The Hottest Questions of the 2015-16 MLB Offseason
The 2015 MLB season has come to a close, but that doesn't mean baseball is done for the year. In fact, many 2016 storylines will be molded over the next few months during free agency.
Over the next few slides, we'll take a look at a handful of the hottest questions that need to be answered this winter.
What constitutes a hot storyline? Each question on this list will be a hotly discussed topic over the coming months. When you turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper, the following scenarios will be a theme leading up to spring training. To put it simply, the questions on each slide will directly affect the outcome of the 2016 season.
We'll dive into the Boston Red Sox and their strategy to acquire an ace this offseason. We'll discuss Zack Greinke's impending free agency and how it can alter the landscape of the NL West. We'll talk about how the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets face decisions this winter in order to return to the World Series.
Let us know what you think about our selections in the comment section below. What storylines are you most excited to see play out this offseason? How do you see your favorite team handling the madness this winter?
MLB's offseason can be as exciting as the regular season. Let's figure out where you can expect the news and notes to come from this winter.
Can the Baltimore Orioles Overcome Roster Turnover?
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Over the last few seasons, the Baltimore Orioles have revitalized a franchise that hadn't achieved a winning record since 1997.
While the O's enjoyed a wonderful three-year stretch, that window may be coming to a close. Baltimore faces several decisions with multiple free agents this winter. Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Wei-Yin Chen and Darren O'Day accounted for a combined 10.2 WAR this season.
That's not to say the Orioles can't re-sign any of those players, but it's unlikely they can retain all of them. With so much roster turnover expected this offseason, Childs Walker of the Baltimore Sun has sensed a pessimistic attitude from Orioles fans:
"The Orioles have spent the last three years reinvigorating their fan base and restoring the luster to a franchise that lay as deep in the dumps as any in baseball for more than a decade. But with a disappointing season ending and some of the team's top players headed for free agency, the mood for Baltimore baseball fans is suddenly gloomy.
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In that same article, Walker alludes to some dissension between manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette. With such an important offseason ahead, those rumors are only fueling the worries of Orioles fans.
Whether those whispers are true, Baltimore is at a crossroads this winter. If the O's want to stay relevant, Showalter, Duquette and the rest of the Baltimore braintrust have to make shrewd decisions over the coming months.
How Will the New York Mets Improve the Offense?
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The New York Mets proved in 2015 that they'll be a force to be reckoned with in the National League for the foreseeable future.
The biggest reason for the optimism surrounding the Mets is due to an elite starting rotation. Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz combined for the fourth-lowest starters ERA in MLB.
The Mets do have some holes offensively, especially with the looming departures of Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel Murphy.
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Mets aren't expected to seriously pursue Cespedes this winter. Cespedes revitalized the New York offense after coming over at the deadline—the Mets ranked 28th in runs pre-Cespedes and third after his arrival.
So, where does that leave New York? Curtis Granderson, Lucas Duda and David Wright (if healthy) form a solid nucleus, and if the postseason is any indication, Michael Conforto has the look of a future All-Star.
Still, the Mets have to account for the losses of Cespedes and Murphy this winter. They probably won't be in on any of the top targets, but it's crucial that the club finds offensive upgrades within their budget.
How Will Toronto's Front Office Dynamic Shake Out?
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After a magical run to the ALCS, the Toronto Blue Jays face crucial decisions this winter.
There's just one problem. As of now, the Blue Jays don't have a general manager. Alex Anthopoulos, who was instrumental in acquiring David Price and Troy Tulowitzki at the trade deadline, decided to not return to be a part of president Mark Shapiro's new regime.
It's never ideal to be on a GM hunt this close to the offseason, but the Blue Jays are in a particularly urgent situation. Toronto is looking to sustain its newfound success from 2015, which will require positive decision-making by all involved.
"But these are still unusual circumstances," Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com said. "The Blue Jays will be looking for new leadership not while in the initiation of a rebuild but while trying to sustain a newly established contender. And they'll do so with a hugely important offseason, in which they'll need to patch up their pitching staff, already underway."
Shapiro has an extensive history as an MLB executive, so pushing the panic button may be a little premature. Still, Toronto will need to have a unified braintrust in order to keep up with the rest of the AL.
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How Will the Boston Red Sox Approach Free Agency?
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Despite a late season front office shakeup, the Boston Red Sox are in position to dominate headlines this winter.
Boston is loaded with more tradable prospects than any other organization. The Red Sox have six prospects in MLB.com's top 80 and various young talent already sprinkled across the big league level.
