Updated MLB Power Rankings: Post-Sandoval, Ramirez, Tomas Signings
We are just a month into the 2014-15 MLB offseason, but there have already been a number of significant signings around the league, as the free-agent market has developed quicker than in years past.
The position player market in particular has been busy, as Russell Martin, Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez, Yasmany Tomas, Adam LaRoche and Michael Cuddyer have all found new homes, while Victor Martinez re-signed with the Detroit Tigers.
The pitching side of things is still waiting on the first big chip to fall, likely Jon Lester, before the market really lines up for the rest of the available arms.
There is undoubtedly still a lot to be sorted out between now and Opening Day, but with so much action over the past few weeks, this seemed like an appropriate time for an updated look at the league in power-rankings form.
While the last version of MLB power rankings we put out was a wrap-up of the 2014 season and reflected how each team performed this past year, the rankings that follow turn an eye to the upcoming 2015 season.
As a result, teams are ranked as if the season were to start today with the rosters they currently have.
So while the Boston Red Sox made a pair of splash signings on the offensive side of things, they still didn't shoot up the rankings because of the significant questions in their starting rotation.
A team like the Chicago Cubs that is expected to make a significant addition or two was not ranked based on what the roster could potentially look like, but on what it looks like right now.
Expect plenty of shuffling in these rankings between now and Opening Day, as more free agents find new homes and more blockbuster trades are made, but here is a look at how all 30 teams stack up at this very moment.
30. Minnesota Twins (Previous: 27)
1 of 30
Areas of Need: SP, LF
For the second straight season, in 2014 the Minnesota Twins had the worst starters' ERA in all of baseball, checking in at a 5.06 clip. That was despite the addition of Phil Hughes, who finished the year 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA and finished seventh in AL Cy Young voting.
Starting pitching remains the biggest area of need, though the team does have an incumbent group of five veterans capable of filling out the staff if they can pitch up to their potential. Top prospect Alex Meyer was also added to the 40-man roster this month and could compete for a spot.
Offensively, the youth movement began last season with the arrival of Kennys Vargas, Danny Santana and Eduardo Escobar, and the best is yet to come in top prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. At this point, it's just a matter of waiting on the young talent to develop, so it could be a relatively quiet offseason.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Danny Santana
2B Brian Dozier
1B Joe Mauer
DH Kennys Vargas
3B Trevor Plouffe
RF Oswaldo Arcia
C Kurt Suzuki
SS Eduardo Escobar
LF Jordan Schafer
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Phil Hughes
SP Ricky Nolasco
SP Kyle Gibson
SP Tommy Milone
SP Mike Pelfrey
SU Casey Fien
SU Brian Duensing
CL Glen Perkins
29. Colorado Rockies (Previous: 28)
2 of 30
Areas of Need: SP, RP, C
The Colorado Rockies are reportedly willing to listen on Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez this offseason, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Pulling the trigger on moving one or both of them could completely change the outlook of the franchise.
As always, pitching is the big question mark for the Rockies, though there were some positives to take away from last year's staff. Colorado re-signed Jorge De La Rosa to lead the staff, while youngsters Tyler Matzek and Jordan Lyles both showed flashes.
The X-factor will be the continued development of top pitching prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler, as those two have the potential to lead the rotation long-term if they can prove up to the task of pitching in Coors Field. In the meantime, look for the Rockies to add a low-cost starter or two in free agency.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Charlie Blackmon
3B Nolan Arenado
LF Carlos Gonzalez
SS Troy Tulowitzki
1B Justin Morneau
RF Corey Dickerson
C Wilin Rosario
2B DJ LeMahieu
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Jorge De La Rosa
SP Tyler Matzek
SP Jordan Lyles
SP Jhoulys Chacin
SP Eddie Butler
SU Rex Brothers
SU Adam Ottavino
CL LaTroy Hawkins
28. Philadelphia Phillies (Previous: 25)
3 of 30
Areas of Need: OF, SP, Youth
The Philadelphia Phillies are willing to listen to trade offers on anyone including Cole Hamels this offseason, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. However, saying that and doing it are two very different things, and it remains to be seen how serious they actually are.
If and when Hamels is moved will likely be determined by how the free-agent market for top starters Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields plays out. Hamels could potentially bring a huge return, though, and bring some much-needed youth to the franchise.
