MLB Free Agency: The Biggest Holes To Fill for Every MLB Team
The 2010 MLB offseason has provided lots of excitement, surprises and shock. The money that's been thrown around is upsetting to GMs across the sport.
Cliff Lee to the Phillies, Jason Werth to the Nationals, Carl Crawford to the Red Sox and plenty of other players have switched teams.
The roller coaster ride isn't over yet. Pitchers and catchers don't report for another two months, which means the hot stove is still burning red hot.
Your club (yes, even the Phillies) still has holes that need to be filled on the roster.
Here are the needs for every team.
Tampa Bay Rays
1 of 30
Biggest need: Bullpen
The Rays have signed Joel Peralta, traded for Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos and re-signed J.P. Howell in the last few weeks.
They still need someone to be the closer. Rafael Soriano is still as good as gone and will be tough to replace.
Options on the market: Kevin Gregg, Jon Rauch, Octavio Dotel and Trevor Hoffman, plus the Rays' Grant Balfour and Chad Qualls.
New York Yankees
2 of 30
Biggest need: Starting pitching
The Yankees swung and missed badly on Cliff Lee. Zach Greinke was traded to the Brewers.
Are they going to convince Andy Pettitte to play another season in the Bronx?
"If we get Pettitte back, (we are) so much the better," GM Brian Cashman said. "But I'm not waiting for him. He told me not to."
Is A.J. Burnett a reliable guy to throw on the hill every fifth day, let alone in the playoffs?
The Yankees will potentially go into the season only feeling comfortable about C.C. Sabathia and Phil Hughes.
Something needs to be done.
Boston Red Sox
3 of 30
Biggest Need: Catcher
The Red Sox have already made a huge splash with the additions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. They even added Dan Wheeler and Bobby Jenks to bolster their bullpen.
But they lost catcher Victor Martinez to free agency and are left with Jason Varitek and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. That's not going to cut it for a World Series contender.
Look for the Red Sox to wait until after Spring Training to address it because the current crop of free agents isn't appealing at all.
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Toronto Blue Jays
4 of 30
Biggest Need: Bullpen
Free agency has really dented the Blue Jays bullpen. Kevin Gregg and Scott Downs aren't going to be with the team next year, and they need to find a replacement.
Octavio Dotel looks like he will sign with the Jays in the next few days. Dotel will likely have to settle for a short-term deal and would enter Spring Training in competition for the closer's role instead of being given the job immediately.
Dotel is a move in the right direction, but they are going to need more than that to compete in the A.L. East.
Baltimore Orioles
5 of 30
Biggest Need: First Base
Baltimore got next to nothing from a variety of first baseman in 2010.
Derrek Lee has been on the wish list for Baltimore since the season ended. He batted .260 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs for the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves last season. The O's could use a heady veteran's presence on one of the youngest teams in baseball.
They have also discussed a deal with Adam LaRoche, another first baseman. Clearly the front office knows what position needs to be filled before the season starts.
Minnesota Twins
6 of 30
Biggest Need: No. 1 starter
It's becoming pretty obvious that the Twins have a great formula for regular season success but really struggle when they get to the postseason.
Francisco Liriano, 27, still has a chance to develop into a legit No. 1 but hasn't been consistent enough to even be mentioned in the same breath as true aces.
Their best bet is to wait until the summer and hope that a team going nowhere will dump their best pitchers for 50-to-75 cents on the dollar.
Chicago White Sox
7 of 30
Biggest Need: Bullpen
They already addressed the DH/first base situation with the signings of Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko.
The rotation is already set.
The bullpen lost closer Bobby Jenks. They also lost J.J. Putz. The pickings are getting slim, but they need to shore up that bullpen if they think they can win the A.L. Central.
Detroit Tigers
8 of 30
Biggest Need: Defense
The Tigers need to find a few utility players that can play stellar defense. The lineup as it is currently constructed is going to be a nightmare for Tigers pitching.
The offense will be very dangerous, and the pitching is nothing to sneeze at. But the defense will cost this team multiple games if they don't upgrade it.
Fixing this problem will do wonders for the 2011 Tigers.
Cleveland Indians
9 of 30
Biggest Need: Third Base
The player that is currently penciled in to start at third? Jayson Nix. He had one of the worst defensive performances in all of baseball last season. His hitting is underwhelming at best.
'Nuff said.
Kansas City Royals
10 of 30
Biggest Need: Pride
When everybody knew Zach Greinke was going to be traded, it was a "here we go again moment." Anytime this team lands a top talent, that player is destined to be dealt within a few years.
Young guys on the Royals need to dig deep and form a core of players that want to actually play for the Royals and believe they can win in a Kansas City uniform. It's the only solution.
Texas Rangers
11 of 30
Biggest Need: DH
The Rangers had a great weekend in building their 2011 roster. They signed Brandon Webb to a one-year deal that could be one of the biggest signings of the year if Webb can return to his All-Star form.
