All 30 MLB Teams' Blueprint to an 'A' Grade This Offseason
Every MLB team has a different set of goals and a different path it will follow this offseason to improve heading into 2016, but one thing is for sure: Everyone has work to do.
Whether it is adding a player to upgrade a specific area of weakness, re-signing a key player in free agency, selling high on a trade chip or extending an in-house player, there is lots to be done before the start of spring training.
With that in mind, here is a look at all 30 MLB teams' blueprint to an "A" grade this offseason—a quick rundown of what every team needs to accomplish this winter to be in the best possible position heading into next season.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a front-line starter
2. Add a proven closer
3. Extend CF A.J. Pollock
Overview
The Arizona Diamondbacks have no shortage of starting pitching options for the upcoming season, but they are still lacking a bona fide ace to anchor whoever winds up filling out the rotation.
It's no surprise then that adding a front-line starter appears to be the top priority for general manager Dave Stewart and team president Tony La Russa.
"I think that's the No. 1 goal for Dave and Tony right now—to find a horse that we know when we throw him out there, win or lose, he's going to give us at least seven innings," manager Chip Hale told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.
Beyond that, the team will also be looking for a proven closer who would allow them to move Brad Ziegler back to the eighth inning role, where he's better suited with deceptive but less-than-overpowering stuff.
An extension for center fielder A.J. Pollock is also a possibility.
The 27-year-old hit .315/.367/.498 with 39 doubles, 20 home runs, 76 RBI and 39 steals this past year for a 7.4 WAR.
Now he's set to hit arbitration for the first time with a $4.3 million projected salary, and the Diamondbacks could look to give him a long-term deal as a core piece alongside Paul Goldschmidt.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a catcher
2. Add multiple relievers
Overview
The Atlanta Braves began the season with the intention of using rookie Christian Bethancourt as their primary backstop, with veteran A.J. Pierzynski signed to a one-year, $2 million deal to serve as his backup.
However, Betancourt hit just .198/.221/.287 over 101 at-bats through June 14 before being demoted to the minors and Pierzynski wound up seeing the bulk of the action.
Bethancourt hit .327/.359/.480 with 19 doubles in 52 games after being returned to Triple-A, so the 24-year-old will get another chance at the job at some point.
Expect the team to be in the market for a veteran once again, though, and a run at Matt Wieters is not out of the question. Buster Olney of ESPN pointed to Atlanta as a potential fit earlier this month.
Beyond addressing the catcher position, the team will also need to address the bullpen.
Arodys Vizcaino and Jason Grilli will be back as late-inning options, and if Mike Foltynewicz doesn't end up in the rotation he has the stuff to succeed in a setup role as well, but a few more proven arms should help take the pressure off a young rotation.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Blueprint
1. Re-sign 1B Chris Davis
2. Add a starting pitcher
3. Add a corner outfielder
Overview
The Baltimore Orioles have a number of key free agents this offseason, and topping that list is slugger Chris Davis.
After posting a .923 OPS with 47 home runs and 117 RBI, he is the top power hitter on the market and a tough piece to replace in the middle of the Orioles lineup.
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, owner Peter Angelos has "taken an interest" in trying to get the first baseman re-signed, so that could certainly help the team's cause.
The 29-year-old is likely headed for a nine-figure deal, and a five-year, $100 million deal may be his floor in a market thin on true impact bats.
Beyond making every effort to bring back Davis, the team will also be looking for a way to improve the starting rotation with Wei-Yin Chen departing in free agency and the staff as a whole underperforming this past year.
There are also a pair of holes on either side of center fielder Adam Jones, and while Henry Urrutia and Dariel Alvarez are both options for a bigger role, adding at least one everyday option would help shore up the lineup.
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a front-line starter
2. Add multiple setup relievers
Overview
The Boston Red Sox failed to add a top-of-the-rotation starter last offseason in the hopes that a collection of midlevel arms would be enough to back an offense that was expected to be among the best in baseball.
Instead, they wound up ranking 24th in the league with a 4.39 ERA from their starters, as the following six guys made the bulk of the starts:
- Wade Miley: 32 GS, 11-11, 4.46 ERA, 96 ERA+
- Rick Porcello: 28 GS, 9-15, 4.92 ERA, 87 ERA+
- Joe Kelly: 25 GS, 10-6, 4.82 ERA, 89 ERA+
- Eduardo Rodriguez: 21 GS, 10-6, 3.85 ERA, 112 ERA+
- Clay Buchholz: 18 GS, 7-7, 3.26 ERA, 132 ERA+
- Henry Owens: 11 GS, 4-4, 4.57 ERA, 94 ERA+
All six of those players will be back, and while a healthy Clay Buchholz and another year of development from Eduardo Rodriguez could potentially give the team a pair of quality arms there is still a glaring need for an ace.
