MLB Hot Stove: Team Offseason Power Rankings
Make no mistake about it—there are still some Major League Baseball trades and free agent signings forthcoming, but the Hot Stove has ended. That means it is not too early to release the MLB 2011 offseason power rankings.
See which teams still have some moving and shaking to do to resurrect from the cellar, and see which ones can sit back and wait for something to fall into their lap, secure in the knowledge they have already had a successful offseason.
No 30: New York Yankees
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Key Departures: P Javier Vazquez, OF Lance Berkman
Key Additions: P Pedro Feliciano
Overview: The Yankees had their offseason hopes pinned on the golden left arm of Cliff Lee, only he turned his back on a franchise that is not used to hearing no. While waiting for Lee, the Yankees watched the Red Sox sign their next target, Carl Crawford. During all of this, the relationship between the club and its captain, Derek Jeter, took a hit in contract negotiations.
No. 29: Tampa Bay Rays
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Key Departures: OF Carl Crawford, 1B Carlos Pena, P Joaquin Benoit, SS Jason Bartlett, P Dan Wheeler
Key Additions: A handful of mid-level prospects from the Padres
Overview: The Rays' window of opportunity appears to have slammed shut. The Rays did not have the resources to retain their free agents and they had to watch a couple of key pieces walk away. They still retain a solid core of young talent, but it is hard to envision them competing in the AL East with the amount of talent they lost.
No. 28: Washington Nationals
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Key Departures: 1B Adam Dunn
Key Additions: 1B Jayson Werth, OF Rick Ankiel
Overview: The Nationals were desperate to make a splash this offseason—too desperate. Werth will bring the Nationals some much-needed power, but probably not $126 million worth of power. Werth has only hit over 30 home runs one time and he has never had a batting average over .300.
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No. 27: Texas Rangers
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Key Departures: P Cliff Lee
Key Additions: C Yorvit Torrealba, P Brandon Webb, 3B Adrian Beltre
Overview: The knock on Texas certainly isn't a lack of effort. The Rangers offered Cliff Lee $138 million, but in the end he decided to take his talents elsewhere. Then, with all that money burning a whole in their pocket, they overspent for Adrian Beltre. Beltre will be an upgrade, but his history of falling off after signing a contract makes the move questionable.
No. 26: Houston Astros
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Key Departures: P Matt Lindstrom
Key Additions: 2B Bill Hall, SS Clint Barmes
Overview: When your key acquisitions are Bill Hall and Clint Barmes, this is problematic. The Astros appear to be proceeding without a plan. Well, unless that plan is to have a player at every position. They need to start building for the future, but they aren't even trying to stockpile prospects.
No. 25: New York Mets
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Key Departures: None of note
Key Additions: P Chris Capuano, C Ronny Paulino
Overview: The Mets are going about the offseason like they were a playoff team in 2010. That would be fine if they had been. In light of their 2010 struggles, however, it is puzzling. The Mets seems content to go with the status quo. I hope they are not expecting different results.
No. 24: Kansas City Royals
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Key Departures: SP Zack Greinke, OF David DeJesus
Key Additions: SP Vin Mazzaro
Overview: The Royals did what they could this offseason, but that was far from good enough. They were forced to deal the franchise's best player, Greinke, and they received some second-level prospects in return. The Royals are hamstrung with a tiny budget, but they could have got a few more blue chip players for Greinke.
No. 23: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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Key Departures: DH Hideki Matsui
Key Additions: P Scott Downs, P Hisanori Takahashi
Overview: The Angels had their name in the hat for many of the big-name free agent players this offseason. On the one hand, they deserve credit for not overpaying to land them, but on the other, they are left with the same underachieving offense (minus Matsui) that they had last year.
No. 22: Seattle Mariners
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Key Departures: 2B Jose Lopez
Key Additions: C Miguel Olivo, DH/OF Jack Cust, INF Brendan Ryan
Overview: The Mariners were one of 2010's most disappointing teams. They have done little to upgrade so far this offseason. While Cust and Olivo may be slight upgrades at their respective positions, they are small upgrades. The Mariners appear to be building towards the future, yet they did not bring in any prospects.
