Free Agency, Trade Ideas to Fix All 30 MLB Teams' Biggest Weakness
While the World Series is still in full swing, with the series knotted up at 1-1 heading to San Francisco, it's never too early to look ahead to what should be an exciting offseason around the league.
This year's free-agent class is headlined by a trio of starting pitchers in Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields, and there are plus arms behind them as well, like Francisco Liriano, Jake Peavy, Brandon McCarthy, Edinson Volquez, Ervin Santana and Aaron Harang.
David Robertson, Andrew Miller and Koji Uehara front a deep crop of relievers that also includes Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek, Zach Duke, Neal Cotts and others.
On the offensive side of things, Hanley Ramirez, Victor Martinez, Nelson Cruz, Russell Martin, Melky Cabrera and Pablo Sandoval highlight a position-player class that also has its fair share of impact players.
The international market figures to be busy once again as well, with Cuban slugger Yasmani Tomas likely headed for a big payday and Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda a candidate to be posted.
The trade market is harder to predict, but the Cincinnati Reds could be looking to move either Johnny Cueto or Mat Latos, with both headed for free agency at the end of next season. The Atlanta Braves are in the same boat with Justin Upton and Jason Heyward and could also be looking to deal.
As more rumors surface and teams make their offseason plans known, it will be easier to peg who each team is targeting. Until then, here is a rundown of the biggest weakness on all 30 teams and what each team could do to address it this offseason.
It should be noted that many of those weaknesses have to do with potentially departing players. For example, the Baltimore Orioles' biggest weakness is identified as their middle-of-the-order production. That was obviously not an issue this past season when they led the league in home runs, but if Nelson Cruz signs elsewhere, it could become a huge problem.
Baltimore Orioles: Middle-of-the-Order Production
1 of 30
Top Target
Nelson Cruz
Other Potential Targets
Yasmany Tomas, Michael Morse, Mark Reynolds, Evan Gattis (trade)
Overview
With the rotation and bullpen both returning intact, sans deadline pickup Andrew Miller, the biggest question mark for the Orioles entering the offseason appears to be their middle of the order run production.
Nelson Cruz was an absolute steal on a one-year, $8 million deal, but he's not going to come nearly as cheap this time around, and the Orioles will have plenty of competition for his services.
The Orioles will almost certainly extend him a qualifying offer, but it will likely take something in the neighborhood of a three-year, $45 million deal to lock him up, if not more. There does appear to be mutual interest in a reunion, though.
"I want to come back no doubt," Cruz told Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun (via Los Angeles Times). "Just wait and see what happens."
Without Cruz, that lineup does not look nearly as formidable.
Chris Davis took a huge step backward before being slapped with a performance-enhancing drug suspension, J.J. Hardy saw his power numbers drop and expecting a repeat performance from Steve Pearce could be asking too much.
Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas and Victor Martinez represent the top two power options outside of Cruz, while guys like Michael Morse and Mark Reynolds could provide some pop at a lower price.
Boston Red Sox: Starting Pitching
2 of 30
Top Target
James Shields
Other Potential Targets
Jon Lester, Max Scherzer, Jeff Samardzija (trade), Johnny Cueto (trade), Mat Latos (trade)
Overview
The Boston Red Sox organization is loaded with high-end pitching prospects, but as far as established big league talent, the Red Sox have some work to do filling out the staff if they hope to be in a position to contend in 2015.
They are most notably lacking a legitimate staff ace, and as a result, they figure to make a serious run at one of the Big Three to rectify that problem.
The organization has been buried by long-term megadeals in the past, so James Shields may be the most attractive target of the three.
Chances are he will come cheaper than Jon Lester or Max Scherzer in terms of annual salary, and while something like a five-year, $100 million deal is by no means cheap, it could be more appealing than shelling out a six- or seven-year deal to one of the aforementioned duo.
Shields has plenty of experience pitching in the AL East, he's as durable as they come, with 200-plus innings pitched in each of the past eight seasons, and at 32 years old, he is still on top of his game.
If they don't land one of the marquee free agents, a trade with Cincinnati could make sense for both sides. The Reds figure to move someone from the trio of Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos and Mike Leake this offseason, and they need an outfielder, something the Red Sox have an abundance of right now.
New York Yankees: Shortstop
3 of 30
Top Target
Asdrubal Cabrera
Other Possible Targets
Hanley Ramirez, Stephen Drew, Jed Lowrie, Didi Gregorius (trade)
Overview
While the starting rotation is one area that will certainly be talked about this offseason for the New York Yankees, their most glaring need at this point appears to be a replacement for Derek Jeter at shortstop. That is unless they want to watch incumbent Brendan Ryan struggle to hit over .200 over a full season's worth of at-bat.
Bringing back deadline acquisition Stephen Drew is one option, though his .162/.237/.299 line over 271 at-bats last season does little to inspire confidence he can handle the everyday job.
Hanley Ramirez is the top option in free agency, but he won't come cheap, and given his below-average defense, it's reasonable to think that a full-time move to third base could be in the cards in his near future.
