same goes for the bullpen now that Kimbrel and Smith are in the mix, though adding one more proven veteran arm wouldn't hurt.
Throw in Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts anchoring a solid lineup top to bottom, and all the pieces are there for them to contend. The climb from worst to first is not an easy one, though.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Mookie Betts | LHP David Price |
| 2B Dustin Pedroia | RHP Rick Porcello |
| SS Xander Bogaerts | RHP Clay Buchholz |
| DH David Ortiz | LHP Eduardo Rodriguez |
| 1B Hanley Ramirez | RHP Joe Kelly |
| 3B Pablo Sandoval | Bullpen |
| LF Rusney Castillo | RHP Steven Wright |
| C Blake Swihart | LHP Tommy Layne |
| CF Jackie Bradley Jr. | RHP Junichi Tazawa |
| Bench | LHP Robbie Ross Jr. |
| C Ryan Hanigan | RHP Carson Smith |
| 1B/3B Travis Shaw | RHP Koji Uehara |
| IF/OF Brock Holt | RHP Craig Kimbrel |
| OF Chris Young |
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous: 5)
23 of 30
Team Outlook
The Pittsburgh Pirates have quietly seen a ton of roster turnover this offseason, as it will be a decidedly different-looking team that tries to make it three straight postseason appearances in 2016.
A.J. Burnett, Neil Walker, J.A. Happ, Pedro Alvarez, Joakim Soria, Antonio Bastardo, Charlie Morton, Aramis Ramirez and Joe Blanton are all gone, or as good as gone, from last year's roster, but the team has done well to replace them.
Jon Niese and Ryan Vogelsong will be asked to shore up the back of the rotation, at least until the arrival of top prospects Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon.
John Jaso was signed to platoon with Michael Morse at first base, while it appears prospect Alen Hanson now has a clear path to the everyday second base job.
This year's reclamation project for pitching coach Ray Searage may well be former All-Star closer Neftali Feliz, who signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal and is still just 27 years old. He could very well be the answer to replacing Soria as the right-handed setup man.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Gregory Polanco | RHP Gerrit Cole |
| 3B Josh Harrison | LHP Francisco Liriano |
| CF Andrew McCutchen | LHP Jon Niese |
| LF Starling Marte | RHP Ryan Vogelsong |
| 1B John Jaso | LHP Jeff Locke |
| C Francisco Cervelli | Bullpen |
| 2B Alen Hanson (R) | RHP Juan Nicasio |
| SS Jordy Mercer | RHP Neftali Feliz |
| Bench | RHP Yoervis Medina |
| C Chris Stewart | RHP Arquimedes Caminero |
| 1B/OF Michael Morse | RHP Jared Hughes |
| IF Pedro Florimon | LHP Tony Watson |
| IF/OF Sean Rodriguez | RHP Mark Melancon |
| OF Jake Goebbert |
7. Detroit Tigers (Previous: 8)
24 of 30
Team Outlook
The Detroit Tigers did well to flip the likes of David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria at the trade deadline last year to add some talent to the farm system, but that was by no means an indication that the team was headed for a rebuild.
That became abundantly clear when Detroit signed Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million deal early in the offseason, and new GM Al Avila has done a nice job filling out the roster since.
Finally making the bullpen a priority could prove to be the biggest difference-maker, as the new late-inning trio of Mark Lowe, Justin Wilson and Francisco Rodriguez has a chance to solidify what has been one of the worst relief corps in baseball for a number of years.
The one remaining question mark was left field, and the team addressed that Monday when it continued its busy offseason by signing Justin Upton to a six-year, $132.75 million deal, according to ESPN.com.
They are still chasing the defending champion Kansas City Royals, but the Tigers look ready for a postseason run in 2016.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Anthony Gose | RHP Justin Verlander |
| 2B Ian Kinsler | RHP Jordan Zimmermann |
| 1B Miguel Cabrera | RHP Anibal Sanchez |
| RF J.D. Martinez | RHP Mike Pelfrey |
| DH Victor Martinez | LHP Daniel Norris |
| LF Justin Upton | Bullpen |
| 3B Nick Castellanos | RHP Drew VerHagen |
| C James McCann | LHP Blaine Hardy |
| SS Jose Iglesias | RHP Bruce Rondon |
| Bench | RHP Alex Wilson |
| C Jarrod Saltalamacchia | LHP Justin Wilson |
| IF Mike Aviles | RHP Mark Lowe |
| IF/OF Andrew Romine | RHP Francisco Rodriguez |
| OF Cameron Maybin |
6. Kansas City Royals (Previous: 14)
25 of 30
Team Outlook
No team climbed further since our last edition of these power rankings than the Kansas City Royals, as re-signing Alex Gordon and acquiring Ian Kennedy answered their two biggest question marks.
Gordon returned on a four-year, $72 million deal—a hometown discount any way you slice it—and that shouldn't impact the Royals' financial situation going forward as they look to lock up a number of core pieces.
