Baseball's winter meetings have come and gone to varying effect for each team around Major League Baseball. As the holiday season continues to draw nearer, there are plenty of gifts that would be fantastic fits underneath the proverbial tree around the game.
As things currently stand, shopping season this winter could extend well into January, when the open market and trade waters continue to define themselves. Here is a look at what would best benefit each MLB team as strides toward the spring begin to pick up the pace.
GM Mike Hazen struck gold in 2017 when he worked out a rather generous deal to bring aboard J.D. Martinez midseason. Now with 2017’s big acquisition likely headed for much more financially greener pastures (and perhaps walls), the task of replacing his pop at the heart of the lineup is now in place. With the D-backs not playing at the top of the market financially, Jay Bruce could represent a suitable replacement on the open market.
The Braves are staying away from spending in extreme fashion, so it is unlikely they will have interest in anything toward the top of the market. However, there are several experienced arms that would work for their goal of getting older on the mound. Jhoulys Chacin would be the perfect type of quality innings eater for the team, as would Chris Tillman if he can put a nightmarish 2017 behind him. Of course, this all hinges on what direction new GM Alex Anthopoulo decides to go in, as the Braves’ are hard to peg amid a rebuilding purgatory stage.
The Orioles are not keen on the Yu Darvish/Jake Arrieta level of acquisitions. With multiple holes in their rotation behind the developing duo of Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman, there are plenty of financially friendly, middle-of-the-rotation types who can fit as plug and play options. A reunion with Jeremy Hellickson or Chris Tillman could serve the cause, while Jason Vargas, Andrew Cashner or Jaime Garcia fits the bill as well.
Boston’s inability to quickly change the number on the scoreboard stood out like a sore thumb in the postseason, when they were vastly outmatched by the game-changing pop of the Astros during the team's ALDS exit. A year after the departure of David Ortiz, the need is still abundantly clear: The Red Sox must beef up the heart of the lineup, especially considering the massive artillery upgrade that is Giancarlo Stanton looming in the Bronx. Landing J.D. Martinez is the most direct, logical upgrade of all on the open market this winter, and putting even more potency at first base would be smart as well. Eric Hosmer has been hummed about, but Logan Morrison, Yonder Alonso or even a deal for Jose Abreu would drive the point home even further.
The unquestionable difference between the 2016 and 2017 Cubs was the lessened impact of the starting rotation. After leading the NL with a 2.96 rotation ERA in '16, the returns from the rotation ballooned to 4.05 last year. After adding the high upside of Tyler Chatwood to the mix already, shoring up the rotation further is a top priority for the team with the likely departure of Jake Arrieta imminent. Alex Cobb represents a natural fit due to his track record with Joe Maddon and new pitching coach Jim Hickey from their days in Tampa. He also is a perfect fit into the core of the Chicago staff alongside Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks.
The White Sox have landed a stunning collection of top prospects over the last year via their spirited rebuilding effort. While last year’s haul was impressive, this winter’s could potentially rival it. Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia remain as ultra-attractive trade pieces that could garner a substantial return if truly offered up. Considering the Sox admittedly don't anticipate contending for another two years, there will likely be very little reserve in dangling their top producers for large returns.
For the past two years, the Reds' rotation has been an audition for the considerable upside of very young arms their system as produced. However, manager Bryan Price needs to stabilize things a bit after sending 15 and 16 different arms, respectively, to start games each of the last two years. A low-cost veteran of the ilk of Chris Tillman or Jason Vargas would be smart move.
With Carlos Santana’s surprising departure to Philadelphia, the would be well-served to make a big pitch to keep Jay Bruce aboard. The loss of Santana could be one that resonates, however, as he was a perfect fit within the versatile dynamic that makes Cleveland so dangerous. Coming off a career-best 38-homer campaign, Logan Morrison suddenly makes a lot of sense for the Tribe, who are said to have interest in the slugger.
A fter becoming one of surprise breakout teams of 2017, thus far this winter, the Rockies have been committed to replicating the formula that was the secret to their Wild Card bid: a thoroughbred bullpen and cashing in on cost-friendly veterans. Retaining Greg Holland and Jonathan Lucroy would go a long way toward keeping their ceiling high next summer as well.
Even after moving on from Justin Verlander, Justin Upton and Ian Kinsler in the last six months, the Tigers are strapped to some very difficult contracts that make committing to either competing or starting over difficult. However, they still have needs to address externally, mainly in the starting rotation and throughout the outfield. The second or third layer of free agents could do some good for them, with Carlos Gonzalez, Austin Jackson, Jon Jay, Jarrod Dyson, Tyson Ross and Matt Garza all representing good fits for them on the open market.