That leaves Asdrubal Cabrera and Jed Lowrie as the top remaining options in free agency, or the team could see what's available on the trade market, perhaps plucking Didi Gregorius or Chris Owings from the Arizona Diamondbacks' surplus.
At the end of the day, Cabrera looks like the best option, and signing him won't break the bank if the Yankees do want to make a run at one of the top starting pitchers on the market.
Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a three-year, $27 million deal for the 28-year-old this offseason.
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Tampa Bay Rays: Overall Run Production
4 of 30
Top Target
Michael Morse
Other Potential Targets
Evan Gattis (trade), Mark Reynolds, Kendrys Morales
Overview
Even with ace David Price shipped to the Detroit Tigers at the deadline, the Tampa Bay Rays still had one of the best pitching staffs in baseball down the stretch last year, and their 3.15 ERA was good for fifth in the majors in the second half.
On the other hand, the offense ranked 27th in the league at just 3.78 runs per game, and if the Rays hope to rebound from a disappointing season, they will need to add some punch.
The DH spot in particular was a black hole in terms of production, as a handful of players combined to hit .229/.315/.389 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI in 576 at-bats at the position.
Low-cost options will continue to be the route they pursue, and adding someone like Michael Morse who can also play first base and left field gives them the roster flexibility manager Joe Maddon tends to look for while adding some much-needed pop.
A trade for Braves catcher Evan Gattis is also an intriguing option, with the team potentially shopping the slugger to make way for top prospect Christian Bethancourt. He too brings versatility, with the ability to also play left field.
Toronto Blue Jays: Outfield
5 of 30
Top Target
Melky Cabrera
Other Potential Targets
Nori Aoki, Alex Rios, Josh Willingham, Drew Stubbs (trade), Domonic Brown (trade)
Overview
Slugger Jose Bautista is signed through 2015 with a reasonable $14 million option for 2016, but the other two outfield spots for the Toronto Blue Jays are set to be vacated in free agency.
Center fielder Colby Rasmus took a big step backward in 2014, as his OPS dropped from .840 to .735 and his WAR plummeted from 4.6 to 0.9.
He will almost certainly be playing elsewhere next season, with Anthony Gose likely to hold down the fort until top prospect Dalton Pompey proves ready to handle everyday at-bats in center.
Left field is where the major question mark is, as the team will make every effort to re-sign Melky Cabrera but needs to have a backup plan in place if he decides to take his talents elsewhere.
Cabrera bounced back from a poor 2013 performance to hit .301/.351/.458 this past season, and his offseason will almost certainly begin with a qualifying offer.
By all indications, it appears that Cabrera wants to stay in Toronto, and Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has said the team expects to make a "very competitive" offer to retain him.
If he does wind up walking, current Royals right fielder Nori Aoki could bring a similar skill set at a significantly smaller price. Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a five-year, $66.25 million deal for Cabrera that would mirror the average annual value of the contract Jhonny Peralta signed last winter.
Chicago White Sox: Relief Pitching
6 of 30
Top Target
Casey Janssen
Other Potential Targets
Jason Grilli, Sergio Romo, Rafael Soriano, Andrew Miller, Neal Cotts, Zach Duke, Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek, Jason Frasor
Overview
The Chicago White Sox are expected to make a run at signing Victor Martinez this offseason, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, so he may be their top individual target. However, the bullpen has to be considered their biggest area of weakness, and they could completely overhaul their relief corps this offseason with a handful of veteran additions.
Zach Putnam (49 G, 1.98 ERA, 6 SV), Jake Petricka (67 G, 2.96 ERA, 14 SV) and Javy Guerra (42 G, 2.91 ERA) give them a solid trio to build around, but the team would benefit from adding a proven closer to that mix, as well as a veteran middle relief arm or two.
The White Sox won't pay the steep price to sign someone like David Robertson or Koji Uehara, but the second-tier guys like Jason Grilli, Casey Janssen, Sergio Romo and Rafael Soriano could all be of interest. Janssen has been the most reliable of that group, so we'll call him the top target for now.
Count the White Sox among the teams likely to be in the running for Andrew Miller as well, with a clear need for a solid left-hander, though a reunion with Neal Cotts could be a more realistic goal.
Much like the division-rival Tigers, they can be linked to any and all available relievers at this point.
Cleveland Indians: No. 2 Starter
7 of 30
Top Target
Francisco Liriano
Other Potential Targets
Brandon McCarthy, Ervin Santana
Overview
The Cleveland Indians made a pair of wise decisions last offseason when they let Ubaldo Jimenez walk and opted against offering up a long-term extension to Justin Masterson. The decision not to re-sign Scott Kazmir did not work out quite as well, but overall, their pitching staff is in good shape.
Corey Kluber emerged as a bona fide ace in 2014, going 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 235.2 innings. Expect the team to make every effort to lock him up with an extension this offseason.