The team received a gift of sorts when A.J. Burnett turned down his end of a $12.75 million player option, and the Phillies could use that money to make a strong push for a slugger. They had been linked to Yasmany Tomas all offseason and were viewed as the front-runners in the early going, but Tomas signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Ben Revere
SS Jimmy Rollins
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
RF Marlon Byrd
LF Domonic Brown
C Carlos Ruiz
3B Maikel Franco
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Cole Hamels
SP Cliff Lee
SP Jerome Williams
SP David Buchanan
SP Jonathan Pettibone
SU Jake Diekman
SU Ken Giles
CL Jonathan Papelbon
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27. San Diego Padres (Previous: 20)
4 of 30
Areas of Need: Offense
One way or another, the San Diego Padres have to find a way to add some punch to their offensive attack this offseason, after ranking dead last in team batting average (.226), OPS (.634) and runs per game (3.30).
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the team is willing to listen to offers for its top three starting pitchers, Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy, in an effort to improve said offense.
The Padres had been linked to Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas and Pablo Sandoval before they signed with Arizona and Boston respectively, as well as Matt Kemp, so if nothing else it appears they are willing to spend some money this winter.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
SS Everth Cabrera
3B Yangervis Solarte
2B Jedd Gyorko
1B Yasmani Grandal
RF Seth Smith
LF Carlos Quentin
C Rene Rivera
CF Will Venable
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Tyson Ross
SP Andrew Cashner
SP Ian Kennedy
SP Odrisamer Despaigne
SP Jesse Hahn
SU Dale Thayer
SU Kevin Quackenbush
CL Joaquin Benoit
26. Texas Rangers (Previous: 29)
5 of 30
Areas of Need: SP, LF
Considering how poorly the 2014 season went, the Texas Rangers are not in as bad a shape as some might think. A lot will hinge on whether guys like Prince Fielder, Shin-Soo Choo, Derek Holland and others who missed significant time this past season can stay healthy.
The one-two punch of Yu Darvish and Holland should be as good as any atop the rotation, but the team has a clear need for a proven No. 3 starter to slot ahead of some of its younger arms expected to fill out the rotation.
Offensively, full seasons from Fielder and Choo should go a long way, but there is a hole to fill in left field following the departure of Alex Rios. Adding another impact bat there could make the offense a plus backing a so-so pitching staff.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
RF Shin-Soo Choo
SS Elvis Andrus
1B Prince Fielder
3B Adrian Beltre
CF Leonys Martin
DH Mitch Moreland
LF Jake Smolinski
C Robinson Chirinos
2B Rougned Odor
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Yu Darvish
SP Derek Holland
SP Nick Tepesch
SP Nick Martinez
SP Lisalverto Bonilla
SU Robbie Ross
SU Shawn Tolleson
CL Neftali Feliz
25. Houston Astros (Previous: 24)
6 of 30
Areas of Need: 3B, SS, RP
A 92-loss season by the Houston Astros in 2014 may not look great on the surface, but that represented a 19-win improvement over the previous season. There was no shortage of positive takeaways from what was another rebuilding year.
The left side of the infield is the only glaring weakness offensively. With top prospects Carlos Correa and Colin Moran expected to be the long-term answers at shortstop and third base, the team needs nothing more than a stopgap option at both positions.
The rotation benefited greatly from the out-of-nowhere emergence of Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh, and veteran Scott Feldman was solid when healthy. The continued development of prospects like Mike Foltynewicz, Mark Appel and Lance McCullers will be important, though.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
2B Jose Altuve
CF Dexter Fowler
RF George Springer
DH Chris Carter
C Jason Castro
3B Matt Dominguez
1B Jon Singleton
LF Jake Marisnick
SS Jonathan Villar
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Dallas Keuchel
SP Collin McHugh
SP Scott Feldman
SP Brett Oberholtzer
SP Mike Foltynewicz
SU Tony Sipp
SU Josh Fields
CL Chad Qualls
24. Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous: 30)
7 of 30
Areas of Need: 3B, RP
The Arizona Diamondbacks have begun their first offseason with the new front office duo of Dave Stewart and Tony La Russa at the helm. This could be a telling winter for the direction the franchise is headed as a result.
Their first notable addition came when they shipped a pair of prospects to the Tampa Bay Rays for right-hander Jeremy Hellickson. He joins an already crowded field of starting pitching candidates, as it appears the team has opted for a volume approach to improving a group that posted a 4.44 ERA last year.
