It’s a new year but the same old shortfalls for Major League Baseball’s 30 franchises in search of the perfect offseason.
Fortunately, there’s plenty of time to shore up almost any deficiency.
With the vast majority of teams largely believing they will contend – or at least clinging to the belief – the trade market remains unpredictive and the free-agent market robust. With more than a month remaining before spring training camps open, here’s a look at one need for every team, and potential avenues to fulfill them:
Baltimore Orioles: Lockdown reliever
Aces aren’t easy to find and the Orioles learned this lesson the hard way this winter, with Corbin Burnes defecting to Arizona on a $210 million deal. True, you don’t need someone to definitively call “ace,” but a rotation does need its bell cow and right-handers Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and recently signed 41-year-old Charlie Morton would likely be better to follow one than try to be that guy. Former No. 1 Kyle Bradish is back from elbow reconstruction in midseason. That’s a handful of question marks for a club in the heart of its championship window. So, how best to mitigate the lack of an innings-eater? Shorten games by reuniting with an old friend – all while soothing fans’ rightful angst at a lack of spending.
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Potential solution: Tanner Scott, free agent LHP.
Boston Red Sox: Another big bat
Kind of like the one that just went to Baltimore, Tyler O’Neill. The Red Sox are now a little too left-handed, and stuck with their Masataka Yoshida commitment for three more seasons. Their outfield alignment of Jarren Duran, Ceddane Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu is elite defensively, but lacking some sock at the plate. New starter Walker Buehler is nice to recruit his pal Alex Bregman, but it would be a fierce battle for his services.
Potential solution: Randal Grichuk, free agent OF.
Chicago White Sox: Vitamin D injection
What do you get the club that has nothing and needs everything? Yeah, it’s going to be a dark, sunless winter on the South Side, as it usually goes when a club loses 121 games (well, that’s unprecedented, but we digress). On paper, minus Garrett Crochet, this club actually looks worse than the record-setting bunch from last year, which no signing can aid. So it’s back to the asset collection warehouse, perhaps identifying this year’s Erick Fedde that can be flipped for prospects come July.
Potential solution: Spencer Turnbull, free agent RHP.
Cleveland Guardians: Veteran infielder
Pretty nice deal to ship the elite defensive second baseman Andrés Giménez, to Toronto, and flip infielder Spencer Horwitz to Pittsburgh for, in part, right-hander Luis Ortiz, who should vie for a rotation spot. For now, prospect Juan Brito is penciled in at second base, but if the 23-year-old doesn’t win the job, are Gabriel Arias and Daniel Scheeneman enough depth on the infield? The Guards have a nice thing going and shouldn’t shy away from adding on.
Potential solution: Jose Iglesias, free agent INF.
Detroit Tigers: A deluxe corner infielder
Yeah, you know what we’re talking about.
Potential solution: Alex Bregman, free agent 3B.
Houston Astros: Outfielder with sentient bat
This winter will already be remembered as either a wise and sober reset or a grim step back. Kyle Tucker and Bregman are gone/almost gone, yet the club spent $60 million on first baseman Christian Walker, still boasts one of the best hitters on the planet in Yordan Alvarez and a contention-ready rotation. But that outfield: Yikes. Chas McCormick (.576 OPS in 2024) and Jake Meyers (.646) are slated to start in right and center field, with Alvarez sliding more to DH, and Mauricio Dubon and Taylor Trammell potentially manning left field. This cannot stand.
Potential solution: Anthony Santander, free agent OF.
Kansas City Royals: One more reliever
Fun time to be a Royal, what with the club easing into the prime of franchise shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.’s career and a burgeoning ace in tow with Cole Ragans. And they continue spending money at a moderate clip, devoting a three-year extension to right-hander Michael Wacha. Cool stuff. They also boast a fantastic closer in Lucas Erceg, acquired from the Athletics last year, and a nasty left-hander in Angel Zerpa. But the Royals should contend again. The AL Central should be tightly packed. Their seventh- and eighth-inning situations could use an upgrade.
Potential solution: Andrew Kittredge, free agent RHP.
Los Angeles Angels: Another starting pitcher
Oddly enough, this cursed and oft-bumbling franchise has put together the makings of a squad, even if Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon can’t guarantee how many games they might play. Yet the club should be past the point of wondering about spots 4-5 in the rotation, about whether Caden Dana is ready for a full load, if Kyle Hendricks has anything in the tank, if Reid Detmers can avoid a minor-league assignment this year.
Potential solution: Colin Rea, free agent RHP.
Minnesota Twins: Some thump in the lineup
The team is for sale and the league is taking over their TV broadcasts, and the Twins seem to be acting the part of a club in limbo. Yet they still came into the last week of 2024 with a shot at the playoffs, until an ugly collective slump to end the season ensured their demise. Now, the most reliable piece of that lineup – veteran first baseman Carlos Santana and his 23 home runs – are gone to Cleveland. Max Kepler is a Phillie. Surely they can afford some reinforcements beyond, say, Mike Ford, signed Friday to a minor league contract?
