Each MLB Team's Biggest 2017 Question Mark Through 2 Months
Two months into the 2017 Major League Baseball season, many mysteries remain.
That makes this as good a time as any to look at each team's biggest question mark.
These issues cover a wide range of topics. Struggling stars? Check. Trade needs? Another check. Trade chips? Yet another check.
Going in alphabetical order by city, let's take a look.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Do They Have a Bullpen Problem?
1 of 30
Record: 35-25
The Arizona Diamondbacks' bounce-back season is about as good as it looks. Their offense is tied for fifth in MLB in runs, and their pitching staff ranks third in ERA.
But is their bullpen a weakness, or...well, is it?
On the surface, not really. It's tied for 9th in MLB in ERA, in part thanks to former top prospect Archie Bradley's emergence as a multi-inning shutdown reliever.
Remove Bradley from the equation, however, and Arizona's bullpen ERA jumps to 4.11. Veteran closer Fernando Rodney has a 6.10 ERA, raising the question of whether the D-Backs should scour the summer trade market for an upgrade.
Alternatively, they could rearrange their pen to make better use of Bradley and other top assets. The choice is theirs.
Atlanta Braves: What Will They Do at the Trade Deadline?
2 of 30
Record: 24-32
It's past time to wonder if struggling rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson should still be in the big leagues.
A more pressing concern for the Atlanta Braves, however, is how they should handle the July 31 trade deadline.
They certainly have a license to sell. But obvious trade chips such as R.A. Dickey, Bartolo Colon and Brandon Phillips aren't having good seasons. To add real assets to their ongoing rebuild, the Braves may have to give up players they'd rather not part with.
Namely: Matt Kemp. The veteran is raking with a .920 OPS and 10 home runs. These numbers likely have the attention of offense-needy teams elsewhere, particularly in the American League.
Per Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves "really like" Kemp. But soon enough, they could like the offers they're getting for him even more.
Baltimore Orioles: When Will Their Offense Spring to Life?
3 of 30
Record: 30-26
The Baltimore Orioles appear to be overachieving, but what else is new? Being better than the sum of their parts has been their thing since 2012.
Still, these Orioles come with a frustrating question: What's up with the offense?
The Orioles are tied for 21st in MLB in runs, and not because their lesser hitters are weighing them down. Their Nos. 3-6 hitters entered Tuesday ranked 19th in MLB with a .758 OPS.
That points to disappointing seasons by Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo and Chris Davis, and doesn't even include Adam Jones' disappointing season in the No. 2 hole. The guys who are supposed to be carrying Baltimore's offense are buckling under the weight.
This shouldn't last forever. But with the Orioles starting to fall behind in the AL East, there ought to be a sense of urgency.
Boston Red Sox: What to Do with Third Base?
4 of 30
Record: 32-25
The Boston Red Sox wouldn't have a problem at third base if they still had Travis Shaw. But they don't, so they do.
They were entrusting the position to Pablo Sandoval, but he's continued to battle injuries and ineffectiveness. The plan now seems to be to use the switch-hitter in a platoon with the righty-swinging Deven Marrero.
"I'm not going to say [Sandoval] won't ever get a right-handed at-bat," manager John Farrell said, per Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. "But...we know that the left-handed side of the plate is his strong side."
This isn't a tenable solution for a group that, according to FanGraphs, ranks dead last in MLB in WAR at the position. Meanwhile, stud prospect Rafael Devers isn't quite fully developed.
Thus, the question: How long will Boston wait before heading to the trade market?
Chicago Cubs: Which of Their Big Problems Actually Needs Fixing?
5 of 30
Record: 30-27
Last year, the Chicago Cubs were a 103-win team that snapped a 108-year World Series drought.
This year, the struggle to even stay above .500 is real. They rank 15th in MLB in runs. Per Baseball Prospectus, they rank 17th in defensive efficiency. And their starting pitchers rank 21st in ERA.
It's easy to call this a World Series hangover. It's harder to answer what should be done about it.
Do the Cubs simply wait for their championship pedigree to revive itself? Or should they take initiative on the trade market? If they choose the latter, do they fix their ailing lineup or their ailing rotation?
The bright side for the Cubs is that the NL Central isn't running away from them. But if they don't take action, they could have a hard time getting ahead anyway.
Chicago White Sox: When's the Right Time to Trade Jose Quintana?
6 of 30
Record: 25-31
The Chicago White Sox are still in the early stages of a rebuild, so this season is about playing out the string while general manager Rick Hahn waits for his phone to ring.
None of his tradable assets carries more intrigue than Jose Quintana. But that's also where there's a snag.
