Previewing Every MLB Team's Biggest Offseason Decision
For general managers, there is no such thing as a winter vacation.
Free-agent signings, trades, contract extensions and organizational changes, whether they be in the scouting department or on the coaching staff—those decisions are all made in the four months that players spend away from their respective clubs.
While they make some of those same decisions during the regular season, it's in the offseason that general managers truly earn their paychecks, making important decisions that will impact the team both in the year to come and beyond.
Sometimes, though, it's on ownership or high-ranking executives to make those decisions—especially when it comes to whether or not to retain a general manager whose decision-making ability may have come into question.
This coming offseason will find teams in baseball dealing with all of those scenarios, as well as some that we didn't lay out above. While every team faces more than one big, important decision this winter, here's a look at what the biggest decision—the biggest question that needs to be answered—will be.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Who Will Be Leading the Way Under Tony La Russa?
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If the early reports are accurate, Tony La Russa has already begun the process by which he'll make Arizona's two most important offseason decisions: replacing Kevin Towers as general manager and replacing Kirk Gibson, who appears to be on his last legs, as manager.
Dave Stewart, who served as the ace of La Russa's Oakland A's World Series championship teams in 1989 and 1990, is among 10 names being considered for the GM spot, reports CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Currently the agent for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley and outfielder Matt Kemp, Stewart previously worked as an assistant GM in Toronto and isn't hiding his interest in the position:
"It's obviously intriguing. I feel honored that Tony's even considering me.
I'm very, very interested in it. I love the idea of having the opportunity to build and build a successful team, and by successful I mean building a team to win a championship. What I've always looked for is something to challenge me, something to keep the fire burning. The good thing about being a GM is it's a daily challenge to build something successful.
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It would make sense for the GM position to be filled first, and you'd best believe that La Russa is going to hire someone with whom he has some history and a level of comfort that he doesn't have with those outside his circle. That circle is important to keep in mind, especially when the managerial search gets underway.
One name that is heating up on that front, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is Joe McEwing, currently the third base coach on Robin Ventura's coaching staff in Chicago.
McEwing broke into the big leagues with St. Louis while La Russa was managing, and the Hall of Fame skipper was said to be so enamored with the scrappy utility player that, before he was traded to the New York Mets in 2000, he asked McEwing for an autographed pair of spikes.
While neither of La Russa's longtime assistants, Dave Duncan and Dave McKay, have been floated as potential managerial candidates, it's worth noting that both came with La Russa to Arizona and are part of the organization.
It's possible one (or both) gets serious consideration, but it might be more likely that the pair winds up on the coaching staff of whomever Arizona ultimately hires.
With the start of free agency a little less than two months away, you can bet that Arizona's efforts to get both positions filled will pick up in the coming weeks.
Atlanta Braves: Is a Change in Leadership Needed?
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Since he replaced a living legend, Bobby Cox, as manager of the Atlanta Braves in 2010, Fredi Gonzalez has never led the team to a losing record. In the eight years that Frank Wren has been the team's general manager, the Braves have finished below .500 only once, in 2008, his first full year on the job.
With track records like that, you'd think that both of their jobs would be secure. Except that's not the case.
“Everybody is accountable," Braves CEO Terry McGuirk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Jeff Schultz. "I’m holding myself accountable. I don’t want to make any predictions. I don’t want to say even how or when meetings will occur. But if we don’t have success, know that we won’t be satisfied and we’ll be looking at things very hard.”
Wren's dismissal, of course, could spell bad news for Gonzalez, as new general managers typically like to hire their own on-field manager. In his conversation with Schultz, McGuirk twice alluded to some of Wren's acquisitions and signings that haven't worked out (B.J. Upton and Dan Uggla among the most glaring):
"You can make a mistake. You just can’t make a lot of mistakes. Small-market teams can make very few mistakes. The big guys like the Red Sox, the Dodgers, the Angels, the Yankees, they can afford to make big mistakes. We don’t have that luxury.
You've written extensively on it. I've read every word and it rings true because the empirical evidence is in the performance. All I can tell you is there is no lack of accountability and evaluation. I just have to ask you to trust us. I've been successful in everything I've done in life and I’m not going to go down without a hell of a fight.
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Even if the Braves are able to reach the playoffs as one of the National League's two wild-card teams, an early exit from the postseason may have the same effect as if the Braves had never made it to the promised land in the first place—changes at the top.
Baltimore Orioles: Whether or Not to Make a Long-Term Commitment to Nelson Cruz
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Nelson Cruz and the Baltimore Orioles would love to stay together past this season, but as is the case in many relationships, one side is ready for a long-term commitment while the other is not.