Potential solution: Jesse Winker, free agent OF.
New York Yankees: Insurance for the aged and unproven
You’d think the Yankees would have every puzzle piece in place by this new year, what with moves that are both very high-profile and also well-suited to their needs. Yet Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Devin Williams and Max Fried can’t play left field or third base. Jazz Chisholm likely fits better at second, DJ LeMahieu’s time as a regular may be done and, well, can you simply etch Jasson Dominguez’s name in the lineup and assume this is his time? A little insurance, please.
Potential solution: Jurickson Profar, free agent OF/INF.
(Sacramento) Athletics: Some more money to set on fire
The weirdness continues in Gold Country, where the Athletics will be posted up for at least the next three seasons, as the move from a major league park to a minor-league facility was accompanied by adding players at high cost rather than the chop shop mentality of recent years. Ain’t revenue sharing checks a powerful motivator? While the A’s still won’t near contention in the AL West, they still need to keep their MLB overlords (and watchdogs at the union) happy to keep the spigot open. Hey, why not another pitcher!
Potential solution: Andrew Heaney, free agent LHP.
Seattle Mariners: A bat, almost any bat
We’re almost closer to Super Bowl Sunday than we are the winter meetings and still, Seattle’s Achilles heel offense has not seen any upgrades. Not sure if this is lack of opportunity or malfeasance, but either way, the club remains a pitching-heavy operation (not a bad thing) that still can’t be taken seriously as a contender so long as the lineup remains a massive liability. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: There’s a bear in the woods.
Potential solution: Pete Alonso, free agent 1B.
Tampa Bay Rays: A little veteran gravitas
It’s been a rough year and a half in St. Petersburg, and that’s just on the field, where a 2023 season of great promise was waylaid by injuries, followed by a nondescript year that was very un-Rayslike in a lot of fashions. Randy Arozarena, Zach Eflin, Jeffrey Springs: Traded. Wander Franco may never play again. The team will bunk temporarily in a minor-league stadium. Why not add a little sunshine that comes with some proven thump at the plate, who can be flipped at the deadline if so inclined?
Potential solution: Justin Turner, free agent DH.
Texas Rangers: A reunion with an All-Star
Just a real clean offseason in Arlington, with Joc Pederson and Jake Burger added to a very balanced lineup, Kyle Higashioka brought in to add pop to the catching position and Nate Eovaldi getting a $75 million commitment to stay on as staff ace. Yet there’s one more re-up that should be burning a hole in the Rangers’ pockets, as they have the makings of a decent bullpen yet no ninth-inning presence. That should be easily remedied.
Potential solution: Kirby Yates, free agent RHP.
Toronto Blue Jays: Try, try again?
A team that seemed so close to greatness just a couple short years ago now looks stuck in the middle. The open question is, is it too late to do anything about it this winter? Whiffing on Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani in consecutive years seems to create the perception that Toronto simply will not be a big-time free agent destination – a grim perception given that Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are entering their walk year. So what to do? Double down on what you do well.
Potential solution: Jeff Hoffman, free agent RHP.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Arizona Diamondbacks: An arms race out West
A round of applause for an offseason already well done, what with the startling acquisition of ace Corbin Burnes and the trade for Josh Naylor, softening the loss of productive and well-regarded first baseman Christian Walker. Now they seem stuck between the team that missed the playoffs by a game last year and serious contenders to the Dodgers. Even with an abundance of starters at the moment, they’ll need more arms to throw at that menace out west.
Potential solution: Michael Lorenzen, free agent RHP.
Atlanta Braves: Soft in the middle
They found a nice placeholder in right field as they await Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return, with Bryan De La Cruz holding it down. Yet the deletions – most notably Max Fried fleeing to the Yankees for a $218 million deal – have been far more prominent than the adds so far. The Braves struggled through extended slumps and injuries from All-Stars Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy and season-ending injuries to Acuña and ace Spencer Strider. But the massive deficit created by Orlando Arcia’s lack of production – an adjusted OPS of 71 is not acceptable – can be dealt with – while at the same time providing protection against another Albies ailment.
Potential solution: Ha-Seong Kim, free agent INF.
Chicago Cubs: A finishing touch
Potential solution: Max Scherzer, free agent RHP.
Cincinnati Reds: A shot of Tito, a chaser of talent
Terry Francona helms the dugout now, and expectations should be commensurate. The Reds did a nice job shoring up the rotation by retaining Nick Martinez and trading for Brady Singer. A healthy Matt McLain should make an excellent double-play combo with Elly De La Cruz. Another outfield bat might be prudent.
Potential solution: Mark Canha, free agent OF.
Colorado Rockies: What are we doing here?