Then news broke Wednesday night that the team had inked Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million deal, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. He worked out for them some at third base, so there's a chance he could be slotted there, though corner outfield still seems like the best fit.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF A.J. Pollock
SS Chris Owings
1B Paul Goldschmidt
C Miguel Montero
RF Mark Trumbo
LF Yasmany Tomas
2B Aaron Hill
3B Jake Lamb
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Wade Miley
SP Josh Collmenter
SP Jeremy Hellickson
SP Chase Anderson
SP Trevor Cahill
SU Oliver Perez
SU Brad Ziegler
CL Addison Reed
23. Tampa Bay Rays (Previous: 16)
8 of 30
Areas of Need: Power, C, RP
Even after the trade of David Price, the Tampa Bay Rays have one of the better starting rotations in the American League, with Alex Cobb set to step into the role of staff ace and Drew Smyly actually putting up better numbers than Price post-trade.
It's the offense that remains a question mark. Outside of Evan Longoria (22 HR, 91 RBI), no one on the team had more than 12 home runs or 69 RBI a year ago.
A healthy Wil Myers will give the Rays another legitimate power threat, but adding some pop at the DH spot with a mid-level signing could really help provide their pitching with the needed support. The catcher position could also be addressed following the release of veteran Jose Molina, though Ryan Hanigan is still in the fold.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Desmond Jennings
2B Ben Zobrist
3B Evan Longoria
1B James Loney
RF Wil Myers
LF Matt Joyce
SS Yunel Escobar
DH David DeJesus
C Ryan Hanigan
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Alex Cobb
SP Drew Smyly
SP Chris Archer
SP Jake Odorizzi
SP Alex Colome
SU Grant Balfour
SU Brad Boxberger
CL Jake McGee
22. Cincinnati Reds (Previous: 22)
9 of 30
Areas of Need: LF, RP
It's been a quiet offseason so far for a Cincinnati Reds team that generally flies under the radar in free agency. However, the Reds could make a splash on the trade market before the winter is over.
It's been clear for some time that at least one starting pitcher will be moved. Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon are all set to hit free agency after next season, and Tony Cingrani and Robert Stephenson are waiting in the wings to assume rotation spots.
The team is also reportedly willing to listen to offers for Jay Bruce, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The 27-year-old is due $24.5 million over the next two years, with a $13 million option for 2017. This team is still in win-now mode, given the construction of its roster, so chances are the Reds will be looking for big-league-ready talent in return.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Billy Hamilton
3B Todd Frazier
1B Joey Votto
C Devin Mesoraco
RF Jay Bruce
2B Brandon Phillips
LF Chris Heisey
SS Zack Cozart
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Johnny Cueto
SP Mat Latos
SP Homer Bailey
SP Mike Leake
SP Alfredo Simon
SU Manny Parra
SU Sam LeCure
CL Aroldis Chapman
21. Chicago Cubs (Previous: 21)
10 of 30
Areas of Need: SP, C
The Chicago Cubs already missed out on one of their top targets of the offseason when Russell Martin signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. That has led to some speculation that the team could target Miguel Montero on the trade market, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
However, the top priority this offseason remains addressing the starting rotation, in particular finding an ace-caliber arm to lead the Cubs' push back towards contention.
They have offered Jon Lester a six-year deal "north of $135 million," according to David Kaplan of CSN Chicago, and he remains their top target. They have also showed interest in Cole Hamels on the trade market, and he could be Plan B if Lester ends up elsewhere.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
LF Chris Coghlan
2B Javier Baez
1B Anthony Rizzo
SS Starlin Castro
RF Jorge Soler
3B Luis Valbuena
CF Arismendy Alcantara
C Welington Castillo
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Jake Arrieta
SP Kyle Hendricks
SP Travis Wood
SP Jacob Turner
SP Tsuyoshi Wada
SU Neil Ramirez
SU Pedro Strop
CL Hector Rondon
20. Atlanta Braves (Previous: 19)
11 of 30
Areas of Need: Bench Depth, Offense
The Atlanta Braves have already pulled off one blockbuster trade this offseason, shipping Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to the St. Louis Cardinals for right-hander Shelby Miller and prospect Tyrell Jenkins, and chances are they aren't finished dealing.
With outfielder Justin Upton also headed for free agency at the end of next season, and a thin market for right-handed power bats, there is a good chance he'll be moved at some point as well.