No. 21: Cleveland Indians
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Key Departures: None of note
Key Additions: OF Austin Kearns
Overview: The Indians have been one of the quietest teams this offseason. They seem content to let their young talent grow. It would have been nice to see them attempt something to give the franchise a jolt heading into the 2011 season.
No. 20: Florida Marlins
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Key Departures: 2B Dan Uggla, OF Cameron Maybin
Key Additions: C John Buck, P Javier Vazquez, P Randy Choate, INF Omar Infante, LHP Mike Dunn, P Ryan Webb
Overview: The Marlins had an interesting and busy offseason. They lost power when they dealt Uggla, but they upgraded their defense up the middle in the process. They seem to have made lateral moves this season, while trading away one of the highest-rated prospects, Maybin, in the process.
No. 19: Pittsburgh Pirates
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Key Departures: None of note
Key Additions: P Kevin Correia, 1B Lyle Overbay
Overview: Don't look now, but the Pittsburgh Pirates have a decent young team and they didn't lose any of the young talent in the offseason. That right there is cause for celebration in Pittsburgh, but they also added a little pop at first base with Overbay.
No. 18: Minnesota Twins
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Key Departures: INF Orlando Hudson, P Jesse Crain
Key Additions: RHP Jim Hoey, RHP Brett Jacobson, INF Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Overview: The Twins made the biggest move of their offseason during the season, when they re-signed C Joe Mauer. Orlando Hudson will be a big loss for the Twins. They are hoping Nishioka can fill his role, but those are big shoes for a rookie to fill.
No. 17: Chicago Cubs
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Key Departures: None of note
Key Additions: 1B Carlos Pena, P Kerry Wood
Overview: The Cubs are counting on Pena to have a bounce back season and consequently add a little pop to their underwhelming lineup. They are probably counting on too much from Pena, who is coming off of a season where he failed to hit .200. The $10 million they are paying him seems like an eye-popping overpayment, but it is only for one season.
No. 16: Toronto Blue Jays
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Key Departures: P Scott Downs, C John Buck, P Shaun Marcum
Key Additions: P Octavio Dotel, P Carlos Villanueva, 2B Brett Lawrie, OF Rajai Davis
Overview: The Blue Jays have been busy thus far this offseason. They added some much-needed speed to their prodding lineup. Pitcher Shaun Marcum is a big loss, but the Blue Jays appear to have a solid starting staff.
No. 15: St. Louis Cardinals
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Key Additions: OF Lance Berkman, C Gerald Laird, INF Ryan Theriot
Key Departures: P Blake Hawksworth
Overview: The Cardinals have been busy, but most of the moves they have made have been lateral. They will look for Berkman to add a little pop to their lineup, as he jumps back over the NL. Berkman will have to have one of his better seasons in order to get the Cardinals back to the playoffs.
No. 14: Baltimore Orioles
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Key Departures: 1B Ty Wigginton, P Jim Hoey, P Brett Jacobson
Key Additions: P Kevin Gregg, 1B Derrek Lee, SS J.J. Hardy, INF Brendan Harris, 3B Mark Reynolds
Overview: The Orioles have upgraded their pitching and defense and this is always a good thing. While none of the moves they have made were headline-makers, they appeared to have improved in several key areas. It has been a solid offseason so far for the O's.
No. 13: San Francisco Giants
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Key Departures: INF Edgar Renteria, INF Juan Uribe
Key Additions: 3B Miguel Tejada
Overview: When you are the defending champs, the first priority is to try and return the nucleus of your team. For the most part, the Giants have done this. They did lose World Series hero Edgar Renteria, but they replaced him with another veteran infielder, Miguel Tejada.
No. 12: San Diego Padres
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Key Departures: 1B Adrian Gonzalez
Key Additions: P Aaron Harang, 2B Orlando Hudson, SS Jason Bartlett, OF Brad Hawpe, OF Reymond Fuentes, P Casey Kelly, 1B Anthony Rizzo, OF Cameron Maybin
Overview: The Padres lost the heart and soul of their lineup. They knew it was coming and they got the Red Sox's best prospects in return. They also managed to upgrade their middle infield with Hudson and Bartlett. While they may have taken a slight step back for next year, they stocked their farm system.
