All 30 MLB Teams' Biggest Potential Roadblock to a Successful Offseason
We've spent a lot of time the past few weeks identifying areas of need for each MLB team this coming offseason and establishing potential targets to address those needs both in free agency and on the trade market.
However, as you're well-aware, things don't always go according to plan when it comes to a team's offseason approach.
If it did, Jon Lester probably would have wound up signing with the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants last winter.
So with that in mind, let's take a look at the biggest potential roadblock standing between each MLB team and what could be considered a successful offseason.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: An inability to lure marquee starting pitchers
Despite posting a losing record, the Arizona Diamondbacks were still one of the most improved teams in the league in 2015.
Their 79-83 record represented a 15-win improvement over the previous season, and they climbed from fifth to third in the NL West standings.
The team has a good offensive core in place led by Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock, but the pitching staff will need to improve substantially if they are going to take that next step.
The starting rotation ranked 23rd in the league with a 4.37 ERA, and the staff is clearly missing a bona fide ace to lead the way.
Patrick Corbin went 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 16 starts in his return from Tommy John surgery, and there is still reason to think he can be a front-line starter another year removed from surgery.
There is also legitimate ace potential in top prospect Archie Bradley, but the 23-year-old has struggled with arm and shoulder problems and needs to prove he can stay healthy before the team counts on him.
Landing an ace will mean contending with big-market teams and teams already in a position to reach the postseason, and that could be tough.
The Diamondbacks are headed in the right direction, but if they can't find a way to lure an ace to the desert, it will be hard to truly call their offseason a success.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not fully committing to the rebuild, trying to contend in 2016
The Atlanta Braves will open SunTrust Park after the 2016 season ends, and ahead of moving to their new stadium they could feel compelled to put the rebuilding efforts on hold in favor of a push at winning now.
They would be wise to resist that urge.
Teams like the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros have drawn a pretty good blueprint on the right way to rebuild in recent years, and it takes patience.
The Miami Marlins spent aggressively in an effort to put a winning team on the field ahead of moving into their new stadium, adding Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell in free agency, and by the next offseason they were tearing down the roster and rebuilding once again.
The Braves have quietly built up one of the deeper farm systems in baseball with a handful of big trades, and trimmed the payroll in the process.
There is a good core of young talent in place and more on the way as those prospects make their way through the minor leagues, and spending big now for a shot at short-term success would likely get in the way of their long-term outlook.
Baltimore Orioles
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Biggest Roadblock: An unwillingness to spend on starting pitching
Despite lacking a true stud starting pitcher, the Baltimore Orioles reached the postseason in 2014 behind a strong staff top-to-bottom that ranked 12th in the league with a 3.61 ERA.
They returned essentially the same staff this season, but saw that starters' ERA climb to 4.53, and in the process they went from a 96-win team and AL East champs to an 81-win team and third in the AL East standings.
That drop-off combined with the likely departure of Wei-Yin Chen in free agency would appear to make the starting rotation a clear area of focus for the Orioles this offseason.
Not so fast.
As Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun wrote back in September:
"Though it has been a rocky year for the Orioles starting rotation, the one that opens up the 2016 season might not look a much different than the one that is wrapping up 2015. Like every winter, there will be speculation about the front office going outside the organization to find another starter, but there's no logic there. The Orioles have never had an appetite for spending big free-agent dollars on pitching, and that doesn't seem likely to change while the club is still smarting from the Ubaldo Jimenez deal.
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The four-year, $50 million deal the team gave Jimenez represents the only significant investment the team has made in starting pitching in recent years.
So with that in mind, a rotation of Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman, Jimenez and either Mike Wright or Tyler Wilson looks like a very real possibility for 2015.
It's hard to see that group pitching well enough to contend for an AL East title or even a playoff spot, though, so not improving the rotation would make for an unsuccessful offseason.
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Boston Red Sox
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Biggest Roadblock: Too much focus on the rotation, not enough on the bullpen
The Boston Red Sox need a front-line starter to anchor their rotation.
That was the case last offseason when they missed on Jon Lester and settled for Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson instead, and it's still the case this coming offseason.
However, making the starting rotation their sole focus this offseason would also be unwise, as the bullpen is just as big of an issue.
The Red Sox used 18 different pitchers in relief in 2015, and they combined to post a 4.24 ERA that ranked 26th in the majors while converting 40 of 61 save chances.
Closer Koji Uehara had another strong season, converting 25 of 27 save chances with a 2.23 ERA, but the 40-year-old missed significant time as his season ended on Aug. 7 when he suffered a fractured right wrist on a liner from Detroit's Ian Kinsler.