That's the news from both CBS Sports' Jon Heyman and MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko, both of whom say that the Orioles would be more than happy to extend (and have Cruz accept) a one-year qualifying offer, expected to be around $15 million.
But Cruz, who leads baseball with 39 home runs and ranks among the game's leaders in RBI (fourth), slugging percentage (eighth) and OPS (17th), is likely looking to cash in one last time after resuscitating his career and will be seeking a multiyear deal.
It's easy to understand Baltimore's hesitance in signing a player into his late 30s, but can the Orioles really afford to let Cruz walk given Chris Davis' regression and Manny Machado's inability to stay healthy?
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Boston Red Sox: Free Agency, Trades or Both to Rebuild the Rotation?
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When you remove the numbers of departed starters Felix Doubront, John Lackey, Jon Lester and Jake Peavy, the Boston Red Sox starting rotation has pitched to a 4.96 ERA and 1.43 WHIP this season. Of the six pitchers left, only two—Joe Kelly (pictured) and Rubby De La Rosa—have pitched to an ERA below 5.08.
Only Kelly and the maddeningly inconsistent Clay Buchholz (due $12.25 million) are locks for the team's 2015 rotation, and neither one is a front-of-the-rotation arm. How will Boston go about filling in the other three spots?
Putting aside pipe dreams of a reunion with Lester (it's not going to happen), the two best free-agent options are 30-year-old Max Scherzer and 32-year-old James Shields. But the pair will have multiple suitors and command significant long-term investments, something general manager Ben Cherington doesn't seem to be in a rush to make for a pitcher on the wrong side of 30. If he was, then Lester would still be in Boston.
The next tier of available free-agent starters, which includes Hiroki Kuroda, Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy, Peavy and Ervin Santana, all have some question marks surrounding them and are more mid-rotation arms (like Kelly) than workhorses at the front end.
That leaves the trade market, and Boston is blessed with one of the deepest farm systems in the game. Cherington told Mass Live's Jason Mastrodonato in mid-August that he'd be willing to trade prospects "for the right guy."
Could that be the Philadelphia Phillies' Cole Hamels? The Cincinnati Reds' Mat Latos? Or is there another name that Cherington has in the back of his mind that hasn't been bandied about as a potential trade chip this winter?
One thing is for sure: Going into 2015 with the same group of starters as the team will end 2014 with isn't an option.
Chicago Cubs: What to Do with All That Middle Infield Talent
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The Chicago Cubs desperately need to bolster their starting rotation and very well may begin to do that through free agency, making a run at former Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester, who has connections to both GM Jed Hoyer and team president Theo Epstein.
Whether the Cubs can land Lester (or another free-agent starter) or not, the team's rotation will still need additional help—help that could be acquired through a trade.
It's no secret that the Cubs have a plethora of talent in the middle of the infield, with Arismendy Alcantara, Javier Baez, Starlin Castro and Addison Russell all under the age of 25 and all with significant upside. Of the four, Russell, the only one yet to make his major league debut, might be the most talented and well-rounded.
Castro, the only established star out of the group, is due $43 million through 2019 ($59 million through 2020 if his $16 million team option is picked up), an incredibly team-friendly deal for an All-Star-caliber shortstop.
With more than a few teams looking for an upgrade at the position—including the New York Mets, who have more young pitching than they can fit into their rotation—it's hard not to see a match between the two teams.
Chicago White Sox: How to Best Allocate Their Available Cash
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Like their crosstown rivals, the Chicago White Sox have multiple holes to fill on the roster. But unlike the Cubs, the White Sox don't have a deep minor league system to deal from, leaving them to fend for themselves on the free-agent market, where salaries tend to skyrocket.
That won't be a problem for the team, GM Rick Hahn told CBS Chicago's Bruce Levine:
"It is an important offseason in our progress. We have known this would be a multiple-year process from the start. We are obviously pleased with some of the things we were able to do the first year. At the same time, it is readily apparent there are other areas that need to be addressed. We need to be aggressive this offseason and knock as many things as we can off of that list.
Our commitments [for 2015] are not too great. Although we don’t have our payroll number yet, I think there will be a fair amount of room. We will have to decide based on the options available to us whether it makes sense to invest heavily in one or two targets or spread it around between a half dozen or so.
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Adding to the starting rotation, which has only two quality arms in Chris Sale (pictured) and Jose Quintana (John Danks, at this point in his career, is a back-of-the-rotation arm), would seem to be at or near the top of Hahn's list of things to cross off his list.
But going after one of the top starters on the market would likely eat up much of the budget that Hahn has to play with, leaving him with little room to add another quality starting pitcher or address holes at second base and behind the plate, where Tyler Flowers continues to underwhelm.
