Each staff has weaknesses. The offseason provides entrance workplaces a number of avenues to deal with them.
With the present offseason winding down and Spring Coaching on the horizon, let’s check out the ten most substantial upgrades groups made by way of free company or commerce over the previous few months.
Whereas not all of those additions can pay speedy dividends, every of those golf equipment has made a big effort to deal with areas that had been problematic for them in 2025.
What occurred in 2025: Zack Gelof performed simply 30 video games in an injury-plagued season and posted a .502 OPS over 101 plate appearances. With Gelof out, the A’s most frequently went with Luis Urías as their beginning second baseman, whereas Max Schuemann and Max Muncy additionally received some run on the place. The collective end result was a 53 wRC+, one of many worst marks any staff recorded at any place in 2025.
How they addressed it: They acquired former NL batting champion Jeff McNeil from the Mets. McNeil has been roughly league common over the previous three seasons (102 wRC+), however even that might be a large improve at second base for the Athletics.
What occurred in 2025: After falling brief of their pursuit of free agent Alex Bregman, the Cubs turned the new nook over to prized prospect Matt Shaw, however the rookie struggled out of the gate and was again within the Minors by mid-April. Shaw confirmed enchancment after returning to the large leagues in Could however nonetheless ended the yr with a .690 OPS over 126 video games.
How they addressed it: The Cubs entered the offseason going through the seemingly departure of Kyle Tucker in free company, making it more and more essential to safe one other confirmed, middle-of-the-order bat. With Seiya Suzuki able to sliding to proper subject to exchange Tucker and prospect Moisés Ballesteros out there to fill the opening at DH, third base stood as a logical spot for that addition. Accordingly, Chicago made one other try and signal Bregman, who returned to free company when he opted out of his contract with the Purple Sox. This time, the Cubs had been in a position to seal the deal, spending $175 million over 5 years to land one among baseball’s greatest third basemen.
What occurred in 2025: The Dodgers signed Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal final offseason, however the left-hander proceeded to file a 4.74 ERA with 10 blown saves. Los Angeles’ one-year, $13 million contract with Kirby Yates was additionally a flop, and two different potential closing choices — Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips — missed many of the season. After all, that didn’t cease the Dodgers from profitable a second straight World Collection title, as they used their beginning rotation to assist cowl closing duties throughout the playoffs.
What occurred in 2025: Michael Conforto signed a one-year, $17 million deal final offseason to turn out to be the Dodgers’ beginning left fielder however put up a .637 OPS with -0.6 WAR (per FanGraphs) over 138 video games within the common season. Conforto didn’t play a single recreation throughout the playoffs, as Los Angeles went with the mix of Kiké Hernández and Alex Name in left subject.
How they addressed it: They signed the highest free agent available on the market, Tucker, to a shocking four-year, $240 million contract. Whereas Teoscar Hernández will slide into left subject as Conforto’s direct substitute and Tucker will play proper, Tucker is successfully filling Conforto’s spot within the Dodgers’ outfield.
What occurred in 2025: Offseason acquisition Jose Siri was anticipated to attract the majority of the taking part in time in heart subject for the Mets, however a fractured left tibia restricted him to 16 video games. That left Tyrone Taylor as their beginning heart fielder till they traded for Cedric Mullins in July. Mullins, nevertheless, posted only a .565 OPS after the commerce. General, Mets heart fielders produced seven residence runs, a 71 wRC+ and 0.7 fWAR.
How they addressed it: They traded for Luis Robert Jr., sending Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley to the White Sox whereas assuming the entire assured cash left on Robert’s contract. Factoring in his $20 million wage for 2026 and the $2 million buyout hooked up to his ’27 membership possibility, it quantities to a $22 million gamble that the oft-injured Robert will have the ability to keep wholesome and recapture his 2023 All-Star type (38 HR, 20 SB, .857 OPS). The 28-year-old hasn’t come near that degree over the previous two seasons, producing only a .660 OPS with 1.8 fWAR in 210 video games.
What occurred in 2025: The Orioles ranked twenty second at first base with a 92 wRC+, and no staff received fewer residence runs (14) from the place than Baltimore. Simply two of these dingers got here from their Opening Day starter at first base, Ryan Mountcastle, who missed greater than two months with a proper hamstring pressure and was relegated to DH obligation after returning to motion. The O’s gave rookie Coby Mayo an prolonged take a look at first base within the second half, however even with a robust end, Mayo recorded a .687 OPS on the yr.
What occurred in 2025: The Pirates had various holes to plug after a season that noticed them rank final within the Majors in runs scored (583). The keystone was one among their weaker positions, producing simply eight homers with an 80 wRC+.
How they addressed it: They acquired Brandon Lowe from the Rays in a three-team commerce that additionally concerned the Astros. Accidents have been a recurring downside for Lowe, however he ranks third amongst main second basemen with 120 residence runs over the previous 5 years, notching a .792 OPS in that span.
How they addressed it: They acquired Willson Contreras from the Cardinals. A former catcher, Contreras moved to first base final yr and posted a 2.8 fWAR season, notching a .791 OPS on the plate whereas taking part in strong protection at his new place. Boston’s acquisition of Contreras turned much more important after Bregman selected to signal with the Cubs.
Purple Sox: Beginning rotation
What occurred in 2025: Boston’s offseason commerce for Garrett Crochet couldn’t have gone higher, and Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito additionally had strong seasons. However the Purple Sox’s rotation was largely a large number behind these three, thanks partly to the ill-fated free-agent signing of Walker Buehler and a tough marketing campaign from 2024 All-Star Tanner Houck (8.04 ERA over 9 begins). Boston starters not named Crochet, Bello or Giolito mixed for a 5.18 ERA and 1.8 fWAR in 76 video games, over which the Purple Sox went 33-43.
What occurred in 2025: The White Sox pulled the plug on the Andrew Vaughn period after the 2019 No. 3 general Draft choose recorded a .531 OPS over his first 48 video games. Chicago used a mixture of gamers at first base after that and completed the season with an 83 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR on the place.
Honorable mentions: Pirates’ designated hitter; Blue Jays’ beginning rotation; Royals’ left subject