With four elite starters on the free-agent market and the Red Sox holding a number of trade chips should they go that route, they will have no shortage of options.
The bullpen is an equally glaring need, as they ranked 26th in the league with a 4.24 bullpen ERA. Junichi Tazawa and an aging Koji Uehara are not enough to make up a reliable pen.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a quality starter
2. Extend SP Jake Arrieta
3. Re-sign or replace Dexter Fowler
Overview
There will be plenty of rumors swirling around the Chicago Cubs potentially adding a front-line starter this winter, most notably David Price given his previous relationship with Joe Maddon, but the team could opt to pursue a second-tier arm instead.
With Jon Lester already making $25 million annually over the next five years and Jake Arrieta likely to command a similar salary once he's extended, the team may not want to commit that much to three pitchers.
A trade for someone like Tyson Ross (Padres) or Carlos Carrasco (Indians) could be a cheaper option in the short term, while still giving the team the third quality arm they are looking for to push them over the hump.
As for the idea of an extension for Arrieta, the 29-year-old is projected to earn $10.6 million in his second year of arbitration. The team could make a serious push to lock him up now after his phenomenal 2015 performance.
The potential loss of Dexter Fowler will also need to be addressed, both as the starting center fielder and the table-setter atop the lineup.
Bringing back Fowler is certainly an option, but a more likely solution could be to sign Denard Span or Austin Jackson to a short-term deal as a bridge to prospect Albert Almora.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a third baseman
2. Add a shortstop
3. Add a catcher
4. Dump DH Adam LaRoche
Overview
The left side of the infield will be the most pressing area of need for the Chicago White Sox this coming season.
After a strong 2014 performance, Conor Gillaspie failed to hold down the third base job this past season and the result was a .226/.277/.345 line with 13 home runs and 50 RBI from the hot corner.
The team also declined their $10 million option on veteran shortstop Alexei Ramirez, opting instead to pay a $1 million buyout, so they will at least be looking for a short-term option at the position to bridge the gap to top prospect Tim Anderson.
The 22-year-old hit .312/.350/.429 with 38 extra-base hits in a full season at Double-A, but he remains a below-average defensive option.
Beyond those two glaring needs, the team could also look for an upgrade over catcher Tyler Flowers, who is a solid defensive receiver but has hit just .228/.284/.372 with a 3.1 WAR in three years as the starter.
Finally, if the opportunity presents itself, the team will likely try to dump the contract of Adam LaRoche.
The 35-year-old posted a .634 OPS with 12 doubles and 44 RBI in his first season with the team, and may be better suited going to a team where he can play the field as opposed to just serving as DH.
He's owed $13 million in 2016 in the final year of his contract.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Blueprint
1. Trade RP Aroldis Chapman
2. Add a left fielder/leadoff hitter
3. Add a veteran starter
4. Dump 2B Brandon Phillips
Overview
Aroldis Chapman is undoubtedly one of the game's elite closers, but for a rebuilding Cincinnati Reds team it doesn't make much sense to pay him north of $10 million.
Chapman is a free agent after the 2016 season, so shipping him off this winter will likely be the Reds best chance to maximize his value, and the haul could be huge for a team looking for a lights-out bullpen arm.
While they are expected to be playing a lot of young talent, the Reds will still look to add a few pieces in free agency.
With Billy Hamilton struggling to get on base and Marlon Byrd traded at the deadline, there is a hole in the leadoff spot in the order and in left field.
Signing someone like Gerardo Parra, Rajai Davis or Austin Jackson could be a way to kill two birds with one stone and address both of those needs.
A low-cost veteran starter to eat some innings and provide some leadership to an incredibly young pitching staff also seems like a reasonable target.
Finally, if the team can find a way to move veteran Brandon Phillips and the $27 million he's owed over the next two years, it would open things up for both Eugenio Suarez and Zack Cozart to have a starting spot on the infield.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a power bat
2. Add a left-handed reliever
Overview
The Cleveland Indians ranked 22nd in the league this past year with 141 home runs as a team, and only 58 of those long balls came from the right side of the plate.
