One Realistic Target to Fix All 30 MLB Teams' Biggest Remaining Issue
With the winter meetings set to kick off this coming Sunday and a myriad of action already taking place this offseason, the MLB offseason is undoubtedly in full swing here at the beginning of December.
A number of teams have already made significant additions to better position themselves for the season ahead, but all 30 clubs still have at least one glaring hole to fill between now and the start of spring training.
So with that in mind, what follows is a look at one realistic target for each team to fix its biggest remaining issue.
Baltimore Orioles: RF Nick Markakis
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Losing Nelson Cruz is undoubtedly a big blow to the Baltimore Orioles offensive attack, and it makes retaining fellow free agent Nick Markakis that much more important.
The team has some flexibility as far as replacing Cruz goes, as either Steve Pearce or Chris Davis will man first base, with the other one available for DH duties. However, there is no real in-house replacement for Markakis, so the team will need to either come to terms on an extension with its longest-tenured player or search the free-agent market for a suitable replacement.
Markakis is no longer a 100-RBI threat, but his solid on-base skills (.342 OBP in 2014) have made him a weapon atop the lineup, and he remains a fan favorite.
Should Markakis join Cruz in finding a new team this offseason, Nori Aoki could make sense as a replacement both in right field and atop the lineup.
Boston Red Sox: SP Jon Lester
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It's already been a busy offseason for the Boston Red Sox, with the free-agent signings of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.
However, their biggest area of need remains, as the starting rotation has yet to be addressed.
Clay Buchholz (28 GS, 8-11, 5.34 ERA, 4.01 FIP) and Joe Kelly (17 GS, 6-4, 4.20 ERA, 4.37 FIP) are the only two starters currently on the roster with significant big league experience, and both are best suited as middle-of-the-rotation arms at this point.
As they look to return to contention in 2015, the team will almost certainly add at least a couple of starters before the offseason is over, and a reunion with Jon Lester remains the preferred course of action.
The team has reportedly offered the left-hander a six-year, $130 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, with the Chicago Cubs currently making the biggest offer at $138 million over six years.
New York Yankees: SS Asdrubal Cabrera
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There are a number of areas the New York Yankees could choose to address before the offseason is over, but their most glaring need remains finding a replacement for the retired Derek Jeter at shortstop.
As far as in-house options are concerned, slick-fielding Brendan Ryan and prospect Jose Pirela are the only real choices, and relying on either guy to be the everyday option would likely be asking too much.
With Hanley Ramirez no longer available, the free-agent market is essentially down to a trio of veterans in Asdrubal Cabrera, Jed Lowrie and Stephen Drew.
Still just 29 years old, Cabrera is probably the most attractive option of the bunch. He hit .241/.307/.387 with 31 doubles and 14 home runs last year and has topped 30 doubles and 14 home runs in each of the past four seasons.
The trade market remains an option as well, with Elvis Andrus one potential target, but a three or four-year deal for Cabrera looks like the best choice.
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Tampa Bay Rays: 1B/OF Michael Morse
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The Tampa Bay Rays have worked to trim payroll in the early parts of the offseason, trading Jeremy Hellickson, Joel Peralta and Sean Rodriguez to save the team a projected $8.4 million for the upcoming season.
With a rock-solid rotation and decent bullpen, that money will likely go toward improving an offensive attack that was sorely lacking in the power department a year ago.
Evan Longoria (22 HR, 91 RBI) was the only player with more than 12 home runs and 69 RBI in 2014, and while a healthy Wil Myers would give the Rays a second legitimate power threat, they could still stand to add some thump.
The designated hitter spot produced only a .229/.315/.389 line with 16 home runs and 66 RBI this past season, with David DeJesus and Matt Joyce seeing the bulk of the at-bats.
As far as mid-level options that could fall in their price range, Michael Morse looks like a good fit. He provides big-time power and also gives the team some versatility with his ability to play first base and left field.