Houston won its first championship very much in spite of its bullpen, which nearly imploded leading into and throughout the World Series. While Ken Giles will likely be given the chance to reclaim his hold on the ninth inning in the spring, there are other areas of concern that need to be addressed. Inking former Cubs closer Hector Rondon to a two-year deal was smart, but landing a lefty should be the club’s primary target. Tony Watson and Zach Duke stand out atop the available southpaw free agents, but a flier on Kevin Siegrist, Ian Krol or Brian Duensing could scratch that itch as well.
Despite his plethora of trade chips that could have handsomely rewarded the Royals' system on their way out the door, GM Dayton Moore decided to ride things out to the end with Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain, all of whom have now likely departed the club permanently. This winter’s top priority should be beginning to recoup the prospect value they can, via trades of Kelvin Herrera, Joakim Soria and perhaps even Danny Duffy.
The Angels have been the busiest club in the American League early in the offseason, fortifying their foundation via deals with Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler, Zack Cozart and, most notably, Shohei Otani. While Ohtani and Garrett Richards give the Halos a promising front end of the rotation, a further cost-conscious addition could prove to be a very smart investment. Alex Cobb, Jhoulys Chacin or a return engagement with Jason Vargas would provide a nice safety net.
The departure of Morrow to the Cubs hurts the Dodgers, as he was Dave Roberts’s best option on the bridge to Kenley Jansen last year. The fearless L.A. front office could at anytime decide to make a bold move to replace his presence in the setup role. Addison Reed and Wade Davis represent strong options on the open market, while Zach Britton has been discussed in the past as a current closer who could be converted into an eighth-inning guy in Chavez Ravine.
While the Marlins are firmly committed to cutting cost as much as humanly possible, eventually they must shift to utilizing addition as opposed to purely subtraction.That starts with bolstering a rotation that finished 13th in the National League in starter’s ERA a year ago. Another team that will be purely interested in only short-term types, Tyson Ross, Chris Tillman, Francisco Liriano and Derek Holland would fit the bill in South Beach.
The Crew made a precocious jump forward last year, leading the NL Central for much of the year before ultimately finishing in second place. While Chase Anderson and Zach Davies had impressive maturation seasons and relief ace rookie Josh Hader should make the move to the rotation this year, the open market is set up to be favorable for Milwaukee to land a top talent. That's due in part to the shyness to pay top dollar for arms so far this winter and the Brewers' mostly barren lon -financial commitments currently. Jake Arrieta and Lance Lynn represent two very real possibilities that should be consider in Milwaukee.
Ervin Santana was a godsend for the Twins amid their record-setting turnaround last summer, but it is still clear that they must anchor down more dependable arms in both their rotation and bullpen. The addition of Fernando Rodney to work the ninth inning was a fitting grab, but a bigger strike could still be ahead. Minnesota is said to be on the shortlist of locations Yu Darvish is considering, and the Twins are said to be uncharacteristically interested in spending big this winter. It could be an unforeseen yet very appropriate match. Even if Darvish lands elsewhere, grabbing two arms for the price of what his contract would represent would go a long way too.
The Mets have been especially cursed lot of late, as injuries ravished their roster throughout 2017 after hindering them the year prior as well. However, just a year after making a big commitment to Yoenis Cespedes, they are still very much in win-now mode. Adding a middle-of-the-order bat to the infield could go a long way toward turning things around, and the ability to upgrade at either first or third base could land the Mets back near the top of NL. Both Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer make sense for them, while Logan Morrison and relocating former Met Neil Walker would make sense too. If they are willing to pay the price, White Sox slugger Jose Abreu would be a tremendous grab as well.
After Brian Cashman’s hopes of bringing Shohei Ohtani to the Bronx were dashed early, the club instead capitalized on the availablity of Giancarlo Stanton. Although the omnious specter of their lineup is impressive, the need for depth in the rotation still exists. Long-term stalwart CC Sabathia was brought back, but if they truly want to make a splash in furthering their vastly improved World Series odds, striking a deal for Pirates ace Gerrit Cole would be a perfect splash.
Billy Beane and company have been dead set on improving one of the worst outfields in baseball a year ago, while also relocating the potent bat of Khris Davis primarily to the DH role. Although the effort was partially accomplished in adding Stephen Piscotty from St. Louis, there is more work to do. Per usual, the club is interested in reasonable, cost-controlled options and has had interest ranging from Christian Yelich to Yankees prospect Clint Frazier. Either way, boosting production in left and center field is a clear-cut priority.
The Manny Machado chatter is exciting, yet premature. The Phillies are close to turning the corner but are better positioned to make a big re-emergence on the scene next winter. In the meantime, they took a big step forward in stabilizing their offense in signing former Indian Carlos Santana to a three-year, $60 million pact. It leaves room now to look for a similar addition within the pitching staff, which has a plethora of options on the open market that fit the bill. Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb are good options for the Phils.
