5 MLB Teams That Need Full Offseason Makeovers to Contend in 2016
The World Series may be in full swing, but it's never too early to look ahead to the offseason. Over the next few slides, we'll identify a handful of teams that need significant makeovers to contend in 2016.
The teams highlighted in this slideshow aren't cellar-dwellers with slim chances at a playoff push next season. We chose teams that entered the 2015 season with high expectations only to falter and miss the postseason after disappointing campaigns.
Now, all of those teams face crucial decisions this winter if they want to erase the painful memories of 2015.
The Baltimore Orioles must find a way to replace several key players leaving for free agency. The Chicago White Sox can't win without an upgraded offense, and the Detroit Tigers need to bolster their starting rotation. The Cincinnati Reds have already started the rebuilding process, and the San Diego Padres probably should.
Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Which teams do you think have the most work to do to get back into contention next season? What are some moves you'd like to see your team make this winter?
The offseason is right around the corner. Consider this a primer identifying the teams that need to hit it out of the park this winter.
Baltimore Orioles
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The recent run of success the Baltimore Orioles have enjoyed will be tested this offseason due to multiple key departures.
Baltimore will lose Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Wei-Yin Chen, Gerardo Parra, Darren O'Day, Steve Pearce and Brian Matusz this offseason. That's four everyday starters, two key relievers and arguably the team's best starting pitcher.
The production of Davis will be extremely tough to replace. No player in MLB has hit more homers since 2012 than Davis. He was Baltimore's most dangerous hitter again this season, mashing 47 homers and driving in 117 runs. Without Davis, Wieters, Parra and Pearce, the Orioles have just Manny Machado and Adam Jones as proven returning hitters.
Baltimore struggled to find consistent starting pitching this season, but Chen wasn't one of the problems. The right-hander led the O's in ERA, WAR and innings pitched. The loss of O'Day also presents plenty of issues, as he became one of the top setup men in baseball in 2015.
The Orioles will look vastly different next season, largely because they'll have no choice. Still, it won't be easy to remain in contention without multiple shrewd moves this winter.
Chicago White Sox
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Before the start of the 2015 season, the Chicago White Sox were a trendy pick to contend in the American League Central.
The White Sox failed to live up to expectations, mostly due to an anemic offense. Chicago ranked dead last in MLB in position player WAR and scored the third-fewest runs in baseball.
A big reason why the White Sox struggled to score runs was due to whiffing on their two significant signings from last offseason. Melky Cabrera (.273/.314/.394) and Adam LaRoche (.207/.293/.340) never looked comfortable in their new surroundings. Adam Eaton (.287/.361/.431) and Jose Abreu (30 HR, 101 RBI) are nice pieces to build around, but the White Sox could use some offensive upgrades.
In terms of starting pitching, the White Sox are fortunate to have ace Chris Sale and the reliable Jose Quintana already in place. They'll lose Jeff Samardzija, who still logged well over 200 innings while struggling this season. Rookie Carlos Rodon proved he's capable of moving into the rotation, but the White Sox will still have to address the back end of their rotation.
The White Sox won't have the same hype they did last year, nor should they. Without improving the lineup at multiple spots, Chicago won't score enough runs to realistically contend next year.
Cincinnati Reds
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The Cincinnati Reds have already begun making over their roster this season. At the trade deadline, they parted with Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, two stalwarts of their rotation.
Starting pitching is exactly what the Reds need to focus on this offseason. It made sense to trade both Cueto and Leake, but that left the club with a handful of young hurlers trying to make their mark at the end of the season.
Anthony DeSclafani was the club's top hurler this season, despite posting a 4.05 ERA. Prospect Robert Stephenson is on the way, but the Reds will require multiple free-agent starters to compete in 2016.
The Reds seem like a competent offensive unit on paper, but outside of Joey Votto (.314/.459/.541) and Todd Frazier (35 HR, 89 RBI), there's definitely work to be done. Cincinnati ranked 26th in runs scored this season, proving that this particular lineup is not up to snuff.
One way the Reds can pull off a quick rebuild is to deal some of their top-tier talent. Frazier, Jay Bruce and Aroldis Chapman will all hit free agency over the next three offseasons. Each of those players could be dangled to acquire impact talent in the right deal.
The Reds aren't a total lost cause, but this group of players has proven that it doesn't work well together. With the rest of the division sporting young, fresh rosters, it's time for Cincinnati to revamp its squad and attempt to catch up with the pack.
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Detroit Tigers
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After years of dominance in the AL Central, it will be back to the drawing board for the Detroit Tigers this offseason.
For the first time in years, the Tigers will have to address a rotation that was considered a weakness this past year. Detroit has lost Max Scherzer and David Price over the last two seasons, leaving behind a rotation that ranked 27th in ERA this season.
Detroit's struggles on the mound were much bigger than just a down year. There's really not anyone returning next season who inspires confidence. Justin Verlander continues to break down, Anibal Sanchez posted a near-5.00 ERA and Kyle Lobstein, Shane Greene and Matt Boyd all underwhelmed in their auditions for next year's rotation (all had an over-6.00 ERA this season).
The Tigers should still be able to score runs, but it can't be comforting relying so heavily on the aging bodies of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. There will be no Yoenis Cespedes to fill that void next year, which leaves Detroit in a serious bind if one of Cabrera or Martinez misses significant time next season.
Getting the Tigers back into playoff contention won't be an easy task for first-year general manager Al Avila, but his biggest obstacle will be trying to return Detroit's starting rotation to its glory days.
San Diego Padres
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San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller's experiment failed miserably in 2015. The Padres loaded up on risk/reward talent last winter, but they ended the season without a playoff appearance.
It'll be interesting to see how Preller handles his second offseason. San Diego will return most of its free-agent acquisitions from last winter, losing only Justin Upton to the market. Still, San Diego has significant holes it must fill to contend in 2016.
The Padres were among the league's worst at two primary positions this season: shortstop and center field. Upton's departure will allow Wil Myers to slide to his normal position in right field, but there's not a player on the roster who's a legitimate everyday center fielder. At short, Alexi Amarista was so bad that 36-year-old Clint Barmes was considered a better option this season.
San Diego also sports a predominately right-handed lineup. Yonder Alonso and Cory Spangenberg were the only lefties in the lineup this season, which unsurprisingly ranked 27th in OPS against right-handers.
The Padres have plenty of pitching talent on paper, but Andrew Cashner (4.34 ERA) and James Shields (3.91 ERA) struggled in 2015. Craig Kimbrel is one of baseball's best closers and could be used as potential trade bait.
San Diego's problems weren't fixed by adding high-profile players last offseason. There's talent throughout the clubhouse, but Preller's roster is flawed much more than it should be after all the wheeling and dealing last winter.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Oct. 30.
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