Toronto Blue Jays: RP David Robertson
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The Toronto Blue Jays have already made a pair of significant additions this offseason, signing Russell Martin in free agency and pulling off a blockbuster deal to land third baseman Josh Donaldson from the Oakland A's.
While those moves will certainly help put them in a good position to contend in 2015, the bullpen still needs to be addressed before the offseason comes to a close.
The team's relief corps combined to rank 25th in the league this past season with a 4.09 ERA, and with closer Casey Janssen hitting free agency, at the very least, the Blue Jays have a gap to fill in the ninth-inning role. Brett Cecil (66 G, 2.70 ERA), Aaron Loup (71 G, 3.15 ERA) and rookie Aaron Sanchez (24 G, 1.09 ERA) are back after solid seasons a year ago.
However, if the Blue Jays were to stand pat, they would be relying heavily on a bounce-back season from Steve Delabar and banking on either Cecil or Sanchez to step into the closer's role.
For a team that appears to be all-in on this offseason, splurging on the top closer on the market, David Robertson, to shore up the bullpen could be another big step toward a run at the AL East title.
Chicago White Sox: RP Sergio Romo
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After ranking 28th in the league with a 4.38 bullpen ERA last season, the Chicago White Sox wasted little time adding to the relief corps this offseason.
They signed left-hander Zach Duke to a three-year, $15 million deal last month, on the heels of a terrific season with the Milwaukee Brewers in which he posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.125 WHIP and 11.4 K/9 over 74 appearances.
Duke joins incumbents Jake Petricka (67 G, 2.96 ERA) and Zach Putnam (49 G, 1.98 ERA) to form a solid trio of setup arms, but the team could still use a proven closer to anchor the bullpen.
With other areas of need to address and the team still on the rise, it'd probably be best suited going after one of the mid-level options that include Sergio Romo, Casey Janssen, Jason Grilli and Rafael Soriano. Romo was removed from the closer's job in San Francisco midway through last season, but he rebounded nicely to post a 0.93 ERA over his final 23 appearances of the season as a setup man.
Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a three-year, $21 million deal for Romo, and that could wind up being a bargain if the 31-year-old returns to form.
Cleveland Indians: SP Francisco Liriano
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Despite losing Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir in free agency last offseason, the Cleveland Indians still boasted a formidable starting rotation this past year, especially in the second half.
Corey Kluber emerged as one of the game's best on his way to AL Cy Young honors, while Carlos Carrasco (6-4, 1.72 ERA), Danny Salazar (5-4, 3.50 ERA) and T.J. House (4-1, 2.53 ERA) all pitched well after the All-Star break.
That gives the team a solid rotation to build around, but relying on Carrasco or Salazar to be the No. 2 starter for an entire season could be asking too much. Instead, the team would be wise to target one of the mid-level veteran starters on the free agent market, a group that includes Francisco Liriano, Ervin Santana and Edinson Volquez.
Liriano has plenty of experience pitching in the AL Central, and he has the highest upside of that group, though he does come with an injury history.
He would also give the team a second left-hander in the rotation along with House.
Detroit Tigers: RP Andrew Miller
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With Victor Martinez re-signed on a four-year deal, there is no question the No. 1 priority for the Detroit Tigers the rest of the offseason will be upgrading the bullpen.
A full season of deadline acquisition Joakim Soria and a healthy Bruce Rondon should help, but this is a team that ranked 27th in the league with a 4.29 bullpen ERA last season before watching its relief corps implode in the postseason.
With Soria, Rondon, Al Albuquerque and Joe Nathan all returning as right-handed options, the team will no doubt be targeting at least one left-hander.
The cream of the free-agent crop there is former Tigers first-round pick Andrew Miller, who had a 2.02 ERA, 0.802 WHIP and 103 strikeouts in 62.1 innings over 73 appearances last season.
There has been some speculation that the Tigers are out on Miller, due to the fact that they don't want to spend big on one relief arm when they need to add a handful. The 29-year-old is a potential game-changer, though, and he could give the team a contingency plan at closer with Soria and Nathan both set to hit free agency next offseason.
