2014-2015 MLB Free Agency: Looking at All 30 Teams' Offseason Shopping List
The 2014 World Series is officially in the books, as the San Francisco Giants capped off what was a thrilling all-around postseason with their third World Series title in the last five years.
There will be time to reflect on the 2014 season in the months ahead, but there is no rest for MLB teams in their pursuit of a title, and with the World Series wrapping up, the offseason is officially underway.
All 30 teams have a different to-do list heading into the winter as each team looks to shore up its roster for a run of its own in 2015.
What follows is a quick rundown of each team's offseason shopping list as things stand here on the first day of the offseason. Things will obviously change as the weeks and months pass, but for now, this serves as a primer for what to expect from each team.
Baltimore Orioles
1 of 30
Key Free Agents
DH Nelson Cruz, RP Andrew Miller, OF Delmon Young, C Nick Hundley, UT Kelly Johnson, IF Alexi Casilla, RF Nick Markakis (option)
Shopping List
Cleanup Hitter
The preference here would no doubt be to re-sign Nelson Cruz, who wound up being one of the biggest steals of last offseason when he turned a one-year, $8 million deal into an .859 OPS and 40 home runs.
If he ends up signing elsewhere, the Baltimore Orioles will have to aggressively pursue a replacement or their offensive attack could drop off dramatically. It's hard to count on Chris Davis to bounce back or Steve Pearce to duplicate his breakout season.
Corner Outfielder
This one also partially hinges on how negotiations with the Orioles' own free agent, Nick Markakis, play out. The team's end of a $17.5 million mutual option will be declined, but expect the two sides to come to terms on a new deal to keep the lifelong Oriole in Baltimore.
Left field could also be addressed, though that may be where Pearce lands, provided Manny Machado is healthy and Davis is back at first base. Alejandro De Aza was a nice pickup for the stretch run, but he could be non-tendered, as he will make north of $5 million in his final year of arbitration.
Bench Depth
Caleb Joseph, Ryan Flaherty and David Lough figure to be locks for bench spots in 2015, but the team will need to replace Delmon Young, who was the top bench bat and one of the best pinch hitters in the league at 10-for-20.
Boston Red Sox
2 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Koji Uehara, C David Ross, RP Burke Badenhop, RP Craig Breslow (option), SP Ryan Dempster (retired)
Shopping List
Two Front-Line Starting Pitchers
The Boston Red Sox gutted their starting rotation at the deadline, and that leaves them in need of not just one but two front-line arms if they legitimately hope to return to contention in 2015.
Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly figure to be locked into two spots, and the Red Sox have a bevy of young arms in the mix for the No. 5 spot. However, look for them to sign at least one of the Big Three starters (Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields) and perhaps make a play for one of the Cincinnati Reds starters if they are in fact made available.
Third Baseman
Will Middlebrooks might be out of chances as the everyday guy at third base after hitting .191/.256/.265 over 215 at-bats last season. He's still just 26 years old, and the potential is there, but patience could be wearing thin at this point.
Pablo Sandoval will be the team's top target here, while Chase Headley is an attractive second option on the free-agent market. Guys like Josh Donaldson and Trevor Plouffe could also be available via trade, if the Red Sox opt to go that route.
Late-Inning Relievers
The Red Sox traded off a lot of pieces at the deadline, but one guy they opted to hold on to was closer Koji Uehara. Expect the 39-year-old to be brought back on a two-year deal with a significant salary bump from the $5 million he made this past season.
With Andrew Miller traded and Craig Breslow on his way out, they will definitely need to look for a reliable left-handed reliever. Another veteran arm or two could be brought in to fill out the middle relief spots, but the team could also use those to get its high-end prospects some work.
Backup Catcher
Christian Vazquez is penciled in as the Red Sox's starting catcher for next season, with Ryan Lavarnway currently slated to be his backup. Everyone is just keeping things warm for top prospect Blake Swihart at this point, but bringing in a veteran or simply re-signing David Ross would be wise.
New York Yankees
3 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP David Robertson, SP Branding McCarthy, SP Hiroki Kuroda, 3B Chase Headley, IF Stephen Drew, OF Chris Young, OF Ichiro Suzuki, SP Chris Capuano, RP Rich Hill, SS Derek Jeter (retired)
Shopping List
Shortstop
No one is going to be able to replace Derek Jeter, but the show must go on, and the New York Yankees will likely need to go outside the organization to fill his spot.
Re-signing Stephen Drew is one option, with Asdrubal Cabrera and Jed Lowrie also among the free-agent options. It's hard to see the Yankees shelling out the money for Hanley Ramirez or pulling off a trade for a viable starter, so expect it to be one of those three guys.
Starting Pitcher
Injuries decimated the Yankees rotation this past season, as CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda all missed significant time.
It's hard to know what to expect out of Sabathia at this point, but he will likely be penciled into one rotation spot. Tanaka and Pineda will be back as well, while Nova is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and both Hiroki Kuroda and deadline pickup Brandon McCarthy are free agents.
