5 MLB Teams with the Most Work to Do Before Spring Training

Pitchers and catchers will report to Arizona and Florida in about a month. The offseason is winding down, and actual baseball is nigh.

That's good news for most of us, but a handful of clubs have a lot of work to do between now and spring training.

Let's examine five teams with some pressing issues—whether it be plugging major roster holes, deciding whether to trade marquee players or rehabilitating their image.

Every MLB squad could stand to improve or change in one way or another. But these teams have acute questions that must be answered posthaste.

Colorado Rockies

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Nolan Arenado

The Colorado Rockies are in a strange place. On one hand, they made the postseason as a wild-card entrant as recently as 2018 and could plausibly try to contend in 2020.

On the other hand, they lost 91 games last season and finished a distant fourth in the National League West. They're at a crossroads and need to decide if they want to win now or tear it down and look to the future.

If it's the former, they need to dramatically improve a pitching staff that finished last in the NL with a 5.56 ERA in 2019. The bad news there is most of the top-shelf starting pitchers and relievers are already off the board.

If it's the latter, they should strongly consider moving third baseman Nolan Arenado, whose name has churned through the rumor mill this winter. 

Dealing their franchise player, who is entering his age-29 season and under club control through at least 2021, would sting. But unless Colorado is willing and able to do what it takes to buttress its stable of arms, it should offload him now for a prospect haul and build for the future.

Atlanta Braves

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Josh Donaldson

The Atlanta Braves have won two consecutive National League East titles but haven't advanced past the division series round in that span. They could stand to upgrade their starting rotation, even after signing veteran left-hander Cole Hamels to a one-year, $18 million deal.

The biggest question mark for the Braves, however, is third baseman Josh Donaldson, who rebounded from a string of injury-shortened seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and hit 37 home runs with a .900 OPS for Atlanta in 2019.

The Braves have a burgeoning young core that includes budding superstars such as Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies. Theoretically, they've got enough talent to compete without Donaldson.

But the 34-year-old 2015 American League MVP gave them a veteran presence and proved he's got plenty of gas left in his tank. Plus, at present, their third base depth chart is topped by Johan Camargo, who posted a woeful .279 on-base percentage in 232 at-bats last season.

As they try to climb the Senior Circuit pecking order, the Braves should make a strong push to bring Donaldson back—even if it means giving him the four-year, $110 million deal he's reportedly seeking, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Houston Astros

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Justin Verlander

It's been a tough offseason for the Houston Astros, to say the least.

After winning the Fall Classic in 2017 and the American League pennant in 2019, the 'Stros lost ace Gerrit Cole to the New York Yankees via free agency this winter and are in the midst of a sign-stealing scandal that could lead to serious repercussions from MLB officials and leave a stain on the franchise for years to come.

So, what now?

Houston failed to sign or trade for a pitcher approaching Cole's ability, though that was a tall order considering guys who post 2.50 ERAs and pace the game with 356 strikeouts are in short supply. 

Admittedly, the Astros have an ace in 2019 AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and a solid No. 2 in right-hander Zack Greinke. 

The bigger challenge for Houston will be rehabilitating its image, especially if baseball's higher-ups punish the club and officially brand the Astros as cheaters.

If they make a deep run in 2020 (which is plausible), they will be under a microscope and the subject of heated debate and scrutiny. How will they walk that public-relations tightrope? That remains to be seen.

Chicago Cubs

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Kris Bryant

After winning a long-awaited World Series in 2016 and qualifying for the postseason in 2017 and 2018, the Chicago Cubs missed the dance in 2019.

Now, they're faced with a choice: go all-in on a comeback or reset and retool. So far, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and company have done neither.

The Cubs have made no major additions to a roster that could use help in the bullpen, starting rotation, middle infield and outfield. 

So we arrive at the burning question: Is this the moment to trade third baseman Kris Bryant for a haul of prospects?

The 2016 NL MVP's name has been featured in a slew of rumors. His still-pending service-time grievance (which will determine whether he becomes a free agent after the 2020 or 2021 season) has apparently gummed up the works.

However that plays out, Chicago needs to decide if it wants to push its chips in and try to compete in the deep NL Central or swap a superstar such as Bryant to restock the farm.

And it needs to decide soon.

Boston Red Sox

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David Price and Mookie Betts

The Boston Red Sox's position is similar to the Cubs': They whiffed on the playoffs in 2019 and finished third in the AL East. They also have a star who has been the subject of rampant trade speculation in outfielder Mookie Betts.

Do the Sox want to go all-in on Betts' final year before free agency, or do they want to trade him now and reel in a bushel of young talent?

Boston is reportedly trying to shed salary and stay under the luxury-tax threshold. If it moves Betts, it could try to attach left-hander David Price and the $96 million remaining on his contract.

If the Red Sox don't go that route and try to make the playoffs, they need to make improvements across the roster, including the pitching staff and the right side of the infield.

Also, like Houston, the Red Sox are dealing with allegations of sign-stealing, the last thing they need during this period of transition and uncertainty.

The archrival New York Yankees are positioned as the division favorites, and the scrappy Tampa Bay Rays can't be underestimated. Boston needs to either get better now and handle the controversy or wheel and deal, accept any eventual punishment and plan for later.

Both routes are uncertain and could lead to blowback and regret. But straddling the middle is no way to go.

All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.