Kansas City Royals: SP Ervin Santana
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With James Shields likely headed for greener pastures in free agency, the Kansas City Royals will be in the market to add at least one quality starter this offseason.
"We've got to do this thing with starting pitching,” general manager Dayton Moore told Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star. "Quality starting pitching, it puts the game in a rhythm and it provides you stability. That’s the way we need to do it."
The emergence of Yordano Ventura gives the Royals an ace in the making, and the trio of Danny Duffy, Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie behind him is solid. Adding another mid-level arm to that group could be enough to keep the staff from regressing minus Shields.
According to another piece from McCullough, one pitcher the team is considering is Ervin Santana, who went 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA and 1.142 WHIP while pitching for the team in 2013.
The 31-year-old is looking for a five-year deal, per a tweet from Buster Olney of ESPN, but he may have to settle for something like a four-year, $60 million deal in the end.
Minnesota Twins: SP Justin Masterson
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Last offseason, the Minnesota Twins spent big, at least by their standards, in an effort to improve a starting rotation that ranked last in the majors with a 5.26 ERA.
Phil Hughes turned out to be one of the better signings of the winter on a three-year, $24 million deal, but the rotation as a whole showed negligible improvement on its way to a 5.06 ERA as a group.
The Twins currently have a veteran rotation of Hughes, Ricky Nolasco, Kyle Gibson, Tommy Milone and Mike Pelfrey penciled in as the five-man staff if the season were to start today. However, they are still in the mix on a number of mid-level starters and bounce-back candidates, including right-hander Justin Masterson.
The team is expected to meet with his agent at the upcoming winter meetings, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN.
Masterson was the ace of the Cleveland Indians staff in 2013 when he went 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 193 innings of work. His ERA skyrocketed to 5.88 this past season, but a 4.50 FIP and a solid track record make him one of the more intriguing buy-low options on the market.
Houston Astros: RP Sergio Romo
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Highlighted earlier as a potential target for the White Sox, right-hander Sergio Romo could also be a fit to help the Houston Astros fill out their bullpen for the upcoming season.
The Astros finally appear ready to spend after playing with a bare-bones payroll the past several seasons in the midst of a wide-scale rebuild.
The team has shown interest in the top closer on the market, David Robertson, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post. However, his price tag is expected to be in the four-year, $50 million neighborhood, and he could prefer to play for an immediate contender.
With that in mind, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports speculates on Twitter that the team could turn its attention to Romo if it doesn't end up landing Robertson.
The 31-year-old had 38 saves with a 2.54 ERA in 2013, but he lost his closer's job to Santiago Casilla this past year after some midseason struggles. As mentioned before, though, he rebounded strong with a 0.93 ERA over his final 23 appearances of the season.
Los Angeles Angels: RP Tom Gorzelanny
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The Los Angeles Angels entered the offseason with as complete a roster as any team in baseball, and after adding some starting pitching depth last month, their only clear remaining need is to add a proven left-handed reliever.
With Miller thought to be out of their price range and Duke already signing a three-year deal with the White Sox, their options are somewhat limited.
Tom Gorzelanny, Craig Breslow, Joe Beimel, Phil Coke, Scott Downs, Joe Thatcher, Wesley Wright and Josh Outman make up the best of what remains on the free-agent market.
Gorzelanny was the best of the bunch last year, posting a 0.86 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 23 appearances. He was sidelined until mid-June while recovering from shoulder surgery but returned strong and stayed healthy once he finally got going.
Oakland Athletics: SS Alexei Ramirez
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It's hard to put your finger on exactly what the Oakland Athletics are doing right now.
Are they rebuilding or just retooling the roster with an eye on contending once again in 2015?
One thing is for sure: The team has to find a way to upgrade its middle infield options, as it would feature a double-play combination of Eric Sogard and Andy Parrino if the season were to start today.
There has been some speculation of a Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox trade, and shortstop Alexei Ramirez has been named as one piece that could potentially be heading to Oakland, according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Ramirez is a highly coveted trade chip this offseason in what is a thin free-agent market at the shortstop position.