Beyond him, the team relied on the following group as their primary bullpen arms:
- Tommy Layne: 64 G, 3.97 ERA, 1.427 WHIP, 47.2 IP
- Alexi Ogando: 64 G, 3.99 ERA, 1.332 WHIP, 65.1 IP
- Junichi Tazawa: 61 G, 4.14 ERA, 1.330 WHIP, 58.2 IP
- Robbie Ross: 54 G, 3.86 ERA, 1.302 WHIP, 60.2 IP
- Craig Breslow: 45 G, 4.15 ERA, 1.415 WHIP, 65.0 IP
Those are unimpressive peripheral numbers across the board, and the veteran Breslow is also set to hit free agency, so it stands to reason that the team would benefit from adding at least a few quality late-inning arms.
A strong rotation would be a big step in the right direction, but it won't mean much if they don't have the bullpen to back it up.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Potentially leaving a hole in center field and atop the lineup
Most expect the Chicago Cubs to once again make a splash on the starting pitching market this offseason as they look for a third front-line arm to slot alongside Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester atop their rotation.
While that may be the team's most pressing need, there will also be the matter of addressing center field and the leadoff spot in the rotation.
The Cubs acquired Dexter Fowler from the Houston Astros prior to the season, and he delivered a solid performance with a .250/.346/.411 line, 20 stolen bases, a career-high 17 home runs and a 2.2 WAR.
He's now set to hit free agency as the top center field option in a market that also includes Denard Span, Colby Rasmus, Austin Jackson and Rajai Davis.
"He has been a great fit for us. I don't know what the future holds. It's not the right time to talk about it," general manager Jed Hoyer told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune earlier this month. "But we'd love to have him (back). We've loved everything about his game and the way he has gone about his business for us."
That being said, there's a good chance someone is willing to give Fowler four years, and the Cubs may not be willing to go that long. Highly regarded prospects Albert Almora and Ian Happ are making their way up through the minors as center fielders, and both figure to be ready within the next couple of years.
Giving a one-year deal to Austin Jackson or Rajai Davis as a stopgap option may be the preferred approach, but one way or another, the Cubs can't simply ignore the center field and leadoff hitter situation.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Shying away from spending after last offseason
The Chicago White Sox were as aggressive as any team in baseball last offseason, and on paper it looked like they may be ready to take a big step forward and legitimately contend in the AL Central.
Instead, they finished 76-86 and in fourth place in the AL Central for their third consecutive losing season.
These were the team's three big free-agent signings:
That is uninspired production, to say the least, for a $113 million investment, and that doesn't even include the disappointing season turned in by Jeff Samardzija, who was acquired in a deal that cost the White Sox four quality young players.
The question now becomes how will the results of last year's busy offseason influence what the team decides to do this winter?
With Samardzija set to walk there is a clear need for a right-handed starter in the lefty-heavy rotation, while catcher, shortstop and third base could also be pointed to as clear areas of weakness.
Despite a disappointing season, there is potential on the White Sox roster, starting with a rotation fronted by Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon.
Shying away from making any more significant additions after what happened this past season would be a mistake, as they still have a chance to contend now with the right pieces.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: An unreasonable asking price for Aroldis Chapman
There might not be a star-caliber player more likely to be dealt this offseason than Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, but getting a deal done may require the team to come down from their current asking price.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe offered up the following on the trade market for Chapman back in August after the Reds failed to pull the trigger on a deal at the non-waiver deadline.
"When Arizona, among other teams, asked about Chapman at the deadline, it was "incredibly unrealistic" what the Reds asked for in return, according to one GM, who added, "I couldn’t believe it."
But Reds GM Walt Jocketty appears to have an interest in at least listening to offers for the coveted lefty in the offseason when the price might be more realistic. "I think teams would give up three very good prospects for him," said one AL GM, "but I think that’s as far as it would go."
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There is no question Chapman is one of the game's elite bullpen arms, but a rebuilding Reds team doesn't have much use for a closer making north of $10 million.
Keeping the asking price unreasonable and going through the offseason without trading Chapman would be a big missed opportunity for the Reds, and the definition for an unsuccessful offseason in Cincinnati.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not finding a power bat
The Cleveland Indians were expected to be serious contenders this season not only in the AL Central, but in the American League in general.
Unfortunately, the pieces did not fall into place as hoped, and they wound up finishing in third place in the division standings and 4.5 games back for the second wild-card spot.
The starting rotation was once again a strength, led by the trio of Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, but they still lacked offensive punch.