The Heyward trade likely means Evan Gattis will move to the outfield full-time, opening up catching duties for prospect Christian Bethancourt. Another prospect, speedster Jose Peraza, will likely step into the everyday second base job at some point in 2015.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
SS Andrelton Simmons
3B Chris Johnson
RF Justin Upton
1B Freddie Freeman
LF Evan Gattis
2B Phil Gosselin
C Christian Bethancourt
CF B.J. Upton
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Julio Teheran
SP Alex Wood
SP Shelby Miller
SP Mike Minor
SP David Hale
SU James Russell
SU Arodys Vizcaino
CL Craig Kimbrel
19. Chicago White Sox (Previous: 23)
12 of 30
Areas of Need: RP, SP, C
The Chicago White Sox have already made a pair of big free-agent additions this offseason, adding slugger Adam LaRoche to replace the departed Adam Dunn and lefty setup man Zach Duke to shore up the bullpen.
LaRoche gives the team a left-handed complement to Jose Abreu in the middle of the lineup, and the two-year, $25 million deal he signed was a fairly reasonable price to pay for his production.
Duke gives the team a solid veteran lefty to join young right-handers Jake Petricka and Zach Putnam at the back of the bullpen. The White Sox could still use a proven closer and another veteran arm or two to fill out the pen, though. Another reliable starter seems like a must as well.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Adam Eaton
SS Alexei Ramirez
1B Jose Abreu
DH Adam LaRoche
RF Avisail Garcia
3B Conor Gillaspie
LF Dayan Viciedo
C Tyler Flowers
2B Marcus Semien
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Chris Sale
SP Jose Quintana
SP Hector Noesi
SP John Danks
SP Chris Bassitt
SU Zach Duke
SU Jake Petricka
CL Zach Putnam
18. Boston Red Sox (Previous: 26)
13 of 30
Areas of Need: SP, RP, C
It's been a busy offseason for the Boston Red Sox already, as they added two of the top free-agent bats on the market in Pablo Sandoval (five years, $95 million) and Hanley Ramirez (four years, $88 million).
The offense looks strong, but the Red Sox will still need to sort out the outfield situation, and a trade of Yoenis Cespedes seems likely at this point. One way or another, Mookie Betts figures to see regular playing time, and veteran Shane Victorino is still in the mix too.
The starting rotation still needs to be addressed, though, and until it is they won't climb any higher in these rankings. Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly are the only proven starters in the mix right now, with a ton of young talent behind them depending on how many spots stay open.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Rusney Castillo
2B Dustin Pedroia
DH David Ortiz
LF Hanley Ramirez
3B Pablo Sandoval
RF Yoenis Cespedes
1B Mike Napoli
SS Xander Bogaerts
C Christian Vazquez
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Clay Buchholz
SP Joe Kelly
SP Allen Webster
SP Rubby De La Rosa
SP Brandon Workman
SU Edward Mujica
SU Junichi Tazawa
CL Koji Uehara
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous: 9)
14 of 30
Areas of Need: C, SP, RP
With Russell Martin bolting for Toronto and pitchers Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez likely headed elsewhere in free agency as well, the Pittsburgh Pirates will need to tap into their wealth of young talent if they hope to stay in contention.
They did bring back veteran A.J. Burnett after a one-year pit stop in Philadelphia, and the hope is that a return to Pittsburgh can help him rebound from a season that saw him go 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA.
First base still needs to be sorted out with Ike Davis traded and Gaby Sanchez best suited as a platoon player, though the team could opt to shift Pedro Alvarez over to open up third base for Josh Harrison. There is still plenty of talent on the roster, but as things stand a lot is riding on guys like Harrison, Jeff Locke and Vance Worley matching their 2014 production, and that could be asking too much.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
3B Josh Harrison
RF Travis Snider
CF Andrew McCutchen
2B Neil Walker
LF Starling Marte
1B Pedro Alvarez
SS Jordy Mercer
C Francisco Cervelli
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Gerrit Cole
SP A.J. Burnett
SP Jeff Locke
SP Vance Worley
SP Brandon Cumpton
SU Jared Hughes
SU Tony Watson
CL Mark Melancon
16. New York Yankees (Previous: 13)
15 of 30
Areas of Need: SS, SP, 3B, RP
Despite spending roughly half a billion dollars last offseason, the New York Yankees still missed the playoffs for the second straight year, their first two-year drought since 1992-93.
Early indications were that the team would not be spending big this winter, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. However, a more recent report from Jon Heyman of CBSSports indicated that the team could scrap that approach for a run at Max Scherzer.
Re-signing David Robertson or finding a replacement closer is on the to-do list, as moving Dellin Betances to the ninth inning would weaken the pen as a whole. Shortstop is also a clear need, unless the light-hitting Brendan Ryan is viewed as the answer.