Signing Kennedy gives them a solid workhorse in the middle of the rotation to help replace Johnny Cueto, and it allows Kris Medlen to move into the swingman role the team has utilized so effectively in recent years.
Omar Infante is still a below-average option at second base, and finding an insurance policy for Jarrod Dyson in right field would be wise, but the Royals once again look to be in a position to contend for a World Series title.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Alcides Escobar | RHP Yordano Ventura |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | RHP Edinson Volquez |
| CF Lorenzo Cain | RHP Ian Kennedy |
| 1B Eric Hosmer | LHP Danny Duffy |
| DH Kendrys Morales | RHP Chris Young |
| LF Alex Gordon | Bullpen |
| C Salvador Perez | RHP Kris Medlen |
| 2B Omar Infante | RHP Louis Coleman |
| RF Jarrod Dyson | LHP Scott Alexander (R) |
| Bench | RHP Luke Hochevar |
| C Tony Cruz | RHP Kelvin Herrera |
| IF Christian Colon | RHP Joakim Soria |
| OF Reymond Fuentes (R) | RHP Wade Davis |
| OF Paulo Orlando |
5. St. Louis Cardinals (Previous: 6)
26 of 30
Team Outlook
The St. Louis Cardinals have yet to add the impact bat many feel they need, but they did make a significant addition to the relief corps in the form of Seung-hwan Oh.
After nine seasons pitching for the Samsung Lions in the KBO, Oh made the jump to the Japanese League two years ago. Facing better competition, he proved to be more than up to the task with 80 saves, a 2.25 ERA and 9.7 K/9 in two seasons with the Hanshin Tigers.
With Jordan Walden sidelined for much of last season, the Cardinals struggled to find a reliable right-handed setup man to pair with Kevin Siegrist, and Oh could step into that role this season even with Walden expected back.
All of that being said, the offense is still the big question mark, and it will be counting on young outfielders Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty to provide some needed power.
Then again, the Cards have gotten by without being a home run hitting team in the past, and simply keeping everyone healthy could be enough to give the offense a shot in the arm.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 3B Matt Carpenter | RHP Adam Wainwright |
| RF Stephen Piscotty | RHP Michael Wacha |
| LF Matt Holliday | RHP Carlos Martinez |
| 1B Matt Adams | RHP Mike Leake |
| SS Jhonny Peralta | LHP Jaime Garcia |
| CF Randal Grichuk | Bullpen |
| C Yadier Molina | LHP Tyler Lyons |
| 2B Kolten Wong | RHP Seth Maness |
| Bench | RHP Seung-hwan Oh (R) |
| C Brayan Pena | RHP Jonathan Broxton |
| 1B/OF Brandon Moss | RHP Jordan Walden |
| IF Greg Garcia | LHP Kevin Siegrist |
| IF Jedd Gyorko | RHP Trevor Rosenthal |
| OF Tommy Pham |
4. Texas Rangers (Previous: 4)
27 of 30
Team Outlook
It's been a quiet offseason for the Texas Rangers, but a full season of deadline addition Cole Hamels and the imminent return of ace Yu Darvish alone is enough to expect them to build off last year's run to the postseason.
Darvish likely won't be ready for Opening Day, but the team has some sold depth in the form of Nick Martinez and Chi Chi Gonzalez, and one of those guys should be able to hold down the No. 5 starter job until he returns.
The bullpen will also benefit from full seasons of Jake Diekman and Sam Dyson, and along with the additions of Tony Barnette and Tom Wilhelmsen they should have one of the best relief corps in all of baseball.
Finding a better insurance policy to Josh Hamilton in left field than Justin Ruggiano would be nice, and the catcher position is still somewhat weak offensively, but all things considered the Rangers appear to be one of the most complete teams in baseball.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Delino DeShields Jr. | LHP Cole Hamels |
| RF Shin-Soo Choo | LHP Derek Holland |
| DH Prince Fielder | RHP Colby Lewis |
| 3B Adrian Beltre | LHP Martin Perez |
| 1B Mitch Moreland | RHP Nick Martinez |
| LF Josh Hamilton | Bullpen |
| SS Elvis Andrus | RHP Tony Barnette (R) |
| 2B Rougned Odor | LHP Sam Freeman |
| C Robinson Chirinos | RHP Tom Wilhelmsen |
| Bench | LHP Jake Diekman |
| C Chris Gimenez | RHP Keone Kela |
| IF Hanser Alberto | RHP Sam Dyson |
| OF James Jones | RHP Shawn Tolleson |
| OF Justin Ruggiano |
3. San Francisco Giants (Previous: 3)
28 of 30
Team Outlook
Despite a starting rotation that was an absolute mess behind Madison Bumgarner and rookie Chris Heston, the San Francisco Giants still managed to hang around in the NL West for most of the season last year on their way to 84 wins.