They ranked 23rd in the league with 140 home runs as a team, and no single player broke the 20-homer mark as Carlos Santana paced the team with 19 home runs and 85 RBI.
Rookie Francisco Lindor provided a major spark offensively, Jason Kipnis bounced back in a big way with a terrific season and Michael Brantley had another strong year across the board, albeit with less power than the year before.
Still, this team appears to be at least one impact bat away from living up to the expectations they carried into last season.
So how will they go about getting one?
"There’s no question the Indians are going to deal a starting pitcher for a hitter this offseason," wrote Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "As the year went on the Indians seemed more content to deal (Danny) Salazar than Carlos Carrasco, who they made available at the trading deadline. Word is they’ll continue that way this offseason."
The pitching-starved Colorado Rockies look like one potential trade partner if they decide to put Carlos Gonzalez on the block, but that's purely speculation at this point.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: An inability to lure any impact starting pitchers
Speaking of the Colorado Rockies, the search continues for a viable five-man rotation, but that's easier said than done when the last big-name arm the team was able to land in free agency was the infamous Mike Hampton debacle.
Last offseason, after kicking the tires on a number of mid-level options, the team wound up settling for signing Kyle Kendrick to a one-year, $5.5 million deal, and he ended up being their Opening Day starter.
He threw seven shutout innings to kick off the season with a win, but it was all downhill from there.
When all was said and done, he was arguably the worst starting pitcher in baseball last year at 7-13 with a 6.32 ERA and 1.525 WHIP in 142.1 innings of work.
There are some decent arms coming back for the Rockies in Jorge De La Rosa, Chad Bettis and former top prospects Eddie Butler and Jon Gray, but this team still clearly needs help after their starters ranked dead last with a 5.27 ERA in 2015.
Not being able to lure any impact starting pitchers to sign in free agency and having to settle for another Kendrick-like signing would no doubt make for an unsuccessful offseason.
They may have better luck on the trade market, where Carlos Gonzalez should be able to fetch a quality, big league-ready arm if they do in fact make him available.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not upgrading the bullpen...again
It will be interesting to see just how aggressive the Detroit Tigers are in trying to build a winner for the 2016 season.
Expected to contend for another AL Central title, they instead struggled mightily to a 74-87 record to finish in the division's cellar.
On the surface, this looks like a team that needs to start rebuilding with an old core in place at the big league level and one of the weakest farm systems in baseball providing little in the way of young talent.
However, with $105 million tied up in five players (Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Victor Martinez, Anibal Sanchez and Ian Kinsler) for the upcoming season, they will no doubt be motivated to make a push at contending.
Starting pitching would be the obvious area to point to as a major need, and that wouldn't be an incorrect assessment of the team, but at the same time they can't go another winter without addressing the bullpen and still hope to succeed.
After ranking 27th in the majors in 2014 with a 4.29 reliever's ERA, then watching the bullpen absolutely melt down in the division series, their major offseason addition to the relief corp last winter wound up being Tom Gorzelanny.
Not surprisingly, the 5.95 ERA the veteran left-hander posted over 48 appearances did not spark a significant turnaround for the relief corps, and they wound up 27th in the league once again with a 4.38 ERA this time around.
If this team has any hopes of contending, a bullpen of Blaine Hardy, Al Albuquerque and Alex Wilson just isn't going to get the job done. Those are three solid arms, but they need to fill in the blanks and find a viable closer.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not re-signing or suitably replacing Tony Sipp
This may seem like an oddly specific description of what would constitute an unsuccessful offseason for the Houston Astros, but it really is the one area they can't afford to not address.
Tony Sipp was one of the few valuable veteran pieces the team opted not to trade at the deadline in 2014, and the decision wound up paying major dividends this year as the 32-year-old posted a 1.99 ERA, 1.031 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 with 13 holds in 61 appearances as one of the better lefty relievers in all of baseball.
The Astros struggled to find a second reliable lefty in the bullpen, though, and they wound up turning to a struggling Oliver Perez down the stretch after he was acquired in an August waiver deal.
In a division that features left-handed hitters like Robinson Cano, Prince Fielder, Kyle Seager, Shin-Soo Choo, Josh Reddick and Kole Calhoun, among others, having a qualify left-hander is a must.
The Astros' biggest need appears to be further upgrading their relief corps, and re-signing Sipp or signing one of the few other impact southpaw relievers on the market like Antonio Bastardo or Matt Thornton will be a big first step in that process.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not focusing on both corner outfield spots
The biggest decision facing the Kansas City Royals this offseason will undoubtedly be whether or not to invest $100-plus million in re-signing left fielder Alex Gordon.