Re-signing McCarthy and making a run at Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda look like the most likely targets at this point, but this is the Yankees we're talking about, so a run at one of the Big Three is not out of the question.
Late-Inning Relievers
A breakout season from Dellin Betances is certainly an argument to let David Robertson walk in free agency, but more and more these days, a team needs three dominant late-inning arms to succeed.
Re-signing Robertson won't be cheap, but he's a known commodity, and it's hard to let a weapon like that walk. Finding a proven lefty to join Betances and Robertson is also a priority, with Andrew Miller, Neal Cotts and Zach Duke among the top options.
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Tampa Bay Rays
4 of 30
Key Free Agents
None
Shopping List
A Power Bat
Outside of the 22 hit by Evan Longoria, no Tampa Bay Rays player hit more than 12 home runs this past season, and that came from utility infielder Sean Rodriguez, who did not even see everyday at-bats.
A healthy Wil Myers would give the Rays a legitimate second power bat, but finding someone capable of stepping into the DH role and giving them 20-plus home runs seems like a clear need. Michael Morse, Mark Reynolds and trade candidate Evan Gattis are among the options they could pursue.
Catcher
The Rays have not seen much production from the catcher position the past few years, with a combined line of .194/.274/.250 with five home runs and 48 RBI from their backstops in 2014.
Jose Molina and Ryan Hanigan are both still under contract for next season, and rookie Curt Casali saw some time down the stretch as well. This is a team that values defense, so trading for Gattis and throwing him behind the plate may not be an option, but look for them to explore upgrades.
Reliever
No team is better at filling out its bullpen with scrapheap free-agent signings and out-of-nowhere in-house options than the Rays.
Brad Boxberger was the latest to make an unexpected contribution this past season, and alongside Cesar Ramos, Joel Peralta and Jake McGee, the team has a solid core in place. Still, don't be surprised if the Rays add a handful of cheap arms and look for another diamond in the rough.
Toronto Blue Jays
5 of 30
Key Free Agents
LF Melky Cabrera, CF Colby Rasmus, RP Casey Janssen, SP Brandon Morrow (option), RP Dustin McGowan (option), RP Sergio Santos (option)
Shopping List
Left Fielder
Colby Rasmus is almost certainly headed elsewhere in 2015, with top prospect Dalton Pompey knocking on the door in center field and Anthony Gose capable of holding down the fort until he's ready.
However, if Melky Cabrera walks in free agency, left field could become a gaping hole. The team is expected to make every effort to bring back Cabrera, but he won't come cheap after a terrific contract year.
Second Baseman
The Toronto Blue Jays have not had a steady producer at the second base position since Aaron Hill.
This past season, the likes of Munenori Kawasaki, Ryan Goins, Maicer Izturis, Steven Tolleson and others combined to hit .247/.295/.340 with seven home runs and 48 RBI. The slick-fielding Goins could get another look in 2015, but expect them to look outside the organization for an upgrade.
Relievers/Closer
After ranking ninth in the majors with a 3.37 bullpen ERA in 2013, the Blue Jays saw that number climb to 4.09 this past season, and they dropped all the way to 25th in the MLB.
Closer Casey Janssen is a free agent, and the options of Sergio Santos and Dustin McGowan will likely be declined, so there will be some holes to fill.
If Aaron Sanchez doesn't move to the rotation, he could fill a key role in the pen. Brett Cecil, Aaron Loup, Todd Redmond and Steve Delabar will all be back, but the Blue Jays need a reliable late-inning arm or two.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Matt Lindstrom, SP Felipe Paulino (option), 1B Paul Konerko (retired)
Shopping List
Relief Pitchers
There were some bright spots in the Chicago White Sox bullpen last year, as Zach Putnam, Jake Petricka and Javy Guerra all had strong seasons. However, it was among the worst units in baseball as a whole, finishing 28th in the MLB with a 4.38 ERA.
Putnam and Petricka did an admirable job stepping into the closer's role after Addison Reed was traded in the offseason, but signing a proven closer should be among the team's top priorities.
A Power Bat
The White Sox struck gold with their signing of Jose Abreu last winter, but they could use another power bat to slot alongside him in the middle of their lineup. The team has high hopes for Avisail Garcia, but with Adam Dunn gone, there is a clear need for another power hitter.
The team has already been linked to Victor Martinez, according to Bruce Levine of 670TheScore, but prying him away from the division rival Detroit Tigers could be easier said than done.
Catcher
Tyler Flowers showed some solid pop last season with 16 doubles and 15 home runs over 407 at-bats, but that was undermined by a .297 on-base percentage and 25/159 BB/K ratio.
A .355 BABIP and 21.1 percent HR/FB rate (via FanGraphs) indicate there's a good chance he's in for some regression next season, and if that power drops off, he's legitimately a liability offensively.