Cincinnati Reds: Decide Which Front-Line Starter to Sign to a Long-Term Deal
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As things currently stand, only one member of Cincinnati's starting rotation—Homer Bailey—is under team control after 2015.
The Reds hold a $10 million team option on Johnny Cueto, while Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon will all be in their final year of arbitration. Working out long-term deals with Leake and Simon, mid-rotation arms, figures to be far less expensive—and painful—than it will be with Cueto and Latos.
That's why Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal (video link) believes the Reds will trade at least one of those arms, with Latos being the most likely, due in part to the fact that both he and Cueto are going to command multiyear contract extensions in excess of $100 million.
The Reds could afford to keep one of them under such a deal, not both.
John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer shares Rosenthal's views, noting that the team could fill its gaping hole in left field by moving one of its two front-line arms.
Given Cueto's Cy Young-caliber stuff the past few years and Latos' struggles to stay healthy, it would be a surprising decision if the Reds didn't decide to move the 26-year-old Latos before the 2015 season begins—though the ultimate decision could be made by which pitcher is more amenable to an extension.
Cleveland Indians: Decide If Jason Kipnis Is the Long-Term Answer at Second Base
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One of the Cleveland Indians' biggest issues in recent years has been some really, really terrible defense, particularly in the infield. While trading Asdrubal Cabrera at the July 31 trade deadline and replacing him at shortstop with Jose Ramirez has solved some of those issues, there's still work to be done.
Ramirez is going to be pushed out of a starting spot next season by top prospect Francisco Lindor, leaving the talented 21-year-old without a place to play. Sliding him over to second base would make the most sense, but he's blocked there by Jason Kipnis.
Except maybe he shouldn't be.
Kipnis has never been regarded as a particularly solid defensive second basemen, with advanced metrics grading him as well below average in both UZR/150 (minus-6.1) and defensive runs saved (minus-11) over the course of his career.
A move to the outfield, where Kipnis spent his college career and began his professional career, might make the most sense for both him and the Indians.
Not only would a Ramirez-Lindor double play combination give the Indians tremendous defense up the middle, but Kipnis would subject his body to far less wear and tear, which would go a long way toward keeping him healthy and in the lineup on a daily basis.
Colorado Rockies: Whether to Reinvest in Michael Cuddyer or Not
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Talking about how the Colorado Rockies need to figure out ways to bolster a decrepit starting rotation has become monotonous and played out at this point, so we won't go there.
A decision that would have wide-ranging implications on the one part of the team that isn't broken, the offense, seems far more appropriate—whether or not to re-sign Michael Cuddyer.
The 2013 NL batting champion owns a .304/.360/.517 slash line over parts of three years with the Rockies, and manager Walt Weiss tells Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that the veteran's importance to the club goes well beyond the box score:
"I would like to see him back here. I just think he means so much to our club, in ways that go beyond the stat sheet.
We are always going to have a relatively young team, because of the market we are in, and because of our payroll. So it makes it even more important to have guys who can set an example in the clubhouse and set an example of how to play the game out here. There is none better than Cuddy. I think that part of it is important to our club and the growth of our club.
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Except Cuddyer will turn 36 years old before Opening Day, and he hasn't played more than 140 games in a season since 2010. Based on his production in Colorado (.304/.360/.517 slash line, 2013 NL batting crown), chances are he's going to be looking for one last multiyear deal.
Without the luxury of a designated hitter, signing a veteran with injury concerns into his late 30's should be a major concern for the Rockies, who also have something of a logjam in the outfield.
Carlos Gonzalez, when healthy, is entrenched in one corner, while Corey Dickerson should be starting in the other (something FanGraphs' Paul Swydan agrees with), with a Charlie Blackmon/Drew Stubbs platoon in center.
Then there's the issue of what to do with Wilin Rosario, who needs to be moved out from behind the plate, either to a corner outfield spot or first base. He's blocked on all fronts, and bringing Cuddyer back into the fold only makes achieving that goal all the more difficult.
Detroit Tigers: Can They Afford to Not Re-Sign Victor Martinez?
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At the age of 35, Victor Martinez has put together the best season of his career—an MVP-caliber campaign—just in time for what figures to be his last chance at landing a lucrative, multiyear deal as a free agent.
In August, Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi wrote that the switch-hitting Martinez could command a deal similar to the three-year, $45 million contract that Carlos Beltran signed with the New York Yankees last winter. With the kind of season he's having, Martinez could command a higher annual average value than his switch-hitting counterpart in the Bronx.
While the Tigers have never shied away from spending money before, Detroit does have a number of other key free agents aside from V-Mart—namely Torii Hunter and Max Scherzer—that either need to be re-signed or replaced.