One idea is to take some of those talented prospects and turn them into front-line starters. The Red Sox ranked 24th in MLB in starters ERA last season and don't have enough quality arms to legitimately challenge for an AL East title.
On the other hand, Boston could be a player in what looks to be a loaded free-agent market. New general manager Dave Dombrowski holds all the cards this winter and will use them to snag that coveted ace.
“I think you're always careful when dealing with players that you're really not going to tip your hand on what you're going to exactly do,” Dombrowski told Hot Stove Show via Ricky Doyle of NESN.com. “We do want to get somebody that can lead the top of the rotation. You're open to signing free agents, and you're also in a position from our perspective where you're open to trades. Those are different areas that we would explore. Where it eventually would take us, only time will tell.”
Because of Boston's deep pool of prospects and its willingness to move them, a whole crop of seemingly off-limits hurlers will become realistic options. The Red Sox will be a factor this winter, it's just a matter of in what capacity.
How Will the Kansas City Royals Replace Three Key Holes?
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The Kansas City Royals were the best team in the American League for the majority of the 2015 season and proved to be worthy of a World Series title.
Kansas City established a formula that breeds success in today's MLB. The Royals put the ball in play, back up their pitchers with stellar defense and are lights out from the sixth inning on.
But like every team, Kansas City has a busy offseason ahead. As Tim Kurkjian of ESPN notes, the Royals will have decisions to make this winter:
"They also have pitcher Johnny Cueto and second baseman Ben Zobrist eligible for free agency. Each will get considerable interest from several teams, especially Zobrist, given his versatility, his ability to hit good pitching and the professional manner in which he approaches all parts of the game. They may lose Cueto, Zobrist and [Alex] Gordon, but their best chance is with Gordon, who has been there longer than any other player on the team.
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Kansas City's focus should be on retaining Gordon's services. In many ways, he epitomizes Royals baseball and was a key part of the team's turnaround over the last two seasons. The losses of Cueto and Zobrist will be felt, but general manager Dayton Moore has proven to be creative enough to fill holes while working within the constraints of a budget.
When the 2016 season begins, the defending champs will return many familiar faces. Yet, replacing Cueto, Zobrist and potentially Gordon will determine if K.C. will reach a third straight World Series.
Will Chase Utley's Slide Force a Rule Change?
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The 2015 postseason was filled with memorable moments, but it also will be remembered for the black eye that was the Chase Utley.
In Game 2 of the NLDS, Utley broke up a crucial double play. In the process, he broke the leg of New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada and stirred up a firestorm of criticism all at the same time.
The ethics of the slide can, and will, be debated for years to come. The more important thing to come from the play is a push to change a rule that's been a part of baseball since its inception. The way players can legally break up double plays could be completely altered after seeing how dangerous the play involving Utley and Tejada really was.
Like Utley's slide, there will be plenty of disagreement if the rule is indeed changed.
"It will be extremely difficult on umpires to enforce such a rule change, and there will be plenty of unhappy players over it," ESPN's Tim Kurkjian said. "Utley's slide was late, but legal. When April arrives, it likely will be seen as late and illegal."
Improving player safety is always a positive thing, but don't expect a potential rule change to go over smoothly. This will be a hot topic throughout the winter and could change how the game is played as early as 2016.
Will the San Francisco Giants Steal Zack Greinke from the Los Angeles Dodgers?
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Although a World Series title has eluded them, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won the NL West in three straight seasons.
In 2015, Zack Greinke was a big reason for that division supremacy. The right-hander posted a 1.66 ERA in 32 starts and could win the NL Cy Young later this month.
Greinke recently opted out of the final three years and $71 million of his contract and will hit free agency. He may not exceed $200 million—he's 32—but he's likely to earn somewhere in the $170 million to $180 million range.
There's obviously a high chance that L.A. re-signs Greinke, but there's another team that's been linked to the right-hander: the San Francisco Giants. Imagine how intense that already sizzling rivalry would become if Greinke ditched Hollywood for the Bay Area.
As Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today notes, Greinke's decision could completely alter the landscape of the division:
"For the Giants, going after Greinke could be the most effective way of loosening L.A.'s stranglehold on the National League West, not only bolstering their depleted starting rotation but weakening the Dodgers' as well. No other free agent offers such a compelling double benefit, and it's worth noting that Greinke has a career 1.78 ERA at AT&T Park and a 7-0 record with a 2.19 ERA against San Francisco.
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Los Angeles and San Francisco won't be the only teams pursuing Greinke, but it'll be interesting to see how both teams approach the former AL Cy Young, knowing just how important his signature could be.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Nov. 6.
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