The 31-year-old has a $12.5 million player option that he will almost certainly decline in search of a long-term deal, and there is no reason to think he'll wind up signing for anything less than nine figures.
While he's an important piece of the puzzle for the Royals and one of the most valuable all-around players in the game, the small-market club also has to think about the future.
With Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar and Wade Davis all set to hit free agency after the 2017 season and Salvador Perez deserving a raise, extending other pieces may be a bigger priority.
Then there is the matter of figuring out right field as well.
Alex Rios is enjoying a strong postseason to this point, but he's also coming off of a season where he hit just .255/.287/.353 with four home runs and 32 RBI in 385 at-bats while also missing time to injury.
He too carries a $12.5 million option for next year, but his is a mutual option, and that may be more than the Royals are willing to pony up for an underperforming veteran.
At the end of the day, signing a duo like Gerardo Parra and Marlon Byrd may be a better allocation of funds than breaking the bank on Gordon.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Staying too right-handed offensively
It's no secret that the Los Angeles Angels are in desperate need of left-handed bats.
They hit just .236/.289/.356 with 78 doubles, 42 home runs and 190 RBI as a team from the left side of the plate this past season, and those numbers grow considerably worse when you remove one player from the mix.
In 1,158 at-bats by left-handed hitters not named Kole Calhoun, the team managed a meager .225/.280/.320 line with 55 doubles, 16 home runs and 107 RBI.
With clear holes to fill at third base and in left field and potential upgrades also making sense at catcher and second base, there are plenty of areas for the team to get more left-handed.
Daniel Murphy looks like one free-agent target that makes a lot of sense, whether it's as a second baseman or a third baseman.
In the outfield, Colby Rasmus could make sense if they aren't willing to break the bank to make a run at someone like Jason Heyward or Alex Gordon.
One way or another, though, they need to find more quality at-bats from the left side of the plate in 2016.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Waiting around on Zack Greinke
As expected, Zack Greinke has opted out of the final three years and $71 million of his current contract to chase more years and a greater annual average value this offseason.
There is no question the Los Angeles Dodgers will want him back after his fantastic 2015 performance, and especially considering the fact that the rest of the starting rotation outside of Clayton Kershaw is one big question mark for the 2016 season.
However, Greinke is by no means a sure thing to be back in Dodger blue next season.
Last offseason, we saw Jon Lester set the pitching market with a six-year, $155 million deal during the winter meetings.
However, Max Scherzer did not sign with the Washington Nationals until Jan. 21, and James Shields waited even longer as he joined the San Diego Padres on Feb. 11.
The Dodgers have too many other things to address to sit on their hands until late January to see what Greinke decides to do, so it will be important for them to be willing to turn their attention elsewhere to someone like David Price or Jordan Zimmermann if Greinke is dragging his feet on making a decision.
Otherwise, they risk missing out on a second ace-caliber arm altogether, and that would not be good.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Overpaying on an extension for Dee Gordon
Not much went right for the Miami Marlins in 2015, but one bright spot was Dee Gordon, who was acquired in a seven-player deal that sent Andrew Heaney and Kike Hernandez to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After a breakout season in 2014, Gordon proved he was capable of even more as he led the National League in batting average (.333), hits (205) and stolen bases (58) on his way to a 4.9 WAR.
He also graded out incredibly well defensively, showing a marked improvement in both defensive runs saved (-5 to 13) and UZR/150 (-3.5 to 6.0) compared to the previous season.
All of that makes the 27-year-old a prime candidate for an extension, as he'll be due a significant raise over the $2.5 million he made in his first year of arbitration last winter.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports had the following to say about a potential Gordon extension:
"The Marlins are plotting to make an extension for Dee Gordon one of their first orders of business after they first find a new manager. Loria loved Gordon when he got him, and Gordon wound up becoming the first NL player to lead the league in batting average and stolen bases since Jackie Robinson. He led in hits and should probably win a Gold Glove.
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While locking up Gordon would be nice, and there's no question he's an impact player with his speed and improved glove, the team needs to be careful not to overpay for a career year.
His .383 BABIP this past season was abnormally high, even for a speedy player like Gordon, and we're still talking about a leadoff hitter with a 3.8 percent walk rate.
Regression back to his 2014 numbers seems likely, and that's what the Marlins need to pay for, not his unsustainable 2015 level of production.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not solving the Matt Garza situation
The Milwaukee Brewers made the not-at-all surprising decision to remove a struggling Matt Garza from the starting rotation down the stretch in favor of getting an extended look at some of their young arms.