As a young, controllable ace, the lefty had oodles of trade value at the start of 2017. Now he has a 5.30 ERA, and Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that suitors are already "backing off."
The White Sox must hope Quintana can get hot. But at this point, it may already be too late for him to build enough value to be worth ace prices at the July 31 deadline. That would push his ideal trade window to the winter. Perhaps even beyond.
Of course, this is assuming his ideal trade window hasn't already passed.
Cincinnati Reds: What to Do with Zack Cozart?
7 of 30
Record: 27-30
The Cincinnati Reds are having a subpar season, but it's also better than expected following last year's 94-loss flop.
Nonetheless, they probably won't sacrifice future building blocks to bolster their chances of contending in the present. So, don't count on their going all-out to fix their MLB-worst starting pitching.
A better question is: What they should do with Zack Cozart?
With a 1.065 OPS alongside strong defense, the veteran shortstop is having an excellent season. It's generally assumed that the Reds will capitalize on this by dealing him. But Cafardo proposed an alternative: Why not extend him?
Either way, the top player on the Reds right now is also their top storyline.
Cleveland Indians: Where Do They Need to Upgrade?
8 of 30
Record: 29-27
Coming off last year's trip to the World Series, the Cleveland Indians aren't running away with the AL Central like they were supposed to.
There are reasons for this. Namely: an offense that's tied for 18th in MLB in runs and a starting pitching staff that ranks 24th in ERA. That's no way to go through life.
But which should they fix? Their lineup or their rotation?
Or maybe neither? Surely, their offense will get hot once Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana get hot. Likewise, their rotation will get hot once Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Danny Salazar (if he escapes bullpen purgatory when he comes off the DL) and Josh Tomlin get hot.
But it seems more likely that they'll force the issue. Teams with either hitters to deal or starters to deal should expect to hear from Cleveland in the next two months.
Colorado Rockies: What's Up with Carlos Gonzalez?
9 of 30
Record: 37-23
A lot has gone right for the Colorado Rockies, who refuse to back down from the top of the NL West.
Carlos Gonzalez, however, is one thing that's gone very wrong. The three-time All-Star has just a .697 OPS. That's how, per FanGraphs, the Rockies rank 29th in WAR out of right field.
As of May, they were willing to be patient.
"When you have been good for as long as CarGo, you have to believe that after game No. 162, he's going to be hitting .290-something, with 30 homers and 90 RBIs," assistant hitting coach Jeff Salazar told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.
But Gonzalez has continued to struggle. This could be less of a slump and more an indication of the 31-year-old's decline. How long can the Rockies remain patient before taking action?
Detroit Tigers: Is It Finally Time to Rebuild?
10 of 30
Record: 28-29
The Detroit Tigers seemed to be weighing a full-on rebuild over the winter. But they decided against it, keeping the band together for another push in 2017.
Two months in, and they haven't succeeded in putting the rebuild question behind them.
In a video at Fox Sports, Ken Rosenthal said (h/t Connor Byrne of MLB Trade Rumors) the Tigers could move slugging right fielder J.D. Martinez at the deadline. It's a good bet they'll also be asked about some of their other stars. In particular: Ian Kinsler, Justin Upton, Justin Verlander and Alex Avila, son of GM Al Avila.
It's hard to picture all or even some of those names being moved. But if the market is right for a fire sale, this summer could be when the Tigers finally shut a contention window that's been steadily closing for years.
Houston Astros: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
11 of 30
Record: 42-17
The Houston Astros just won 11 games in a row and are on pace to win 115 contests overall, so...
Yeah. What could possibly go wrong?
There is no better question for this team. It is where it is by way of an offense that leads MLB in runs and a pitching staff that ranks second in ERA. And the Astros are already up to a 13-game lead in the AL West and an eight-game lead over the rest of the American League.
Maybe the weak back end of their rotation will become a bigger problem. Maybe the injury bug will target them. Maybe they'll be attacked by the regression monster instead.
But for now, the Astros are an apex predator. So, really, what could possibly go wrong?
Kansas City Royals: Will Any Stars Get to Stay?
12 of 30
Record: 25-32
The Kansas City Royals also decided to go for a last hurrah in 2017. Two months in, their attempt is faring even worse than the Tigers'.
According to Rustin Dodd of Kansas City Star, the Royals aren't ready to give up. Teams around the league, however, are already preparing for the fire sale: "Yet across the league, teams in contention have already started circling, sending scouts to inspect the Royals in person, looking for possible fits before the trade deadline on July 31."
The Royals have rentals galore, including lineup stalwarts like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain and veteran left-hander Jason Vargas. They can also offer hard-throwing relief ace Kelvin Herrera, who's a free agent after 2018.