Cleveland Indians
7 of 30
Key Free Agents
DH Jason Giambi, IF Mike Aviles (option)
Shopping List
No. 2 Starting Pitcher
The Cleveland Indians have a bona fide ace atop their staff in Corey Kluber, who turned a strong second-half showing in 2013 into a full-blown breakout this past season. Don't be surprised if he's locked up with a long-term extension this winter.
Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar both showed some good things in the second half, while T.J. House and Trevor Bauer figure to be in the mix again. Adding a legitimate No. 2 starter to slot behind Kluber remains on the to-do list though, and guys like Ervin Santana, Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez could be a fit.
Third Baseman
Lonnie Chisenhall hit .332/.396/.519 with 20 doubles, nine home runs and 41 RBI in the first half last season, as the former first-round pick finally looked to be cashing in on his potential.
The wheels fell off completely in the second half, though, and he hit just .218/.277/.315 with four home runs and 18 RBI in the second half. The 26-year-old will likely get another chance next season, but having a contingency plan in place seems like a must.
Detroit Tigers
8 of 30
Key Free Agents
DH Victor Martinez, SP Max Scherzer, RF Torii Hunter, RP Joba Chamberlain, RP Phil Coke, RP Jim Johnson, RP Joel Hanrahan
Shopping List
Relievers...So Many Relievers
After watching their bullpen allow eight hits and 11 runs (10 earned) in 4.2 innings of work in their American League Division Series loss to the Baltimore Orioles, fixing the bullpen will once again be atop the Tigers' to-do list.
The postseason collapse was no big surprise after the team ranked 27th in the majors during the regular season with a 4.29 bullpen ERA. Outside of Al Albuquerque and rookie lefty Blaine Hardy, this looks like a complete tear-down situation, so look for them to add at least two or three of the market's top relief arms.
Outfielder
J.D. Martinez was a terrific find last season, and the fact that he is under team control through 2017 is only icing on the cake. He figures to man one of the corner spots, but the other two starting outfield jobs are up in the air.
Torii Hunter is a free agent and Rajai Davis is still best suited as a platoon player. Power-hitting prospect Steven Moya could have a chance to win an everyday job, but look for the team to sign at least one outfielder, whether it's Colby Rasmus to play center, Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas to play left or someone else altogether.
A Power Bat
While the above areas look like more glaring weaknesses, that all gets thrown out the window if the team fails to re-sign Victor Martinez, as replacing his production immediately becomes priority No. 1.
"One rival official said recently that considering the Tigers' win-at-all-costs approach and Martinez's importance in the Detroit lineup, he cannot see them being outbid for the DH," Buster Olney of ESPN wrote (subscription required). "They'll give him a qualifying offer, and beyond that, the official said, they'll give him what it takes."
The 35-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, and he should be able to improve on the four-year, $50 million deal he signed with the Tigers last time around. The team likely won't want to go beyond four years, but it needs to do whatever it takes to keep him in Detroit.
Kansas City Royals
9 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP James Shields, RF Nori Aoki, RP Jason Frasor, OF Josh Willingham, RP Luke Hochevar, DH Raul Ibanez
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
The Kansas City Royals have indicated that they will try to re-sign James Shields, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, but in all likelihood, the chances he will be playing elsewhere in 2015 remain very high. Even if he does leave, though, the Royals look to be in solid shape.
Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy give the Royals a pair of up-and-coming stars, while Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie will both be back to anchor the middle of the rotation. Signing one of the second-tier options, like Ervin Santana or Brandon McCarthy, could be enough to offset the loss of Shields if Ventura takes another step forward.
Right Fielder
Outside of Shields, the Royals' biggest free agent is right fielder Nori Aoki, who had an up-and-down season overall but helped provide some speed and contact skills out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
The team's only real in-house option would be to move Lorenzo Cain over to right field and play Jarrod Dyson everyday in center field, so expect the Royals to either make a play to re-sign Aoki or to pursue one of the market's other right field options.
Middle Reliever
The Big Three of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland will all be back next season, but the Royals will need to replace Jason Frasor, who was terrific after coming over from the Texas Rangers and played a big part in his own right.
Re-signing Frasor would be one option, while Burke Badenhop and Matt Belisle could also be low-cost options to fill that role.
Minnesota Twins
10 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Jared Burton
Shopping List
Manager
The first step in the Twins' offseason plans will be to find a new manager, something the organization has not had to do since 2002, when Ron Gardenhire was hired to the post.
Paul Molitor, Doug Mientkiewicz and Torey Lovullo look to be the leading candidates at this point, according to a tweet from Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN, though a decision does not appear to be imminent.
Starting Pitching
After their starters posted an MLB-worst 5.26 ERA in 2013, the Twins set out to address that issue last offseason, signing Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes to the two richest free-agent deals in team history and also re-signing Mike Pelfrey.
Hughes proved to be a terrific find, going 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA, but the staff as a whole was again the worst in baseball, as it only managed to trim that ERA down to 5.06.
