Every MLB Team's Biggest Remaining Roster Hole Entering the New Year
With roughly two months of the MLB offseason done and the new year right around the corner, there is still a long list of free agents looking for new contracts and trade candidates waiting to see if they will be dealt.
Meanwhile, all 30 teams have at least one significant roster hole that will need to be filled between now and Opening Day, and in many cases, multiple needs to address in the coming months.
Ahead, we've highlighted each team's biggest remaining roster hole entering the new year, while also providing a logical target from the remaining crop of talent in free agency and on the trade block.
AL East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: Bullpen
With Zach Eflin re-signed to put the finishing touches on the Orioles rotation, the focus will now shift to shoring up the relief corps around Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin. The top end of the reliever market has been picked clean, but there are still plenty of solid value plays available on what will likely be one-year or minor league deals.
Logical Target: RHP Tyler Kinley
Boston Red Sox: Infield
With general manager Craig Breslow stating the team's desire to keep Gold Glove winner Ceddanne Rafaela in center field as often as possible, it's unlikely he will be a candidate for regular action at second base. That leaves second base or third base as a hole to be filled for the Red Sox, with Marcelo Mayer handling whichever spot they don't address.
Logical Target: 3B Alex Bregman
New York Yankees: Outfield
With Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham penciled into two spots in the Yankees outfield, the club still needs to either re-sign Cody Bellinger or find a viable replacement. Longtime top prospect Jasson Domínguez saw his first extended MLB action in 2025 and had a solid first half, but he hit just .236/.300/.318 with five extra-base hits after the All-Star break and spent October watching from the bench.
Logical Target: OF Cody Bellinger
Tampa Bay Rays: Second Base
With veteran Brandon Lowe traded to the Pirates, the Rays now have a hole to fill on the right side of their infield. They could give Jonathan Aranda a look at second base, where he spent considerable time in the minors, leaving an opening at first base or designated hitter, depending on where Yandy Díaz plays. Even if they go that route, a versatile infielder would help round out the roster.
Logical Target: 2B/3B Luis Rengifo
Toronto Blue Jays: Left-Handed Power Hitting
The Blue Jays have had a right-handed heavy lineup for some time now, and while the emergence of Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes has provided more balance and Daulton Varsho continues to be a good source of power, they are still lacking a true middle-of-the-order run producer from the left side. Slotting Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger in behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the cleanup spot would be huge.
Logical Target: OF Kyle Tucker
AL Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: Right Field
The White Sox have quietly assembled a promising young lineup, bolstered by the recent addition of Japanese League star Munetaka Murakami, though there is still a glaring hole in right field. Mike Tauchman (66), Joshua Palacios (28), Michael A. Taylor (26) and Austin Slater (15) combined for 135 starts at the position in 2025, but they are all no longer with the organization.
Logical Target: OF Max Kepler
Cleveland Guardians: Starting Rotation
Year after year, the Guardians choose to sit on their hands rather than spending money in free agency to bolster a strong roster, and expecting anything different this winter is wishful thinking. They should at least add some veteran depth to the starting rotation mix, with Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo and Parker Messick currently slated to fill three spots on the staff.
Logical Target: RHP Walker Buehler
Detroit Tigers: Outfield
Parker Meadows and Wenceel Perez have both shown flashes of impact potential during their time in the majors, but neither has established himself as a reliable option over a full 162-game season. Adding a veteran to the outfield mix, ideally one who can handle center field, would put less pressure on that duo and leave the team better prepared to navigate potential injuries.
Logical Target: OF Harrison Bader
Kansas City Royals: Run Production
The Royals finished 26th in the majors with 651 runs scored during the 2025 season, undercutting a strong starting rotation and leaving them on the outside looking in when the playoffs arrived. With Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas added to the outfield mix, they could look for a veteran slugger to handle designated hitter duties, rather than relying on Jonathan India and Michael Massey to both occupy spots in the starting lineup.
Logical Target: DH/OF Miguel Andújar
Minnesota Twins: Closer
After trading away Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland and Brock Stewart at the trade deadline, the Twins bullpen is sorely lacking in proven late-inning options. The top end of the relief pitching market has moved quickly this offseason, but there are still some former closers looking for a new home, including Seranthony Dominguez, Chad Green, Ryan Pressly and Kirby Yates.
