A Wish-List for Every MLB Team to Improve Before 2025 Spring Training
Though the start of spring training doesn't necessarily mark the end of the MLB offseason, it is when attention begins to shift from outside to between the white lines.
So, let's look at what teams need to get done before pitchers and catchers begin reporting on February 12.
This is mostly about positional needs that clubs still need to fill, complete with suggestions for free-agent signings and trades that could fill them.
Since not every team is all-in for 2025, this is also about key pieces that could still be subtracted for prospects and/or payroll relief. Nolan Arenado, for example, still looms as an obvious trade candidate for the St. Louis Cardinals.
We'll go in alphabetical order and check teams off three at a time.
Arizona Diamondbacks, Athletics, Atlanta Braves
1 of 10
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Designated hitter
- Relief pitcher
- A taker for Jordan Montgomery
Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick is well aware of the club's need at DH, which was one of its best offensive positions in 2024. Joc Pederson isn't walking through that door, but Randal Grichuk is still out there if the Snakes fancy a reunion.
Otherwise, what was a faulty bullpen last season still hasn't gotten any major upgrades. Arizona has been linked to some big-name closers, and one of them (Ryan Helsley) is still hypothetically available.
As for Montgomery, the lefty is still usable as a swingman or as the last guy in a six-man rotation. It's awkward that Kendrick is not a fan of his, however, and his $22.5 million salary weighs heavily on the payroll.
Athletics
- Starting pitcher
The A's came out of the winter meetings in need of a third baseman and additional pitching depth. They've since added Gio Urshela, Jeffrey Springs and José Leclerc to check those boxes.
A's general manager David Forst is nonetheless open to further additions, particularly for the rotation. If so, a low-risk deal on a reclamation project (i.e., a John Means or a Spencer Turnbull) is probably the way to go.
Atlanta Braves
- Starting pitcher
- Relief pitcher
The Braves have lost Max Fried and Charlie Morton from their rotation and A.J. Minter from their bullpen. And they've been replaced by...well, that's basically a 404 error right there.
The Braves reportedly had a deal with Jeff Hoffman, only to walk away from it after noticing a shoulder issue in his physical. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, he might have initially been used as a starter before being moved to the pen in the latter half of his deal.
If it's a swingman the Braves want, potential pivot targets include Nick Pivetta and Andrew Heaney.
Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs
2 of 10
Baltimore Orioles
- No. 1 starting pitcher
- Relief pitcher
Corbin Burnes is gone, and Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano don't cut it as fill-ins for his place atop the Orioles' rotation.
A reunion with Jack Flaherty is still a possibility for Baltimore, as is a trade for Luis Castillo if the club is still interested in making a deal with the Mariners.
The Orioles are another team that walked away from Jeff Hoffman, and they were in on Tanner Scott before he felt the pull of the Los Angeles Dodgers. If it's a back-end reliever they want, they can still consider Kenley Jansen, Carlos Estévez and David Robertson.
Boston Red Sox
- Right-handed hitter
- Relief pitcher
The Red Sox have fulfilled their mission to deepen their rotation, but their bullpen still has holes where Jansen and Chris Martin used to be. A reunion with the former doesn't feel likely, but Estévez and Robertson are there for them, too.
As for the righty hitter, Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado are the names most commonly associated with the Red Sox. Ha-Seong Kim is another hypothetical option, and there may even be a fit for Pete Alonso if the bridge between him and the New York Mets closes.
Chicago Cubs
- Relief pitcher
- Third baseman
It seems like just a matter of time before the Cubs sign a name-brand reliever. Estévez is on their radar, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. So are Jansen, Robertson and Ryan Pressly, per Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.
Third base, meanwhile, is perhaps more of a want than a need. The position is Matt Shaw's to earn in spring training, but bringing in an insurance option such as a Jorge Polanco wouldn't hurt.
Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians
3 of 10
Chicago White Sox
- A taker for Luis Robert Jr.
- Additional trade chips
Seeing as he's coming off a down year in 2024, it wouldn't be the worst thing if the White Sox held on to Robert in hopes that he'll boost his value in 2025. But since he was "getting a lot of interest" at the winter meetings, there may yet be a good deal to be made.