Will any of these pieces stay? Or will they all go? Stay tuned.
Los Angeles Angels: Will Mike Trout's Thumb Surgery Have Lingering Effects?
13 of 30
Record: 30-31
The Los Angeles Angels are an uninteresting team mired in an uninteresting season. So, they might as well look to their future.
And for that, no issue weighs more heavily than Mike Trout's health.
The two-time MVP was in the midst of his best season yet when he slid into second base and hurt his thumb May 28. He opted for surgery and is expected to be out six to eight weeks.
Trout should be fine when he returns. But as ESPN's Stephania Bell warned: "One of the biggest pitfalls after a thumb, finger, wrist or hand injury to a power hitter—besides the obvious consequences of the injury itself—is the lack of power at the plate when the player does return."
Trout will have other means to get by if his power doesn't come back right away. But if nothing else, that would cast a cloud of uncertainty over his head.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Do They Need to Go Big for a Starter?
14 of 30
Record: 35-25
Although they're having trouble shaking the Diamondbacks and Rockies in the NL West race, the Los Angeles Dodgers otherwise have few reasons to complain.
However, it's hard not to wonder about their rotation.
The results are fine. Dodgers starters rank third in MLB in ERA, mainly thanks to Clayton Kershaw, who's doing his thing, and Alex Wood and Brandon McCarthy, who are reviving their careers.
Yet there are also nits to pick. There's a huge gap between Kershaw and the rest in innings. He's the only Dodgers starter who's both reliable and durable.
The results being what they are anyway is an excuse for the Dodgers to stick with the status quo. But if they instead choose to make a move for a starter, an already great team could discover another gear.
Miami Marlins: How Open Will They Be at the Trade Deadline?
15 of 30
Record: 24-33
The Miami Marlins entered 2017 as a long shot to contend and, so far, aren't playing above expectations.
This makes it easy to lump them in with the expected cavalcade of deadline sellers, but there's one complication. With only catcher A.J. Ellis, outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and right-hander Dustin McGowan ticketed for free agency, the Marlins are short on desirable rentals.
According to Rosenthal (h/t Byrne), Miami's solution could be to entertain offers for some of its controllable stars, including outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich and catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Trading those players would help the Marlins resuscitate a farm system that Baseball America ranks as MLB's worst. But at the same time, owner Jeffrey Loria may prefer to keep stars on a team that he's trying to sell.
It's an awkward situation worthy of the Marlins.
Milwaukee Brewers: How Far Can This Thing Go?
16 of 30
Record: 31-28
This season on Can't Predict Baseball: The Milwaukee Brewers find themselves tied for first place in the NL Central after two months.
It means their rebuild is ahead of schedule. And that means GM David Stearns now has to walk a fine line. He told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last month: "The plan is to consistently win major league games over a period of years. If that process begins a little bit sooner than people expected, that's great. And we'll react accordingly. But it doesn't change our strategy; it doesn't change our plan."
Translation: The Brewers don't plan on being a major buyer at the deadline.
Right now, that's for the best. But what about later? If the Brewers only grow their lead between now and July 31, perhaps they'll go all-in on the bird in hand.
Minnesota Twins: How Good Could They Be If They Fix Their Bullpen?
17 of 30
Record: 29-25
Speaking of surprising teams in first place, how about the Minnesota Twins atop of the AL Central?
They're probably lucky to be where they are, but it's not a complete accident. The Twins are an excellent defensive team with quality starting pitchers and an offense that ranks 11th in MLB in OPS despite ranking only 22nd in runs.
They only have one major weakness: their bullpen. It has the worst ERA in MLB. More to the point, only eight bullpens have committed more meltdowns.
This is where the Twins must focus their efforts leading up to the trade deadline. It would require paying the summer market's typically high prices for relievers, but the potential payoff would be their first AL Central crown since 2010.
New York Mets: Is It Really Too Late to Go on a Run?
18 of 30
Record: 24-32
At 12.5 games back in the NL East and with injured players scattered all over, the New York Mets have the usual trappings of a deadline seller.
But is it really too late for them?
The National League wild-card race isn't leaving them in the dust the way the NL East race is. They're nine games off the pace. Steep, but not unclimbable.
To boot, better days could be ahead. The Mets will soon welcome All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (quad, hamstring) and starters Steven Matz (elbow) and Seth Lugo (elbow) off the DL. If all goes well, flame-throwing righty Noah Syndergaard could return shortly after the All-Star break.
With Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson, Neil Walker, Lucas Duda, Addison Reed and others due for free agency, the Mets will have rentals to offer if they sell. But maybe that's not inevitable just yet.