Not since Ellis Burks in 2002 have the Indians had a right-handed hitter tally 30 home runs in a season, so it's not a huge surprise to see a righty power bat top their offseason wish list.
Justin Upton is the top option in free agency, but the Indians generally don't spend big, so a run at Marcell Ozuna (Marlins), Khris Davis (Brewers) or Yasiel Puig (Dodgers) on the trade market could be more likely.
Beyond bolstering the offensive attack, the bullpen will also need to be addressed.
With Marc Rzepczynski traded to the Padres, Nick Hagadone undergoing elbow surgery and Kyle Crockett (31 G, 4.08 ERA) failing to match his rookie success, there is a glaring need for a quality left-handed reliever.
Antonio Bastardo and Tony Sipp are the top options on the market, while veterans Matt Thornton, Neal Cotts and Oliver Perez are also available.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a quality starting pitcher
2. Add a couple relievers
3. Trade RF Carlos Gonzalez for a huge haul
4. Dump SS Jose Reyes
Overview
Pitching has seemingly topped the list of offseason needs for the Colorado Rockies every winter since their inception as a franchise back in 1993, and this year is no different.
They ranked dead last in the majors in team ERA (5.04), starters' ERA (5.27) and bullpen ERA (4.70) this past season, successfully undercutting an offense that led the NL at 4.55 runs per game.
It wasn't all bad in the rotation, as Jorge De La Rosa (9-7, 4.17 ERA, 112 ERA+) and Chad Bettis (8-6, 4.23 ERA, 110 ERA+) both pitched well and top prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler gained some valuable experience.
John Axford will also be back in the bullpen after converting 25-of-31 save chances with a 4.20 ERA.
However, they're going to have to do better than Kyle Kendrick as far as what free-agent starter or starters they are able to lure to Coors Field this offseason.
Aside from improving the pitching, the team will also likely at least listen to offers for right fielder Carlos Gonzalez.
Trading him just to trade him wouldn't necessarily make for a successful offseason, but if they can find a team willing to give up a pair of top prospects for the slugger who had 40 home runs and 97 RBI in 2015 they'd be wise to pull the trigger.
On the other hand, anything they can do to unload Jose Reyes and the $44 million left on his contract over the next two years would be a win.
Prospect Trevor Story hit .279/.350/.514 with 40 doubles, 10 triples and 20 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last year, and clearing a path for him at shortstop while saving a good chunk of money seems like a must.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add two starting pitchers
2. Add multiple relievers
3. Add a left fielder
4. Extend RF J.D. Martinez
Overview
The Detroit Tigers will return Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez atop their starting rotation in 2016, and they will also have the trio of Daniel Norris, Michael Fulmer and Buck Farmer in the mix for a spot.
However, new GM Al Avila has already made it clear he'd prefer to have just one of those young arms as part of the staff.
"I think two starting pitchers added to that rotation will bring down some of these guys that we don’t want to force feed and we want right there in Triple-A and it will give us some of the depth that we need," Avila told Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
He also acknowledged the bullpen as a clear area of need, but that was also the case last offseason as well. They've ranked 24th (4.01), 27th (4.29) and 27th (4.38) in bullpen ERA the past three years, so at some point it needs to become a priority.
They will also need to find a left fielder unless they trust some combination of Tyler Collins and Steven Moya to man the position, and there is nothing in either player's 2015 performance to suggest they should.
Finally, right fielder J.D. Martinez and the team are said to have mutual interest in an extension, according to Chris Iott of MLive.com.
The 28-year-old posted an .879 OPS with 38 home runs and 102 RBI in 2015, and he's projected to earn $7.8 million in arbitration. Considering the age of the rest of the offensive core, locking him up makes a lot of sense.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Blueprint
1. Extend SP Dallas Keuchel
2. Add a starting pitcher
3. Add a left-handed reliever
4. Add a setup reliever
Overview
There are holes to fill for the Houston Astros this offseason, but the No. 1 priority will likely be coming to terms on an extension with ace Dallas Keuchel.
The left-hander is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, and the Cy Young candidate is projected for a hefty raise to $6.4 million. He's arguably the most important player on the team at this point, and the goal appears to be to sign him for at least four years to buy out his arbitration, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Beyond that, the most pressing need appears to be finding a starting pitcher to join Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Lance McCullers and Mike Fiers in the rotation next year. That spot was filled by Scott Kazmir after he was acquired at the deadline, and re-signing him remains a distinct possibility.