As for the rest of the rotation, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar are both locked in after impressing in the second half, while T.J. House, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin will also be in the mix this spring.
While Carrasco and Salazar both have upside, the team is lacking a clear-cut No. 2 starter behind Kluber, and that is something it could address in free agency.
Payroll constraints will keep the Indians out of the running for the Big Three, but a second-tier arm like Francisco Liriano could make a huge impact, as he is capable of pitching like a second ace when he's at his best.
Their interest in the 30-year-old will likely hinge on whether or not the Pittsburgh Pirates make him a qualifying offer, as they probably won't be willing to sacrifice a draft pick to sign him.
Brandon McCarthy and Ervin Santana also represent veteran starters with a mid-level price tag and front-line upside.
Detroit Tigers: Relief Pitching
8 of 30
Top Target
Andrew Miller
Other Potential Targets
David Robertson, Koji Uehara, Casey Janssen, Sergio Romo, Pat Neshek, Luke Gregerson, Jason Grilli, Zach Duke, Neal Cotts, Joe Beimel
Overview
While re-signing Victor Martinez will likely be priority No. 1 this offseason, there is little doubt the most glaring weakness on the Tigers is their bullpen. After wrapping up the regular season ranked 27th in the league with a 4.29 ERA, the pen completely imploded in the postseason, allowing a combined 10 earned runs in 4.2 innings of work.
Al Albuquerque (72 G, 2.51 ERA) and Blaine Hardy (38 G, 2.54 ERA) will both be back next season, alongside embattled closer Joe Nathan.
The team also holds a $7 million option on deadline pickup Joakim Soria that will likely be exercised, and it should have hard-throwing youngster Bruce Rondon back from Tommy John surgery at some point in the first half.
However, expect the Tigers to be aggressive in their pursuit of anyone who can help turn things around in the pen, and it would not be surprising to see them sign two or three of the market's top bullpen arms.
Andrew Miller will be near the top of a number of teams' wish lists, and with the Tigers in clear need of a lefty setup man, he gets the billing of top target here.
After that, the list of "other potential targets" is really just a who's who of this year's relief pitching market.
Kansas City Royals: Staff Ace
9 of 30
Top Target
James Shields
Other Potential Targets
Ervin Santana, Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy
Overview
The Kansas City Royals will return to the young duo of Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy next season, as well as veterans Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie, but there will be a big void to fill atop the rotation if James Shields signs elsewhere.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the team intends to make a run at re-signing him, and that could mean handing out a team-record deal to the workhorse right-hander.
Shields is already the highest-paid player on the Royals roster at $13.5 million, and something in the neighborhood of a five-year, $100 million deal may wind up being what it takes to sign the 32-year-old.
His postseason performance has been ugly, but he remains the unquestioned leader of that Royals staff at this point, and handing the reins to Ventura could be asking too much of the young flame-thrower.
The Royals won't have the money to go after Scherzer or Lester, so their backup plan will likely be to go after a second-tier guy with ace upside.
A reunion with Ervin Santana would be one option, while Francisco Liriano and Brandon McCarthy are both capable of pitching like aces when they're at their best but should come at a mid-level price.
Minnesota Twins: Starting Pitching
10 of 30
Top Target
Justin Masterson
Other Potential Targets
Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy, Edinson Volquez, Aaron Harang, Dan Haren, Jason Hammel
Overview
The Minnesota Twins handed out the two biggest free-agent contracts in team history last offseason when they signed Ricky Nolasco (four years, $49 million) and Phil Hughes (three years, $24 million), but their rotation was still a mess.
They did manage to improve their starter's ERA from 5.26 to 5.06, but that still left them 30th in the MLB, and offset what was a surprisingly productive offensive attack.
Hughes proved to be one of the better signings of the offseason, going 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA and a record 11.6 K/BB ratio. However, there is nothing but question marks behind him in the rotation.
Nolasco was a disaster, but given his salary, he is likely locked into a spot for next year. Kyle Gibson, Tommy Milone, Mike Pelfrey and Trevor May will all be competing for spots as well, but adding another arm or two to that mix won't hurt.
After buying low on Hughes last winter, the Twins could make a similar play this year for Justin Masterson, who could opt for a one-year deal in an effort to rebuild some value. Something like the one-year, $10 million deal Dan Haren received from the Los Angeles Dodgers could benefit both sides.
Beyond eyeing Masterson as their top target, expect the Twins to be linked to most of the market's top middle-tier starters as they look to fill in the pieces around a good young core.
Houston Astros: The Left Side of the Infield
11 of 30
Top Target
Chase Headley
Other Potential Targets
Jed Lowrie, Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks (trade)
Overview
There is no question the Houston Astros took a step forward in the rebuilding process this past season, as they turned in a 19-win improvement over 2013. That said, there is still a lot of work to be done for a team that finished 70-92.
Catcher will once again be manned by Jason Castro, the right side of the infield will be Jon Singleton and Jose Altuve and an outfield of Jake Marisnick, Dexter Fowler and George Springer looks like a very real possibility.