However, Garza did not handle the move particularly well, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
"Garza was livid when asked about the move.
"It's (expletive)," he said. "It's not my decision. I didn't get much say. It's completely taken out of my hands. That's it. I didn't have any say at all. It is what it is. It's just (expletive)."
"I told them what I felt. Had my agent call up top and tell them how I felt, and that's that. I've played with guys who have gone through similar-type situations, just a rough year, and never once have I seen a guy shut down."
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To be fair, we're talking about a pitcher who was 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA and 1.567 WHIP over 148.2 innings of work, so it's not like shutting him down was not completely warranted from a production standpoint.
At the same time, Garza is due $25 million over the next two seasons, so the team has put themselves in an awkward spot with a guy who isn't simply going to go away.
The Brewers have no shortage of starting pitching options with Wily Peralta, Jimmy Nelson and Taylor Jungmann looking like locks and Zach Davies, Ariel Pena, Jorge Lopez, Tyler Wagner and Tyler Cravy also in the mix.
Either guaranteeing Garza a rotation spot ahead of spring training or finding a way to unload him seems like the best course of action for a young, rebuilding Brewers team that doesn't need to deal with an overblown clubhouse situation.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: A hesitance to spend on starting pitching
It's easy to say the Minnesota Twins should not be hesitant to spend on starting pitching, but at the same time things have not gone well in that department of late.
Observe:
- Ricky Nolasco: Signed to a team-record, four-year, $49 million deal in free agency after going 13-11 with a 3.70 ERA in 199.1 innings in 2013. He's gone 11-14 with a 5.64 ERA in 196.1 total innings the past two seasons.
- Ervin Santana: Signed to a new team-record, four-year, $55 million deal in free agency after going 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA in 196.0 innings in 2014. He was suspended for 80 games to start the 2015 season after a positive PED test, then went 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 17 start after returning.
- Phil Hughes: Signed a five-year, $58 million extension after going 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA in 209.2 innings to finish seventh in AL Cy Young voting in 2014. He was 11-9 with a 4.40 ERA in 155.1 innings this past season.
Despite the struggles of those three guys, the team managed to make a run at contention behind the trio of Kyle Gibson, Tommy Milone and rookie Tyler Duffey.
That doesn't leave much room for a potential rotation addition, especially when you also consider that top prospect Jose Berrios figures to reach the majors at some point in 2016, but if the right potential free-agent target or trade fit comes along the team shouldn't hesitate.
The starting rotation is what is holding this team back, and as the young core continues to progress, they will need to find a legitimate ace at some point.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not having a backup plan to Yoenis Cespedes
The New York Mets are on their way to the World Series, and it's hard to imagine the team getting that far if it were not for the deadline addition of Yoenis Cespedes and the subsequent improvement of the offense as a whole.
So what does the future hold for the Cuban slugger and the Mets?
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports offered up the following:
"No one originally figured Cespedes was anything more than a rental when the Mets acquired him by trade for two young pitchers at the deadline, but he made such a magnificent splash that folks were starting to figure this could be a repeat of the Mike Piazza story, where they acquired a star player in trade and kept him with a big deal.
The Mets do seem to loves Cespedes, but based on talks with Mets people, one rival executive opined, "I will be shocked if they sign Cespedes."
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Heyman goes on to explain how it will likely take at least five years to lock up Cespedes, and perhaps north of $150 million, and that may not be a price the cost-conscious Mets are willing to pay.
That's fine, but the team has to have a backup plan in place, because they can't simply go back to the anemic pre-Cespedes offense.
It doesn't even necessarily need to be an outfielder, with Curtis Granderson, Juan Lagares and Michael Cuddyer all under contract for next season and Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo both ready to make a significant impact as well.
One way or another, though, they will need to find that impact run producer, and the David Wright-Lucas Duda-Michael Cuddyer trio simply is not the answer.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not finding a right-handed reliever to pair with Dellin Betances
What exactly will the New York Yankees offseason look like?
Some will say that signing an ace-caliber starting pitcher is a must, but the days of this front office throwing around $100 million deals like hotcakes would appear to be a thing of the past.
A rotation of Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi, Luis Severino and someone from the group of CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Adam Warren, Bryan Mitchell and Chase Whitley should give the team a solid staff and good depth to boot.
Others will point to a lack of position player depth as a major weakness, especially considering the age of the team, and that could make someone like Ben Zobrist the perfect target to provide some insurance at a number of positions.
Others still would prefer the team move Brett Gardner in a trade to open up left field for a more traditional power-hitting corner outfielder.