No. 11: Arizona Diamondbacks
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Key Departures: P Brandon Webb, 3B Mark Reynolds
Key Additions: INF Geoff Blum, 3B Melvin Mora, P J.J. Putz, OF/1B Xavier Nady, C Henry Blanco
Overview: The Diamondbacks are going to miss Reynolds' power, but not his defense. They managed to get a better all-around player in Mora and some solid pieces to add to the depth of their club. Putz will bring some much-needed experience to their bullpen.
No. 10: Cincinnati Reds
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Key Departures: None of note
Key Additions: INF Edgar Renteria
Overview: The Reds added the experience of Renteria to their young playoff team. They kept all of their core pieces and this was the biggest challenge they had facing them this offseason. The Reds had a lot of contracts expiring and they managed to get them all signed.
No. 9: Detroit Tigers
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Key Departures: C Gerald Laird
Key Additions: P Joaquin Benoit, C Victor Martinez
Overview: The Tigers' first priority was to re-sign Magglio Ordonez. They accomplished that and then upgraded at catcher by signing Victor Martinez, who is going to add pop to the lineup and provide solid defense behind the plate.
No. 8: Chicago White Sox
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Key Departures: P J.J. Putz, P Scott Linebrink
Key Addtions: 1B Adam Dunn, P Jesse Crain, P Kyle Cofield
Overview: The White Sox lost two bullpen pitchers, but they upgraded that with their acquisitions and got younger. Adam Dunn is going to provide great middle-of-the-lineup pop for the White Sox and may prove to be just enough to push them back into the playoffs.
No. 7: Atlanta Braves
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Key Departures: OF Rick Ankiel, INF Omar Infante, P Mike Dunn
Key Additions: P Scott Linebrink, 2B Dan Uggla
Overview: The Braves got the player they were looking for when they landed Uggla. Their lineup was in need of the extra pop. They also have enough defense surrounding him that his less-than-stellar range will not kill them.
No. 6: Oakland A's
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Key Departures: SP Vin Mazzaro, OF Rajai Davis
Key Additions: DH Hideki Matsui, OF David DeJesus, OF Josh Willingham
Overview: The A's needed to give their anemic offense some potency. They made the under-the-radar kind of moves that Billy Beane is famous for and they significantly upgraded their team in the process.
No. 5: Los Angeles Dodgers
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Key Departures: INF Ryan Theriot
Key Additions: P Blake Hawksworth, P Jon Garland, INF Juan Uribe, C Rod Barajas
Overview: The Dodgers filled out their already-solid starting rotation and they upgraded their defense as well. Juan Uribe will provide them some infield flexibility. Most importantly, they re-signed their own players.
No. 4: Colorado Rockies
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Key Departures: IF Clint Barnes
Key Additions: 1B Ty Wigginton, 2B Jose Lopez, P Matt Lindstrom
Overview: The Rockies' biggest moves were re-signing their own players, Troy Tulowitzki and Jorge De La Rosa. They added some nice complementary players to fill out their lineup and the hard-throwing Lindstrom to their bullpen. Keep an eye on Lopez, who has displayed some pop in his career while playing in a pitcher's park.
No. 3: Milwaukee Brewers
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Key Departures: P Carlos Villanueva
Key Additions: P Shaun Marcum, P Zack Greinke
Overview: The Brewers set out to add pitching depth and that is exactly what they did. While they mortgaged a bit of the future by dealing some prospects, they turned themselves into legitimate World Series contenders. Greinke and Marcum are going to be an imposing one-two punch.
No. 2: Philadelphia Phillies
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Key Departures: OF Jayson Werth
Key Additions: P Cliff Lee, P J.C. Romero
Overview: The Phillies did the impossible and stole a free agent from the New York Yankees. In the process, they gave themselves the best rotation in baseball. While they will miss Werth's bat, he is replaceable and the Phillies may not need to score many runs.
No. 1: Boston Red Sox
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Key Departures: 3B Adrian Beltre, C Victor Martinez
Key Additions: OF Carl Crawford, P Dan Wheeler, 1B Adrian Gonzalez
Overview: Most teams would have a hard time recovering from the loss of players of Beltre and Martinez's caliber. Not the Red Sox. They managed to get better. The Red Sox landed the two most sought-after position players of the offseason in Gonzalez and Crawford. Combine this with the players they have coming back from injury and it is a good time to be a Red Sox fan.
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