They also signed Arthur Rhodes to a one-year contract. He was phenomenal in getting out lefties for the Reds last year and earned an appearance in the All-Star game for it.
Vladimir Guerrero is still available, and the Rangers could very well sign him to another one-year deal. If they can agree to terms, the Rangers are as complete as any team in the majors going into 2011.
Oakland Athletics
12 of 30
Biggest Need: Offense, Offense, Offense
The A's have one of the best rotations in the game after signing Rich Harden. They signed Hideki Matsui earlier this month to solve their DH question.
But that's not enough.
They need to upgrade offensively at almost every infield position. They signed Raji Davis to bolster the outfield, but the infield is brutal to watch at the plate.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Biggest Need: Free-Agent Splash
The Angels have spoiled their fans with the superb play of their team the past decade. After a medicorce season, the Angels needed to make headlines for bolstering their team.
They whiffed on Crawford and lost Matsui. They could still sign Adrian Beltre, but that's a long shot at this point.
The answer lies in Rafael Soriano. He was a stud for the Rays, and the Angels need a big time closer that has recorded over 40 saves in a season.
It will satisfy the fanbase and put the Angels back into contention in 2011.
Seattle Mariners
14 of 30
Biggest Need: Any offensive player that can hit above .250
New manager Eric Wedge has his hands full with this team. The pitching kept them in games last season while the offense took them out of it.
The Mariners trailed the second worse offense by 73 runs! They need a catcher. Seattle traded catcher Rob Johnson to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
But above all, they need players that can get on base more often than once a month.
Philadelphia Phillies
15 of 30
Biggest Need: A replacement for Jason Werth
After landing the prize of free agency in Cliff Lee, the Phillies don't need a whole lot. But considering they lost a guy that is now going to make over $120 million—well, that's a big hole to fill.
Atlanta Braves
16 of 30
Biggest Need: Bullpen
Acquiring Dan Uggla filled their biggest need, a reliable second baseman. But the bullpen still has a few holes that need to be taken care of.
Billy Wagner is not a sure thing like he once was, and the Braves have little depth in the bullpen department.
The young Craig Kimbrel put up great numbers (0.44 ERA, 40 strikeouts, nine hits allowed in 20.2 innings) in his 21 appearances for Atlanta this past season. He is certainly going to be in the fold.
Peter Moylan, Johnny Venters and Takashi Saito will be important pieces, but they need more help.
Signing another reliever or two would really balance out the club.
Florida Marlins
17 of 30
Biggest Need: Starting Pitching
They need help in the rotation after Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco.The 'Fins never have the money to spend on a free agent, so expect the Marlins to try and make a trade.
Florida fans shouldn't feel comfortable about Chris Volstad taking the hill 30 times in the '11 season.
They need to add more to expect to make a run at the juggernauts that are the Phillies and Braves.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Biggest Need: Power Hitter
Terry Collins is the new head honcho in New York. His team has a glaring weakness that must be addressed before the new season.
The second highest payroll in baseball was only able to yield one hitter that launched more than 20 homers. Hitting only 128 home runs as a team is unacceptable even for a team that plays in the enormous Citi Field.
Signing/trading for a power bat that plays the outfield could swing the fortunes of a team that had an awfully disappointing '10 campaign.
Washington Nationals
19 of 30
Biggest Need: Starting Pitching
The Nationals shocked the world when they signed Jason Werth to a mega deal.
But the offense wasn't the problem. They were about league average in offensive production in 2010. It's the pitching that leaves a lot to be desired.
Stephen Strasburg will be out for half of the season, and that is about the only guarantee for the 'Nats in '11.
Locking up a desperate free agent or two right before Spring Training seems inevitable.
Cincinnati Reds
20 of 30
Biggest Need: Lead-off Hitter
The Reds have been very quiet during the hot stove season. They like the young talent on the roster and are comfortable in letting it develop.
But that doesn't mean the Reds will stand pat for the entire offseason.
The Reds had very little production from the top spot in the order and landing a shortstop that can bat leadoff would be a huge addition to the club.
Scott Podsednik has recently been linked to the Reds. If they can pull it off, watch out for the upstart Reds.
St. Louis Cardinals
21 of 30
Biggest Need: More Offense
The Cardinals boast one of the top rotations in all of baseball.
They may have overpaid for Lance Berkman, but he will provide a solid power bat.
But that's not enough. The Cards are too top heavy with Matt Holiday and Albert Pujols and little else. The team never recovered after trading Ryan Ludwick and still haven't found a suitable replacement.
Ignoring this issue could very well mean a repeat performance of '10.
Milwaukee Brewers
22 of 30
Biggest Need: Starting Pitching
The Brewers already have one of the top offenses in the National League. That hasn't been an issue for a few years now.