At the end of the day, though, there's a good chance none of that will happen and the team's biggest priority will be adding another bullpen piece.
Hear me out.
Dellin Betances has been among the most dominant relievers in baseball over the past two seasons with a 1.45 ERA and 13.8 K/9 over 144 appearances.
However, he's also been the most heavily used, as his 174.0 innings of work since the start of 2014 are the most by any pitcher who did not start a game during that span.
That stems as much from his dominance as it does from the team lacking a second right-handed reliever they can turn to in clutch situations.
If they go without signing a solid righty bullpen arm and continue to ride Betances into the ground, it could really come back to bite them long term when he winds up burned out.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Another ill-advised trade
So that Josh Donaldson trade...still no idea what the Oakland Athletics were thinking.
After posting a .277/.363/.477 line and averaging 34 doubles, 26 home runs and 96 RBI the past two seasons while posting a combined 15.1 WAR and finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting both years, Donaldson was undoubtedly one of the top players in the American League.
Money would generally be the driving factor for the Athletics in trading a player, but he was also incredibly cheap, as he made just $4.3 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility this year and is under team control through the 2018 season.
It's still hard to fathom that the A's couldn't get more for an MVP-caliber position player with three years of team control left than the package of Brett Lawrie, Franklin Barreto, Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin.
Barreto has a world of potential, and he could still turn into a star down the road, but that doesn't make it any easier for a fanbase to swallow watching a player get traded and then (probably) win an MVP award the following year.
General manager Billy Beane is not one to care what the masses think, but moving ace Sonny Gray this offseason in a similar deal could lead to full-blown abandonment from a fanbase that already ranked just 27th in attendance.
Don't trade Sonny Gray, Athletics. Just don't do it.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Not finding a veteran or two to eat innings
The Philadelphia Phillies have finally started what figures to be a lengthy rebuilding process, and general manager Ruben Amaro is no longer around to muck things up either, so it's fair to say the franchise is finally headed in the right direction.
However, they will need to find the right mix of veterans and young talent this coming season, especially in the starting rotation.
Aaron Nola (22), Jerad Eickhoff (25) and Adam Morgan (25) give the team three solid young starters to build around, and the prospect trio of Jake Thompson, Ben Lively and Zach Eflin could all see the majors at some point in 2016.
There is nothing wrong with going young, but adding a veteran or two at the back end to help eat innings and provide some sort of leadership would also be wise.
Bringing back someone like Aaron Harang is an option, or going after a potential buy-low candidate like Doug Fister or Bud Norris and then looking to flip him at the deadline if he does in fact rebound is another potential approach.
Finding a way to take some pressure off of the bullpen and burn through some innings as the rebuilding efforts continue will be key.
Bonus points of they can turn a low-cost signing into a solid prospect or two when the deadline rolls around.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Biggest Roadblock: Potentially blocking top prospects
Upgrading at first base and shoring up the starting rotation with A.J. Burnett headed for retirement and J.A. Happ headed for free agency look to be the two biggest areas of need for the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason.
That being said, they would be wise to look for short-term solutions in both areas, otherwise they risk blocking two of the top prospects in all of baseball.
Pedro Alvarez was an absolute disaster defensively at first base this past season, somehow managing to commit 25 errors on his way to a minus-14 DRS and -26.4 UZR/150.
That's bad to the point that the team almost would have been better off going with eight players on defense and making him a de facto designated hitter, and his .787 OPS and 27 home runs hardly offset the damage he did in the field.
He'll still earn a raise over his current $5.75 million salary, though, and that will likely make him a trade candidate this winter.
Waiting in the wings is 23-year-old Josh Bell, who reached Triple-A last season and hit a combined .317/.393/.446 with 24 doubles, seven home runs and 78 RBI in 489 at-bats.
There is a ton of untapped power potential in the 6'2", 235-pound former second-round pick, and blocking his path to the majors by signing anything more than a stopgap would be unwise.
Meanwhile, the rotation is set to get another huge shot in the arm from the farm system once Tyler Glasnow arrives in Pittsburgh.
The towering 6'8" right-hander has been nothing short of dominant every step of the way in the minors, going 28-16 with a 2.07 ERA, 1.059 WHIP and 501 strikeouts in a career 383.1 innings. He too reached Triple-A in 2015, and should see Pittsburgh at some point this coming season.
This is not to say the Pirates shouldn't target both a first baseman and a starting pitcher this winter, but anything they do to block either of those players would be a foolish move.