There's a lot of work to be done this offseason, whether or not the Yankees opt to make a splash move, as their current roster is not that of a contender.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
LF Brett Gardner
3B Martin Prado
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
1B Mark Teixeira
C Brian McCann
RF Carlos Beltran
DH Alex Rodriguez
2B Rob Refsnyder
SS Brendan Ryan
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Masahiro Tanaka
SP Michael Pineda
SP CC Sabathia
SP Shane Greene
SP David Phelps
SU Justin Wilson
SU Shawn Kelley
CL Dellin Betances
15. New York Mets (Previous: 17)
16 of 30
Areas of Need: SS
The New York Mets already addressed their need for a right-handed run-producing outfielder when they signed Michael Cuddyer to a two-year, $21 million deal earlier this month.
That leaves the shortstop position as their biggest question mark. While Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores have both shown flashes over the past few years, adding a proven option to man that position could help in more ways than one.
With Matt Harvey returning from Tommy John surgery and an enviable amount of pitching depth top to bottom, the Mets have a chance to surprise in 2015. Their ability to contend will likely hinge on how quickly Harvey returns to ace form and whether or not Cuddyer and David Wright are able to stay healthy.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
LF Curtis Granderson
RF Michael Cuddyer
2B Daniel Murphy
3B David Wright
1B Lucas Duda
C Travis d'Arnaud
SS Wilmer Flores
CF Juan Lagares
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Matt Harvey
SP Jon Niese
SP Zack Wheeler
SP Jacob deGrom
SP Bartolo Colon
SU Josh Edgin
SU Jeurys Familia
CL Jenrry Mejia
14. San Francisco Giants (Previous: 1)
17 of 30
Areas of Need: 3B, SP, LF
The San Francisco Giants have their work cut out for them if they hope to defend their title in 2015, and not just because that happens to be an odd-numbered year.
With Pablo Sandoval officially moving on to Boston, there is a significant hole to fill at third base. Michael Morse is also gone, leaving the team without two of its top power bats from a year ago, and with two major areas that need to be addressed.
Then there is the starting rotation, where Madison Bumgarner is rock solid at the top, but the other four spots are filled with question marks. Tim Hudson will be 40, Yusmeiro Petit will be making the transition from the bullpen to the rotation and the status of both Matt Cain (returning from ankle and elbow surgery) and Tim Lincecum (4.76 ERA, 1.391 WHIP last three years) is up in the air.
Without a dominant rotation to rely on, and with two of their top bats no longer in the mix, it's hard to see the Giants repeating as things stand today.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Angel Pagan
2B Joe Panik
C Buster Posey
1B Brandon Belt
RF Hunter Pence
LF Gregor Blanco
SS Brandon Crawford
3B Joaquin Arias
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Madison Bumgarner
SP Tim Hudson
SP Matt Cain
SP Yusmeiro Petit
SP Tim Lincecum
SU Jean Machi
SU Jeremy Affeldt
CL Santiago Casilla
13. Miami Marlins (Previous: 18)
18 of 30
Areas of Need: 2B, 1B, Bench
The Miami Marlins have yet to make any notable additions this offseason, unless you consider signing utility infielder Reid Brignac to a minor league deal to be "notable."
However, they did hand over a franchise-altering extension to slugger Giancarlo Stanton, locking him up with a record 13-year, $325 million deal. With that the team appears committed to building a winner around its young star.
The Marlins have some great complementary pieces already in place, and if Jose Fernandez can return strong from Tommy John surgery, their rotation could be formidable. Upgrading at first base appears to be next on their to-do list, with Chris Davis and Evan Gattis among the players they have checked in on, according to Barry Jackson and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
LF Christian Yelich
CF Marcell Ozuna
RF Giancarlo Stanton
3B Casey McGehee
1B Garrett Jones
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
2B Derek Dietrich
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Henderson Alvarez
SP Jarred Cosart
SP Nathan Eovaldi
SP Tom Koehler
SP Andrew Heaney
SU Mike Dunn
SU A.J. Ramos
CL Steve Cishek
12. Cleveland Indians (Previous: 12)
19 of 30
Areas of Need: SP, 3B, RP
After a surprise run to the playoffs in 2013 and an 85-win season this past year, the Cleveland Indians figure to be in the mix for a wild-card spot once again this coming season.