Just as dealing Robert would further fortify a farm system that B/R's Joel Reuter ranks at No. 4 in MLB, so would deadline deals of any further low-risk adds the White Sox make. On this front, they've already secured Mike Tauchman, Josh Rojas and Martín Pérez.
Cincinnati Reds
- Impact bat
- Relief pitcher
The Reds recently got a lifeline in the form of a new TV deal, which president of baseball operations Nick Krall says will allow the team to "work a little bit more in both the free agency and the trade market."
Another bat would be ideal, especially if it could slot into center field. A trade for Robert might not be wholly realistic, but it wouldn't hurt the Reds to call if they haven't already.
The Reds otherwise need closer insurance after Alexis Díaz's down year in 2024. To this end, they're another team that is reportedly in on Carlos Estévez.
Cleveland Guardians
- Starting pitcher
- Second baseman
- Outfielder
The Guardians have re-signed Shane Bieber and traded for Luis L. Ortiz, but their rotation needs more. It was second-to-last in MLB in rWAR last season.
There are slim pickings within Cleveland's price range, but an innings eater should be doable. To name a couple, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson are still out there in free agency.
The Guardians lack a firm answer at second base after trading Andrés Giménez, while the outfield is basically an annual weakness at this point. For the latter, Randal Grichuk, Ramón Laureano and Adam Duvall are platoon options worth considering.
Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros
4 of 10
Colorado Rockies
- Outfielder
- Relief pitcher
It's easier to solve a Rubik's Cube than to figure out what the Rockies are doing. But for what it's worth, they exited the winter meetings wanting to improve their offense and bullpen.
A reunion with Randal Grichuk is one move that could add some power to the corner outfield spots. And of the veteran relievers who could potentially make their stuff work at Coors Field, there's Joe Kelly and Dylan Floro.
Detroit Tigers
- Impact bat, preferably for third base
- Relief pitcher
- Starting pitcher
It's been somewhat of a disappointing winter for the Tigers, but all will be forgiven if they find a way to land Alex Bregman. Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, talks between the two sides are "at a standstill."
Additional depth would seem to be needed more for the bullpen than for the rotation. Whereas the latter has gotten Alex Cobb this winter, the former has been untouched.
However, it's worth noting that the Tigers are reportedly in on Jack Flaherty. And why not, given how good he was for them last year before they shipped him off to Los Angeles?
Houston Astros
- Outfielder
The Astros have been plenty active this winter, scoring new starters for their corner infield spots (Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes) and an interesting starting pitcher (Hayden Wesneski). Kyle Tucker's departure nonetheless looms large over the outfield.
The Astros should at least try to replace him with another left-handed hitter. Alex Verdugo is a natural fit, and he reportedly is on the club's radar.
Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers
5 of 10
Kansas City Royals
- Impact bat
- Relief pitcher
Re-signing Michael Lorenzen allowed the Royals to fill the rotation hole left by their Brady Singer-for-Jonathan India swap with the Reds. But they could still use a reliever, preferably a right-hander with a middle relief profile.
And with all due respect to India, he isn't the star hitter that the Royals need to support Bobby Witt Jr. With their payroll already above its 2024 level, the question is how to get one within a reasonable budget.
A trade is probably the only answer. Given their deficiency in center field, the Royals are another club that should have Luis Robert Jr. on its radar.
Los Angeles Angels
- Corner infielder
- Outfielder
- Right-handed relief pitcher
The Angels should be rebuilding, but owner Arte Moreno wants to contend, and that is all that matters.
It would be in keeping with Moreno's history of splashy, yet risky signings if he dished out a sizable deal to Pete Alonso, who reportedly interests the Angels. As with the Astros, they have also been connected to Alex Verdugo.
The Halos otherwise need a right-hander for a bullpen that, as of now, could feature as many as four lefties come Opening Day. A low-risk deal on a fallen closer such as Craig Kimbrel would be a good idea.
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Mind Stone
- Power Stone
- Reality Stone
- Space Stone
- Soul Stone
- Time Stone
What? You wanted me to look at a Dodgers team that has already added Blake Snell, Rōki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, Teoscar Hernández, Blake Treinen, Michael Conforto, Hyeseong Kim and possibly Kirby Yates and recommend actual human upgrades?