San Diego Padres
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Biggest Roadblock: Not putting more stock in defense
The San Diego Padres and GM A.J. Preller set up to completely overhaul an anemic offense last offseason, and while they added a number of impact bats, they did so with little regard for the value of defense.
Look no further than the decision to play Wil Myers—a former catcher—in center field, where his lack of range was perfectly illustrated by a shockingly bad minus-42.5 UZR/150.
As a team, the Padres posted a minus-28 DRS (26th in MLB) and minus-6.4 UZR/150 (30th in MLB), and it was no surprise to see that have an effect on their pitching staff.
After ranking fourth in the majors and second in the NL with a 3.27 ERA in 2014, they fell to 20th in the league with a 4.09 ERA this past season, despite the additions of James Shields and Craig Kimbrel.
Finding offensive production is important in a pitcher-friendly environment like Petco Park, but at the same time the team is really playing against their potential home-field advantage by not focusing more on pitching and defense.
It will no doubt be another busy offseason in San Diego, and defense needs to become a priority.
San Francisco Giants
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Biggest Roadblock: Relying on Matt Cain to fill a rotation spot
The San Francisco Giants have some work to do on their starting rotation if they hope to return to contention in 2016.
Madison Bumgarner, Jake Peavy and Chris Heston look like safe bets to fill three of the posts, but with Tim Hudson set to retire and Mike Leake, Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong all headed for free agency, change is coming.
Targeting a front-line arm like Jordan Zimmermann and perhaps bringing back Mike Leake to be a middle-of-the-rotation innings-eater makes a lot of sense, but whatever route the team decides to take, they can't head to spring training with Matt Cain penciled into a rotation spot.
At this point, anything they get from the 31-year-old has to be considered a bonus.
That's tough to say when you consider he's owed $42 million over the next two years and was one of the best pitchers in the National League not all that long ago.
However, after a undergoing season-ending surgery in July 2014 to remove bone chips from his elbow, then following that up with surgery on a bone spur in his right ankle, he was not the same pitcher in 2015.
He managed just 11 starts and went 2-4 with a 5.79 ERA in 60.2 innings of work, recording just three quality starts along the way.
They won't simply give up on Cain considering the money he is owed, but at the same time they can't count on him to fill a rotation spot and make 30 starts.
Seattle Mariners
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Biggest Roadblock: Not completely overhauling the bullpen
It doesn't take a baseball expert to make the connection between bullpen performance and win-loss record for the Seattle Mariners over the past three years:
- 2013 (71-91): 4.58 ERA (29th), 23 BS, 33 L
- 2014 (87-75): 2.59 ERA (1st), 11 BS, 20 L
- 2015 (76-86): 4.15 ERA (25th), 16 BS, 36 L
Tom Wilhelmsen and Danny Farquhar will both be back next season, and rookies Carson Smith and Tony Zych both showed potential, but a significant bullpen overhaul seems to be in order this winter.
That should start with finding a proven closer to work the ninth inning.
Smith and Wilhelmsen both tallied double-digit saves after Fernando Rodney was finally ousted from the ninth-inning role, and Smith still has the stuff to be the long-term answer, but for a team with legitimate hopes of contention a more established option seems like a must.
That could mean signing Joakim Soria in free agency, or it could mean a trade for Aroldis Chapman or Craig Kimbrel.
Closer can't be the only area of focus either, as the team is also in desperate need of a left-handed reliever of some sort that they can rely on in big situations.
Charlie Furbush was that guy before he was shut down in July with biceps tendinitis, and even if he comes back healthy a second southpaw would be nice.
Finding another power bat to man left field or upgrading at the catcher position would be nice, but the bullpen has to be the team's No. 1 focus this offseason.
St. Louis Cardinals
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Biggest Roadblock: Someone else breaking the bank for Jason Heyward
Once again, the St. Louis Cardinals enter the offseason with no glaring areas of need, but just like last winter that doesn't necessarily mean things will be quiet.
The No. 1 focus at this point is obviously re-signing Jason Heyward, so it would be fair to say their biggest roadblock to a successful offseason would be another team offering up a contract they were not willing to match for the 26-year-old outfielder.
With the emergence of Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty this season, and Matt Holliday still under contract through 2016 with a $17 million option for 2018, you could make the argument that the Cardinals don't necessarily need Heyward.
However, at 26 years old, he is the rare free agent you can sign to a six- or seven-year deal without having to worry about a steep decline at the back end of the contract, and that makes him incredibly valuable.
He may never be the prototypical middle-of-the-order run producer, but he's the best defensive right fielder in baseball and is coming off of a strong overall season offensively that saw him hit .293/.359/.439 with 33 doubles, 13 home runs, 60 RBI and 23 stolen bases.