That leaves the left side of the infield as the big question mark among position players, and it's something the team could look to address with a big free-agent signing.
Top prospect Carlos Correa remains the future at shortstop, but he is still at least a couple years away, so signing someone like Jed Lowrie, Stephen Drew or Asdrubal Cabrera to bridge the gap is one option the Astros could pursue.
As for third base, prospect Colin Moran was acquired from the Miami Marlins in a six-player deal at the deadline, and he reached Double-A in his first full pro season last year.
A full season in Double-A, and perhaps another half season in the minors the following year, would probably be the best course of action as far as his development is concerned, so adding someone like Chase Headley on a two-year deal if possible to man the hot corner makes sense.
Los Angeles Angels: Left-Handed Relief Pitching
12 of 30
Top Target
Andrew Miller
Other Potential Targets
Zach Duke, Neal Cotts, Joe Beimel, Phil Coke, Joe Thatcher
Overview
After they added Jason Grilli and Huston Street via trade, the Los Angeles Angels bullpen actually became a strength down the stretch, but the Angels still lacked a reliable left-handed option.
They acquired Joe Thatcher from the Diamondbacks at the beginning of July to fill that role, but he was sidelined by an ankle injury in early August and wound up being a non-factor in the postseason.
Their incumbent options to fill the role include Jose Alvarez and Michael Roth, but neither of those guys really fit the bill of "reliable late-inning arm" at this point in their respective careers, so expect the team to look for an upgrade via free agency.
Andrew Miller is far and away the top option on the market, and there will be plenty of teams vying for his services, though signing him should legitimately be the Angels' No. 1 priority.
Should they miss out on Miller, there are other solid options. Zach Duke, Neal Cotts and Joe Beimel are all coming off of strong seasons and veteran Phil Coke rebuild some value with a 2.92 ERA in the second half.
One way or another, expect the Angels to add at least one of those arms before the start of spring training. Two of them might not be out of the question either, as the bullpen is really the only glaring area that needs to be addressed.
Oakland Athletics: Middle Infield
13 of 30
Top Target
Asdrubal Cabrera
Other Potential Targets
Stephen Drew, Jed Lowrie, Emilio Bonifacio, Cliff Pennington (trade), Didi Gregorius (trade)
Overview
Despite their second-half slide, the Oakland A's still averaged an impressive 4.5 runs per game last season, good for the fourth-highest mark in all of baseball. That number is even more impressive when you consider that they got next to nothing production-wise from both middle infield spots.
The trio of Eric Sogard, Nick Punto and Alberto Callaspo all saw time at second base, and the team received a combined .233/.297/.282 line from the position, with just one home run and 36 RBI.
Meanwhile, incumbent shortstop Jed Lowrie saw his production drop significantly in a contract year, and the team's shortstop production was not much better, as the position produced a .241/.315/.350 line with nine home runs and 61 RBI.
Sogard will be back next year, and the A's seem to be fine with running him out there as the primary option at second despite his complete lack of production.
Shortstop will need to be addressed one way or another, though, and signing someone from the free-agent trio of Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew and Lowrie seems to be the most likely scenario.
The A's could also make a run at the versatile Emilio Bonifacio or explore a trade with the Diamondbacks for one of their many shortstops, including former A's first-round pick Cliff Pennington.
We'll call signing Cabrera their best option.
Seattle Mariners: Right-Handed Power Hitting
14 of 30
Top Target
Nelson Cruz
Other Potential Targets
Yasmany Tomas, Yoenis Cespedes (trade), Justin Upton (trade), Michael Morse, Josh Willingham, Mark Reynolds
Overview
The Seattle Mariners made a run at signing Nelson Cruz last offseason, as they had a deal in place for a one-year, $7.5 million contract that included a $9 million option for 2015, according to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune.
When ownership nixed the deal, the team wound up settling for Corey Hart to fill the glaring need for a right-handed power bat, signing him to a one-year, $6 million deal.
After missing all of 2013 with a pair of knee surgeries, Hart had trouble staying on the field once again, and he wound up hitting a dismal .203/.271/.319 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 232 at-bats on the year.
With Cruz set to hit free agency once again this offseason, the Mariners will have a chance to rectify the mistake they made a year ago. However, the Orioles are expected to make every effort to re-sign the slugger.
If they can't land Cruz, the Mariners could turn their attention to Tomas, as they were among the teams linked to him in the early going.
They also still have a number of intriguing trade chips and could make another run at Justin Upton or go after Yoenis Cespedes, both of whom are set to hit free agency after the 2015 season and could wind up on the trade market this winter as a result.
Texas Rangers: Starting Pitching
15 of 30
Top Target
Edinson Volquez
Other Potential Targets
Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy, Ervin Santana, Mat Latos (trade), Jeff Samardzija (trade)
Overview
The Texas Rangers used a whopping 15 different starting pitchers last season, and that group combined to post a 4.75 ERA that put them 28th in the MLB.