Multiple teams would benefit from an upgrade at designated hitter, and at least one of those, the Chicago White Sox, are planning on making a run at the veteran, according to 670 The Score's Bruce Levine.
Is paying big money to re-sign a player through his age-38 or age-39 season really something that the Tigers want to do? More importantly, considering that without Martinez, Detroit would likely be on the outside of the playoff race looking in, can the team afford to not sign him, even if it doesn't want to?
Houston Astros: Making the Right Choice in the Dugout
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As we looked at last week, general manager Jeff Luhnow's "hands-on" managerial style didn't sit well with former Houston Astros manager Bo Porter, who was subsequently fired.
More than anything else this winter, finding the right person to replace Porter is of the utmost importance in Houston, not only for 2015 but for the franchise's long-term health.
With a young roster, one that features cornerstone prospects Jon Singleton and George Springer—and more high-ceiling talent on the way—the Astros need to make sure that whoever they hire to manage the club is someone who can not only continue to develop the team's young talent at the major league level, but someone who can coexist with Luhnow for years to come.
The last thing the Astros want to do is to create an unstable environment, changing managers and, as a result, coaching staffs every few years. In that scenario, youngsters not only lose faith in the franchise, but their development can be stymied by the continually changing messages and instruction they are receiving.
Houston needs to take its time and make sure that it gets this next managerial hire right. Otherwise, the Astros will have only succeeded in pushing a return to relevance further away than it already is.
Kansas City Royals: Whether to Pick Up Billy Butler's Option
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What once seemed like a no-brainer—picking up the $12.5 million team option on Billy Butler for 2015—has suddenly become a difficult decision for Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore.
For after seven productive years as Kansas City's designated hitter, Billy "Country Breakfast" Butler has come to a crossroads in his career. He's still productive at the plate—but only when he's playing first base.
| As 1B (36) | .290 | .350 | .815 | 13 (5) | 19 |
| As DH (97) | .254 | .302 | .632 | 22 (3) | 37 |
Butler is blocked at first base by Eric Hosmer, and his numbers as a designated hitter certainly aren't worthy of the kind of salary he's due next season.
That said, the Royals don't exactly have any obvious internal options to replace him, and before this season, Butler was widely regarded as one of the game's premier full-time designated hitters.
So what do the Royals do?
Exercise the option and hope that Butler returns to his prior form? Or pay the $1 million buyout, freeing up more money to go out and try to replace James Shields as the ace of the rotation?
Los Angeles Angels: What to Do at Third Base
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David Freese has been serviceable in his first season with the Los Angeles Angels, both at the plate and in the field, but realistically, he's nothing special.
Due a raise over his $5 million salary as he enters his last arbitration-eligible season, the question for the Angels is simple: Do they offer Freese arbitration or non-tender him and look to the free-agent market to fill the void?
Chase Headley and Pablo Sandoval, both premier defenders at the hot corner, will be available in free agency, as will Hanley Ramirez, the longtime shortstop who seems destined to slide over to third in 2015.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has a track record of making big splashes in free agency, and snagging Ramirez away from the Los Angeles Dodgers or Sandoval away from the San Francisco Giants with a loaded free-agent offer is something that we certainly shouldn't rule out as a possibility.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Whether or Not to Re-Sign Hanley Ramirez
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Everyone knows what Hanley Ramirez is capable of doing when he's healthy, but staying on the field has been an issue for the onetime perennial MVP candidate.
Further complicating things is the fact that many, including the Dodgers, believe that Ramirez can no longer handle shortstop and that a move to third base is in his immediate future. For that to happen in Los Angeles, the Dodgers would have to part ways with Juan Uribe, who has developed into one of the game's premier defenders at the hot corner.
While he's not the offensive force Han-Ram is, Uribe has been productive at the plate and costs a fraction of what Ramirez is going to command in his next contract. While no negotiations on a new deal have gone on, Dodgers president Stan Kasten told the Los Angeles Times' Bill Shaikin that that doesn't mean the team doesn't want him around:
"We love Hanley. There is still lots of time this season for him to make a big impact in September, and hopefully in October.
Both sides have agreed we'll sit down and talk at the end of the season and decide. We both decided that makes the most sense. As difficult a season as he's had physically, there is still lots of time for him to have an enormous impact for us.
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That sounds promising, but Peter Gammons questions just how deep Los Angeles' love for Ramirez is:
"But at this point there seems to be considerable doubt about whether or not the Dodgers will get into any longterm deal with the 30-year old. They worry about whether or not he can stay at short; his range isn’t what it used to be, his defensive runs saved numbers put him in the bottom 20% of regular shortstops, and his time at third base with the Marlins was not a big success. There are concerns about his durability; he has played 120 games once in four years.