New York Yankees: When Will Masahiro Tanaka Join the Party?
19 of 30
Record: 32-23
If you think the New York Yankees have it made now, just wait until Masahiro Tanaka is an ace again.
But that's up to him.
Tanaka has a 6.55 ERA and has served up 17 home runs in only 66 innings. He's a long way from the Cy Young-caliber form he maintained in 2016.
However, the Yankees don't see a lost cause. They see a guy who's simply out of sync.
"This is no rebuild, it's consistency and it's going to be a process to get him back to being consistent," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said, per George A. King III of the New York Post.
The rest of the Yankees' rotation has a 3.60 ERA. If Tanaka gets on their level, the Yankees should hold on to their position atop the AL East. If not, it'll be a challenge.
Oakland Athletics: How Much Will They Sell at the Deadline?
20 of 30
Record: 26-32
The Oakland A's are once again going nowhere. Soon, it'll be time to sell.
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, second baseman Jed Lowrie and surprise slugger Yonder Alonso are two top candidates to be moved. Also in the conversation are outfielders Rajai Davis and Matt Joyce, and infielder Trevor Plouffe.
But what about Sonny Gray?
Following a rough 2016, the young right-hander has shown flashes of his old ace self this season. He's also under club control through 2019. Thus, ESPN's Buster Olney says he could be one of the most desirable players on the summer market.
But that's for the A's to decide. With no hurry to trade Gray and his trade value only now recovering, they're in an ideal position to play hard-to-get with him.
Philadelphia Phillies: Will They Go Full Youth Movement?
21 of 30
Record: 21-35
The Philadelphia Phillies are several years into their rebuild and still struggling to make progress.
The bright side, such as it is, is that they've yet to unleash the full might of their farm system. Among those waiting for the call are Shortstop J.P. Crawford, second baseman Scott Kingery, catcher Jorge Alfaro, first baseman Rhys Hoskins and outfielder Nick Williams.
"We will call the kids up, that's not really the issue," GM Matt Klentak said, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. "The issue is more, we have a responsibility to the players themselves to call them up when they're ready."
Perhaps the time will be right after the trade deadline?
With veterans such as Michael Saunders, Howie Kendrick, Jeremy Hellickson and Pat Neshek likely to be on the move, the Phillies could go into August with many open roster spots. That could be their excuse to turn their youth movement to 11.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Will Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole Stick Around?
22 of 30
Record: 26-32
Despite their record, the door to October hasn't closed on the Pittsburgh Pirates just yet. They're only three-and-a-half games out in the NL Central.
But that won't stop other teams from calling them about Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole.
They're easily Pittsburgh's most attractive trade chips, and not just because of their track records. Cole is under club control through 2019. McCutchen has a reasonable $14.75 million contract option for 2018.
Not surprisingly, a source told FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman in May that the Pirates are "not in any rush" to deal Cole. And with McCutchen now heating up after a slow start, the Pirates may be inclined to hold on to him, too.
Still, nothing should be ruled out. This is a small-market team that must be pragmatic. If the offers are right, the Pirates could be up for a couple of blockbusters.
San Diego Padres: Can Brad Hand Be Their Andrew Miller?
23 of 30
Record: 23-36
The San Diego Padres have a ways to go in their rebuild, but they could take a big step forward if Brad Hand can be their Andrew Miller.
Last summer, the Yankees flipped Miller to Cleveland for a basket of prospects headlined by outfielder Clint Frazier and left-hander Justus Sheffield. It was quite a get for a mere relief pitcher.
Now, Hand is starting to look an awful lot like Miller.
He had a great season last year and is now better in 2017, posting a 1.69 ERA with 42 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 32 innings. "Scouts are enamored with the lefty's stuff," reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
To boot, Hand is under team control through 2019. That gives him a talent/controllability combination similar to that of Miller. So who wants him? And for how much?
San Francisco Giants: Will Madison Bumgarner Show Any Ill Effects?
24 of 30
Record: 24-36
The San Francisco Giants' 2017 season sure has an "All good things must come to an end" feel to it.
Nonetheless, Cafardo reports that there's "no expectation" that the Giants will be deadline sellers. Nor are they likely to be buyers. They're a candidate to simply play out the string.
If so, the only matter of importance will be Madison Bumgarner's recovery from his dirt-bike-induced shoulder injury.
That's kept the lefty out of action since April 19 and is of particular concern for two reasons: It was his first trip to the DL, and shoulder injuries are no joke.
If Bumgarner comes back and pitches like an ace, the Giants can move forward with optimism. If not, they'll have a reason to worry during the offseason.