Now with the additions of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija to the staff, as well as a potentially healthy Matt Cain, they once again look like the favorites in the division and a serious threat to continue their even-year magic.
The addition of Denard Span can't be overlooked, as the team no longer has to count on the injury-prone Angel Pagan in center field and in the leadoff spot.
If he can stay healthy, a three-year, $31 million deal for Span might wind up being the steal of the offseason.
Healthy seasons from Joe Panik (100 games) and Hunter Pence (52 games) should also give them a boost offensively, as they will boast one of the deepest lineups in baseball if they can avoid injury.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Denard Span | LHP Madison Bumgarner |
| 2B Joe Panik | RHP Johnny Cueto |
| C Buster Posey | RHP Jeff Samardzija |
| 1B Brandon Belt | RHP Jake Peavy |
| RF Hunter Pence | RHP Matt Cain |
| 3B Matt Duffy | Bullpen |
| SS Brandon Crawford | RHP Chris Heston |
| LF Angel Pagan | LHP Josh Osich |
| Bench | RHP George Kontos |
| C Andrew Susac | LHP Javier Lopez |
| IF Ehire Adrianza | RHP Hunter Strickland |
| IF/OF Kelby Tomlinson | RHP Sergio Romo |
| OF Gregor Blanco | RHP Santiago Casilla |
| OF Jarrett Parker (R) |
2. Toronto Blue Jays (Previous: 2)
29 of 30
Team Outlook
A late-inning veteran reliever was the biggest remaining need for the Toronto Blue Jays heading into January, and they finally addressed that need when they acquired Drew Storen from the Washington Nationals.
However, in the process they traded leadoff hitter Ben Revere.
While Michael Saunders should be a fine replacement in left field, there is a hole to be filled in the leadoff spot in the lineup. Kevin Pillar flashed good speed last season with 25 stolen bases, but his .314 on-base percentage is not ideal as a catalyst for this high-powered offense.
In fact, don't be surprised if it winds up being Troy Tulowitzki who is asked to hit leadoff, as the team has plenty of run producers and Tulo has a .369 career on-base percentage.
Toronto will also need to decide on a closer, as Roberto Osuna was fantastic in that role as a rookie last season but might be more valuable as a setup man who can go multiple innings.
The addition of Storen also affords the team some flexibility as far as how to use Aaron Sanchez, and he could again be in the running for the No. 5 starter job.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Kevin Pillar | RHP Marcus Stroman |
| 3B Josh Donaldson | RHP R.A. Dickey |
| RF Jose Bautista | RHP Marco Estrada |
| 1B Edwin Encarnacion | LHP J.A. Happ |
| SS Troy Tulowitzki | RHP Drew Hutchison |
| 1B Chris Colabello | Bullpen |
| C Russell Martin | RHP Jesse Chavez |
| LF Michael Saunders | LHP Aaron Loup |
| 2B Ryan Goins | RHP Steve Delabar |
| Bench | LHP Brett Cecil |
| C Josh Thole | RHP Aaron Sanchez |
| 1B Justin Smoak | RHP Roberto Osuna |
| IF Darwin Barney | RHP Drew Storen |
| OF Ezequiel Carrera |
1. Chicago Cubs (Previous: 1)
30 of 30
Team Outlook
For those Chicago Cubs fans out there hoping the team makes one more big splash before spring training, it appears the team's offseason is more or less finished.
The good news is, it's been a terrific offseason.
"I think it’s more likely than not we’re done with any significant moves, and we feel great about how the offseason went," said Chicago Cubs team president Theo Epstein, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
That being said, it's not as though the Cubs can't still make a big move once the season starts, as Epstein was also quick to point out.
"We’re fairly well positioned to see where the needs arise and have the ability to adjust midstream," Epstein said. "We’re not smart enough to anticipate how things will go with our pitching staff, how our outfield will respond to some challenges. We’ll see how it evolves and do our best to adjust midstream if necessary."
On paper, the Cubs look like the best team in baseball heading into 2016, and the fact that they have the prospect talent go out and make another big addition makes them that much scarier.
There is still a month left in the offseason, but don't expect anyone to knock them out of the No. 1 slot between now and Opening Day.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Jason Heyward | RHP Jake Arrieta |
| 2B Ben Zobrist | LHP Jon Lester |
| 1B Anthony Rizzo | RHP John Lackey |
| 3B Kris Bryant | RHP Jason Hammel |
| LF Kyle Schwarber | RHP Kyle Hendricks |
| RF Jorge Soler | Bullpen |
| C Miguel Montero | RHP Adam Warren |
| SS Addison Russell | LHP Clayton Richard |
| Bench | RHP Trevor Cahill |
| C David Ross | RHP Neil Ramirez |
| IF Javier Baez | LHP Travis Wood |
| IF Tommy La Stella | RHP Pedro Strop |
| OF Chris Coghlan | RHP Hector Rondon |
| OF Matt Szczur |
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
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