The 33-year-old hit .273/.305/.408 with 35 doubles and 15 home runs to win Silver Slugger honors last season, and he is due just $20 million over the next two seasons.
Seattle Mariners: RF Nori Aoki
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The Seattle Mariners finally added the right-handed power bat they were searching for when they signed Nelson Cruz to a four-year deal last week, but they still have a hole to fill in right field.
Names like Matt Kemp and Justin Upton have been thrown around as potential trade targets to fill the position, but targeting a mid-level free agent like Nori Aoki would allow the Mariners to keep all of their prospect pieces (Upton) and avoid adding a ton of payroll (Kemp).
Aoki hit .285/.349/.360 last season for the Royals, and he would be a nice fit in the No. 2 spot in the lineup, allowing the team to move the inconsistent Dustin Ackley down in the order.
He would also provide the team with another option in the leadoff spot should Austin Jackson struggle to keep his strikeouts down, something that has been an issue for him in the past.
Charlie Wilmoth of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a two-year, $16 million deal for Aoki.
Texas Rangers: Of Michael Saunders
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Veteran Torii Hunter appeared to be the Texas Rangers' top target to fill the outfield spot vacated by Alex Rios. However, they will have to turn their attention elsewhere after the 39-year-old signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Twins, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.
There are other free-agent options the Rangers could explore, including Markakis and Aoki, but the trade market may be a better option.
One player they showed "mild interest" in, according to a tweet from Stark, is Mariners outfielder Michael Saunders. The 28-year-old hit .273/.341/.450 with 22 extra-base hits in 231 at-bats last season, and he is someone who could benefit greatly from a move out of spacious Safeco Field to hitter-friendly Arlington.
Saunders has a .646 career OPS at Safeco, compared to a .720 mark on the road, and he has hit .280/.343/.452 with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBI in 30 career games in Texas.
Atlanta Braves: SP Taijuan Walker
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The Atlanta Braves already pulled the trigger on one big trade this offseason, shipping Jason Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals for young right-hander Shelby Miller, and they may not be done dealing.
At this point, the team appears to be trapped in that dangerous gray area between retooling and rebuilding, so it's unclear just how active they will be in free agency.
Instead, the Braves' top priority right now may be getting the best possible return for upcoming free agent Justin Upton on the trade market.
Despite signing Nelson Cruz to a four-year deal, the Mariners are still in the market for a right fielder, according to Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune. The best-case scenario for the Braves would be for the Mariners to go all-in on acquiring Upton.
As Andy Martino of the New York Daily News points out, the Braves would almost certainly ask for right-hander Taijuan Walker, and that would be a huge score for the expiring contract of Upton.
Now, do I realistically think the Mariners are going to give up Walker for Upton? No, but this is about who the Braves' top target is, and it's hard to see anyone topping Walker on their wish list of players to acquire in return for Upton.
Miami Marlins: 1B Brandon Moss
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After locking up slugger Giancarlo Stanton with a massive 13-year extension last month, the Miami Marlins are now looking for a left-handed run producer to slot behind him in the lineup.
The team is exploring the trade market for a potential upgrade at first base over incumbent Garrett Jones, according to Barry Jackson and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Jones hit .246/.309/.411 with 33 doubles, 15 home runs and 53 RBI this past season after signing a two-year, $7.75 million deal in free agency.
Joe Frisaro of MLB.com named Brandon Moss of the Athletics as a potential target, and he could be a great fit.
Even with a second-half drop-off, Moss still posted a .772 OPS with 25 home runs and 81 RBI this past season. He is projected to earn $7.1 million in arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors, so it may not take all that much to acquire the 31-year-old if the A's are looking to unload that salary.
New York Mets: SS Starlin Castro
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The New York Mets are still in the hunt for a long-term answer at shortstop, and the Chicago Cubs could be a potential fit as a trade partner, depending on whether the team lands Jon Lester or one of the market's other top arms.
If the team misses out on finding a staff ace, the Mets are one team with an abundance of pitching, both at the major league level and in the form of high-end prospects.