The bullpen was easily the most improved area of the team this past year as they went from 30th (4.80) to sixth (3.27) in relievers' ERA, but they could still stand to add an arm or two.
Left-handers Tony Sipp and Oliver Perez are both free agents so signing a southpaw is a must, while adding another proven veteran arm alongside Luke Gregerson, Will Harris and Pat Neshek at the back end would also be wise.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Blueprint
1. Re-sign LF Alex Gordon
2. Re-sign RP Ryan Madson
3. Add a right fielder
4. Add a starting pitcher
Overview
As expected, left fielder Alex Gordon declined his $14 million option for the upcoming season in favor of pursuing a lucrative multiyear deal.
The 31-year-old has spent his entire professional career in the Royals organization, dating back to being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 draft.
He missed a couple months with a groin injury this past season, but will likely still land something in the neighborhood of a five-year, $100 million deal. That's steep for a small-market Royals team, even with all of that postseason profit, but they'll do everything in their power to keep him around.
The team would also be wise to re-sign Ryan Madson, who pitched in the majors for the first time since 2011 and posted a 2.13 ERA, 0.963 WHIP and 8.2 K/9 with 20 holds in 68 appearances.
With Greg Holland non-tendered, he would join Kelvin Herrera and Luke Hochevar as the primary setup men for closer Wade Davis.
Beyond bringing back those two players, finding a replacement for Alex Rios in right field is a must unless the team trusts some combination of Paulo Orlando and Jarrod Dyson to hold down the position.
Johnny Cueto and Chris Young will also be gone from the rotation, so signing at least one starting pitcher appears to be a priority.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a third baseman
2. Add a left fielder
3. Make sure at least one of them hits left-handed
Overview
With David Freese set to hit free agency, the Los Angeles Angels will be in the market for a third baseman this winter.
That is unless they feel prospect Kyle Kubitza is capable of handling the everyday job, but at the very least they will likely want to add a low-cost veteran to provide some insurance.
Left field is also a glaring need after Matt Joyce, David Murphy, Shane Victorino, Collin Cowgill, Efren Navarro, Dan Robertson, David DeJesus and Kirk Nieuwenhuis all made at least five starts out there this past season and the position contributed a pathetic .216/.275/.317 line.
Going a bit further, ideally at least one of the players they find to fill those two positions would be a left-handed hitter.
They hit just .236/.289/.356 with 42 home runs and 190 RBI as a team from the left side of the plate this past season, and nearly all of that production came from right fielder Kole Calhoun.
Daniel Murphy looks like the perfect target, but that's purely speculative at this point.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Blueprint
1. Re-sign SP Zack Greinke
2. Add another starting pitcher
3. Add multiple relievers
4. Add a second baseman
Overview
Priority No. 1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason will be re-signing Zack Greinke after he opted out of the final three years and $77 million of his previous deal.
The team could let him walk and go after someone like Jordan Zimmermann as a replacement, but Greinke is still the team's best option to pair with Clayton Kershaw at the top of the lineup and with little concern for the payroll expect him to be back.
That's not all the work that needs to be done on the starting rotation, though, as the Dodgers will need to fill out the staff behind projected No. 3 starter Alex Wood.
Mike Bolsinger is one in-house option, and at some point uber-prospect Julio Urias could arrive on the scene in 2016, but signing at least one other starter outside of Greinke is a must.
Expect the team to also be aggressive in pursuing potential bullpen upgrades once again this winter, as they cast a wide net last offseason with limited success. J.P. Howell and Kenley Jansen will be back, along with young arms like Yimi Garcia and Pedro Baez, but more help is needed.
Rounding out the list of needs is a second baseman with Howie Kendrick reaching free agency. The team could opt to go with Kike Hernandez at the position until they decide speedy Jose Peraza is ready to take over, but re-signing Kendrick is also an option.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Blueprint
1. Extend 2B Dee Gordon
2. Add a starting pitcher
3. Find a platoon partner for 1B Justin Bour
Overview
There were legitimate concerns whether Dee Gordon would be able to duplicate his 2014 breakout performance, and some felt the Los Angeles Dodgers were selling high when they shipped him to the Miami Marlins last winter.
The 27-year-old quickly proved that wrong, getting off to a red-hot start and never really slowing down on his way to the NL batting title as he hit .333 on the year. He also led the league in hits (205) and steals (58) while showing an improved glove at second base.
All of that was enough for the Marlins to make extending him this offseason a priority, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. He's projected to earn $5.9 million in his second year of arbitration.