Logical Target: RHP Ryan Pressly
AL West
3 of 6
Athletics: Starting Rotation
The Athletics have yet to make a significant outside addition to a starting staff that finished 27th in the majors with a 4.85 ERA last season, and even if Jacob Lopez and Luis Morales take another step forward, they would still benefit greatly from another proven arm. Chris Bassitt, Zack Littell and Nick Martinez are among the mid-tier options they could target.
Logical Target: RHP Chris Bassitt
Houston Astros: Catcher
Assuming the Astros are content with their options in center field and right field (Jesús Sánchez, Jake Meyers, Cam Smith and Zach Cole) and for the No. 3, 4 and 5 spots in the rotation (Mike Burrows, Ryan Weiss, Lance McCullers Jr., Jason Alexander, Nate Pearson and Spencer Arrighetti), backup catcher might be all that's left on the offseason shopping list. A reunion with Victor Caratini is still a possibility, while Jonah Heim and Reese McGuire are also available.
Logical Target: C Jonah Heim
Los Angeles Angels: Center Field
The best way to keep Mike Trout healthy is to limit him to designated hitter duties, while Jo Adell proved in 2025 he is not a center fielder with ugly defensive metrics (-13 DRS, -8 OAA), leaving the position as a glaring need for the Angels. Harrison Bader is a potential target, while Chas McCormick has some buy-low upside, but the trade market might be the preferred route.
Logical Target: OF Lars Nootbaar (trade candidate)
Seattle Mariners: Infield
Aside from Josh Naylor at first base and J.P. Crawford at shortstop, the Mariners infield is up in the air, with Cole Young, Ben Williamson, Leo Rivas and perhaps top prospect Colt Emerson the leading in-house options at second and third base. Versatile players like Willi Castro, Luis Rengifo, Ramón Urías and trade candidate Brendan Donovan are all potential fits.
Logical Target: IF/OF Willi Castro
Texas Rangers: Starting Rotation
The Rangers rotation was propped up by 37-year-old Jacob deGrom and 35-year-old Nathan Eovaldi in 2025, and expecting that tandem to combine for 52 starts and 302.2 innings once again might be wishful thinking. A veteran starter from the same list of mid-tier options mentioned above as potential targets for the Athletics—Chris Bassitt, Zack Littell and Nick Martinez—would make sense, or they could aim slightly higher for someone like Zac Gallen or Lucas Giolito.
Logical Target: RHP Lucas Giolito
NL East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: Bullpen
Despite a disappointing 76-86 finish in 2025, the Braves currently have one of the most complete rosters in baseball on paper, and more room for in-house improvement than perhaps any other team. They have already re-signed Raisel Iglesias and brought aboard Robert Suárez, but there is room for further improvement for a bullpen that ranked 19th in the majors with a 4.19 ERA and had 21 blown saves.
Logical Target: RHP Ryne Stanek
Miami Marlins: First Base/Third Base
The emergence of Kyle Stowers, Agustin Ramirez and Jakob Marsee offensively has given the Marlins some pieces to build around, but the corner infield spots remain a notable weakness, with Graham Pauley and Connor Norby the projected starters. Veterans Nathaniel Lowe, Rhys Hoskins and Ty France should all have a reasonable price tag, while Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto offers more upside at a higher price point.
Logical Target: 1B Kazuma Okamoto
New York Mets: Outfielder
Tyrone Taylor and top prospect Carson Benge are currently the leading candidates to join Juan Soto in the Mets outfield, and while they are still contenders to sign Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, they might need to pivot to the trade market if both sign elsewhere. Buying low on Luis Robert Jr. would be an upside play in center field, while Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle is another name to monitor.
Logical Target: OF Luis Robert Jr. (trade candidate)
Philadelphia Phillies: Catcher
Re-signing J.T. Realmuto looked like a no-brainer for the Phillies when the offseason began, but the longer things stretch on without a deal getting done, the more likely it is he winds up elsewhere. That would leave Victor Caratini, Jonah Heim and whatever they can scrape up on the trade market as the top options to replace him behind the plate.
Logical Target: C Victor Caratini
Washington Nationals: First Base
The Nationals are a logical landing spot for one of the veteran first basemen still looking for a new home in free agency, though they could also look at the second base market after Luis García Jr. started a couple games at first base in September. Another option is to shift Brady House across the diamond and add a third baseman.