Mid-level guys will continue to be the target, and someone like Justin Masterson, who is looking to rebuild some value on a short-term deal, could certainly be an attractive target.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Matt Albers, RP Jesse Crain, RP Jose Veras (option)
Shopping List
Stop Gap Shortstop
The future at shortstop for the Houston Astros is top prospect Carlos Correa. The trouble is he is only 20 years old and is still probably a couple years away from stepping into the everyday job.
Jonathan Villar has shown some speed and a decent glove, but the 23-year-old hit just .209/.267/.354 over 263 at-bats last season. Signing a veteran to bridge the gap to Correa would be a nice upgrade to a promising young core of position players.
Third Baseman
While the heir is apparent at shortstop, the third base situation is cloudier.
Matt Dominguez has some pop and a solid glove, but his .215/.256/.330 line last season gave him the worst OPS (.586) in the American League among all qualified position players. Signing someone like Chase Headley to replace him would be a huge upgrade, but don't count out the Astros on Hanley Ramirez either.
He could serve as both the stopgap at shortstop and the long-term answer at third base, and with the market for him still relatively unclear, the team has the money to make a strong push.
Relievers
The Astros scooped up a handful of low-cost veteran relievers last offseason, and they could look to do the same once again this year as they look to fill things out around incumbents Chad Qualls, Tony Sipp and Josh Fields.
Los Angeles Angels
12 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Jason Grilli, RP Joe Thatcher, IF John McDonald, RP Sean Burnett (option)
Shopping List
Left-Handed Reliever
The Los Angeles Angels turned their bullpen into a legitimate strength with the acquisitions of Huston Street and Jason Grilli, but they were still without a reliable left-handed reliever when fellow deadline pickup Joe Thatcher ended up injured down the stretch.
Expect stud southpaw Andrew Miller to be their No. 1 target this offseason, with Zach Duke and Neal Cotts looking like their next best options. They could also look to re-sign or replace Grilli, who is headed for free agency.
Starting Pitcher
Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Matt Shoemaker and Hector Santiago all figure to be penciled into the rotation spots for the Angels next season, but the No. 5 spot is still up for grabs, with Cory Rasmus currently slated to fill that job.
Both Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs will open the season on the disabled list, and while both remain a big part of the team's long-term plans, adding a mid-tier starter to hold down a rotation spot in the meantime seems like a smart move for the Angels.
Oakland Athletics
13 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Jon Lester, SS Jed Lowrie, RP Luke Gregerson, SP Jason Hammel, IF Alberto Callaspo, OF Jonny Gomes, C Geovany Soto, DH Adam Dunn (retired)
Shopping List
Shortstop
With Jed Lowrie headed for free agency, former top prospect Addison Russell now in the Cubs organization and current top prospect Daniel Robertson likely still at least a year away, the shortstop position will have to be addressed in Oakland.
Whether it is re-signing Lowrie or one of the market's other veterans, like Stephen Drew or Asdrubal Cabrera, to a short-term deal, or exploring the trade market, the A's are going to have to bring someone in to man the position.
Left Fielder
The A's love Sam Fuld, but it's hard to imagine them going into the season with him as their primary option in left field. He's better suited as a fourth outfielder who sees relatively frequent playing time, the role Craig Gentry was signed to fill last offseason.
Money is always going to be the issue here, as the A's are not likely to pursue someone like Yasmany Tomas to fill the void, but adding some sort of offensive presence in left field could help the offense get back on track next year.
Second Baseman
For whatever reason, the A's seem content to roll with Eric Sogard as the primary second baseman, and Nick Punto will also be back next season, so it wouldn't be at all surprising to see them stand pat here.
However, a combined .233/.297/.282 line from the position last season and a grand total of 10 home runs the past three seasons from Oakland second basemen is enough to at least earn it a spot on the shopping list.
Seattle Mariners
14 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Chris Young, RP Joe Beimel, 1B Corey Hart, DH Kendrys Morales, OF Chris Denorfia, OF Endy Chavez, C Humberto Quintero
Shopping List
Right-Handed Power Bat
According to The News Tribune's Bob Dutton, the Seattle Mariners were interested in Nelson Cruz last offseason, but they ended up trying to fill their need for a right-handed power bat by signing Corey Hart to a one-year deal.
That wound up being one of the biggest mistakes of the offseason, as the Mariners were left searching for a right-handed power source all year. It remains their biggest area of need, and while another run at Cruz is a possibility, someone like Michael Cuddyer could be more realistic.
Starting Pitcher
The Mariners got all they could have hoped for and more out of Chris Young last season, as he earned AL Comeback Player of the Year honors. However, a 5.02 FIP points to some serious regression from him next season, and chances are the M's will let him walk.
Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and James Paxton are a rock-solid No. 1-No. 3 in the rotation, and Taijuan Walker is all but certain to occupy a rotation spot as well. There are options to fill out the staff, led by Roenis Elias, but adding another veteran to the mix couldn't hurt.