Trading a proven commodity like Starlin Castro would not come cheap, but the Mets have the pieces to make the Cubs an offer they would have to seriously consider, starting with top prospect Noah Syndergaard.
A package of Syndergaard and another top prospect, with someone like Jon Niese or Dillon Gee added to give the team a big league-ready arm to help in 2015, could be enough for the Cubs to pull the trigger.
It all comes down to how much the Mets are willing to give up to find a shortstop, of if they are in fact willing to open the season with some combination of Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores manning the position.
Philadelphia Phillies: CF Joc Pederson
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The only thing the Philadelphia Phillies should be targeting this offseason is prospects as they work to move whatever veteran pieces they can manage to unload.
Their most valuable trade chip is undoubtedly ace Cole Hamels, and the market for him figures to heat up once free agents make a decision on where to sign.
According to a tweet from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Phillies are "doing intensive homework" on the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system right now in preparation for the team to make a run at acquiring Hamels.
Outfielder Joc Pederson should be atop the list of prospects the Phillies are targeting, and he could be a nice piece of the rebuilding puzzle if the team could find a way to land him.
The 22-year-old hit .303/.435/.582 with 33 home runs, 30 steals and 100 walks in 553 plate appearances for Triple-A Albuquerque last season. He has little left to prove at the minor league level but no clear path to everyday playing time in LA either.
Washington Nationals: 2B Asdrubal Cabrera
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With Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister and Ian Desmond all set to hit free agency next offseason, and Stephen Strasburg the following winter, the Washington Nationals have some decisions to make about the long-term core of their roster.
That could mean a big trade before the offseason is over, but in terms of areas of need to address on the current roster, second base is the only real hole at this point.
Anthony Rendon opened last season as the starting second baseman, but he shifted over to his natural third base spot when Ryan Zimmerman was hurt.
With Zimmerman set to move to first base full time and Rendon firmly entrenched at the hot corner, that leaves strikeout machine Danny Espinosa as the only real in-house option at second.
Asdrubal Cabrera was acquired at the deadline last season to man second base for the stretch run, and the team has shown some interest in re-signing him, according to a tweet from James Wagner of The Washington Post.
The 29-year-old hit .229/.312/.389 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 49 games for the Nationals last year, and he has topped 30 doubles and 14 home runs in each of the past four seasons.
Chicago Cubs: SP Jon Lester
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The emergence of Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks last season gave the Chicago Cubs some pieces to build around in the starting rotation, but they are still searching for a bona fide ace to lead their staff.
It's been no secret that Jon Lester is their top target, and he certainly fits the ace mold after going 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 219.2 innings last season.
The Cubs have offered up a six-year deal "north of $135 million," according to David Kaplan of CSN Chicago, and one has to think they'd be willing to increase that number if it means landing the staff ace they have coveted all offseason.
They could also sweeten the pot by agreeing to sign veteran catcher David Ross, who caught Lester to the tune of a 2.02 ERA last season. He was behind the dish for 18 of his 21 starts with the Red Sox, and there is clearly a comfort level there. The Cubs also have a need for a backup catcher after non-tendering John Baker.
The Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants are the other two teams in hot pursuit of Lester.
Cincinnati Reds: LF Yoenis Cespedes
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The Cincinnati Reds were a playoff team in 2013, when they posted the fourth-best team ERA in the league at 3.38 and backed that with the 12th-ranked offense at 4.31 runs per game.
The pitching staff was a strength once again this past season, despite some struggles in the bullpen, but the offense plummeted to 28th in the league at just 3.67 runs per game.
Injury-plagued seasons from Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips and a drop-off in production from Jay Bruce offset what were breakout seasons from Devin Mesoraco and Todd Frazier, and the end result was a 76-86 record and fourth-place finish in the NL Central.
After declining their option on Ryan Ludwick and trading Chris Heisey to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team will at least need to add a stopgap option in left field, with top prospect Jesse Winker still at least a year away.