Yeah, right. All that is left for the Dodgers to collect is all six Infinity Stones, and perhaps a few more mysterious relics that could make them unstoppable in their conquest of the baseball universe.
Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins
6 of 10
Miami Marlins
- Potential trade chips
- Explore trading Sandy Alcantara
Save for the Jesús Luzardo trade, this is the second offseason in a row in which the Marlins have done a whole lot of nothing.
It's a shame for multiple reasons, not least of which concerns a farm system that still needs an influx of talent. It's for this reason that the Marlins should not rule out trading Alcantara, which is already the club's position.
It's otherwise past time for the Marlins to make deals with players who could become trade chips. To throw just one name out there, that is basically Tommy Pham's whole thing at this stage of his career.
Milwaukee Brewers
- Infielder
- Starting pitcher
- Relief pitcher
Perhaps the Brewers don't need to replace Devin Williams directly, but they haven't filled his spot at the back end of the bullpen since trading him to the New York Yankees.
The Brewers were in on Garrett Crochet once upon a time, and they reportedly have interest in Kyle Hart after his successful year in South Korea. This would indicate that they aren't quite satisfied with their rotation depth.
The biggest hole, though, is the one left behind by Willy Adames. But unless Milwaukee is going to stretch its budget for a Ha-Seong Kim or an Alex Bregman, there aren't many practical options to fill it.
Minnesota Twins
- A buyer
- Right-handed hitter
- Left-handed relief pitcher
The Twins are in limbo as they seek a buyer for the franchise, but maybe not for much longer. As Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported, a sale could go through before Opening Day.
The sooner it happens, the sooner the club may be able to address its actual on-field needs. The righty hitter is the big one, and there's a particular fit at first base.
Pete Alonso probably isn't happening, but there are realistic trade options for the Twins out there. One is Rhys Hoskins, whose trade candidacy was originally reported in December.
New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies
7 of 10
New York Mets
- Resolution on Pete Alonso
- Relief pitcher
- Center fielder
Alonso may have nowhere else to go after the Toronto Blue Jays signed Anthony Santander, potentially taking his most realistic non-Mets suitor off the table.
If so, the Mets could score a major win from having held their ground. As Andy Martino of SNY reported, they want the slugger back but have been "holding the line" on what they're willing to offer.
Regardless of what happens there, the Mets still need a reliever after signing A.J. Minter and would also do well to get a better center fielder than Jose Siri. To the latter end, they remain an on-paper fit for Luis Robert Jr.
New York Yankees
- A taker for Marcus Stroman
- Left-handed relief pitcher
- Infielder
He doesn't have a clear role to play on the 2025 Yankees, which makes Stroman an obvious candidate to be subtracted. They're reportedly even willing to eat money to make it happen.
The Yankees otherwise have a clear need for a lefty reliever in a pen that is currently exclusively right-handed. Brooks Raley is one of the targets they've been connected to.
Another infielder is likewise a good idea, especially if the newcomer would allow the Yankees to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to third base. Realizing their reported interest in former Gold Glover Brendan Rodgers would do exactly that.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Bench piece
- Explore trades of veterans
With Jesús Luzardo, Max Kepler and Jordan Romano aboard, the Phillies have checked the biggest boxes on their offseason shopping list.
Adding a mere bench piece would suffice as a finishing move, though it would be silly for the club to close the door to offers for various veterans who have popped up in trade rumors.
These include Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos and Ranger Suárez, the last of whom seems that much more expendable after the Luzardo trade.
Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
8 of 10
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Corner outfielder
- Relief pitcher
- Explore trades of pitchers
The Bucs have largely been quiet since the winter meetings, when their needs included help for their outfield and bullpen.
Randal Grichuk and Alex Verdugo are among the targets for the former that the Pirates have been linked to. And if they want closer insurance for David Bednar after his down year in 2024, they're another team that could buy low on Craig Kimbrel.
What the Pirates really need is an impact bat to build around for the foreseeable future. Whether it's Jared Jones or Mitch Keller, they're only going to get one of those if they trade from their pitching surplus.