As far as the biggest area of need, adding another quality starting pitcher to join Jose Fernandez, Tom Koehler and whatever combination of Jarred Cosart, Henderson Alvarez, Justin Nicolino, Adam Conley and Jose Urena makes the staff would be nice.
Flipping center fielder Marcell Ozuna for a big league-ready starter would be one possible solution to that problem.
Finally, finding a right-handed bat to platoon with Justin Bour at first base is a must, as he hit just .221/.293/.279 with zero home runs against lefties last year.
Casey McGehee is one option, though a run at someone like Steve Pearce also makes sense.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a center fielder
2. Add a third baseman
Overview
The Milwaukee Brewers already have three potential starting outfielders on the roster in Ryan Braun, Khris Davis and Domingo Santana, but none of them is equipped to play center field on an everyday basis.
The team used Santana there down the stretch after acquiring him from the Houston Astros in the Carlos Gomez deal, but his metrics (-3 DRS, -26.6 UZR/150) were awful and he's really best suited at a corner spot.
They won't want to block prospect Brett Phillips, another piece of the Gomez haul, so a short-term deal for someone like Austin Jackson, Denard Span or Rajai Davis seems like the likely route.
Third base is also a clear area of need with Aramis Ramirez no longer in the picture.
Hernan Perez and Elian Herrera split time at the hot corner after Ramirez was traded in July, but both players are better suited as utility infielders.
One option would be to slide Jean Segura over to third base, opening up the shortstop position for top prospect Orlando Arcia, who spent a full season in Double-A at the age of 20 this past year.
He may not be ready to break camp with the team, though, so at the very least a stop gap option appears to be a necessity.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a left-handed reliever
2. Trade 3B Trevor Plouffe for a big haul
3. Add a veteran leader
Overview
With Brian Duensing and Neal Cotts both hitting free agency and Aaron Thompson outright off the 40-man roster, the Minnesota Twins only have three left-handed pitchers currently on the roster.
One of them is All-Star closer Glen Perkins, while the other two are starters Tommy Milone and Logan Darnell.
That leaves finding a left-handed reliever as the most pressing need facing the team, and either Antonio Bastardo or Tony Sipp could wind up being their top target.
Beyond that, the big move for the team this winter could be trading third baseman Trevor Plouffe, as Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com explained:
"(GM Terry) Ryan said (Miguel) Sano can't get into the mindset of being a designated hitter and he would like him to play in the field next year. But he also said Trevor Plouffe is only a third baseman moving forward and that Joe Mauer will return at first base next year. So Ryan has some interesting decisions to make this offseason, including the option to trade to Plouffe.
"
Plouffe has two years of team control left and he's coming off a season where he posted a .742 OPS with 35 doubles, 22 home runs and 86 RBI. In a thin market for third basemen, there may be someone willing to overpay for his services.
Replacing Torii Hunter in the locker room won't be easy, but adding some kind of veteran leadership would be a step in the right direction. Someone like Jonny Gomes could be a good addition to this young roster.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add an impact bat
2. Add a setup reliever
3. Add infield depth
Overview
It's becoming less and less likely that the New York Mets bring back slugger Yoenis Cespedes, at least according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com.
"The Mets are expected to modestly pursue Yoenis Cespedes as a free agent, but a team official told ESPN.com it is highly likely he signs elsewhere," Rubin wrote.
So what does that mean for a Mets offense that is also set to lose Daniel Murphy?
Outfield is not necessarily a need with Michael Conforto, Michael Cuddyer, Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson in the mix and prospect Brandon Nimmo on his way, but there is a glaring need for an impact bat in the middle of the lineup.
Simply relying on David Wright to stay healthy and Conforto to take that next step isn't going to cut it if this team is serious about making a return trip to the World Series, but that may very well wind up being the route they take.
Beyond upgrading the middle of the order, finding a setup reliever to join Hansel Robles and Addison Reed in bridging the gap to closer Jeurys Familia would also be nice. Tyler Clippard filled that role down the stretch, but he struggled in October and is likely headed elsewhere in free agency.
If the team does let Murphy walk as expected, that will likely mean an infield of Ruben Tejada or Dilson Herrera at second base, Wilmer Flores at shortstop and Wright at third. Considering the makeup of that group as a whole, adding some versatile infield depth would probably be a good idea.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a right-handed reliever
2. Add a versatile position player
Overview
Fans will call for the New York Yankees to go after some of the top starting pitchers on the market this winter, but the likelihood of them signing anything beyond rotational depth is slim.