Seattle Mariners: Does Their Recent Run Have Lasting Power?
25 of 30
Record: 29-30
If anyone tuned out the Seattle Mariners after their slow start, now's the time to tune back in.
With eight wins in their last nine games, the Mariners are now just two victories away from breaking even. While the AL West title still looks like a lost cause, they're quietly only two-and-a-half games out in the AL wild-card picture.
And help is on the way.
James Paxton is already back from the disabled list. Up next are fellow starters Felix Hernandez (shoulder) and Hisashi Iwakuma (shoulder) and right fielder Mitch Haniger, who looked like a budding star before his oblique injury.
It's not the best idea to take all this as an assurance that the Mariners will stay hot. But if they can, they'll avoid taking a step back after last year's near postseason miss.
St. Louis Cardinals: Where Can They Find More Offense?
26 of 30
Record: 26-30
The 2016 St. Louis Cardinals could hit but couldn't pitch. Go figure that the 2017 Cardinals can pitch but can't hit.
They rank fifth in the majors in ERA but only 27th in runs. This would seem to make them ideal candidates to add a bat at the deadline. But not so fast.
“That’s not as simple as you try to make it out to be,” GM John Mozeliak told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Obviously our offense has not been overly productive, but I think it’s a little early to hit the panic button.”
That's a challenge to in-house hitters to pick it up. Specifically: Matt Carpenter, Dexter Fowler and Aledmys Diaz. They're better than they've shown.
Or so the Cardinals hope. Otherwise, they may have no choice but the seek a deal.
Tampa Bay Rays: Sell or Let It Roll?
27 of 30
Record: 29-31
The Tampa Bay Rays are flying under the radar, but they're hanging in there at only three games out in the AL wild-card race.
Nonetheless, Rosenthal reports (h/t Byrne once again) that the Rays are unlikely to be buyers at the deadline. They'll instead look to in-house options to take them the rest of the way.
The dilemma, however, is that other teams are sure to attempt to push them into selling. Clubs always need starting pitching around the deadline. The Rays have a lot of it. Chris Archer's name is sure to turn up in rumors. So will those of Alex Cobb and Jake Odorizzi.
Because the Rays aren't lucky to be where they are, prospective buyers could be wasting their breath. But because they're another team that must be pragmatic, perhaps Tampa will sell while the selling's good.
Texas Rangers: Are They Buyers or Sellers?
28 of 30
Record: 27-31
It wasn't long ago that the Texas Rangers were on a 10-game win streak that pointed them toward their third straight postseason.
Now they're once again looking up at quite a few clubs in the AL postseason race. According to Cafardo, this has them in wait-and-see mode: "The Rangers will never be a selling-off type of team, so they’ll continue to monitor whether they need to obtain a starter and give up talent if they can get back into at least a wild-card position."
This would be acceptable if the Rangers didn't have reasonable trade assets. But they happen to have three attractive rentals to offer: righty ace Yu Darvish, catcher Jonathan Lucroy and outfielder Carlos Gomez.
It's a choice between holding a rocky course and cutting their losses. Ultimately, it'll be a tough call for GM Jon Daniels.
Toronto Blue Jays: Is This Team a Sleeping Giant?
29 of 30
Record: 28-31
The Toronto Blue Jays started the year 6-17. At that point, whatever bandwagon they had coming into 2017 was empty.
They're 22-14 since then. And potentially only getting better.
Jose Bautista, Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales have turned it on in the last month. More recently, former MVP third baseman Josh Donaldson and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki have returned to give them a hand.
Their pitching staff is more of a work in progress. But with steady lefty J.A. Happ back healthy and reigning AL ERA champ Aaron Sanchez not far behind, the upside is there.
In short, the Blue Jays are looking more like the team that went to back-to-back American League Championship Series in 2015 and 2016.
Now, can they make it last?
Washington Nationals: Which Relief Ace Will They Trade For?
30 of 30
Record: 37-20
The Washington Nationals are a super-team that happens to have a huge flaw that they haven't been able to keep secret: Their bullpen stinks. Not literally, but figuratively enough that it almost literally stinks. It has an NL-worst 5.01 ERA and entered Tuesday with an MLB-worst .820 OPS allowed.
Since the Nats have already tried fixing the problem with several in-house shake-ups, it's on to the next solution: Who will they trade for?
From Herrera to Hand to David Robertson to many others, there's no shortage of options. And while there's an argument that the club's 12.5-game lead in the NL East is an excuse to hold off, the reality is that the Nationals aren't after a mere division title.
They want a World Series. And to get one of those, it helps to have a functioning bullpen.
Data courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus.
