Biggest Burning Question for Each MLB Team as Midseason Approaches
From trying to figure out if stars like Johnny Cueto will get traded to determining which contenders are actually for real, all sorts of unanswered questions remain as MLB's midseason approaches.
For the vast majority of teams, the biggest burning question relates to the trade deadline. Trade season is already underway, but many teams have yet to determine whether they'll be buying or selling.
For other clubs, the most pressing question isn't trade-related, but personnel-related. In places like Miami and San Diego, changes have already been made. In Philadelphia, meanwhile, a major shakeup could be right around the corner.
A few squads, meanwhile, must hope for internal improvement to bolster their currently foggy outlooks. San Francisco, Minnesota and Washington are all awaiting help from sidelined players, while teams like Seattle and Cleveland can only attempt to snap out of their respective funks.
What follows is a look at each team's biggest burning question with just over one month remaining until the trade deadline.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Will the Arizona Diamondbacks get burned by the decision to trade away Touki Toussaint?
Even Tony La Russa, the chief baseball officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks, had to admit that there was some danger in trading away 2014 top pick Touki Toussaint.
"If I'm a fan, I would be skeptical (of the Toussaint trade)," La Russa said, via Nick Piecoro of AZCentral.com. "'Hey, man, they traded the future away.' Touki has a future, but it's not an immediate future like we need. We think (our future) is sooner rather than later."
As part of the trade with the Atlanta Braves, the D-backs were able to shed the remainder of Bronson Arroyo's two-year, $23.5 million deal. Still, with Arizona looking like a team that is a couple of years away from being an October contender, it sure would have been nice to have Toussaint around for the future.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Which deal will team president John Hart make next?
John Hart has been awfully busy since taking over as the Atlanta Braves' general manager last September (and later being promoted to team president in October). The exec shipped out a slew of big-time contributors during the offseason and brought in vets Juan Uribe and Bronson Arroyo in the opening months of the 2015 campaign.
Now, the question is just what will he do next? The club is in an unusual spot, as the Braves are building toward the future, but are also in the playoff mix with a 35-35 record.
According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, third baseman Chris Johnson could be on his way out of Atlanta. As Heyman explains, the Braves are willing to "substantially pay down" the money remaining on Johnson's three-year, $23.5 million deal.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Is Matt Wieters the linchpin to the Baltimore Orioles' season?
Right now, the answer to this question is a resounding "yes."
The Baltimore Orioles have been a whole new ball club ever since Matt Wieters returned from the disabled list on June 5. With Wieters in the lineup this month, the O's have gone 9-4 and are now just 2.5 games off the top spot in the American League East. The backstop's numbers at the plate have been especially impressive, as he owns a .956 OPS and has cracked seven extra-base hits in 13 games.
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Will the Red Sox have a fire sale at the deadline?
The 2015 season has been a mess for the last-place Boston Red Sox.
As Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports sees it, it's time for GM Ben Cherington to cut his losses and ship out Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez in trades.
Money figures to be a major hurdle to clear if either of those players is going to be dealt. Sandoval is in Year 1 of a five-year, $95 million deal, while Ramirez is in the first season of a four-year, $88 million agreement.
Chicago White Sox
5 of 30
Are the Chicago White Sox doomed to become sellers?
The 2015 season hasn't gone to script for the Chicago White Sox.
After an aggressive offseason revamp, the South Siders are in the cellar in the AL Central. Unless the club can quickly climb back into the race, the front office will have to seriously consider selling off some pieces at the deadline.
As ESPN's Buster Olney argues, one move the White Sox should at least consider is trading away Chris Sale for a mint. Sale, the owner of a 2.74 ERA and a 12.1 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio, is one of the nastiest pitchers in the majors. He's also one of the biggest bargains. The lefty is making $6 million in 2015 as part of a five-year, $32.5 million deal.
Thanks to his dominance on the mound and his contract situation, Sale would be one of the most sought-after trade pieces in baseball if the White Sox decided to make him available.
Cincinnati Reds
6 of 30
What's up with Johnny Cueto?
Johnny Cueto is getting a little extra rest.
According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, the Cincinnati Reds have pushed Cueto's next start back until Friday. While a team spokesman did not explain if the righty is dealing with a health issue, it's worth noting that Cueto missed a start last month with right elbow stiffness.
Keeping Cueto healthy is extremely important for the 32-36 Reds, who are just barely within shouting distance of a wild-card spot. If Cincinnati topples out of the race, Cueto, who hits the free-agent market this winter, figures to become a monster trade chip. Of course, an injury could spoil those plans.