As it stands, a rotation of Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Luis Severino, Nathan Eovaldi and either Ivan Nova or CC Sabathia will likely be the 2016 rotation with Chase Whitley, Bryan Mitchell and Adam Warren around for depth.
Instead, the team will likely opt to address the bullpen, where there is a glaring need for a second reliable right-handed reliever to pair with Dellin Betances.
Betances has thrown 174 innings over the past two seasons, the most during that span by a pitcher who didn't make a start. Some of that has to do with how great he's been, but it's also a matter of not really having an alternative, and the last thing the team wants is to burn the 27-year-old out.
Beyond adding another bullpen piece, the biggest need appears to be overall depth.
A bench of John Ryan Murphy, Greg Bird, Brendan Ryan and Dustin Ackley is not terrible, but adding someone like Ben Zobrist or even Sean Rodriguez on a smaller scale would help add some versatility and depth to a lineup that remains as big an injury risk as any in baseball.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add multiple relievers
2. Add a middle infielder
3. Extend RF Josh Reddick
4. Resist the urge to trade SP Sonny Gray
Overview
While the Houston Astros relief corps showed the biggest improvement this past season, the Oakland Athletics went in the other direction.
They dropped from third (2.91) in the league in bullpen ERA to 27th (4.63), and that played a significant role in the team going 19-35 in one-run games.
A healthy Sean Doolittle back in the closer's role should help, but this is a relief corps that needs to be completely overhauled, and adding at least two or three proven arms looks like the team's biggest need.
The infield alignment down the stretch was Brett Lawrie at second base, Marcus Semien at shortstop and waiver claim Danny Valencia at third base, and that's likely how the team will start the 2016 season.
That leaves Eric Sogard as the utility infielder, so adding more infield depth in the event that someone gets hurt or Lawrie winds up shifting back to third base would be a solid move.
As for the in-house talent, team president Billy Beane has said that he doesn't see the team trading right fielder Josh Reddick or ace Sonny Gray this offseason, according to Peter Gammons on GammonsDaily.com.
Potentially extending Reddick and holding onto Gray would be a nice change of pace for a fanbase that has seen a ridiculous amount of roster turnover in the past few years.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add multiple veteran starters
2. Add a right fielder
3. Dump 1B Ryan Howard
Overview
The Philadelphia Phillies have a pair of good young starters in Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff to anchor their rotation next season, and veteran Matt Harrison is also expected to be part of the staff assuming he's healthy.
However, beyond those three the team has a collection of unproven young arms, and bringing in a pair of low-cost veteran starters to eat innings and provide some leadership seems like a smart move.
Aaron Harang filled that role last season, and making a run at a bounce-back candidate like Doug Fister or Bud Norris who could be flipped at the trade deadline could be a smart way to add more young talent and eat through innings.
Cody Asche and Odubel Herrera appear to be locked into the left field and center field spots, but right field is another area the team could look to address.
Aaron Altherr is probably the leading candidate among in-house options after the 24-year-old posted an .827 OPS with 11 doubles, five home runs and 22 RBI in 39 games last season.
He'll get every chance to start, and top prospect Nick Williams should arrive at some point, but re-signing someone like Jeff Francoeur to give the team another option in the outfield would be a nice low-cost move.
Finally, if the team can find any way to dump Ryan Howard and even a small piece of the $35 million he's still owed it would be a huge bonus.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a starting pitcher
2. Trade 1B Pedro Alvarez/add a first baseman
3. Add a setup reliever
Overview
With A.J. Burnett retiring and deadline addition J.A. Happ hitting free agency, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking to add at least one starting pitcher this winter.
Happ has some level of interest in returning to the team, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. After he went 7-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts with the team, it wouldn't be at all surprising if that interest were mutual.
The team also has a decision to make at first base, where Pedro Alvarez is projected for an $8.1 million salary after posting a 0.1 WAR in 2015 due in large part to his atrocious defense and high strikeout rate.
Trading or non-tendering Alvarez and finding a stopgap veteran to fill the void at first base until prospect Josh Bell is ready could save the team some money and provide improved production. Justin Morneau, Steve Pearce and Adam Lind are all potential targets.
The team will also need to add at least one bullpen arm with Joakim Soria, Antonio Bastardo and Joe Blanton all reaching free agency.