It’s hard to ever find the glass half full in Denver, although the makings of a good lineup are in place with Brenton Doyle, Ezequiel Tovar, Ryan McMahon and Michael Toglia all smacking 20 to 26 homers last year. Yet the roster and the organization in a grander sense seem rudderless. Might as well throw another arm or two at the problem.
Potential solution: Jakob Junis, free agent RHP.
Los Angeles Dodgers: More room at the inn?
They couldn’t even kick off their reunion with Teoscar Hernández on Friday without signing well-regarded Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, creating an enviable infield logjam. Until further notice, this is blue heaven, and far as we know, the Dodgers can simply sit back and let greatness come to them.
Potential solution: Rōki Sasaki, international free agent RHP.
Miami Marlins: Hi, my name is….
When Sandy Alcántara takes the ball, presumably on Opening Day, he will gaze out at the diamond and recognize just one face – outfielder Jesus Sanchez – who was in the lineup for his most recent major league start in September 2023. At this point, the Marlins are having auditions for their auditions. They’ll need a veteran who can fill in almost anywhere when a youngster inevitably struggles and then get flipped to a contender midseason.
Potential solution: Kiké Hernández, free agent INF/OF.
Milwaukee Brewers: Winning the turnover battle
Stay weird, Brewers! Even after losing shortstop Willy Adames to the Giants for the princely sum of $182 million and trading closer Devin Williams to the Yankees, the team still looks daunting, particularly the lineup. The staff has more question marks, most notably, how will Brandon Woodruff bounce back after a year’s absence following shoulder surgery? Until proven otherwise, Milwaukee will figure it out.
Potential solution: Alex Cobb, free agent RHP.
New York Mets: Still in a winter Juanderland
Something about making it all the way to Game 6 of the NLCS and then spending $765 million on one of the greatest free agents in history leads us to believe the Mets are pretty safe about dreaming for the playoffs. About October showdowns with Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani. And they better wake up from that dream to make sure they’re fully equipped.
Potential solution: A.J. Minter, free agent LHP.
Philadelphia Phillies: No shakeup on Broad Street
Their winter of discontent has not emerged. Instead, after a desultory elimination at the hands of the Mets in the NLDS, Philly has moved smartly and crisply, trading for lefty Jesús Luzardo, signing closer Jordan Romano and outfielder Max Kepler, which sends Johan Rojas into a role more appropriate for his offensive output. And the need to shake things up, most notably with a possible trade of third baseman Alec Bohm? We’re still waiting.
Potential solution: David Robertson, free agent RHP.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Ways and Skenes
It’s hard not to imagine a countdown clock ticking with every year Paul Skenes takes the mound for the Pirates. Winning NL Rookie of the Year means he gets a full year of service time, and five more before he might test the waters. Well, Year 2 looks like a similarly disjointed roster, unless you’re a fan of Isiah Kiner-Falefa leading off. The lineup needs more punch, somehow.
Potential solution: Tommy Pham, free agent OF.
St. Louis Cardinals: Waiting for the end of the world
Ryan Helsley is still the closer. Nolan Arenado is still the third baseman (though read this quickly, if you can). Sonny Gray still fronts the rotation. The re-boot/teardown expected to come with John Mozeliak passing the baseball ops poohbah reigns to Chaim Bloom hasn’t yet happened. It’d be funny if the Cards accidentally won the division this year.
Potential solution: Martin Perez, free agent LHP.
San Diego Padres: Who’s left?
The left field corner at Petco Park is kind of like the drum kit on Spinal Tap’s stage: Subject to disappearance. Jurickson Profar did a bang-up job after he was hastily signed last year and now, that’s about the only big hole in the lineup. Team is almost shovel-ready, but a trade of Dylan Cease before he enters his walk year could waylay all kinds of stuff currently written in pencil.
Potential solution: Alex Verdugo, free agent OF
San Francisco Giants: Take my money, please!
So the Giants finally reeled in a big one, perhaps overpaying a bit for Adames but filling a massive hole at shortstop and also in the rizz department. Still, club president Buster Posey and GM Zack Minasian have hit a bit of a wall augmenting the club further. They might be wise to take a page from their glory days and aim for a lockdown pitching staff if luring more free agent hitters may prove troublesome.
Potential solution: Jack Flaherty, free agent RHP
Washington Nationals: Signs of life
OK, so it’s not quite go-go time, if you will, in D.C. Yet trading for Nathaniel Lowe, re-upping right-hander Trevor Williams and reuniting with Josh Bell shows a continued commitment to… not being bad? There’s still a gaping hole at third that would perfectly fit a Houston expat, but the Nationals aren’t yet ready to swim in those waters. Acquiring Lowe cost them a bullpen asset and it’s wise to keep that group solvent to prop up the fortunes of their young and emerging starting rotation.
Potential solution: Kenley Jansen, free agent RHP.
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