So, barring a big finish and post-season performance, it may be that Hanley moves on, either to a team willing to play him at third, or an American League club where he could occasionally DH.
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While letting Ramirez walk as a free agent would be a risky move for the Dodgers to make, it would allow them to keep Uribe in the fold while opening up shortstop for either Cuban import Alex Gonzalez, who spent much of the season in Triple-A, or Corey Seager, one of the team's top prospects.
Miami Marlins: If Extension Talks Fail, Should They Move Giancarlo Stanton?
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Perhaps the only player in the National League who can keep Clayton Kershaw from winning both the MVP and Cy Young awards, Miami plans on making Giancarlo Stanton an extension offer this winter that would make him the highest-paid player in franchise history, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
But money may not be enough to convince the 24-year-old slugger to sign on the dotted line.
"There has to be some progression moving forward," Stanton told Nightengale. "You can't be just OK hanging around with the big boys. We have to turn it around and become one of the big boys."
For the Marlins to become one of the big boys, the team will have to invest in some big-time talent, moving away from the Garrett Jones and Casey McGehees of the world. Whether owner Jeffrey Loria is willing to spend big on two position players—Stanton and someone else—is far from a sure thing.
Let's assume, for a moment, that the Marlins go out and sign another impact player—say Pablo Sandoval, for example. What if that's not enough to get Stanton enthused about a long-term future in Miami?
His value is as high as it's ever been, and the Marlins would be able to command an absolutely loaded package of talent were they to put him on the market. The kind of package that can set a franchise up for success for the next decade.
"It will be interesting to hear what they have to say when the time comes," Stanton said, "but right now, I'm not worrying about it. I mean, we're still in this season. When this season is over, then we can start thinking about 2015. We've got to deal with the now."
It will be far more interesting to hear Stanton's response after the Marlins make their offseason plans clear—and even more intriguing to hear Miami's response to his answer.
Minnesota Twins: Is a New Voice Needed in the Clubhouse?
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Ron Gardenhire has been the Minnesota Twins' manager for so long that the team's top prospect, Byron Buxton, was nine years old when Gardenhire first took the job.
With six division titles and more than 1,000 wins over a 13-year span, Gardenhire has proved that he's a capable big league skipper, someone who wouldn't have much trouble latching on with another organization were he no longer with the Twins.
But the Twins are in the midst of their fourth consecutive losing season, one in which 90 losses is a distinct possibility, if not a probable outcome.
That losing has begun to wear on Gardenhire, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's LaVelle E. Neal III, and the Twins seem to be going backward, not forward along with the rest of an improving AL Central.
The Twins need to decide whether Gardenhire's voice is the one they want the next wave of prospects, including Buxton, Alex Meyer and Miguel Sano, to hear when they arrive in the major leagues.
Milwaukee Brewers: Are Wholesale Changes Needed?
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As Milwaukee's slide in the standings continues, with the Brewers now fighting to get back into the playoffs, rumblings about the futures of general manager Doug Melvin and manager Ron Roenicke have been gaining steam.
Should the Brewers fail to reach the postseason after leading the National League Central for nearly five months, owner Mark Attanasio is going to have to seriously consider whether he has the right people in place to lead his team into the future.
Melvin, who has held his position since 2002, has made some shrewd acquisitions over the years (Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura among them). But 12 years in any job is a long time, and Melvin is now on his fifth manager, Roenicke, who was hired in 2011.
The team's slide under Roenicke's watch is eerily similar to the team's late-season collapse under Ned Yost in 2008, a collapse that ultimately cost Yost his job with 12 games left in the season. Could we see the same situation play out over the next few weeks as Melvin tries to save his job?
While the Brewers have a limited payroll, the team does have some legitimate talent at the major league level, as well as a dedicated owner and a passionate fanbase. Finding new leadership wouldn't be an issue for Attanasio should he decide to go that route.
New York Mets: Whether or Not to Trade Pitching for Offense
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The Mets might call New York home, but the organization continues to operate as if it's a small-market club without any financial resources to make significant investments in the on-field product.
Fans expecting (or hoping) to see that trend come to an end this winter are going to be sorely disappointed with general manager Sandy Alderson's recent comments to Howie Kussoy of the New York Post:
"It’s [the payroll] gonna be prohibitive, but improving a team isn't always a function of just dollars spent. Most of the improvement that came from the Mets this year had little to do with the overall [spending] … so it doesn't equate. We’ll have some flexibility. We’ll be able to do some things. We just have to see what’s there.
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Translation: Don't expect the Mets to do much of anything, especially now that the team's signing of Curtis Granderson last winter seems to have given Alderson cold feet.