They still have Jared Hughes, Arquimedes Caminero, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon back from what was the best bullpen in baseball, so it doesn't need to be a huge addition, just another quality arm.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a shortstop
2. Improve defensively
3. Trade Craig Kimbrel and/or Tyson Ross for a huge haul
Overview
The San Diego Padres got next to nothing in the way of offensive production out of Clint Barmes and Alexi Amarista at the shortstop position last season, and for a team that desperately needs to improve defensively Jedd Gyorko is not the answer there either.
Making a run at free agent Ian Desmond, who had a rough first half but is still a solid defender and plus offensive option, is one option.
The team could also look to upgrade the position on the trade market, perhaps matching up with the Chicago Cubs for Javier Baez or Starlin Castro in a trade for a pitcher.
Going back to the idea of improving defensively, the Padres graded out 29th in overall team defense last season, according to FanGraphs. Not playing Wil Myers in center field will be a nice first step, but anything they can do to improve defensively would be nice.
The trade market is where the Padres figure to make the biggest impact this offseason, though.
Craig Kimbrel, Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and James Shields could all be shopped, and flipping Kimbrel and/or Ross would undoubtedly bring the biggest return.
Whether they target big league talent or look to restock the farm system, dealing one or both of those pitchers seems like the right move this winter if teams are willing to offer up a big haul.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add one front-line starting pitcher
2. Add a second starting pitcher
Overview
The San Francisco Giants have to improve the starting rotation if they hope to contend in 2016. It's as simple as that.
Madison Bumgarner, Jake Peavy and Chris Heston will fill three spots in the rotation, but the time has come to let Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong sign elsewhere and anything the team gets out of Matt Cain at this point has to be considered a bonus.
Adding a front-line starter to join MadBum at the top is a must.
The team probably prefers a right-handed starter to pair with Bumgarner so David Price may not be their top target, and it's hard to see the Dodgers letting Zack Greinke sign with their biggest rival, so at this point Jordan Zimmermann and Johnny Cueto look like the top targets.
Another midlevel starter on a short-term deal will also be needed, if only to bridge the gap to top prospect Tyler Beede, who could reach the majors late in 2016.
Re-signing Mike Leake is a possibility, as is a run at veterans like John Lackey and Hisashi Iwakuma who may be willing to take a two-year deal.
One way or another, the Giants have to walk away from the offseason with two new starters, and one of them has to be capable of stepping into that No. 2 spot in the rotation.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Blueprint
1. Re-sign SP Hisashi Iwakuma
2. Add multiple relievers
3. Add a left fielder
Overview
The No. 1 priority for the Seattle Mariners this offseason will be re-signing right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, according to Bob Dutton of the News Tribune.
The 34-year-old has gone 47-25 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.082 WHIP and 13.9 WAR in his four seasons in the majors, and he finished the 2015 season very strong, going 4-2 with a 2.17 ERA over his final seven starts.
After handling the free agency of Iwakuma, the biggest need is to overhaul a bullpen that went from first (2.59) to 25th (4.15) in relievers' ERA in just one year.
Tom Wilhelmsen and Danny Farquhar will both be back next season, and rookies Carson Smith and Tony Zych showed potential, but a significant bullpen overhaul seems to be in order this winter, and it should start with finding a proven closer.
The offense benefited greatly from the addition of Nelson Cruz last offseason, and don't rule out another big pickup this winter to fill the hole in left field.
The team could opt to go the cheap route and simply re-sign Franklin Gutierrez to platoon with Seth Smith, but a run at someone like Justin Upton could be the piece that pushes them over the top after a disappointing 2015 season.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Blueprint
1. Re-sign RF Jason Heyward
2. Add a setup reliever
3. Add starting pitching depth
Overview
The success of the St. Louis Cardinals offseason hinges almost entirely on whether the team is able to re-sign right fielder Jason Heyward.
Giving up Shelby Miller was a steep price to pay for the 26-year-old last winter, and it's a tough price to justify if he winds up simply being a one-year rental player.
Bringing back Heyward could mean a $200 million commitment, but with an aging offensive core he's the type of player who could be a franchise cornerstone going forward and figures to provide solid production throughout the length of his contract considering his age.
If he doesn't come back, outfield will not necessarily become a need, as Matt Holliday, Randal Grichuk, Stephen Piscotty, Jon Jay and Tommy Pham are all in-house option. There's no question the Cardinals are a better team with Heyward, though.
Beyond that, adding an arm or two to the bullpen and potentially picking up some starting pitching depth to offset the likely loss of John Lackey seem like the only other major items on the to-do list.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a shortstop
2. Add a catcher
Overview
The Tampa Bay Rays generally wait around during the offseason and then try to scoop up whatever scraps are left on the free-agent market at a discounted rate.