The Brewers were the big winners in the Zach Greinke sweepstakes. Yovanni Golardo and Grenike are a great one-two punch. But the lack of depth in their rotation is still the Achilles heel.
Pretty sure the Brew Crew aren't going anywhere if Manny Parra is in the five-man rotation.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention the addition of Shaun Marcum to the rotation. He is a great pick-up for the Brew Crew but they still need to be concerned with the lack of depth at the back of the rotation. What if one of the top three is hurt for more than a few starts?
Houston Astros
23 of 30
Biggest Need: Outfield
The 'Stros haven't done much in free agency. They finalized a deal with infielder Bill Hall last week. It is widely regarded as a bad move for the Astros to throw over $3 million on a 31-year-old utility player.
Carlos Lee is making an enormous amount of money for little production. Michael Bourn was turned into a frisky lead-off man in his first All-Star season. Hunter Pence had a great season in 2010, driving in 80 runs and cementing his place in right field.
The trio needs a power hitter that can provide some power off the bench to realistically compete with the rest of the improving National League Central.
Chicago Cubs
24 of 30
Biggest Need: Starting and Relief Pitching
The Cubs have made some questionable decisions this offseason. They signed Carlos Pena, a guy who hit .198 in 2010, for a boatload of dough.
They signed reliever Kerry Woods to a deal to bring him back to where his career began.They weren't able to bring Ted Lilly back.
So the biggest hole of '10 hasn't really been addressed—the starting rotation.
The Cubs have Ryan Dempster, Carlos Silva, Randy Wells, Tom Gorzelanny and Casey Coleman. The bullpen, aside from Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall, is terrible.
Something needs to be done about this before the season.
Pittsburgh Pirates
25 of 30
Biggest Need: Everything!
The sad state of this franchise is depressing by the standards of any sports fan. They need to fill holes at almost every position.
The pitching is godawful. The offense ranked 29th in the majors. The ownership group has shown that they don't feel the need to spend any money.
Uhhh, not good.
San Francisco Giants
26 of 30
Biggest Need: Infielder
The World Champion Giants won the World Series with stellar pitching and defense.
It certainly wasn't the offense that carried the team.
Losing Juan Uribe to the Dodgers hurts. Offering World Series MVP Edgar Renteria a paltry $1 million was not a good P.R. move. He called it "insulting."
Acquiring a offensively proficient shortstop will be a big help for a shaky lineup. They picked up Miguel Tejada but they need a young guy to play part time and learn from the former All-Star Tejada. Obviously singing Tejada is only a solution for 2011.
San Diego Padres
27 of 30
Biggest Need: Outfield
They have lost a boatload of players this offseason. The Padres have parted ways with 14-game winner Jon Garland, shortstop Miguel Tejada and catcher Yorvit Torrealba since the end of the season. They also said goodbye to outfielders Tony Gwynn and Scott Hairston too.
The Padres have agreed to the terms of a one-year contract with Brad Hawpe to replace Adrian Gonzalez at first base. It's a huge downgrade, but at least, they filled the hole.
They signed Aaron Harang to a one-year deal to solidfy the depth of the rotation.
But they need to score more runs. Small ball can only get you so far.
Colorado Rockies
28 of 30
Biggest Need: Starting Pitching
The Rockies lucked out when they re-signed Jorge De La Rosa right before the market got out of control. Pairing De La Rosa with Ubaldo Jimenez forms a great front heavy rotation.
The back end stinks.
Jason Hammel has proven to be a decent option at the bottom of the rotation but not a No. 3.
Jeff Francis is unlikely to return, and Aaron Cook is a wild card at this point.
After signing Troy Tulowitski to a godfather-like contract, the Rox pockets are quite thin. Scouring the waiver wire for starting pitchers will be a daily task for the Rockies front office for all of 2011.
Los Angeles Dodgers
29 of 30
Biggest Need: Big Name Attraction
The Dodgers have been wheeling and dealing since the offseason got under way. They were able to lock up Ted Lilly. They signed Dioner Navarro to fill their need at catcher after losing Russell Martin to free agency.
They signed Matt Guerrier to add depth to their bullpen. They signed Tony Gwynn Jr. to help the outfield.
None of these players make Dodger fans raise an eyebrow. They need to pull off a move on par with the Manny Ramierez signing to infuse some much needed excitement into a stale franchise.
Arizona Diamondbacks
30 of 30
Biggest Need: Bullpen and Starting Pitching
The D-Backs gave up a tons of runs in 2010. They lost Brandon Webb and have little hope of fielding even an average team in 2011. Who is the ace next season?
The bullpen is just as bad. They were amongst the league leaders in blown saves. Lots of holes to fill in the Diamondbacks pitching staff across the board. Who is the closer?
Lots of questions and no answers.
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