Yu Darvish will once again front the rotation, and Derek Holland looked great in five starts after returning from knee surgery, but the rest of the rotation is up in the air moving forward.
Nick Tepesch showed some flashes of being a viable option and Martin Perez should be back at some point in the first half after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May, but it's hard to count on either of them to be the No. 3 guy in 2015.
With that in mind, adding a mid-level veteran with some upside to slot behind Holland in the rotation looks like a must as the team looks to rebound from a disastrous all-around season.
Edinson Volquez started his career in Texas before being traded to Cincinnati for Josh Hamilton, and after going 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA on a one-year contract in Pittsburgh, he should land a multiyear deal from someone this offseason, and it could be the Rangers.
Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy and Ervin Santana also fit the mold of a middle-of-the-rotation starter with some upside, while Mat Latos and Jeff Samardzija could at least be worth exploring if they hit the trade market.
Atlanta Braves: Veteran Starting Pitching
16 of 30
Top Target
Jake Peavy
Other Potential Targets
Ervin Santana, Francisco Liriano, Edinson Volquez, Brandon McCarthy
Overview
Despite injuries to a number of their starters, the Braves were able to keep it together on the starting pitching front, and they finished an impressive fifth in the MLB with a 3.42 starter's ERA.
Alex Wood and Julio Teheran give them a good young one-two punch atop the rotation, and Mike Minor pitched better in the second half after some early-season struggles, but the rest of the staff is a question mark.
Veterans Aaron Harang and Ervin Santana are set to become free agents, and it's hard to count on anything from Kris Medlen or Brandon Beachy as they both make their way back from second Tommy John surgeries, so adding another veteran arm to the mix seems like a must.
The team has shown interest in Jake Peavy in the past, as it pushed hard to acquire the right-hander from the San Diego Padres prior to the 2009 season, and the Braves were in the mix once again at the deadline this season, according to The Boston Globe.
The Alabama native could be swayed to come to Atlanta by the idea of being closer to home, and his fiery personality could give the Braves an edge they've been lacking the past few seasons.
If they don't make a run at Peavy, re-signing Santana may be their best move. Francisco Liriano, Edinson Volquez and Brandon McCarthy also represent decent middle-of-the-rotation veteran options.
Miami Marlins: Second Base
17 of 30
Top Target
Hector Olivera
Other Potential Targets
Asdrubal Cabrera, Jed Lowrie, Stephen Drew, Rickie Weeks, Emilio Bonifacio
Overview
The Marlins were one of the biggest surprises of 2014, and they should only get better in the years to come, but there are still some areas that need to be addressed.
Second base tops that list, as the likes of the likes of Donovan Solano, Ed Lucas, Jordany Valdespin and Derek Dietrich combined to hit .236/.303/.334 with 11 home runs and 56 RBI in 2014.
The free-agent market at the position is unimpressive at best, led by a handful of veterans in Asdrubal Cabrera, Jed Lowrie, Stephen Drew, Rickie Weeks and Emilio Bonifacio.
A more intriguing option could be Cuban defector Hector Olivera, whom the Marlins have shown interest in, according to a report from the Miami Herald.
The 29-year-old was ranked as the No. 6 player in Cuba by Ben Badler of Baseball America (subscription required) back in August, and he was one of the top Cuban players at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
"At his best, Olivera (listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds) had been one of the most well-rounded players in Cuba, showing a combination of hitting ability, power, speed and size," Badler wrote in another article.
It remains to be seen when he will establish residency and be declared a free agent, but if it happens before the start of next season, expect Olivera to be among the Marlins' top targets this offseason.
New York Mets: Shortstop
18 of 30
Top Target
Hanley Ramirez
Other Potential Targets
Jed Lowrie, Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew, Didi Gregorius (trade)
Overview
Despite his standing as one of the top offensive players at a premium position, the market for Hanley Ramirez is still cloudy at this point. Part of that has to do with his expected asking price, and part of that has to do with a below-average glove that will likely necessitate a move to third base at some point in the near future.
Add to that the fact that he will no doubt have a qualifying offer attached to him, and Ramirez could find himself without a new team late into the offseason.
The Mets are a team that will be looking to take a major step forward next season, and while they have a dynamic young pitching staff, their offense is still lagging behind.
David Wright, Lucas Duda and Curtis Granderson give them a decent middle-of-the-order trio, but adding another right-handed power bat like Ramirez could be what pushes their offense over the top.
The only issue there is the fact that David Wright is signed long term at third base.
However, if the market fails to develop for Ramirez, as many think will be the case, he would be an attractive option for the Mets on something like a three-year, $50-55 million deal.
Philadelphia Phillies: Youth
19 of 30
Top Target
Yasmany Tomas
Other Potential Targets
None
Overview
It appears that the Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as early favorites to sign Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas, and the 23-year-old would bring some much-needed youth to their over-the-hill roster of high-priced former stars.