Left-Handed Reliever
The bulk of the Mariners' terrific bullpen will return next season, including primary left-hander Charlie Furbush, but they could lose one key arm in second lefty Joe Beimel.
Beimel posted a 2.20 ERA over 56 appearances in what was his first big league action since 2011, and if the team decides not to re-sign him, it will need to find a replacement.
Texas Rangers
15 of 30
Key Free Agents
RF Alex Rios, SP Colby Lewis, RP Neal Cotts, SP Scott Baker
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
Despite the mess that was the team's starting rotation in 2014, the Texas Rangers staff is not in as bad of shape as one might thing. Yu Darvish and a healthy Derek Holland give the Rangers a solid one-two punch atop the staff, and Nick Tepesch showed enough last season to warrant a starting job in 2015.
Adding another front-line arm does look to be an area of need, though, and they could target second tier guys like Edinson Volquez, Ervin Santana or Francisco Liriano to plug into that No. 3 spot in the rotation.
Left Fielder
Leonys Martin and Shin-Soo Choo will be back to man center field and right field, respectively, next season for the Rangers, but there does figure to be a hole in left field.
The team already declined its $14 million option on Alex Rios, and it doesn't have much in the way of an in-house option, unless it thinks Jake Smolinski or Michael Choice can handle an expanded role. If there is one spot the Rangers could add some offensive pop, it would appear to be left field.
Catcher
The Rangers have one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball in Jorge Alfaro, and how soon they expect him to be ready to step into the everyday job will dictate what they do behind the plate this offseason.
Alfaro hit .261/.323/.440 with 17 home runs and 87 RBI last season, spending the bulk of the year in High-A before getting a 21-game stint in Double-A. He's entering his age-22 season, so chances are he'll need at least one more full season in the minors.
Robinson Chirinos was a passable option behind the plate last year, hitting 13 home runs and posting a 2.4 WAR thanks in large part to his plus defense, so the Rangers could simply opt to go with him as the bridge to Alfaro.
Atlanta Braves
16 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Ervin Santana, SP Aaron Harang, UT Emilio Bonifacio, SP Gavin Floyd, C Ryan Doumit, C Gerald Laird
Shopping List
Veteran Starting Pitcher
Julio Teheran, Alex Wood and Mike Minor are locked into rotation spots for the Atlanta Braves next year, but the final two starting jobs are still up for grabs.
Ervin Santana and Aaron Harang are both headed for free agency, and the team can't count on anything out of Kris Medlen or Brandon Beachy in the year ahead. David Hale is certainly an option to occupy one of those rotation spots, but adding a solid veteran capable of shouldering some of the load would be a big help.
Bench Depth
The Braves offense as a whole was a disaster last season, and a complete lack of depth off the bench did not help matters any.
Gerald Laird (.204 BA, .532 OPS), Ryan Doumit (.197 BA, .553 OPS), Ramiro Pena (.245 BA, .651 OPS) and Jordan Schafer (.163 BA, .468 OPS) all provided nothing in the way of offensive production, and the team hit a dismal .179/.234/.253 with 10 RBI in pinch-hit situations.
Miami Marlins
17 of 30
Key Free Agents
OF Reed Johnson, 2B Rafael Furcal, RP Kevin Gregg, RP Brad Penny
Shopping List
Second Baseman
While they took a big step forward in 2014, one glaring hole for the Miami Marlins is second base, where 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.
Every other position seems to be set, and after taking a chance on veteran Rafael Furcal last offseason, they could look for a veteran option once again. However, if Cuban defector Hector Olivera is declared a free agent this offseason, there is a good chance he will be their top target.
Bench Depth
The Marlins have a terrific core of young position players, but they are sorely lacking in depth at almost every position, and filling out the bench will be a priority this winter.
The team hit just .184/.248/.273 in pinch-hit situations a year ago, and outside of Jeff Baker, there is not much to speak of as far as returning bench players.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Daisuke Matsuzaka, OF Bobby Abreu (retired)
Shopping List
Shortstop
Shortstop has been an issue for the New York Mets since Jose Reyes bolted in free agency, and while Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores have both shown flashes, neither of them can be counted on to be the everyday guy heading into 2015.
Tejada has a plus glove, but his offense has been wildly inconsistent, while Flores has the potential to be a very good hitter but is probably better suited playing third base. Whether it is signing one of the market's veteran free agents or exploring their trade options, expect the Mets to look for an upgrade at short this offseason.
Corner Outfielder
Juan Lagares has emerged as the long-term answer in center field, and Curtis Granderson is locked up for three more years to man one of the corner spots, but the Mets could use another corner outfielder.
Top prospect Brandon Nimmo is expected to eventually fill that spot, but for the time being, it would be some combination of Matt den Dekker, Eric Young Jr. and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
Adding a right-handed bat with some power to the mix would be a big help to the offense, and while the Mets may not land Yasmany Tomas, someone like Michael Cuddyer or Michael Morse could be a nice pickup.