Chicago Cubs
7 of 30
How big of a splash will Theo Epstein make at the trade deadline?
There will be trades at Wrigley Field before the deadline passes. Just ask Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Espstein.
“We definitely won’t sit back," Esptein said, per Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago. "We're going to examine every possible opportunity and work hard to try to improve this team as we go."
For the Cubs, the top goals should be to bolster their rotation and the bullpen. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the "first choice" of Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon would be to land with Chicago.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Are the Cleveland Indians contenders or pretenders?
With a 32-37 record, the Cleveland Indians are nine games off the pace in the AL Central.
The club isn't buried just yet, but it's getting late fairly early in Cleveland.
One of the most fundamental problems facing manager Terry Francona and his squad in 2015 is that the Tribe have been awful at home this season. Cleveland's 14-22 mark at Progressive Field is the worst home record in the AL.
Aside from the dismal record at home, it remains to be seen if Cleveland has enough talent in the rotation. The starting five has posted a 4.45 ERA, which ranks No. 25 in baseball.
Piling up losses at home and failing to get quality starts on a consistent basis is no way for a team to make an October run.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Will the much-discussed trade of Carlos Gonzalez finally happen?
It feels like Carlos Gonzalez has been living on the trade block forever.
It's easy enough to understand why. The left-hander hitter is a dynamic player on a far-from-dynamic team. With Gonzalez posting an .900 OPS and having already connected on six home runs in June, Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post argues that now is the time for the Colorado Rockies to pull the trigger on a swap.
Unfortunately, injuries are once again posing a potential roadblock to a deal. Per Nick Groke of the Denver Post, Gonzalez is currently day-to-day with a left hand sprain.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Do the Detroit Tigers need to trade for a new closer?
The month of June has not been kind to Joakim Soria.
The Detroit Tigers closer just can't stop giving up home runs. In his last six outings, the righty has served up five bombs. Soria has now been tagged for seven yard shots in 2015 after giving up just two in all of 2014.
With Soria wobbling badly, team president, CEO and GM Dave Dombrowski needs to start searching for a new ninth-inning stopper.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Will the squad land an ace on the trade block?
Perched atop the standings in the AL West, the Houston Astros are the biggest surprise of 2015.
If the upstart club is going to maintain the No. 1 spot in the West, general manager Jeff Luhnow might just have to make an aggressive move on the trade front. Targeting another ace to pair with lefty Dallas Keuchel would make a great deal of sense.
It doesn't look like that ace will be Cole Hamels, however. Per Daniel Gotera of KHOU-TV, a source told his colleague Bob Allen that the Philadelphia Phillies lefty "has blocked (for now) any possible trade" to Houston.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Will the subpar rotation sink the Kansas City Royals?
For now, the Kansas City Royals are the kings of the AL Central.
Manager Ned Yost's squad has a 40-27 record, which is good for a 3.5-game advantage in the division. Still, it's worth wondering if the Royals' spot in the standings is sustainable.
The Royals' starting five has been both awful, posting the the 10th-worst ERA in the majors, and injured, as starters Yordano Ventura and Jason Vargas are currently on the shelf. The one bright spot for the team is that Danny Duffy will return on June 24, per Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
What's wrong with the offense?
It's easy enough to see why the Los Angeles Angels are sitting in third place in the AL West at 36-35. Simply put, with the exceptions of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, the offense, which led baseball in runs last season, has been a mess.
The Angels brass can sit back and wait for proven veterans like Erick Aybar, David Freese and Matt Joyce to return to form, but that's a dangerous game to play. If the Angels want to snag the AL West crown for a second season in a row, a trade for a productive bat is in order.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Who will Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi bring in to strengthen the rotation?
Carlos Frias has been far from a disaster during his time in the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting five this season.
Still, the NL West leaders can only afford to keep the 25-year-old in the rotation for so long. Not only does Frias have a 4.68 ERA, but he's also just not logging enough innings. In his 10 starts, the Dominican has only pitched seven innings on one occasion.
President of baseball operation Andrew Friedman and GM Farhan Zaidi have over a month to explore options on the trade block. If the front office inexcusably fails at that task, it would have major consequences for the team on the diamond.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Is it too late for the Miami Marlins to make an October run?
The 2015 season has been a strange one for the Miami Marlins.