Alderson added:
"There’ve been two or three players who didn't produce the way we would've liked. If one of them or two of them would’ve produced the way we would've liked, it would've been a whole different season. That’s the thing about free agents, you’ve got to be careful because they don’t all work out … the quick fix isn't always the best.
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Translation: Both Granderson and former Mets outfielder Chris Young have been colossal disappointments.
But the Mets desperately need offense, and if they aren't going to participate in the free-agent spending, then they'll have to look to the trade market for the bats that they need. The good news on that front is that the team has an abundance of young pitching to dangle as trade bait.
Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler aren't going anywhere, and it would stand to reason that top prospect Noah Syndergaard is at, or pretty close to being on, that untouchable level.
But Rookie of the Year candidate Jacob deGrom, Rafael Montero and others don't appear to be on that same level. Whether ownership allows Alderson to move some of its inexpensive, controllable assets for an established bat or two will be the biggest decision the team makes this winter.
New York Yankees: Solving the Ninth Inning
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New York has so many decisions to make this winter that it's impossible to give one more importance than another. For the Yankees, we'll look at one decision that hasn't gotten much attention but should.
David Robertson has done a phenomenal job replacing a legend in Mariano Rivera as the New York Yankees' closer, converting roughly 92 percent of his save opportunities (35-of-38) while pitching to a 2.77 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.
But he's a free agent after the season, and the Yankees have a hotshot youngster in former starter Dellin Betances who has been absolutely dominant as his primary setup man, pitching to a 1.39 ERA and 0.75 WHIP with 126 strikeouts in 84.1 innings of work.
Under normal circumstances, the Yankees wouldn't break up that late-inning combination. But Robertson is a free agent, one of the few established closers who will hit the open market. He could become too expensive for the Yankees' liking, especially if they believe that Betances can step into Robertson's shoes.
Yet we know the ninth inning is a different beast than the eighth, and unlike Robertson, Betances hasn't had the opportunity to watch and learn from Rivera for years, something that certainly played a part in Robertson being able to make the transition with relative ease.
Allowing Robertson to walk could be a shrewd, cost-saving move—or it could create another hole on a roster that has quite a few of them.
Oakland Athletics: Who's at Shortstop?
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In 2013, Jed Lowrie's defense was terrible, but he produced at the plate, making his shoddy glove work more acceptable. In 2014, Lowrie's defense has been slightly better, but he's regressed at the plate, no longer producing runs at the rate he did in the past.
He'll be a free agent at the end of the season, and the A's no longer have an obvious in-house replacement, having traded top prospect Addison Russell to Chicago in the Jeff Samardzija trade.
While there will be a number of free-agent shortstops on the market this winter who could fit into Oakland's budget—Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew and J.J. Hardy—are any of them really any better than what the A's already have?
And is what the A's already have at the position still acceptable given the team's lackluster play to end the regular season?
Pittsburgh Pirates: Which Veteran Starter to Keep?
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Already operating with the team's highest payroll (nearly $72 million), the Pittsburgh Pirates head into 2015 knowing that finances will dictate some changes to the roster.
The Pirates will have to dole out significant raises in arbitration to the likes of relievers Mark Melancon and Tony Watson, second baseman Neil Walker, first basemen Ike Davis and/or Gaby Sanchez and super-utility player Josh Harrison, the latter of whom has arguably been the team's MVP in 2014.
Starting catcher Russell Martin, whom Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal says the team would like to keep, is a free agent and will command a more lucrative deal than the two-year, $17 million pact he signed with the club before the 2013 season.
All of that doesn't leave much wiggle room in the payroll for Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez, who will both join Martin on the open market once the season comes to an end. The two veterans have put together similar campaigns for the Black and Gold:
| Liriano | 25 (11) | 3.74 | 1.31 | 137.1 | 7.5 | 4.3 | 9.8 |
| Volquez | 28 (15) | 3.31 | 1.26 | 171.2 | 8.1 | 3.3 | 6.2 |
Both are in their age-30 seasons, their salaries are similar ($6 million for Liriano, $5 million for Volquez) and both are going to command more than that on multiyear deals as free agents. Chances are, Pittsburgh will be able to afford to retain only one of them, not both.
While Volquez has been the more consistent option for the club this season, Liriano is only a season removed from finishing ninth in the National League Cy Young Award voting and was a major part of the Pirates ending a 20-year playoff drought in 2013.
Deciding between the two isn't going to be an easy task for general manager Neal Huntington, who ultimately will probably go with whichever one is willing to take the most team-friendly deal.
Philadelphia Phillies: Is It Time to Trade Cole Hamels?
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For the first time since...well, for the first time, Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. actually provided some evidence that he's cognizant, conscious and fully aware that the year is 2014, not 2009:
“I do,” he told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki when asked if he thought changes—significant changes—were coming to Philadelphia's aging, crumbling roster.