Philadelphia Phillies
19 of 30
Key Free Agents
SP Kyle Kendrick, C Wil Nieves, SP A.J. Burnett (option), RP Mike Adams (option)
Shopping List
Yasmany Tomas
It's pretty obvious that Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas is the Philadelphia Phillies' top target at this point, and understandably so, as the 23-year-old would bring some much-needed youth and offensive production to what has become a stagnant roster.
According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, the Phillies have emerged as the early favorites to sign Tomas. He won't come cheap, as he's expected to sign for somewhere in the $80-$100 million range, but if this team is set on not rebuilding, signing him is the next best thing.
Starting Pitcher
Considering Cliff Lee is a health question, Kyle Kendrick is a free agent and A.J. Burnett is a candidate to retire, the only sure things for the Phillies rotation in 2015 are Cole Hamels and recently extended Jerome Williams.
David Buchanan and Miguel Gonzalez could both get a look, but adding a low-cost free agent to the mix would be a nice move. An aging veteran like Chris Young would seem to fit the Phillies' general organizational philosophy.
Washington Nationals
20 of 30
Key Free Agents
2B/SS Asdrubal Cabrera, OF Scott Hairston, OF Nate Schierholtz, 1B Adam LaRoche (option), RP Rafael Soriano (option)
Shopping List
Second Baseman
The Washington Nationals remain one of the most complete teams in all of baseball, and while they have some big decisions to make about their starting rotation looking ahead to the 2015/2016 offseason, their only glaring need right now is at second base.
Adam LaRoche is on his way out, opening up the first base spot for Ryan Zimmerman and locking Anthony Rendon into third base long term. Asdrubal Cabrera was signed to man second base down the stretch, after yet another failed Danny Espinosa experiment, and re-signing him or adding a similar veteran appears to be the move.
Left-Handed Reliever
The Nationals finally found a legitimate left-handed reliever when they claimed Matt Thornton off waivers from the New York Yankees in August, as he went on to make 18 scoreless appearances after joining the team.
Thornton is signed for the reasonable price of $3.5 million next season, but he is a free agent after that, and at 38 years old, he is far from a long-term answer. Regardless, adding another southpaw to the mix makes sense, unless the Nats are expecting a bounce-back season from Jerry Blevins.
Chicago Cubs
21 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Carlos Villanueva, RP Kyuji Fujikawa (option)
Shopping List
No. 1 Starter
The Chicago Cubs have some nice pieces to build around in the rotation following the emergence of Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks this past season, but they are still lacking that bona fide staff ace who can lead their charge back to contention.
According to Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago, it's no secret that Jon Lester is a Cubs target, and Chicago is viewed by many as the favorite to sign him this offseason. One way or another, though, expect the Cubs to add a top-of-the-rotation arm to the mix this winter.
Another Starting Pitcher
Outside of their search for an ace, the Cubs could also be in the market for another buy-low starting candidate, after hitting on Scott Feldman and Jason Hammel the past two seasons.
Justin Masterson and Brandon Morrow (if his option is declined) are two of the more intriguing high-upside starters this time around, so don't be surprised if the Cubs continue their recent pillaging of the scrapheap with another one-year deal.
Cincinnati Reds
22 of 30
Key Free Agents
UT Ramon Santiago, OF Ryan Ludwick (option), 3B Jack Hannahan (option)
Shopping List
Left Fielder
An injury to Ryan Ludwick on the first day of the season opened up a hole in left field for the Reds last season, and while the veteran would eventually return, the team still struggled to find consistent production there.
Top prospect Jesse Winker is expected to step into that spot at some point in the near future after hitting .287/.399/.518 with 20 doubles and 15 home runs in 282 at-bats last season between High-A and Double-A.
He still needs some time in the minors, though, so expect the Reds to look for a stopgap option this offseason who is capable of providing a short-term boost.
Relievers
The Reds had one of the best bullpens in baseball in 2013, ranking seventh in the majors with a 3.29 ERA. That number climbed to 4.11 this past season, though, the second-worst mark in the National League.
Aroldis Chapman is as good as it gets in the ninth inning, but the rest of the pen is a crapshoot, and the team could look to sign at least a couple viable late-inning setup arms to help shore things up.
Milwaukee Brewers
23 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Francisco Rodriguez, RP Zach Duke, RP Tom Gorzelanny, 2B Rickie Weeks, 1B Mark Reynolds, 1B Lyle Overbay
Shopping List
First Baseman
When they found nothing to their liking on the open market last offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers wound up going with a platoon of Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay at first base.
That produced a combined .207/.287/.356 line with 19 home runs and 61 RBI from the position—not terrible numbers for a pair of guys on a minor league deal, but far from what you look for out of a premium offensive position.
Adam LaRoche is the top option out there, and his left-handed bat would be a nice addition alongside right-handed hitters Carlos Gomez, Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Khris Davis.