Logical Target: 1B Rhys Hoskins
NL Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: Infield Depth
The Cubs have once again rebuilt their bullpen with a series of low-cost signings, adding Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb and Hoby Milner while also re-signing Caleb Thielbar. With the relief corps restocked and the rotation filled after Shota Imanaga accepted his qualifying offer, shoring up the bench with a versatile infielder might be the final piece of the offseason puzzle.
Logical Target: IF Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Cincinnati Reds: Bullpen
With the outfield already addressed with the recent additions of JJ Bleday and Dane Myers, the Reds can now shift their focus to putting the finishing touches on their bullpen. Closer Emilio Pagán was re-signed and left-hander Caleb Ferguson was added in free agency, but more could be done to bolster what was a middle-of-the-pack relief corps.
Logical Target: RHP Pierce Johnson
Milwaukee Brewers: Starting Rotation
For now, the Brewers rotation is in good shape with Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick and Quinn Priester as the projected staff, but that could quickly change if a long-rumored Peralta trade comes to fruition. A swingman who can fill a hybrid role as a multi-inning bullpen option or rotation piece would be the ideal target, with Zack Littell, Nick Martinez, Walker Buehler and Jakob Junis among the available arms who fit the mold.
Logical Target: RHP Zack Littell
Pittsburgh Pirates: Shortstop
With Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, Jhostynxon García and Jake Mangum brought aboard, the Pirates have made a legitimate effort to upgrade their offense in support of a dynamic young pitching staff. However, the left side of their infield is still weak, with Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo the current projected starter. A trade for someone like CJ Abrams, Alec Bohm or Josh Jung would provide a nice boost, while Eugenio Suárez could also be a fit in free agency.
Logical Target: SS CJ Abrams (trade candidate)
St. Louis Cardinals: Starting Rotation
The youth movement is underway in the Cardinals rotation with Sonny Gray traded and Miles Mikolas gone in free agency, leaving Matthew Liberatore, Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, newcomer Dustin May and reliever-turned-starter Kyle Leahy as the projected five-man staff. Even if the focus is on getting younger, adding a veteran starter on a short-term deal to help absorb some innings makes sense.
Logical Target: RHP Nick Martinez
NL West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: Closer
The D-backs could use another proven run producer to fill the DH role, and both corner infield spots are also up in the air, but their most glaring need is at the back of the bullpen. With AJ Puk and Justin Martínez both expected to start the year on the injured list, they do not have a clear ninth-inning option, and their ability to offer up the closer's role could give them a leg up for guys viewed as setup options by other teams.
Logical Target: RHP Scott Barlow
Colorado Rockies: First Base
After non-tendering Michael Toglia and waiving Warming Bernabel, the Rockies do not have a returning option at first base, and they represent an attractive landing spot for some of the veteran options still looking for a regular role. Nathaniel Lowe, Rhys Hoskins and Ty France are all speculative targets, while Ryan Mountcastle also makes sense as a trade target.
Logical Target: 1B Nathaniel Lowe
Los Angeles Dodgers: Second Base/Center Field
Depending on where Tommy Edman lines up, the Dodgers' biggest need will be to upgrade in center field or at second base. If he plays in the outfield, Hyeseong Kim could see an expanded role at second base, while Alex Call sees more action if he's in the infield. Signing Bo Bichette to play second base or trading for Ketel Marte would be the type of swing-for-the-fences move we've become accustomed to from the defending champs.
Logical Target: 2B Ketel Marte (trade candidate)
San Diego Padres: Infield
The Padres signed KBO star Sung Mun Song to a four-year, $15 million deal, but expecting him to immediately step into an everyday role is unlikely. Instead, expect him to start out in a super-utility role, similar to Ha-Seong Kim when he first joined the Padres. That leaves either first base or second base as an area of need, depending on where Jake Cronenworth plays, and more versatility would be welcome from anyone they acquire.
Logical Target: IF Brendan Donovan (trade candidate)
San Francisco Giants: Second Base
The Giants have committed a ton of money to Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers since the front office took control, and that gives them 75 percent of a stacked infield, with second base as a glaring hole. They could still use more rotation help, but swinging for the fences and signing Bo Bichette or Alex Bregman to shift to second and round out the infield would give them a truly potent offense.
Logical Target: 2B Bo Bichette