According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News:
"People involved in the process now identify the Phillies as strong contenders for Tomas. ... The Phillies have money, a thin farm system, and a desire to reverse their fortunes as quickly as possible. Plus, people around the game took note when GM Ruben Amaro Jr. flew to the Dominican Republic to personally scout Tomas.
"
As for what it will cost to sign Tomas, that depend heavily on how many teams are vying for his services, as a bidding war could drive the price north of $100 million.
"Multiple executives with teams interested in Tomas say that, if he were a free agent, he would be a $15 million per year player, making a 5-year, $75 million contract for 23-year-old reasonable. But because he is not attached to a draft pick, and will be the subject of a bidding war, Tomas could easily end up with a $100 million deal, executives say.
"
The best course of action for the Phillies would be to blow things up and completely rebuild, but that's simply not going to happen, so signing a young impact player like Tomas would be the best way to spend this offseason.
Washington Nationals: Second Base
20 of 30
Top Target
Asdrubal Cabrera
Other Potential Targets
Jed Lowrie, Stephen Drew, Rickie Weeks, Emilio Bonifacio
Overview
Despite their early exit from the postseason, the Washington Nationals remain one of the most complete all-around teams in baseball. The addition of Matt Thornton in August finally filled the longstanding need for a reliable left-handed reliever, but second base is one area that will still need to be addressed this offseason.
With Anthony Rendon shifting to third base, the team was forced to go with Danny Espinosa for a good chunk of last season, and when he failed to seize the opportunity, the team acquired Asdrubal Cabrera at the trade deadline.
Overall, Cabrera hit just .241/.307/.387 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI last season, but he is capable of more at the plate and still just 28 years old.
The question will be whether Cabrera is open to remaining at second base, as he would likely be able make more money on the open market as a shortstop, especially following the J.J. Hardy extension.
"A team like this team, a good team that want me to play second, I would love to stay here," Cabrera told Dan Kolko of MASNsports.com. "I just want to win. I've got eight seasons already. I want to be in the World Series one day.
If Cabrera does wind up leaving, Jed Lowrie, Stephen Drew, Rickie Weeks and Emilio Bonifacio make up what's left of the free-agent market. Otherwise, it will likely be Espinosa manning the position once again.
Chicago Cubs: Front-Line Starting Pitching
21 of 30
Top Target
Jon Lester
Other Potential Targets
Max Scherzer, James Shields, Cole Hamels (trade)
Overview
It's no big secret that the Chicago Cubs' biggest need is a proven ace to lead their starting rotation, and it appears that Jon Lester tops their wish list heading into the offseason.
"Multiple industry sources say the Cubs are targeting Lester and will make a run at him this winter, trying to set a foundation piece in the rebuild at Clark and Addison," wrote Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago.
Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks give the team two controllable starters to build around, and both had the peripheral numbers to think they can at least come close to repeating their 2014 success, but they are better suited as No. 2 and No. 3 in the team's rotation.
After losing out on the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes a year ago, the Cubs can't let the same thing happen again this winter. The time is now for them to use their freed-up payroll space to make a splash.
While Lester looks like their preferred option, Scherzer and Shields both fit the bill of staff ace as well, and signing one of them should be Plan B.
The trade market is also an option, and the Cubs certainly have the pieces to get a deal done if they decide to go that route. However, the only arm that would be worth paying a steep price for is Cole Hamels, and knowing the Phillies, there's a good chance he won't be available at all.
Cincinnati Reds: Left Field
22 of 30
Top Target
Daniel Nava/Scott Hairston
Other Potential Targets
Alex Rios, Nori Aoki
Overview
The Reds are generally not ones to spend big in free agency, and their biggest financial commitment this offseason may very well be to extend either Johnny Cueto or Mat Latos, with the other potentially on the move with both are set to hit free agency next offseason.
Zack Cozart could be pointed to as a weakness after hitting just .221/.268/.300 last season, but he was the best defensive shortstop in the league not named Andrelton Simmons, and he was still a 2.4 WAR player as a result.
Instead, the Reds' most glaring need appears to be left field.
A group led by Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey combined to hit .233/.288/.339 with 10 home runs and 57 RBI last season, so it shouldn't be hard to improve on that production.
A trade with the Red Sox that includes one of their front-line arms seems like a good fit for both sides, and Daniel Nava could be an attractive piece of a bigger package that heads to Cincinnati.
Nava hit .270/.346/.361 in 363 at-bats last season, including .293/.372/.397 against right-handed pitching, so making him the primary option and paring him with a platoon partner like Scott Hairston, who wears out left-handed pitching, could make for a nice low-cost upgrade.
Milwaukee Brewers: First Base
23 of 30
Top Target
Adam LaRoche
Other Potential Targets
Michael Morse, Mike Carp/Mark Reynolds
Overview
After failing to find anything to their liking in free agency or on the trade market a year ago, the Milwaukee Brewers wound up riding a platoon of Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay at first base for much of the 2014 season.
All told, the first base position contributed a .207/.287/.356 line with 19 home runs and 61 RBI. Not awful, considering both of the aforementioned players were brought in on minor league deals, but still well below-average production for the position.