Closer
Francisco Rodriguez returned to the Brewers on a one-year, $3.25 million deal last offseason, and he wound up being one of the better closers in the NL, saving 44 games and making his first All-Star appearance since 2009.
Bringing him back makes a lot of sense, as he is still in his prime and has enjoyed a career renaissance in Milwaukee. However, if he signs elsewhere, the team will have to replace him with one of the market's mid-level closer options.
Left-Handed Reliever
Along with losing their closer, the Brewers are also set to lose a pair of lefty relievers in Zach Duke (74 G, 2.45 ERA) and Tom Gorzelanny (23 G, 0.86 ERA), so they will be in the market for a southpaw to round out their bullpen as well.
Pittsburgh Pirates
24 of 30
Key Free Agents
C Russell Martin, SP Francisco Liriano, SP Edinson Volquez, SS Clint Barmes
Shopping List
Catcher
The two-year, $17 million deal the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Russell Martin to prior to the 2013 season has proved to be one of the best in franchise history. Those two years were good for a 9.9 WAR, as he was one of the best catchers in the game both offensively and defensively the past two seasons in helping the Pirates to a pair of playoff appearances.
Martin is expected to be one of the most coveted players on the market, so he may wind up pricing himself out of Pittsburgh, but the Pirates will do everything in their power to bring him back.
If he walks, it's either hand things over to Tony Sanchez or sign someone from the remaining crop of free agents that includes Nick Hundley, A.J. Pierzynski and Geovany Soto.
Starting Pitcher
The Pirates already have one of the game's best young pitchers in Gerrit Cole, and more talented young arms are on the way, but they will need to shore up their rotation in the short-term this offseason.
Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez, a pair of buy-low pitchers who have turned out to be absolute steals, are expected to head for greener pastures this offseason.
That leaves Cole, Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke and Vance Worley as the incumbent starters, with prospects Nick Kingham and Adrian Sampson knocking on the door. So, who will be the team's next reclamation project?
St. Louis Cardinals
25 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Pat Neshek, C A.J. Pierzynski, SP Justin Masterson, RP Jason Motte, 2B Mark Ellis
Shopping List
Setup Reliever
The St. Louis Cardinals struck gold on the minor league deal they gave Pat Neshek last offseason, as he wound up making the All-Star team and putting up some of the best numbers of any setup man in baseball.
That being said, they tend to let other people pay for a guy's career year (Edward Mujica, Kyle Lohse) so don't be surprised if Neshek winds up elsewhere. Replacing him with someone like Luke Gregerson could be a safer alternative.
Bench Depth
The Cardinals are essentially set as far as their starting lineup is concerned, but they could stand to add a piece or two to their bench.
Tony Cruz, Daniel Descalso and Peter Bourjos don't provide much offensively, while guys like Xavier Scruggs and Stephen Piscotty are still unproven and might be better off getting everyday at-bats in the minors.
Signing a bench bat that can provide some pop, perhaps someone like Mark Reynolds to be the backup at both corner infield spots, would be a nice pickup.
Arizona Diamondbacks
26 of 30
Key Free Agents
None
Shopping List
Durable Starting Pitcher
The Arizona 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.
Wade Miley and Josh Collmenter appear to be the only locks to open the season with rotation spots, with 2013 All-Star Patrick Corbin expected back at some point in the first half. Prospects Archie Bradley and Andrew Chafin are close to making an impact but still can't be counted on at this point.
The Diamondbacks signed Bronson Arroyo last offseason in hopes that he could be an innings-eater, and he wound up needing Tommy John surgery. The team could target someone similar this offseason as it looks to provide some stability in the rotation.
Reliever
There are some solid bullpen pieces in place already for the Diamondbacks, with a pair of veterans in Oliver Perez and Brad Ziegler setting up closer Addison Reed, who is a better pitcher than his 2014 performance indicated.
Rookie Evan Marshall also had a nice season, with a 2.74 ERA and 9.9 K/9 over 57 appearances, but adding another arm or two to join him in middle relief could make the bullpen a legitimate strength.
Colorado Rockies
27 of 30
Key Free Agents
1B/OF Michael Cuddyer, RP Matt Belisle, RP Nick Masset, RP Franklin Morales, SP Brett Anderson (option)
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
Jorge De La Rosa will be back atop the Colorado Rockies rotation after signing a two-year extension, and the young duo of Jordan Lyles and Tyler Matzek showed enough that they should be locks to join him, but there is still work to be done.
It's never easy convincing high-end free agent pitchers to come to Colorado, so the team will need prospects Eddie Butler and Jon Gray to make an impact. Still, expect the team to add at least one free-agent arm to the mix, with Roberto Hernandez looking like an attractive target.
Setup Relievers
The Rockies made a nice find with the signing of LaTroy Hawkins to be their closer last offseason, but with Rex Brothers taking a big step back and both Matt Belisle and Nick Masset headed for free agency, the bullpen needs some work.