“I think we need it. I think we need it because what we have on our roster right now is not working. How much we’ll do will depend on what makes sense for us. We’re still kind of assessing what we have. But I think it would behoove us to make some change because we need to be better.”
It's that comment that prompted Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan to declare that the Phillies would finally trade the ace of their staff (and the only player with any substantial trade value on the roster), Cole Hamels, this winter.
Yes, he's due at least $100 million through 2018 (including a $6 million buyout of his 2019 option, which could become a vesting option based on innings totals) and can block trades to 20 teams each season. And yes, he's the only sure thing on a Philadelphia rotation that is full of questionable talent.
But Hamels will be in his mid-30s by the time the Phillies are in a position to contend again, far removed from the prime of his career. His trade value is high enough right now to bring back the kind of roster-transforming package of talent that the club desperately needs.
Even if the money left on his deal precludes the Phillies from getting exactly what they want in exchange for him, shipping Hamels elsewhere is the only possible way that the club can rebuild on the fly.
San Diego Padres: Is Bud Black the Right Man for the Job?
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Whether or not Bud Black returns to manage the San Diego Padres in 2015 is a decision that will be made by newly appointed general manager A.J. Preller, team president Mike Dee recently told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
"We have a lot of confidence in Buddy, think he has been a great leader here," Dee said. "It's going to be up to A.J. to figure out whether Buddy's managerial style fits the construction of the roster."
Black, in his eighth season as Padres manager, has never taken the team to the playoffs and posted only two winning seasons, the last coming in 2010.
While he's highly regarded around the game and wouldn't have a problem finding work elsewhere were he to be relieved of his duties, new general managers tend to prefer hiring their own manager, not moving forward with the one they inherited from a previous regime.
Before the Padres can focus on revamping the roster, they need to figure out who will lead the team's march back toward the land of contenders.
San Francisco Giants: Whether to Pay Pablo Sandoval What He Wants
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Earlier this season, San Francisco GM Brian Sabean told Comcast Sports' Andrew Baggarly that the team was "probably at the end of the rope" in regards to working out an extension with third baseman Pablo Sandoval, noting that he didn't think Sandoval could get the money he was looking for on the open market.
Reports have varied on how much the Kung Fu Panda was seeking, with CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reporting he wanted at least a five-year, $100 million deal, while Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that Sandoval wanted at least $90 million over a five-year deal.
Either way, those are some hefty numbers for a hefty third baseman, one who has consistently been an above-average defender at the hot corner and a run producer in the middle of San Francisco's lineup.
Sandoval will be entering his age-29 season in 2015 and is still in the prime of his career, but past issues with his weight should raise concerns about exactly what kind of player he'll be toward the end of a five-year deal.
While the Giants could opt to go after a lesser bat on the open market (Chase Headley, for example), can they really afford to lose Sandoval's production from the heart of the order? That's a question that Sabean will have to find the answer to sooner rather than later.
Seattle Mariners: Who's on First?
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Seattle has tried Logan Morrison, Jesus Montero, Justin Smoak and four other players at first base this season. Entering Tuesday night's games, the Mariners ranked 28th in baseball when it came to production from the position with a 80 wRC+.
Only Houston and Texas—the latter of which has been without its top two first basemen for more than half the season—have gotten less from what is traditionally a run-producing position.
While the lack of production at first base hasn't hurt Seattle's postseason chances, finding a full-time solution at the position would only enhance the team's chances of playing meaningful baseball in October for years to come.
The pickings on the free-agent market are slim—though Michael Cuddyer would be an intriguing short-term solution—so the Mariners may have to go the trade route to find the upgrade that they need. But finding that upgrade should be near the top of general manager Jack Zduriencik's list of things to do this winter.
St. Louis Cardinals: Time to Sell High on Jon Jay?
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Jon Jay has bounced back from a disappointing 2013 season to re-establish himself as a capable major league center fielder, one who can provide plus defense at a premium position and contribute at the plate.
Under team control through 2016, St. Louis doesn't have to do anything with the 29-year-old, but it might behoove the team to do so.
It's no secret that the Cardinals have a plethora of young outfield prospects on the cusp of pushing for playing time in the major leagues. Oscar Taveras has already worked his way into the team's starting lineup, and both Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty are patiently waiting their turn.
Taveras, who was primarily a center fielder in the minor leagues, could slide over to replace Jay in center, opening up right for Grichuk or Piscotty, which would allow the Cardinals to use Peter Bourjos in the role he was born to play—late-inning defensive replacement.
Tampa Bay Rays: Is It Time to Trade Ben Zobrist?