It's a necessary evil for the smallest of small-market teams.
Asdrubal Cabrera was signed to a one-year, $7.5 million deal last winter, and after posting a .744 OPS with 28 doubles, 15 home runs and 58 RBI he will likely get a multiyear deal elsewhere.
That opens up the shortstop position as a glaring need for the Rays, and they'll at least need to add a stopgap option until prospect Daniel Robertson is ready.
The other clear need is to upgrade the catcher position, where Rene Rivera was a huge flop after coming over in the three-team deal that sent Wil Myers to San Diego.
Curt Casali has at least earned himself a part-time role, but taking a flier on a free agent like Chris Iannetta or Geovany Soto seems like a wise move.
Expect the team to also add a bullpen arm or two from the scrap heap, as few teams have done a better job cobbling together a bullpen with spare parts and cheap in-house talent over the past several years than the Rays.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a starting pitcher or two
Overview
The Texas Rangers really have no glaring needs heading into the offseason, which is a far cry from where this franchise was at a year ago when there was no shortage of uncertainties on the roster.
However, bounce-back seasons from Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo and the acquisition of Cole Hamels has them looking like a formidable team even if they don't make any significant additions this winter.
That said, expect them to sign at least one starting pitcher, and possibly two depending on when Yu Darvish is slated to rejoin the rotation.
Darvish, Hamels, Martin Perez and Derek Holland will fill the top four spots in the rotation, and from there the team will need to decide on a No. 5 starter.
Re-signing Colby Lewis or Yovani Gallardo remain potential options.
Lewis is six years older and will likely come significantly cheaper, though he's likely earned a raise over the $4 million he made last year.
Gallardo could wind up getting a four-year deal, and the Rangers may prefer to let someone else pay him considering his less-than-stellar peripherals and steadily declining strikeout rate.
Or the team could let both of those guys walk and pursue someone else entirely, but one way or another they need to sign at least one starter to have a successful offseason.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Blueprint
1. Re-sign SP David Price
2. Re-sign SP Marco Estrada
3. Add multiple bullpen arms
Overview
The Toronto Blue Jays will once again have a juggernaut on their hands offensively in 2016, but they have some work to do on the starting rotation.
Marcus Stroman and R.A. Dickey are locked into two spots and Aaron Sanchez could return to starting after serving as a setup man much of last season, but the team will go after at least two starting pitchers this winter.
Simply bringing back David Price and Marco Estrada may be the best-case scenario, so we'll call that the blueprint to an "A" grade.
One way or another, though, the team will need a second front-line arm to pair with Stroman and another quality innings eater to fill the No. 3/No. 4 starter spot.
Beyond that expect the Blue Jays to target multiple bullpen arms.
With Sanchez potentially moving back to the rotation and both LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe hitting free agency, there are more than a few holes to fill.
Roberto Osuna, Brett Cecil, Liam Hendriks and Aaron Loup are solid pieces, but at least a couple more proven relievers are needed to fill out the pen.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Blueprint
1. Add a leadoff hitter
2. Add a left-handed reliever
3. Sort out the Jonathan Papelbon/Drew Storen situation
Overview
The Washington Nationals have an obvious replacement for Denard Span in Michael Taylor, but he is not necessarily the answer to filling the leadoff spot in the lineup.
While he showed a good mix of power and speed in the minors and has significant upside, the 24-year-old 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), it will be tough to bat him first.
Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon and Yunel Escobar also saw time in the leadoff spot last year while Span was sidelined with a hip injury, but all of them profile better at other spots in the lineup.
Signing someone like Gerardo Parra and giving him regular at-bats by playing him all over the outfield could be the answer. The team could also consider using speedy shortstop prospect Trea Turner there once he arrives, but that's probably more pressure than they want to put on a rookie.
The other glaring need is a second left-handed reliever with Matt Thornton departing in free agency.
Felipe Rivero emerged as a solid option this past season, making 49 appearances with a 2.79 ERA and 0.952 WHIP, and he could step into that left-handed setup role. Finding another southpaw is still a need, though.
Finally, the team has to sort out the Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen situation, and at the end of the day cutting ties with both guys may be the best move for everyone involved. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the team will try to trade both players this winter.
All standard statistics and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while defensive metrics like DRS and UZR/150 come via FanGraphs. Projected arbitration salaries come from MLB Trade Rumors.
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