Adam Ottavino and Tommy Kahnle both had strong seasons, and Brothers is too talented not to bounce back, but this team could use at least a couple more reliable bullpen pieces to help take some pressure off of a rotation that is already a weakness.
Los Angeles Dodgers
28 of 30
Key Free Agents
SS Hanley Ramirez, SP Roberto Hernandez, SP Kevin Correia, SP Paul Maholm, RP Jamey Wright, RP Chris Perez, SP Chad Billingsley (option), SP Dan Haren (player option), RP Brian Wilson (player option), Josh Beckett (retired)
Shopping List
Relievers
A lack of trust in their bullpen played a major role in the Los Angeles Dodgers' loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series, and upgrading the relief core figures to be the focal point of their offseason efforts.
Brandon League and J.P. Howell did a nice job setting up closer Kenley Jansen, and Pedro Baez was terrific in 20 appearances after being called up. Beyond that, the bullpen was a mess, so expect the Dodgers to throw around enough money to add two or three high-end relief arms to that mix this winter.
Shortstop
Unless he accepts his qualifying offer, chances are Hanley Ramirez will be playing elsewhere in 2015, and that means the Dodgers have a big hole at shortstop that needs to be filled.
Top prospect Corey Seager is the long-term answer, but he is still at least a year away. The Dodgers could look into moving Dee Gordon back to shortstop and trying Alex Guerrero at second base, but Gordon was so good in 2014 you don't want to change too much with him.
A stopgap option like Stephen Drew or Jed Lowrie could wind up being what the Dodgers go with, though bringing Ramirez is still not out of the question.
Starting Pitcher
Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu is as good a rotation trio as any in baseball, but there is work to do at the back of the Dodgers staff.
There is a good chance Dan Haren exercises his $10 million player option and fills one of those spots, but the other one will likely be filled by a free agent, unless the team thinks prospect Zach Lee is ready to step into that job.
A back-of-the rotation arm is all the Dodgers would need to fill out the staff, but would anyone be surprised if they made a run at someone like Max Scherzer?
San Diego Padres
29 of 30
Key Free Agents
RP Tim Stauffer, SP Josh Johnson (option)
Shopping List
A Power Bat
After ranking dead last in batting average (.226), OPS (.634) and runs per game (3.30) this past season, offense is an obvious area of need for the San Diego Padres.
Catcher Yasmani Grandal led the team with 15 home runs, and he was one of just four players to reach double digits on the year.
Adding a power bat that can play corner outfield and first base seems like the most obvious move, as Carlos Quentin and Yonder Alonso can't seem to stay healthy and have produced little when they have been on the field.
Infield Depth
The Padres have some decisions to make on their infield this offseason.
Yangervis Solarte could be the everyday third baseman, or they could shift Jedd Gyorko back to the hot corner and give prospect Cory Spangenberg a look as the everyday second baseman, with Solarte assuming a utility role.
Then there's shortstop, where Everth Cabrera (.232 BA, .572 OPS) and Alexi Amarista (.239 BA, .600 OPS) were both terrible at the plate last season. It's unclear exactly how the Padres will approach things this offseason, but adding someone like Emilio Bonifacio to their bench and cutting ties with some of the dead weight could be the move.
San Francisco Giants
30 of 30
Key Free Agents
3B Pablo Sandoval, SP Jake Peavy, SP Ryan Vogelsong, LF Michael Morse, RP Sergio Romo
Shopping List
Third Base
After another monster postseason saw him bang out a playoff-record 26 hits, including a 12-for-28 performance in the World Series, Pablo Sandoval is now set to hit free agency.
The 28-year-old has not always played up to his potential, but he remains one of the best all-around third basemen in the league. It will likely cost at least the same five-year, $90 million deal the team gave Hunter Pence, if not more to sign him, but really, how can the Giants let him walk?
Starting Pitcher
If only the Giants could clone Madison Bumgarner, they'd have the best staff in baseball. Instead, they have what could potentially be a big mess behind their ace.
Tim Hudson fell off dramatically in the second half and will be 40 years old next season, Jake Peavy and Ryan Vogelsong are headed for free agency, Tim Lincecum is a shell of what he once was and Matt Cain is coming off of injuries to his right elbow and ankle.
Yusmeiro Petit figures to make the full-time move to the rotation in 2015, and as things stand, he could legitimately be the Giants' No. 2 starter. Drastic measures need to be taken to address this staff, or the team could be in for a big drop-off in 2015.
Left Field
Left field has been a consistent hole for the Giants over the past few seasons, and while Michael Morse temporarily fixed that problem in the first half this season, he is still better suited as a first baseman/designated hitter and is likely headed elsewhere this offseason.
Signing Yasmany Tomas would be a huge move, but it could be out of the realm of possibility with other needs to be addressed as well. A platoon of Gregor Blanco and Juan Perez, with Angel Pagan returning healthy to center field, would seem to be the incumbent plan at this point.
Unless otherwise noted, all standard and advances stats (including WAR) courtesy of Baseball-Reference.
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