With the solar getting ready to set on January and Spring Coaching reporting dates inching nearer by the day, it seems like we’ve exhausted the conversations concerning the high free brokers nonetheless on the lookout for jobs.
Sure, these gamers — and plenty of others — are nonetheless seeking to settle their conditions for 2024 and past, however what concerning the groups that might/ought to be signing them?
(Insert your “Why don’t the Dodgers simply signal all of them?” joke right here.)
The Dodgers have dominated the Sizzling Range headlines, however they’re removed from the one crew to make important strikes this offseason. The Reds’ additions embrace Jeimer Candelario, Nick Martinez, Frankie Montas and Emilio Pagán; whereas the Royals added Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton and Will Smith. The Cardinals remade their rotation with the signings of Sonny Grey, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn. The D-backs adopted up their World Collection look by re-signing Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and including each Eduardo Rodriguez and Joc Pederson. The Mets haven’t been big-game searching, however they introduced in Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Harrison Bader amongst others.
A lot of different golf equipment have signed not less than two free brokers together with the Giants (Jung Hoo Lee, Jordan Hicks), Astros (Josh Hader, Victor Caratini), Tigers (Jack Flaherty, Kenta Maeda) and Blue Jays (Yariel Rodriguez, Kevin Kiermaier). And let’s not neglect the Yankees, who traded for Juan Soto and signed Marcus Stroman.
So which groups have huge strikes left in them? We polled quite a few huge league executives to see who they imagine would profit most from one other key addition or two, and whereas seven completely different groups had been talked about by the ten front-office people we talked to, the Orioles, Cubs, Yankees and Giants had been introduced up most frequently. The Angels, Padres and Blue Jays additionally acquired votes as golf equipment that also have work to do that winter.
“The Orioles nonetheless want a beginning pitcher,” one American League government mentioned. “They’d a fantastic yr [in 2023] and have a terrific younger core, however including a veteran starter would go a good distance in the event that they hope to repeat [as AL East champions].”
Baltimore’s huge transfer up to now was the one-year, $13 million deal given to nearer Craig Kimbrel, changing All-Star Félix Bautista, who underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in October. The Orioles’ rotation presently options Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells, and whereas Baltimore isn’t anticipated to shell out the money to signal both Snell or Montgomery, a commerce — for White Sox righty Dylan Stop, maybe? — may nonetheless be within the playing cards.
“That may make sense for them,” a Nationwide League government mentioned. “However I don’t know that they’ve the identical strain on them to make a transfer as the larger markets do. They may use it, however I don’t know if their followers can be as upset in the event that they didn’t.”
“I believe [Orioles GM Mike] Elias may simply roll out each single prospect and win that means,” one other NL exec mentioned, pointing to Baltimore’s extremely ranked farm system.
The Cubs signed Shōta Imanaga to interchange Stroman within the rotation, however Chicago has but to handle the potential gap within the lineup that will be created ought to Bellinger signal elsewhere. In fact, the Cubs may merely deliver Bellinger again, which most execs imagine would be the final end result. Chapman can also be in play for the Cubs, who would flip a comparatively quiet offseason right into a productive one in the event that they had been to signal each hitters.
An NL government predicted that the Giants — who just lately signed Hicks with the thought of changing him right into a starter — will signal Snell to pair with Logan Webb atop the rotation.
“Snell to San Francisco and Bellinger to the Cubs are very apparent matches,” an NL government mentioned. “I may see Toronto getting in there on Bellinger, as effectively.”
One other exec who predicted a Snell-Giants match additionally pegged the Yankees because the crew to signal Bellinger, who may see time at first base, heart area and DH in 2024, then probably take over at first base in 2025, if New York declines Anthony Rizzo’s membership possibility on the finish of this season.
“I don’t know if these are the precise strikes,” the exec mentioned. “However I believe each of these golf equipment have cash to spend and have to do one thing to make a splash.”
One other NL exec additionally believes the Yankees will make one other notable transfer, although he didn’t specify whether or not that will be Bellinger, Snell or someone else.
“[GM Brian Cashman] has yet one more transfer up his sleeve,” the manager mentioned.