That all added up to a 6.5 WAR, and going back to his rookie season in 2010 his 31.2 WAR is good for eighth among all position players.
Losing out on signing Heyward would make the decision to trade Shelby Miller that much tougher to swallow, and at this point someone else breaking the bank to steal him away from St. Louis looks like the team's biggest potential roadblock.
Tampa Bay Rays
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Biggest Roadblock: Not having the money to upgrade the offense
The biggest hurdle for the Tampa Bay Rays is the same one they've dealt with throughout their existence as a franchise.
A lack of money.
Their payroll was $73,241,552 this past season, according to Spotrac.com, the second-lowest in all of baseball ahead of only the Miami Marlins.
The last big free-agent signing the team made was first baseman James Loney on a three-year, $21 million deal, and he was the second-highest paid player on the team this past year with an $8.67 million salary.
It's hard to find a true difference-maker offensively for an average annual salary of less than $10 million, so the team will again have to resort to under-the-radar trades and bargain-bin signings in an attempt to boost the offense.
And after ranking 25th in the league with 3.98 runs per game, there is no question it needs boosting, especially considering this is a team with the pitching to contend.
At this point, a lack of financial flexibility is almost more of an organizational philosophy than a roadblock, but it poses some serious restrictions regardless of what you call it.
Texas Rangers
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Biggest Roadblock: Not adding viable starting pitching depth
The Texas Rangers got a big shot in the arm down the stretch not only from the addition of Cole Hamels at the trade deadline, but also from a return to health by Derek Holland and Martin Perez.
Add to that trio a healthy Yu Darvish next season, and the Texas Rangers could potentially boast one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball.
That said, they would be wise to guard themselves against further injuries.
Holland has a had a very hard time staying on the field the past few seasons, and now Darvish and Perez will both have a Tommy John surgery under their belts.
The team's two leaders in innings pitched this past season, Colby Lewis (204.2) and Yovani Gallardo (184.1), are both headed for free agency and appear to be candidates to be re-signed.
"I would expect this winter, between Colby, Yovani and/or somebody outside the organization, that we will look to add some stability to the organization,” GM Jon Daniels told Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
There is little in the way of organizational depth right now outside of Chi Chi Gonzalez, so the team will need to look beyond just figuring out the No. 5 starter spot if they hope to turn in a successful offseason.
Toronto Blue Jays
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Biggest Roadblock: An adherence to the five-year contract rule
Under team president and CEO Paul Beeston, the Toronto Blue Jays stuck to a firm rule of not offering players contracts longer than five years.
That made for some obvious limitations when it came to targeting the top players on the free-agent market.
"They’re the only team that has said that limitation is five years. When you do that, you are cutting yourself off from a pool of talent that makes it very, very difficult to compete, particularly in the AL East," agent Scott Boars told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca.
Beeston will step down from that role on Oct. 31 of this year, with current Cleveland Indians team president Mark Shapiro set to take over, and that could mean a change in philosophy.
That change will need to come if the team is going to have any shot at retaining David Price, who will no doubt be seeking something in the neighborhood of the seven-year, $210 million deal that Max Scherzer landed last offseason.
The Blue Jays will have a healthy Marcus Stroman back atop the rotation next season, but they probably still need another ace-caliber arm if they hope to repeat as AL East champs.
Sticking to the five-year rule would be a major roadblock in securing that second ace.
Washington Nationals
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Biggest Roadblock: Not finding a viable leadoff option
Center fielder Denard Span is one of a handful of key players set to reach free agency for the Washington Nationals, and he may very well be the most important as far as finding a replacement is concerned.
His importance to the Nationals was clear last season when the team went 36-25 (.590) with him in the lineup compared to 47-54 (.465) without him, as he was slowed by a hip injury that eventually required surgery in August.
Michael Taylor, Anthony Rendon, Yunel Escobar and Jayson Werth all saw extended time in the leadoff spot as the team looked for a viable table-setter, and that remains a glaring area of need heading into the offseason.
Taylor has long been viewed as the logical replacement for Span as the everyday center fielder, and he showed a good mix of power and speed during his time in the minors.
However, he hit just .229/.282/.358 in 472 at-bats as a rookie, and until he cuts down on his strikeouts (30.9 percent) and takes more walks (6.8 percent), he really doesn't profile as a leadoff hitter.
If the Nationals enter spring training without a more proven option to fill the leadoff spot, it will be tough to say the offseason was a success.
All standard stats and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while defensive metrics like DRS and UZR/150 come via FanGraphs.
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