It's not even July and the Fish have already endured a nightmare start to the year, including replacing their former manager, Mike Redmond, with their GM, Dan Jennings. Even with all the early-season turbulence, the Marlins, owners of a 30-41 record, are only 7.5 games out of first place in the NL East.
There's still time for the Marlins to claw back into the playoff race, and the team will soon be getting a major boost in that effort. Per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, electric ace Jose Fernandez is due to rejoin the rotation on July 2.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Who's getting traded?
Suffice it to say that the Milwaukee Brewers, who sit a staggering 21 games out of first place in the NL Central, have careened through a train wreck of a season.
For the Brew Crew's brass, it's time to start working the phones and begin the process of shipping off trade chips. Per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the club would "love" to ditch Matt Garza, the owner of 5.48 ERA. As Heyman quips, "Good luck with that one."
While Garza isn't exactly going to draw much attention on the trade market, the Brewers do have more than a few players who potentially could. Right at the top of that list are center fielder Carlos Gomez and shortstop Jean Segura.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
What kind of impact will Ervin Santana make for the Minnesota Twins in the final three months of the season?
With a 38-32 record, the Minnesota Twins have exceeded all expectations in 2015. What's more, the team has done so without Ervin Santana throwing a single big league pitch.
The veteran right-hander, who is serving an 80-game ban for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, is eligible to join the Twins on July 4. His first tune-up start in the minors provided plenty of reason for optimism. On June 20, Santana allowed just a single run on five hits in 5.2 innings of work for the club's Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, New York.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Will GM Sandy Alderson pull off a move or two before the deadline?
For the first time since 2006, the New York Mets could return to October baseball.
If the NL East club is going to earn a postseason trip, GM Sandy Alderson will need to make an addition or two to the roster. The most glaring weakness of the second-place Mets is the lack of offensive production, as they rank 26th in runs scored.
A bat isn't the only need that the Mets have, however. Like so many other teams, strengthening the bullpen is also on the to-do list. Andy Martino of the New York Daily News argues that acquiring "a setup man is nearly as pressing" as bolstering the lineup.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Will the New York Yankees pull off a blockbuster move to bring an ace to the Bronx?
According to George A. King III of the New York Post, the New York Yankees recently sent a scout to watch the starts of Cincinnati Reds right-handers Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake.
Cueto, who has posted a 2.98 ERA, is by far the more high-profile name, but it's worth wondering if the Yankees even need to add an arm. After all, the team's rotation is already crowded with Ivan Nova set to return from Tommy John surgery. Nova is scheduled to make his first start in 14 months on June 24.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
When's the fire sale?
There's no other way to put it. The Oakland Athletics are a bad baseball team.
The club's bullpen has racked up an MLB-worst 16 losses and is sporting a gruesome 4.77 ERA. Then there's the ghastly defense. Through the first 72 games, Oakland has committed an MLB-high 71 errors.
With the team hurtling toward a last-place finish, a sell-off appears inevitable. If executive vice president and GM Billy Beane decides to follow such a course, there are plenty of assets to flip.
At the top of the list is free-agent-to-be Scott Kazmir, who owns a 2.70 ERA. Closer Tyler Clippard and utility man Ben Zobrist, who are also pending free agents, both look like prominent trade chips as well.
Pittsburgh Pirates
21 of 30
Will the club make a move to bolster the underwhelming offense?
The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff has been remarkable in 2015.
As a group, the Bucs hurlers have reeled off a 2.88 ERA, which is the second-best mark in the bigs. No one has been better than Gerrit Cole, who has put up a 1.78 ERA and asserted himself as an early front-runner for the NL Cy Young Award.
While the team's pitching has been spectacular, the offense has been well below average, as the Pirates are 23rd in baseball in runs scored. One obvious spot for Pittsburgh to try to find an upgrade at is shortstop. Current starter Jordy Mercer has been slogging along with a .215 average and a .555 OPS.
Philadelphia Phillies
22 of 30
How secure are the jobs of GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Ryne Sandberg?
It appears as though the clock is ticking on both Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Ryne Sandberg.
With reports suggesting that the last-place club could be hiring Andy MacPhail as its new president, both the exec and the skipper could be on the chopping block, according to Meghan Montemurro of the News Journal.
Amaro Jr. didn't exactly strike a confident tone when Montemurro asked about his job security. "I really don't have any comment about that," he said. "That's not my area. That's for people who are higher than my pay grade."
With the Phillies sporting a 25-47 record, both Amaro Jr. and Sandberg should be updating their resumes. Amaro Jr. appears to be in an especially tenuous spot, as his contract is up at the end of the season.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Will installing a new skipper help push the San Diego Padres back into the playoff race?