That makes Adam LaRoche an easy choice as their top free-agent target, as the Nationals are expected to decline their end of a $15 million option to open up first base for Ryan Zimmerman.
LaRoche has dealt with some injuries over the years, but when he is healthy, he remains a legitimate 30-homer, 100-RBI threat. Limited to 494 at-bats this past season, he still posted an .817 OPS with 26 home runs and 92 RBI.
Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a two-year, $30 million deal for LaRoche, and that would be money well spent by the Brewers.
Michael Morse is another viable option, while bringing back Mark Reynolds and pairing him with someone like Mike Carp could be a last resort.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Catcher
24 of 30
Top Target
Russell Martin
Other Potential Targets
Nick Hundley, A.J. Pierzynski, Geovany Soto
Overview
The Pirates could also be in the market for Adam LaRoche in an effort to upgrade at first base, but their biggest weakness will be the catcher position if they are not able to re-sign Russell Martin.
The team made waves two years ago when it signed Martin away from the Yankees with a two-year, $17 million deal, and it wound up being one of the best signings in franchise history.
Martin was good for 9.9 WAR in his two years with the team, ranking as one of the best catchers in the game both offensively and defensively and helping lead the Pirates to consecutive postseason appearances. He hit .290/.402/.430 with 20 doubles and 11 home runs in 379 at-bats this past season, and there is reason to think the 31-year-old should have at least a couple more prime offensive seasons in the tank.
Something like a three-year, $40 million deal could be enough to re-sign him, but as the best free-agent catcher by a sizable margin, the market could drive that price up.
If he does sign somewhere else, the Pirates' only real in-house option is former No. 4 overall pick Tony Sanchez, but the 26-year-old has yet to show much at the big league level.
Nick Hundley is a passable Plan B if his $5 million option is declined by the Orioles, while veterans A.J. Pierzynski, David Ross and Geovany Soto make up the rest of a thin free agent class.
St. Louis Cardinals: Right-Handed Setup Man
25 of 30
Top Target
Luke Gregerson
Other Potential Targets
Pat Neshek, Jason Grilli, Casey Janssen, Sergio Romo, Jason Frasor, Mike Adams
Overview
With no glaring holes on the position-player side of things and what should be a wealth of starting pitching once again, provided Michael Wacha is healthy, the bullpen figures to be the focus of the St. Louis Cardinals offseason.
Pat Neshek wound up being the best scrapheap signing of the year in 2014, as he turned a minor league deal into an All-Star appearance and gave the Cardinals a lockdown eighth-inning option.
The team could look to re-sign Neshek, but it had no problem letting Edward Mujica walk last offseason after a career year, and it could do the same with Neshek and let someone else pay for his surprising numbers.
A safer option to invest multiple years in would be Luke Gregerson, who has been one of the best right-handed setup men in the game since breaking into the league with the Padres back in 2009.
The 30-year-old has made an MLB-high 435 appearances and recorded a 2.75 ERA since the start of '09, making him as close to a sure thing as there is in a middle-relief role.
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors predicts a three-year, $20 million deal for Gregerson, so he won't come cheap, but he could really help stabilize a young relief corps.
Jason Grilli, Sergio Romo and Casey Janssen could all come at a similar price, while Jason Frasor will be a slightly cheaper option and Mike Adams could be this year's reclamation project on a one-year deal.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Starting Pitching
26 of 30
Top Target
Aaron Harang
Other Potential Targets
Roberto Hernandez, Kyle Kendrick, Colby Lewis, Dan Haren, A.J. Burnett (trade)
Overview
The Diamondbacks got an MLB-low 41 wins from their starting pitchers last season, as they posted a 4.44 ERA that ranked 27th in the league.
Injuries certainly played a part in that, as 2013 All-Star Patrick Corbin and offseason addition Bronson Arroyo both underwent Tommy John surgery. All told, the team used 11 different starters, with only two pitchers topping 25 starts.
Wade Miley and Josh Collmenter were the two who reached that mark, and they figure to be locked into rotations spots for next year as a result. After that, there are a handful of options to round things out.
Chase Anderson, Vidal Nuno, Randall Delgado, Trevor Cahill and prospects Archie Bradley and Andrew Chafin should all get a look. Still, adding another durable veteran to the mix could help provide some stability.
Aaron Harang enjoyed a resurgent season with the Braves, and the 36-year-old has been plenty durable throughout his 13-year big league career, so he looks like a fit. He should also come significantly cheaper than Arroyo did last year when he signed a two-year, $23.5 million deal.
Colorado Rockies: Starting Pitching
27 of 30
Top Target
Roberto Hernandez
Other Potential Targets
Justin Masterson, Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy, Kyle Kendrick
Overview
Fielding a viable five-man rotation has been a legitimate struggle for the Colorado Rockies over the years, and this past season was no different, as they finished last in the NL with a 4.89 starter's ERA.