Mat Latos remains the leading candidate to be traded from a group of upcoming free-agent starters, and flipping him to the Boston Red Sox for slugger Yoenis Cespedes could make sense for both sides.
His big-time power would play well in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in all of baseball, and if the team struggles again, he would be a valuable trade chip at the deadline.
Milwaukee Brewers: RP Francisco Rodriguez
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The one-year, $3.25 million deal the Milwaukee Brewers gave Francisco Rodriguez last offseason received little fanfare at the time, but it wound up being one of the better bargains of the winter.
The 32-year-old nailed down his first 15 save chances and finished the season 44-of-49 on save chances with a 3.04 ERA and 0.985 WHIP.
The Brewers acquired Jonathan Broxton from the Cincinnati Reds in August, and he's being paid like a closer, with a $9 million salary for 2015, so it remains to be seen whether re-signing Rodriguez is a priority for the team.
Something will need to be done in the bullpen, though, with Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny joining K-Rod in free agency. And without any other glaring needs, it might be worth spending the money it takes to re-sign the veteran closer.
Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Francisco Liriano
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have already lost one key free agent in catcher Russell Martin, and they have two more key pieces on the open market in starters Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez.
Both pitchers came to the Pirates on incentive-laden deals and resurrected their careers, and according to a tweet from Rob Biertempfel of of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the team is interested in re-signing both guys.
As things currently stand, Gerrit Cole would step into the role of staff ace, with Charlie Morton, A.J. Burnett, Jeff Locke and Vance Worley filling in behind him. However, it appears the team has made re-signing Liriano its top priority, according to Chris Cotillo of SB Nation, and understandably so.
The 31-year-old went 23-18 with a 3.20 ERA (3.26 FIP), 1.262 WHIP and 338 strikeouts in 323.1 innings in his two seasons with the Pirates.
The qualifying offer the Pirates made Liriano at the beginning of the offseason could be a chip in their favor, as they are now the only team that won't have to give up draft pick compensation to sign the left-hander.
St. Louis Cardinals: 1B Mark Reynolds
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After pulling off a big trade with the Atlanta Braves for Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden earlier this offseason, the St. Louis Cardinals' biggest focus the rest of the offseason could be on shoring up what was a largely unproductive bench.
The non-tender of Daniel Descalso could put them in the market for a utility infielder, but expect them to also be in the market for a right-handed-hitting corner infielder.
Matt Adams had a solid first season as an everyday player last year, but he hit just .190/.231/.298 against left-handed pitching over 121 at-bats.
With that in mind, Mark Reynolds could be the perfect fit as a platoon option at first base who can also back up third base and provide some power off the bench in a pinch-hitting role.
Reynolds had 22 home runs in 378 at-bats last season, and he was 3-for-13 with a home run as a pinch hitter. He also has a career .809 OPS against left-handed pitching, posting a .351 on-base percentage against southpaws, compared to just .314 against righties.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 3B Luis Valbuena
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It has already been a busy offseason for the Arizona Diamondbacks, as the new front office duo of Dave Stewart and Tony LaRussa have made their mark on the franchise.
Former AL Rookie of the Year winner Jeremy Hellickson was acquired from the Rays in a nice buy-low move, before Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas was inked to a six-year, $68.5 million deal.
The Tomas signing will likely mean someone from the group of Mark Trumbo, A.J. Pollock, David Peralta, Ender Inciarte and Cody Ross is traded before the start of the season, with those players holding varying levels of trade value.
As for remaining areas of need, some sort of insurance at third base seems like a smart move, as prospect Jake Lamb is the front-runner of the job at this point.
Luis Valbuena would give the D-backs another left-handed bat in a righty-heavy lineup, and should Lamb emerge as the everyday guy, his defensive versatility still makes him a valuable asset in a utility role.
With Kris Bryant pounding on the door at third base for the Cubs and slugger Mike Olt also in the mix for at-bats at the hot corner, Valbuena could be made available this offseason.
Colorado Rockies: SP Brandon Morrow
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The search for a viable five-man rotation continues for the Colorado Rockies. While they don't have the money or the pull to sign any of the market's marquee free agents, they will be active on the buy-low market.