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Tampa Bay doesn't have to trade Ben Zobrist, with the Rays holding a very reasonable $7.5 million team option on the versatile 33-year-old for 2015. But his best days are likely behind him, and a full season of Zobrist holds far more value as a trade chip than only a few months does.
Further complicating matters is that one of the players the Rays received in exchange for David Price, Nick Franklin, is a second baseman, Zobrist's primary position.
While Zobrist isn't likely to command a massive payday on the open market, the chances of Tampa Bay being able to re-sign him after the season aren't great given the team's financial constraints.
Considering that Zobrist's best days are behind him, it comes down to risk: Are the Rays confident that he will be able to play at a high level through the first half of the 2015 regular season, keeping his trade value relatively high?
If the answer isn't a resounding yes, then moving the fan favorite this winter is the way to go.
Texas Rangers: Who Replaces Ron Washington?
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Before Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels can turn his focus to bolstering his team's rotation and rebuilding a roster that was absolutely decimated by injury, he first must answer a question that he never expected to be asked: Who will the next manager of the Rangers be?
Former manager Ron Washington's bench coach, Tim Bogar, will helm the ship for the rest of the season. He plans on making the most of the opportunity, as he told ESPN Dallas' Calvin Watkins:
"You finally get your chance to manage a team and obviously this is an opportunity, for a small, brief window, to build trust with the players and build trust with the front office and ownership and do things the correct way. I just believe I've been around enough managers to do it the right way, who have taught me enough so that when this opportunity did come, I’ll be prepared for it.
"
Internally, pitching coach Mike Maddux will get serious consideration as well, though as Watkins notes, Maddux has a close relationship with former Rangers president (and current adviser for the Houston Astros) Nolan Ryan, and the Astros happen to be looking for a new manager as well.
Former Rangers third baseman Steve Buechele, currently the skipper for Round Rock, the team's Triple-A affiliate, is also expected to get significant consideration.
There's no shortage of candidates outside the organization, either, and it's possible that Daniels waits until other teams have decided on the fate of their current skippers before making a final decision.
Whoever the new manager is, he's going to have to win over a clubhouse that was fiercely loyal to Washington, who many players, including Derek Holland, viewed as a father figure.
Toronto Blue Jays: How Far to Go in Trying to Keep the Melkman
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Despite Melky Cabrera's desire to return to Toronto in 2015, the 30-year-old outfielder is going to test the free-agent market this winter. With a relatively thin crop of free-agent outfielders, you can be sure that the Melkman will be near the top of shopping lists for teams looking for an upgrade.
At least one National League club is said to be considering a Jhonny Peralta-type deal (four years, $53 million) for the 30-year-old outfielder, one National League scout who had been following Cabrera for weeks recently told Sportsnet's Jeff Blair.
But that might be a starting point, not what Cabrera ultimately signs for. If I'm Ed and Peter Greenberg, the brothers from the Legacy Agency that handle his affairs, I'm pointing to the five-year, $75 million deal that B.J. Upton signed with Atlanta before the 2013 season—and asking for substantially more.
No general manager could argue that Cabrera isn't worth at least as much as Upton.
Whether the Blue Jays will be willing—or able—to offer Cabrera such a lucrative deal, however, is far from a sure thing.
Washington Nationals: Where Does Ryan Zimmerman Fit?
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Finding a new long-term, on-field home for Ryan Zimmerman isn't nearly as simple a task as manager Matt Williams merely writing it down on the official lineup card.
For Zimmerman to move off the hot corner permanently—something that the soon-to-be-30-year-old himself acknowledged was likely in early August to Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post—another player has to be displaced:
"I don’t know if the future really has me playing third, just because of my shoulder and the way things have gone the last couple years. I don’t know if I’m the best option over there anymore. I've always said I’ll play until someone is better than me, or I’m not the best option at that position.
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Anthony Rendon is, and the time has come for Zimmerman—and his degenerative shoulder condition—to pack up shop. His two most likely destinations, left field and first base, are positions occupied by two significant contributors to Washington's success.
Sliding Bryce Harper from left field into center field is an option, but doing so would mean the Nationals have to decline a $9 million option on Denard Span, who is playing some of the best baseball of his career. That doesn't seem to be a likely scenario.
That leaves first base, where Adam LaRoche has been as productive with a bat in his hands as he's ever been, but he's committed seven errors and ranks last among qualified first basemen in UZR/150 (minus-5.7).
Sliding across the diamond makes the most sense, both for the team and Zimmerman. The goal should be to not only improve the position defensively, but to limit the wear and tear that he puts on his body on a daily basis. His bat is too important a part of the lineup to miss the kind of extended time that he has.
Unless otherwise noted/linked, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs and are current through games of Sept. 9. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts.
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