Every AL team's biggest remaining needs
Spring training is roughly one month away, and the free-agent thaw seems to be upon us as multiple teams resolve the final needs on their rosters.
However, there are still a lot of remaining free agents. Conversely, all types of teams - from would-be contenders to destitute rebuilders - still have many holes to fill. Let's take stock of what each American League team should focus on before camps open next month:
Baltimore Orioles
2021 40-man payroll: $80M
Space under luxury tax: $130M
Highest-paid player: Chris Davis ($23M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Infield depth, reliever
Potential targets: Brad Miller, Jedd Gyorko, Keone Kela
After a Cinderella season in 2020 that ultimately fell flat down the stretch, the Orioles are not in a position to win. However, they are in a position to make savvy additions that could expedite the rebuilding process. Landing Freddy Galvis earlier this week answers some questions about infield depth - and the club could use him as a trade chip midway through the year - but it wouldn't hurt to add some relievers who could rebound and even benefit from being showcased in a closer's role.
Boston Red Sox
2021 40-man payroll: $202M
Space under luxury tax: $8M
Highest-paid player: Chris Sale ($30M)
Dead money: $29.75M (David Price, Dustin Pedroia)
Team needs: Outfield depth, left-handed reliever
Potential targets: Danny Santana, Matt Joyce, Oliver Perez, Jake McGee, Sean Doolittle
A still-rebuilding Red Sox squad should not be expected to win. However, they could make noise in a competitive AL East with an upshot of threatening for a wild-card spot if the Yankees and Rays falter after having depressing winters. That's all conjecture, though. Chaim Bloom and the rest of the front office should play it safe, opting to land outfield depth in the event they get an offer they can't refuse for Andrew Benintendi. Adding a left-handed reliever would be wise as well, with Darwinzon Hernandez - a potential swingman - as the only southpaw in the bullpen.
Chicago White Sox
2021 40-man payroll: $164.3M
Space under luxury tax: $45.7M
Highest-paid player: Yasmani Grandal ($18.25M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Left-handed hitter, outfield depth
Potential targets: Josh Reddick, Brian Goodwin
Parting ways with Nomar Mazara via a non-tender made sense - he had been a below-average hitter in each of his five seasons and was coming off the worst one of his career. However, the team still hasn't really addressed the hole he left. Adam Eaton hits left-handed, but his skill set doesn't really include pop, and he's the only lefty starter in the projected lineup with Yoan Moncada and Yasmani Grandal as switch hitters. If a poor 2020 campaign severely hurts Reddick's market, then he might be a savvy investment. Otherwise, Goodwin could be a nice fit on a roster with World Series aspirations.
Cleveland Indians
2021 40-man payroll: $51.1M
Space under luxury tax: $158.8M
Highest-paid player: Jose Ramirez ($9.4M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Outfielders, left-handed relievers
Potential targets: Jackie Bradley Jr., Tony Watson
Cleveland needs outfielders - for what feels like at least the fifth year. The AL Central title is still within reach despite trading Francisco Lindor, and the club immediately filled the chasm left at shortstop when they acquired both Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario in said trade. The organization's focus should turn to reinforcing a roster that still includes Jose Ramirez and Shane Bieber, and that starts with adding a capable center fielder like Bradley. Plus, some left-handed help in the bullpen - Kyle Nelson being the lone southpaw - would help James Karinchak and co. close out the many, many close contests this team is going to have to win.
Detroit Tigers
2021 40-man payroll: $91.3M
Space under luxury tax: $118.7M
Highest-paid player: Miguel Cabrera ($30M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Starting pitcher, outfielder, reliever
Potential targets: Mike Foltynewicz, Joakim Soria, Yusmeiro Petit
Landing Wilson Ramos recently addressed a need behind the dish, but a veteran pitch-framer like Jeff Mathis may have been a better fit, with the Tigers trying to get their young pitching staff - led by Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal - up to major-league speed. Ramos was one of the best hitting catchers in the league during his peak, so perhaps he recaptures some of that magic and becomes a trade piece. Meanwhile, Detroit should turn its attention to making sure the franchise can get through a grueling 162-game campaign without pushing its young arms too much. A buy-low on Foltynewicz might make sense.