After the San Diego Padres wobbled out of the gates, manager Bud Black was the fall guy.
The Pads replaced the former skipper with new manager Pat Murphy on June 16. Since the swap, the Padres (34-38), haven't exactly gotten on track, as the team is 2-4 with Murphy at the helm. San Diego has dropped into fourth place in the NL West and is closer to last place (2.5 games) than first (5.5 games).
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Just how worried should the San Francisco Giants be about Hunter Pence?
Thanks to his production on the diamond and his leadership in the clubhouse, Hunter Pence is one of the most indispensable players on the San Francisco Giants roster.
Unfortunately for the NL West club, Pence's return to the lineup is very much to be determined. The right fielder is currently shelved with tendinitis in his left wrist. According to Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area, manager Bruce Bochy wouldn't rule out the possibility that Pence could be sidelined through the All-Star break, saying, "I hope it's not that long."
The Giants will have to be extra cautious with Pence to make sure that his tendinitis doesn't became a lingering problem throughout the rest of the season.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Will the offense wake up before it's too late?
Nothing better exemplifies the Seattle Mariner's offensive struggles than $240 million man Robinson Cano, who checks in with a .244 average.
As a team, the M's, who are wallowing in fourth place in the AL West, have an MLB-worst .230 batting average. The task of salvaging the wreck of a lineup now falls to new hitting coach Edgar Martinez.
The Seattle legend is feeling plenty optimistic as he embarks upon his new gig.
"The team, I haven't seen so much talent in the Mariners for a long time," Martinez said, per Brent Stecker of 710 ESPN Seattle. "We have the right talent, the right manager, coaching staff, so I think it's a great opportunity and I'm excited about this opportunity."
If Martinez can spark the club's bats to life and help push the Mariners back into the race, it will be just yet another impressive bullet point on his already remarkable resume.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
How far up the food chain does the hacking mess go?
There's no question about it. The most bizarre story of the 2015 season is the allegation that the St. Louis Cardinals hacked the Houston Astros.
Per Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle, the hacking reportedly began back in 2012, but there's no clear understanding of who in the Cardinals front office is potentially implicated just yet. However, as Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. put it, "We've all been tainted."
As the investigation plays outs, one of the central concerns will be figuring out just how high up in the Cardinals hierarchy the rot extends.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Will the rotation carry the Tampa Bay Rays to the AL East title?
Quality starting pitching is the cornerstone of big league success. Just look at the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays have 11 players on the DL, and yet the team is still leading the AL East by one game. The key to success for manager Kevin Cash's squad has been the unheralded rotation, which leads the AL in ERA. No one has been more impressive than right-hander Chris Archer. With a 2.18 ERA, Archer is the best pitcher in the major leagues that nobody ever talks about.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Will the team make an addition at the deadline?
Apparently the Texas Rangers didn't get the memo.
With Yu Darvish out for the season and Derek Holland only available for one start so far in 2015, the Rangers weren't supposed to be in the playoff mix. Instead of tumbling in the standings, Texas owns a 37-33 record and is just three games out of first place in the AL West.
Thanks to the team's surprisingly strong start, it's not out of the question to think that the Rangers could actually be buyers next month. One area of the roster that could use an upgrade is the bullpen, which has MLB's fourth-worst ERA.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Will the Toronto Blue Jays add an arm to support the unreal lineup?
The Toronto Blue Jays have the most dangerous lineup in the bigs. The club has scored 67 more runs than any other team in baseball, but is behind both the New York Yankees and the first-place Tampa Bay Rays the AL East chase.
If Toronto is going to rise in the standings, GM Alex Anthopoulos needs to find a way to bring in a big arm to help anchor the rotation. For as good as the lineup has been, the starting five has been equally bad. The group checks in with the fifth-worst ERA in baseball.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
What can the Washington Nationals expect from Stephen Strasburg in his return to the rotation?
It's been a frustrating season for Stephen Strasburg.
The 26-year-old right-hander has racked up a 6.55 ERA in 10 starts and hasn't pitched since May 29, when he landed on the disabled list. Per Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post, Strasburg, who has been dealing with what manager Matt Williams labeled "back discomfort," might only need one rehab start before returning to the nation's capital.
With the Nats looking to pull away from the New York Mets in the NL East race, getting back the vintage form of the starter—not the one that looked lost on the mound to start the season—would be a big help.
Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.
If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.
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