The second-half performance of Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar was certainly promising, but adding a proven veteran starter to fill the No. 2 spot in the rotation behind Cy Young winner Corey Kluber could help provide some stability.
Offensively, top prospect Francisco Lindor is expected to take over shortstop duties at some point, which could free up Jose Ramirez to replace or at least platoon with Lonnie Chisenhall at third base. A high-profile addition is unlikely, but adding someone like Francisco Liriano or Ervin Santana to the mix could be enough to get Cleveland back to the playoffs.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Michael Bourn
DH Nick Swisher
LF Michael Brantley
1B Carlos Santana
C Yan Gomes
2B Jason Kipnis
RF David Murphy
SS Jose Ramirez
3B Lonnie Chisenhall
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Corey Kluber
SP Carlos Carrasco
SP Danny Salazar
SP T.J. House
SP Trevor Bauer
SU Scott Atchison
SU Bryan Shaw
CL Cody Allen
11. Oakland Athletics (Previous: 10)
20 of 30
Areas of Need: SS, SP, 2B
After a red-hot start to the season, the Oakland A's were a different team in the second half. Their offense completely stalled, and their pitching staff was unable to pick up the slack even with the acquisition of Jon Lester.
With incumbent shortstop Jed Lowrie hitting the free-agent market and second base a longstanding hole, the middle infield situation will almost certainly need to be addressed this offseason.
The A's have already found a way to add some extra offensive punch, though, signing Billy Butler to a three-year, $30 million deal. The possibility remains that they could trade upcoming free-agent pitchers Jeff Samardzija or Scott Kazmir, but that would likely come later in the offseason when the free-agent chips have fallen.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Coco Crisp
1B Stephen Vogt
3B Josh Donaldson
LF Brandon Moss
DH Billy Butler
RF Josh Reddick
C Derek Norris
2B Eric Sogard
SS Andy Parrino
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Sonny Gray
SP Scott Kazmir
SP Jeff Samardzija
SP Jesse Chavez
SP Drew Pomeranz
SU Fernando Abad
SU Ryan Cook
CL Sean Doolittle
10. Toronto Blue Jays (Previous: 15)
21 of 30
Areas of Need: 2B, LF, RP
The AL East appears to be ripe for the taking this coming season, especially if the Baltimore Orioles are unable to re-sign Nelson Cruz, and the Toronto Blue Jays are ready to strike.
Toronto already added Russell Martin on a five-year, $82 million deal. His contributions will stretch well beyond his above-average offense, as his receiving skills should make the entire pitching staff better.
Left field is still a hole if Melky Cabrera is not re-signed, and second base has been a hole since Aaron Hill left several years ago, so look for those two areas to be addressed. The team could also look to add a front-line starter and some bullpen help, depending on just how aggressive it decides to be.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
SS Jose Reyes
RF Jose Bautista
1B Edwin Encarnacion
DH Dioner Navarro
C Russell Martin
3B Brett Lawrie
LF Andy Dirks
2B Maicer Izturis
CF Dalton Pompey
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Mark Buehrle
SP R.A. Dickey
SP Marcus Stroman
SP Drew Hutchison
SP J.A. Happ
SU Steve Delabar
SU Brett Cecil
CL Aaron Sanchez
9. Milwaukee Brewers (Previous: 14)
22 of 30
Areas of Need: RP, 1B, Bench
Despite their late-season collapse, the Milwaukee Brewers still look to be in fairly good shape heading into the 2015 season. They should have a good chance to contend in the NL Central once again this coming year.
Francisco Rodriguez, Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny were their only notable free agents, so the bullpen will definitely need to be addressed. However, with Jonathan Broxton in the mix, they don't necessarily need to target a closer if K-Rod is not retained.
First base was their other glaring area of need, and they addressed that by trading right-hander Marco Estrada to the Toronto Blue Jays for Adam Lind. They will still need to find a platoon partner for Lind, though, as he hit just .061/.162/.061 against southpaws last year.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Carlos Gomez
2B Scooter Gennett
C Jonathan Lucroy
3B Aramis Ramirez
1B Adam Lind
RF Ryan Braun
LF Khris Davis
SS Jean Segura
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Yovani Gallardo
SP Matt Garza
SP Kyle Lohse
SP Wily Peralta
SP Mike Fiers
SU Will Smith
SU Jim Henderson
CL Jonathan Broxton
8. Kansas City Royals (Previous: 2)
23 of 30
Areas of Need: SP, RF, RP
Losing ace James Shields is undoubtedly a blow, and longtime DH Billy Butler has also moved on after his option was declined, but the Kansas City Royals are still in a position to contend in 2015.