Houston Astros
2021 40-man payroll: $195.8M
Space under luxury tax: $14.2M
Highest-paid player: Justin Verlander ($33M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Center fielder, starting pitcher, reliever
Potential targets: Jackie Bradley Jr., Kevin Pillar, Jake Arrieta, Cole Hamels, Trevor Rosenthal
Retaining Michael Brantley hours after losing George Springer helps keep the Astros in the thick of the AL West hunt. However, the gorge Springer left in center is too large for just Myles Straw to fill. Either Bradley or Pillar could be inexpensive options to get Houston back atop the division. Other than that, Zack Greinke, Framber Valdez, Lance McCullers Jr., and Jose Urquidy might be an underrated quartet, but veteran reinforcement in Arrieta or Hamels could really help.
Kansas City Royals
2021 40-man payroll: $97M
Space under luxury tax: $113M
Highest-paid player: Danny Duffy ($15.5M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Left-handed outfielder, left-handed reliever
Potential targets: Joc Pederson, Nomar Mazara, Jake McGee, Justin Wilson
The Royals are in an interesting spot and could be capable of playing spoiler in a division with one legitimately great team, one terrible team, and three more teams stuck somewhere in the middle. Adding Carlos Santana and Mike Minor while retaining Greg Holland already suggests they believe they have a puncher's chance at a wild-card spot. The lineup is decent and the next era is on the horizon, with Brady Singer and Kris Bubic tabbed for rotation spots. Some left-handed pop - particularly in the outfield - and a lefty reliever could make them good enough to run alongside the Twins.
Los Angeles Angels
2021 40-man payroll: $185.3M
Space under luxury tax: $24.7M
Highest-paid player: Mike Trout ($37.1M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Outfield depth, left-handed hitter
Potential targets: Joc Pederson, Nomar Mazara, Ben Gamel
The Angels currently don't have a single everyday left-handed hitter in their lineup. Jared Walsh figures to get platooned with Taylor Ward, and Shohei Ohtani should hopefully be returning to the mound once a week. That arrangement could pose a problem, so it might make sense to go after Pederson, who the club reportedly almost acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter before they needed to re-work the Mookie Betts deal. Alternatively, new general manager Perry Minasian and the rest of the front office could get thriftier and add Mazara or Gamel as more of a bench bat.
Minnesota Twins
2021 40-man payroll: $126M
Space under luxury tax: $84M
Highest-paid player: Josh Donaldson ($21.7M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Infield depth, reliever
Potential targets: Joe Panik, Asdrubal Cabrera, Sean Doolittle, Keone Kela
Landing Andrelton Simmons partially addressed a need, but shifting Jorge Polanco to second makes the Twins' middle infield one of the worst hitting duos among contending teams. The value has to be made up with Simmons' elite defense - and it may well be - but another option at second over Polanco might be worth considering as well. Adding one more piece to a bullpen that lost Trevor May and Matt Wisler might also be wise.
New York Yankees
2021 40-man payroll: $199M
Space under luxury tax: $11M
Highest-paid player: Gerrit Cole ($36M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Starting pitchers
Potential targets: Trevor Bauer, Jake Odorizzi, Rich Hill
It's been a weird winter for the Yankees, but for all the think pieces about their lack of spending, the team is likely still the best in the AL East. The path taken this offseason just hasn't been what baseball fans have come to expect from the organization, like landing reclamation projects in Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon to fill the holes Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton left. The lineup still boasts enormous pop but making sure they can prevent runs is still top of the list. Top-ticket players like Bauer and Odorizzi make sense if the Yankees decide to spend, but a veteran like Hill might be more likely with the team having an outside chance at Cole Hamels or Felix Hernandez.