Unlike many others, the move for the Pirates is to get leaner as opposed to bulking up. Gerrit Cole appears to be very much available and could bring in a handful of worthwhile prospects. The future of Andrew McCutchen is certain — it just remains to be seen when the trigger will be pulled on a trade. If Cutch is indeed jettisoned this winter instead of during the season, a plethora of other veteran moves could follow, with Josh Harrison likely to follow him on the way out of town. The rebuild is imminent; it just remains to see how far they will jump into the deep end.
A.J. Preller has learned from his previous hyperactive leap into rebuilding the Padres a few years back. The team's growth has been a meticulous one, and it appears the Pads are prepared to make a statement addition. Eric Hosmer’s name has been regularly attached to the club, and it would be an appropriate addition. Hosmer’s penchant for hitting in the gaps would play well in Petco Park, and his character, charisma and winning pedigree could be essential in helping speed up the curve of the young San Diego core.
After failing to woo Giancarlo Stanton and Shohei Otani to the Bay, the Giants' determined efforts to rapidly bury 2017’s descent hit a double speed bump early on. However, there are still plenty of ways they can pull ahead. Upgrading at two spots throughout the outfield would be a great way to start. J.D. Martinez and Lorenzo Cain both represent top-of-the-market fits for the club, but they are likely only to spend high on one top-dollar contract in order to avoid luxury tax ramifications. They could also be sneaky contenders in the third base market, with Todd Frazier and even Mike Mostakas making sense there.
Putting aside the disappointment of Shohei Otani opting for Anaheim as opposed to the Pacific Northwest, the Mariners' focus should remain in upgrading a leaky rotation that sent an MLB-high 17 starters to the hill last year. The rumor mill has Seattle in for a potentially high-priced ace, with Zack Greinke and Gerrit Cole among those they could have interest in. It would reason that they could have interest in either Yu Darvish or Jake Arrieta as well, although GM Jerry Dipoto has been very reluctant to sign such deals since taking over the club two years ago. He could be compelled to make an impact to keep with the curve in the AL West, however.
The Cards fell short in swaying Giancarlo Stanton to move to the Midwest but remained relentless in upgrading their lineup, swinging a secondary trade with Miami to land Marcell Ozuna. John Mozeliak and company appear to be far from done in dealing, as they are in the market for rotational and bullpen upgrades. After blowing 17 saves last year and setting a team record for most games lost when leading after eight innings, the priority should be the ninth inning, with their preference for trades lending them toward a pairing with Tampa closer Alex Colome. A pairing with the Rays could prove additionally fruitful as well, with both Chris Archer and Evan Longoria fitting needs for the aggressive St. Louis front.There always is the increasingly intriguing option of going all-in and getting seriously engaged in the Manny Machado sweepstakes as well.
It appears as if the Rays are being realistic with their immediate forecast amid a rebooting upper class in the AL East. Retooling and restocking the system with their multiple attractive trade chips could be the play for Rays early in the new year. Between Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Alex Colome and Evan Longoria, they have plenty enticing options that could fetch substantial returns from any number of opposing clubs' minor league ranks. With the wide-spanning interest in each, they could have their pick of the top prospect landscape at their fingertips if cashing out is the route the Rays take.
The Rangers could be sleeping giants in the mix for big-name, big-contract options left in the wind. Both Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis would fill needs for the Rangers, who have already flirted with the idea of acquiring Zack Greinke and his massive contract. Patience could benefit them, with the pitching market slow to develop thus far. If history dictates anything, it is that Texas will take advantage of a market that leaves a carrot dangling for too long.
With the apparent dedication to hold on to Josh Donaldson — for now — the Jays see themselves in position to compete in 2018. If they are to cash in on that decision, finding a way to add the production that the now-departed Jose Bautista failed to provide a year ago could go a long way. Carlos Gonzalez and Jay Bruce fit the profile of the type of presence needed on the open market, while Avisail Garcia, Adam Duvall and Kyle Schwarber make sense as trade targets.
Mike Rizzo always has a flare for the dramatic on the open market, even if it doesn’t seem like a clear need. With the added incentive of making the most of the final guaranteed year of Bryce Harper aboard, it should surprise no one if the Nats jump into play for one of the top arms available. This would bring Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish, Wade Davis and Addison Reed into fold for a pure payday. For the wildest of cards in outcome, it would not be surprising that, if J.D. Martinez lingered for too long, he got a call from the capital as well. Over the next 12 months, no team will act with more urgency than the Nationals — and for good reason.
Matt Whitener is St. Louis-based writer, radio host and 12-6 curveball enthusiast. He has been covering Major League Baseball since 2010, and dabbles in WWE, NBA and other odd jobs as well. Follow Matt on Twitter at @CheapSeatFan.
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