There are a number of intriguing bounce-back candidates on the pitching side of things, including Brett Anderson, Justin Masterson, Chad Billingsley and Josh Johnson.
However, the best fit for the Rockies might be right-hander Brandon Morrow.
His 50.5 percent ground-ball rate last season was likely a mirage, but his 38.3 percent career mark is still solid for a power pitcher, via FanGraphs. He has also done a nice job keeping the ball in the ballpark throughout his career, with a 1.0 HR/9 mark.
Somewhere in there, he is still the guy who struck out 17 hitters in a dominant one-hit shutout back in 2010. For a Rockies team that is starved for quality pitching, it's worth taking a flier on him to see if he can find that form again.
And should he struggle in the rotation, his stuff profiles well in relief, and a transition to the bullpen could be the answer to resurrecting his career.
Los Angeles Dodgers: SS Alexei Ramirez
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Like a number of teams this offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers appear unimpressed with the crop of free-agent shortstop options.
With their own free agent, Hanley Ramirez, finding a new home in Boston, the team will need to do something to address the position this winter, though.
Moving Dee Gordon back to shortstop and shopping instead for a second baseman is one option, though the market at second is not much different.
Turning things over to some combination of Alex Guerrero, Erisbel Arruebarrena and Miguel Rojas and hoping someone emerges as the everyday option is another.
However, the Dodgers' best option appears to be a run at White Sox veteran Alexei Ramirez on the trade market, and according to a tweet from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the team is "aggressively pursuing" him.
Ramirez is coming off a nice season and is very reasonably priced at $20 million over the next two seasons, but the White Sox need to be realistic in their asking price, as he's also a 33-year-old who has been a 2.0-3.0 WAR player throughout his career.
The Dodgers wouldn't trade anyone from the group of Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Julio Urias to acquire David Price at the deadline, so they're certainly not going to do it to land Ramirez.
San Diego Padres: LF Justin Upton
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As the San Diego Padres look to upgrade an offense that ranked dead last in team batting average (.226), OPS (.634) and runs per game (3.30), the trade market appears to be their primary focus.
"A source told MLB.com on Tuesday that the Padres are heavily focused on trades," Corey Brock of MLB.com wrote. "That doesn't mean the club has completely abandoned what was a thin free-agent class, but that trade talks might be more on the front burner."
The Padres have the pitching to contend after ranking second in the National League last season with a 3.27 team ERA, and they have a deep farm system to draw from in potential trades.
According to a tweet from Buster Olney of ESPN, the Padres are looking for bats that can help them contend for an NL West title immediately, which could be a tall order with the Dodgers and Giants around.
The two top bats on the trade market right now appear to be Kemp and Upton, and while the boatload of money Kemp is still owed is a sticking point there, Upton could provide the short-term help the Padres are looking for.
It's hard to imagine Upton signing with the Padres long term, but if they can acquire him at a reasonable price, he would immediately become the team's biggest offensive threat.
San Francisco Giants: 3B Chase Headley
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After losing Pablo Sandoval to the Red Sox, the Giants will now turn to Plan B at third base, and that may very well be fellow free agent Chase Headley. The 30-year-old hit .243/.328/.372 with 20 doubles and 13 home runs last season while also leading all third basemen with a 28.0 UZR/150 and ranking third with 13 defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.
That is enough to make him the best remaining option on the free-agent market by a wide margin, and Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors has him pegged for a four-year, $48 million deal this offseason.
While that may be an overpay of sorts, it's probably a necessary expense for the Giants, as they really don't have much in the way of in-house options.
As it stands, some combination of Joaquin Arias, Matt Duffy and Chris Dominguez would man the position. The idea of moving Buster Posey out from behind the plate still gets brought up from time to time, but that doesn't seem likely at this point.
So unless the Giants decide to target someone like Luis Valbuena or Trevor Plouffe on the trade market, Headley looks like the best, and really only, option for the Giants right now.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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