Finding another ace-caliber arm to replace Shields would be nice, but a more likely scenario would be to sign a second-tier arm like Ervin Santana and count on young starters Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy to take another step forward and lead the staff.
Right fielder Nori Aoki is the other notable departure. While the team could opt to slide Lorenzo Cain over to right field and insert Jarrod Dyson into the lineup every day in center field, it would probably be best suited adding another outfielder to the mix.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
SS Alcides Escobar
LF Alex Gordon
RF Lorenzo Cain
1B Eric Hosmer
C Salvador Perez
3B Mike Moustakas
2B Omar Infante
DH Moises Sierra
CF Jarrod Dyson
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Yordano Ventura
SP Jason Vargas
SP Jeremy Guthrie
SP Danny Duffy
SP Aaron Brooks
SU Kelvin Herrera
SU Wade Davis
CL Greg Holland
7. Seattle Mariners (Previous: 11)
24 of 30
Areas of Need: RH power hitter, SP, RP
The Seattle Mariners were in contention for a playoff spot right down to the final day of the season last year, eventually coming up a game short of a wild-card spot. Now, with most of their key pieces returning, they could be one or two additions away from getting over that hump.
Finding a right-handed power hitter to slot between Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager, the latter of whom recently received a seven-year, $100 million extension, remains their most glaring need.
In fact, any sort of right-handed production would be nice, after the team's righties posted a .604 OPS (30th in MLB) with 42 home runs (28th) and 180 RBI (30th) this past season. Guys like Nelson Cruz, Justin Upton and Matt Kemp remain atop their wish list.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Austin Jackson
LF Dustin Ackley
2B Robinson Cano
3B Kyle Seager
C Mike Zunino
1B Logan Morrison
RF Michael Saunders
DH Jesus Montero
SS Brad Miller
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Felix Hernandez
SP Hisashi Iwakuma
SP James Paxton
SP Taijuan Walker
SP Roenis Elias
SU Danny Farquhar
SU Yoervis Medina
CL Fernando Rodney
6. Baltimore Orioles (Previous: 4)
25 of 30
Areas of Need: DH, RF, Bench
At this point, the biggest priority for the Baltimore Orioles is to retain their free-agent talent, specifically Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis.
Should Cruz wind up signing elsewhere, the offense would be left to rely on a bounce-back season from Chris Davis, a repeat performance from Steve Pearce and a strong return from injury from Manny Machado and Matt Wieters.
The starting rotation returns intact and could be even better with a full season of Kevin Gausman in place of Ubaldo Jimenez. The Orioles would no doubt love to move Jimenez to a team looking to buy low, but that will likely mean eating a good deal of the $38.75 million he is owed over the next three years.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
LF Alejandro De Aza
3B Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
1B Chris Davis
RF Steve Pearce
C Matt Wieters
SS J.J. Hardy
2B Jonathan Schoop
DH Ryan Flaherty
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Chris Tillman
SP Wei-Yin Chen
SP Bud Norris
SP Miguel Gonzalez
SP Kevin Gausman
SU Brian Matusz
SU Darren O'Day
CL Zach Britton
5. Detroit Tigers (Previous: 8)
26 of 30
Areas of Need: RP, OF
The Detroit Tigers moved quickly to re-sign MVP candidate Victor Martinez, giving the 35-year-old a four-year, $68 million deal. With him back between Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez in the lineup, the offense should again be a weapon.
Rookie outfielders Tyler Collins and Steven Moya figure to play a role with the departure of veteran Torii Hunter, and both guys are capable of making an impact with the bat. The No. 5 starter spot is also up for grabs with Max Scherzer hitting free agency, with Kyle Lobstein likely to get the first crack at the job.
This still looks like the most talented team in the AL Central top to bottom, but the Tigers will have their work cut out for them if they hope to capture a fifth straight division title. Fixing the bullpen could go a long way in solidifying that spot, as the relief corps remains an issue.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Rajai Davis
2B Ian Kinsler
1B Miguel Cabrera
DH Victor Martinez
RF J.D. Martinez
3B Nick Castellanos
LF Tyler Collins
C Alex Avila
SS Jose Iglesias
CF Anthony Gose
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP David Price
SP Anibal Sanchez
SP Justin Verlander
SP Rick Porcello
SP Kyle Lobstein
SU Al Alburquerque
SU Joakim Soria
CL Joe Nathan
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 5)
27 of 30
Areas of Need: RP, SS, SP
As far as spending goes, the Los Angeles Dodgers have become the New York Yankees of the National League, so don't expect them to simply sit back and watch the teams around them get better this offseason.