Oakland Athletics
2021 40-man payroll: $89.2M
Space under luxury tax: $120.8M
Highest-paid player: Khris Davis ($16.75M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Shortstop, relievers, starting pitcher
Potential targets: Didi Gregorius, Joakim Soria, Jesse Chavez, Carlos Rodon, Rich Hill
The A's are known for inaction in the winter, but this level of nothing feels foreign. Letting Marcus Semien walk in free agency was expected, but Oakland still must address the hole he left. Chad Pinder is currently supposed to start there, and that simply won't keep the A's atop their division. If Gregorius' asking price drops, landing him makes a ton of sense as it gives the club a regular left-handed bat other than Matt Olson. Losing Liam Hendriks also stings, but supplementing a Jake Diekman-led 'pen by retaining Soria or landing Chavez would be prudent. Taking fliers on Rodon or Hill could help fortify a rotation that has some question marks as well.
Seattle Mariners
2021 40-man payroll: $80.6M
Space under luxury tax: $129.4M
Highest-paid player: Kyle Seager ($18.5M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Catcher, outfielder, relievers
Potential targets: Matt Wieters, Jake Marisnick, Jonathan Villar, Brandon Workman, Trevor Cahill
The Mariners are in a bit of a holding pattern while they wait for the precise moment to bring up Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez. With both of them flanking Kyle Lewis, Seattle might quickly develop the most feared outfield in the sport. Until then, though, they need some help. A glove-first outfielder like Marisnick might make sense, or more of a utility guy like Villar, who can move elsewhere when needed. Additionally, the team could probably use a catcher and maybe a couple of relievers they could possibly flip at the deadline.
Tampa Bay Rays
2021 40-man payroll: $70.1M
Space under luxury tax: $139.9M
Highest-paid player: Kevin Kiermaier ($11.6M)
Dead money: $2M (Evan Longoria)
Team needs: Starting pitcher
Potential targets: Rich Hill, Zack Godley, Collin McHugh
The Rays opted to decline Charlie Morton's option and trade Blake Snell after getting to the World Series, making their need an obvious one. They're still a relatively complete team, particularly on the hitting side, but they'll be forced to shop in the bargain bin - as they always do - for at least one more starter. A veteran lefty like Hill could make sense or, if he comes at a bargain, McHugh could kind of fit the same mold as Michael Wacha, who the Rays signed earlier this winter.
Texas Rangers
2021 40-man payroll: $90M
Space under luxury tax: $120M
Highest-paid player: Elvis Andrus ($14.25M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Infielders, right-handed hitters, starting pitchers, relievers
Potential targets: Marwin Gonzalez, Jonathan Schoop, Felix Hernandez, Matt Shoemaker, Chaz Roe, Ken Giles
The Rangers are in a state of disarray but have new general manager Chris Young manning the helm, seemingly poised to begin their rebuild. Adding David Dahl does actually shore up what might be a decent outfield next year. Best case scenario, Dahl and Joey Gallo absolutely smash and rival teams start lining up to acquire them. Utility pieces like Gonzalez or Schoop, veteran starters like Hernandez, and pitchers looking to recuperate some value like Roe or Giles could be smart additions. Remember, Giles is coming off of Tommy John surgery and will be looking for a two-year deal while he rehabs. If Texas can offer the most, it might be a wise move in preparation for the 2022 trade deadline.
Toronto Blue Jays
2021 40-man payroll: $144M
Space under luxury tax: $66M
Highest-paid player: George Springer ($23.6M)
Dead money: None
Team needs: Starting pitcher
Potential targets: Trevor Bauer, Jake Odorizzi, Taijuan Walker, Trevor Williams
There was a lot of smoke earlier in the winter, and eventually, the fire followed in the form of George Springer, Marcus Semien, Kirby Yates, Tyler Chatwood, and Steven Matz. Now, the franchise's only real need on its path to becoming a formidable contender is a top rotation piece to accompany Hyun Jin Ryu. Bauer might be too rich of an investment for them now that they gave $150 million to Springer, so bringing back Walker or perhaps landing Odorizzi seems more realistic. Otherwise, the organization might still have to hit the trade market to finish off what wound up being a remarkable offseason.