San Diego Padres
- Explore cost-cutting trades
- Left fielder
- Starting pitcher
- Catcher
As the Dodgers have continued to strengthen their grip on the NL West, the Padres have been busy doing a whole lot of nothing.
That problem may only be solved once the Padres dip under the $241 million luxury tax threshold for this year. Per various reports, specific candidates for cutting include Dylan Cease, Luis Arráez, Robert Suarez and Jake Cronenworth.
If San Diego does get some payroll breathing room, its first move should be to fill the hole left by Jurickson Profar's exit to Atlanta. It'll then be about adding depth where possible, and the rotation especially needs attention now that Rōki Sasaki is not walking through that door.
San Francisco Giants
- Impact bat
- Starting pitcher
The Giants have had a decent winter so far, addressing their shortstop need with Willy Adames and replacing Blake Snell with Justin Verlander.
Yet a middle-of-the-order slugger remains a need, and the club reportedly has some interest in Pete Alonso. He'd be risking a lot if he chose to call Oracle Park home, but the Giants might not have to risk much on their end if New York and Toronto are out of the bidding.
Another starter is more of a recommendation. Though the Giants have a solid starting five lined up, Jordan Hicks would look better as part of their bullpen than as their No. 5 starter.
Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays
9 of 10
Seattle Mariners
- Impact bat
- Continue exploring Luis Castillo trades
The Mariners are already slated to surpass what they spent in 2024. But after what happened last season, the fact that this team still needs an impact hitter is outrageous.
Alex Bregman is an all-too-perfect fit on paper, but the chances of the Mariners signing him seem somewhere between slim and none. Pete Alonso is more practical if the Mets' cold shoulder freezes his market, but even he still feels like a reach.
Hence why the Mariners must keep the door open on Luis Castillo. If they can move him for one or more immediately usable hitters, they should pull the trigger.
St. Louis Cardinals
- A taker for Nolan Arenado
- Relief pitcher
"I think priority one, two and three is still [trading] Nolan."
That was Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak on Saturday. Though Arenado's value is certainly diminished, it suits all parties for him to go elsewhere and chase wins that aren't likely to come in bunches in St. Louis this year.
Whatever payroll relief the Cardinals get from moving Arenado could be put toward the bullpen, where they reportedly want help for the late innings. Kyle Finnegan is one speculative fit.
Tampa Bay Rays
- Left-handed hitter
- Continue exploring trades of veterans
The Rays know they need to do better offensively in 2025, but the plan for now is to hope improvement comes from within.
Perhaps it will, but the Rays' hopes would be that much stronger if they're able to find a left-handed hitter. Alex Verdugo might be within even their budget.
Paradoxically, however, it also makes sense for the Rays to listen on veteran hitters like Brandon Lowe and Yandy Díaz in case a team is willing to pay a prospect premium. To wit, the Rays reportedly like Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford.
Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals
10 of 10
Texas Rangers
- Relief pitcher
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young has left the door open for another addition for the bullpen, which is missing David Robertson and about to lose Kirby Yates.
As the Rangers have a needle to thread in staying under the luxury tax, we're probably not talking a big expense if anything does happen. With that said, they could perhaps take a flier on a comeback candidate like Lou Trivino or Kendall Graveman.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Another bat
- Starting pitcher
With Anthony Santander aboard along with Andrés Giménez, Jeff Hoffman and Yimi García, the Blue Jays could perhaps call it a winter and get ready for the season.
Alternatively, they could keep adding bats. Jon Morosi of MLB Network name-dropped Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso as possibilities, with Andy Martino of SNY reporting Thursday that negotiations between Toronto and the latter are "advancing."
Though the Blue Jays have a full rotation, there isn't much underneath it in the way of depth. A minor league signing or two could square that away.
Washington Nationals
- Impact bat
- Relief pitcher
The Nationals needed a first baseman and a right-handed hitter as of the winter meetings, but they have since added Nathaniel Lowe and Amed Rosario.
However, those are relatively weak solutions, particularly given that this team finished last in the National League for home runs in 2024. It probably won't happen, but the time is right for them to become a mystery team in Alonso's market.
Though Jorge López is a decent enough addition, the Nationals can't lose in adding another closer candidate to their bullpen.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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