With Hanley Ramirez departing for Boston, there is a clear hole at shortstop. A contingency plan for 35-year-old Juan Uribe at third base wouldn't be a bad idea either.
The No. 5 starter spot is up for grabs, while the bullpen figures to see at least a few new faces added to the mix after its postseason meltdown. That's a lot of areas to address, but this still figures to be the team to beat in the NL West race.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
2B Dee Gordon
LF Carl Crawford
CF Yasiel Puig
1B Adrian Gonzalez
RF Matt Kemp
3B Juan Uribe
C A.J. Ellis
SS Erisbel Arruebarrena
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Clayton Kershaw
SP Zack Greinke
SP Hyun-Jin Ryu
SP Dan Haren
SP Carlos Frias
SU Pedro Baez
SU J.P. Howell
CL Kenley Jansen
3. St. Louis Cardinals (Previous: 3)
28 of 30
Areas of Need: Bench, SP
The St. Louis Cardinals filled their two biggest offseason needs in one blockbuster trade with the Atlanta Braves, picking up Jason Heyward to man right field and Jordan Walden to replace Pat Neshek in the eighth-inning role.
However, in moving Shelby Miller they did create some question as to who will fill the fifth spot in the rotation. The team will meet with Jon Lester next week, and Max Scherzer is a St. Louis native, so there is at least a possibility it could make a splash signing to fill that spot.
On a smaller scale, the Cardinals could also stand to add some depth to the bench, with a right-handed-hitting platoon partner for Matt Adams (.190/.231/.298 vs. LHP) the most likely spot to address.
Big picture, this team looks ready to make another run at the NL Central title right now, but it could still improve before the offseason is over.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
RF Jason Heyward
2B Kolten Wong
3B Matt Carpenter
LF Matt Holliday
1B Matt Adams
C Yadier Molina
SS Jhonny Peralta
CF Jon Jay
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Adam Wainwright
SP Lance Lynn
SP John Lackey
SP Michael Wacha
SP Carlos Martinez
SU Seth Maness
SU Jordan Walden
CL Trevor Rosenthal
2. Los Angeles Angels (Previous: 6)
29 of 30
Areas of Need: LH RP, SP
Despite the fact that they return essentially the exact same roster from last season, when they won an MLB-best 98 games, chances are the Los Angeles Angels won't simply stand pat this offseason.
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, there could be a new look to the infield by the time Opening Day rolls around.
"The team is likely to trade either second baseman Howie Kendrick or third baseman David Freese to address other needs, according to major-league sources," Rosenthal wrote back in October.
Those other needs include finding a reliable left-handed reliever and adding starting pitching depth to a rotation that could be without Garrett Richards to open the season as he continues to recover from knee surgery.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
RF Kole Calhoun
CF Mike Trout
1B Albert Pujols
LF Josh Hamilton
2B Howie Kendrick
3B David Freese
SS Erick Aybar
DH C.J. Cron
C Chris Iannetta
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Jered Weaver
SP Matt Shoemaker
SP Hector Santiago
SP C.J. Wilson
SP Nick Tropeano
SU Kevin Jepsen
SU Joe Smith
CL Huston Street
1. Washington Nationals (Previous: 7)
30 of 30
Areas of Need: 2B, RP
There may be no team in baseball with a more complete roster as things stand today than the Washington Nationals, but they are not without a laundry list of things to do this offseason.
As far as areas of need to be addressed, they will be looking for an everyday second baseman. Asdrubal Cabrera claimed the job after coming over at the trade deadline, and unless the team feels like giving Danny Espinosa another try, it will need to make a move again.
The biggest storyline to follow will be the future of the starting rotation, as Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister are both free agents at the end of the 2015 season and Stephen Strasburg hits the open market the following offseason. Ian Desmond is also entering a contract year, so more than one big-money extension could be handed out before spring training rolls around.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Nov. 26)
CF Denard Span
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Jayson Werth
LF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
2B Danny Espinosa
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Nov. 26)
SP Jordan Zimmermann
SP Stephen Strasburg
SP Doug Fister
SP Gio Gonzalez
SP Tanner Roark
SU Matt Thornton
SU Tyler Clippard
CL Drew Storen
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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