Jorge De La Rosa will be back after signing a two-year, $25 million extension, and the young duo of Tyler Matzek and Jordan Lyles figure to join him in the rotation.
A healthy Jhoulys Chacin would likely earn a spot as well, with prospects Eddie Butler and Jon Gray also expected to get a long look this spring. Additionally, the team holds a $12 million option on Brett Anderson, though that will likely be bought out for $1.5 million.
The Rockies won't break the bank in free agency, but look for the team to add at least one mid-level veteran option to the mix. As always, pitchers who are able to consistently keep the ball on the ground will top their list of targets.
Justin Masterson (58.2 percent ground-ball rate), Francisco Liriano (54.4 percent), Brandon McCarthy (52.6 percent) and Roberto Hernandez (49.7 percent) all had above-average ground-ball rates last year, while Kyle Kendrick (44.6 percent) throws primarily sinkers and is capable of keeping the ball on the ground as well.
Masterson is the most appealing option of the group, but he could wind up settling for a one-year deal in an effort to rebuild value, and Colorado won't be the place to do that. Liriano and McCarthy may wind up out of the team's price range, so Hernandez looks like he has a good chance of being the team's top target.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Bullpen
28 of 30
Top Target
Andrew Miller
Other Potential Targets
David Robertson, Jason Grilli, Pat Neshek, Luke Gregerson, Jason Frasor, Zach Duke, Neal Cotts
Overview
It's going to be a busy offseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they will likely need to find a replacement for Hanley Ramirez at shortstop and could look to upgrade at catcher and third base as well. As far as their biggest weakness heading into free agency, though, their biggest area of focus has to be on improving the bullpen.
The Dodgers wrapped up the regular season ranked 22nd in the league with a 3.80 bullpen ERA, and their relief corps struggled mightily in the postseason, with 11 hits and six earned runs in 8.1 innings of work.
The trio of Brandon League, J.P. Howell and Pedro Baez will be back to set up standout closer Kenley Jansen, but after Brian Wilson and Chris Perez flopped, expect the team to look for other options to add to that mix.
The Dodgers will likely be linked to virtually every reliever on the market this offseason, but their top target could be stud left-hander Andrew Miller.
The 29-year-old had a 2.02 ERA, 0.802 WHIP and 103 strikeouts in 62.1 innings for the Red Sox and Orioles this past year, and he could wind up landing closer money from whoever ends up signing him.
San Diego Padres: Overall Run Production
29 of 30
Top Target
Yasmany Tomas
Overview
Michael Cuddyer, Michael Morse, Josh Willingham
Overview
After finishing dead last in team batting average (.226), OPS (.634) and runs per game (3.30) this past season, adding some offensive firepower is a clear need for the Padres this offseason.
It is not often that the San Diego Padres are mentioned as players for one of the market's top free agents, but they are one of six teams showing strong interest in Cuban slugger Yasmani Tomas, according to a tweet from Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.
With the price for Tomas expected to be in the $80-$100 million range over six or seven years, this is uncharted territory for the Padres, who set a team record with the two-year, $15.5 million deal they gave Joaquin Benoit last winter.
"We have definitely expanded our international focus under A.J," chairman Ron Fowler said of new GM A.J. Preller, via the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The appeal of Tomas is that he is still just 23 years old, so investing in him is a move to improve the team now but also with an eye on the future.
If they miss out on the Cuban defector, the Padres could go the mid-level veteran route and look to upgrade with someone like Michael Cuddyer or Michael Morse, who can play first base and left field. Or, more likely, they could simply hope the young core of guys like Jedd Gyorko, Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal takes a step forward.
San Francisco Giants: Third Base
30 of 30
Top Target
Pablo Sandoval
Other Potential Targets
Chase Headley, Josh Donaldson (trade), Trevor Plouffe (trade)
Overview
The San Francisco Giants have put an emphasis on retaining their own talent over the past few years, but that philosophy will be put to the test this offseason with the free agency of third baseman Pablo Sandoval.
While he has not always played up to his potential, Sandoval figures to be one of the top bats on the market, and he could command something in the neighborhood of $90-$100 million over five years.
The team will no doubt extend a qualifying offer and is expected to make a run at re-signing him, but with big spenders like the Red Sox and Dodgers expected to also be in the market, the Giants will have plenty of competition.
If Sandoval does end up walking, longtime division rival Chase Headley looks like the next best option on the free-agent market. He still has some offensive upside, and his glove is one of the best around, as he led all third basemen with a 28.0 UZR/150 (via FanGraphs).
Josh Donaldson could also be available on the trade market, but the Giants may not have the pieces to land him, so a more realistic trade target could be Trevor Plouffe of the Twins as they look to free up the position for top prospect Miguel Sano.
Plouffe posted a .751 OPS with 40 doubles, 14 home runs and 80 RBI and a 3.9 WAR in his age-28 season last year.
Unless otherwise noted, all standard and advanced stats (including WAR) courtesy of Baseball-Reference, and accurate through Wednesday, Oct. 22.
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