To set the stage for the remainder of the offseason, we’ll take a look at the most pressing remaining needs of every team in baseball over the coming week or so, division by division. (Hat tip to MLBTR commenter mike156 for the idea.) We often discuss things through the lens of an organization’s trajectory; thus, a rebuilding team might “need” to move some salary, while a contender might “need” an expensive starter. But with camp in sight, every club is making final calls on who’ll compete for big league jobs in the season to come (while also pursuing broader opportunities), so the focus here is on specific positions on the MLB roster. Fortunately, the task of roster analysis is made much easier by the MLB depth charts available at RosterResource.com. Each team listed below is linked to its respective depth chart, so you can take a look for yourself.
So far, we’ve checked in on the AL Central, NL West, NL East, AL East, and NL Central. To wrap things up, let’s stop in on the AL West:
- First Baseman/DH: The Rangers make obvious sense for a first base/DH addition after watching Mitch Moreland and Carlos Beltran depart via free agency. Texas can utilize Joey Gallo and/or Jurickson Profar in those roles, but neither has hit to expectations in the majors. The club has been tied frequently to Mike Napoli, but there are other options on the open market as well. Relatedly, the Rangers will need to decide what to do with both Gallo and Profar in the near term, as both appear to have uncertain futures in Texas.
- Starting Pitcher: Though the Rangers already slotted in Andrew Cashner after declining a club option over Derek Holland, the team also lost Colby Lewis from last year’s staff. He is among the veterans still available in free agency, presumably on short-term arrangements, and Texas could certainly stand to bolster the back of its rotation. At present. A.J. Griffin seems likely to take the fifth slot, though a few upper-level youngsters could also factor in. Texas would do well at least to enhance the overall depth here, at a minimum.
- Sorting out the bullpen: Texas has a variety of interesting arms available to take closing duties, with last year’s ninth-inning man Sam Dyson returning. But the club has been rumored to be dangling some of its righty arms in trade, and could conceivably deal from what is something of a surplus to improve elsewhere (or even just to bolster its prospect pool).
- Starter: Seattle’s first three rotation spots are set. Behind that group, though, the club is currently set to sort through Ariel Miranda, Nathan Karns, Chris Heston, Rob Whalen, Brad Mills, and Christian Bergman in camp. Adding another established arm isn’t perhaps an outright necessity, but it would go a long way to firming up the roster.
- First Base/Corner Outfield mix: Currently, the M’s project to utilize some sort of platoon involving youngster Dan Vogelbach (a lefty hitter) and Danny Valencia (a righty). But the latter could also factor into the outfield mix while also providing a reserve at third. Meanwhile, the corner outfield situation includes a whole variety of options, including lefty Seth Smith, who is said to be on the trade block. Adding a righty slugger from the still-stocked free-agent market while thinning the corner outfield herd could make good sense for Seattle.
- Utility Infielder: With Jean Segura locked in at shortstop and the durable Robinson Cano set to return at second, there’s not a huge need in the middle infield. But projected reserve Shawn O’Malley has never hit much in the upper minors or in his brief MLB time, so at least adding some camp competition would be worthwhile.
- Left-handed Reliever: Entering the winter, Houston was said to be looking for a southpaw to pair with Tony Sipp, who disappointed after returning via free agency last winter. Jerry Blevins, Boone Logan, J.P. Howell, and Travis Wood (who’d also represent some rotation depth) are among the open-market options. Houston could also continue exploring the trade market; the club is said to have checked in on Justin Wilson of the Tigers.
- Starter: Houston has a five-man rotation mix in place after already adding Charlie Morton early in the offseason, and possesses some quality young arms as well, but the team could certainly stand to improve its starting staff as a way of rounding out an aggressive winter. The club has been tied to pitchers such as Jose Quintana, Danny Duffy, and Yordano Ventura, while the free-agent market still includes Jason Hammel and a few bounceback options. Even if a larger strike doesn’t prove achievable, adding a minor-league free agent could make sense.
- Another bat? There are limits to the number of true needs for some organizations, and that’s particularly true of Houston, which has accounted for most of its roster holes and touts plenty of versatility on its roster. But the club has looked for ways to add yet more talent in a variety of ways, and reportedly stayed involved on Edwin Encarnacion right up to his eventual signing. It would rate as a surprise at this point, but the ’Stros could conceivably add a power bat at first base (bumping Yulieski Gurriel into the corner outfield mix) or acquire a center fielder (shifting George Springer back to a corner spot) if an opportunity arises.
- Closer: While Los Angeles has options for the ninth inning — Huston Street could re-take the reins if he can return to form, Cam Bedrosian has the arm for the job, and Andrew Bailey is back after spending time as the closer late last year — that doesn’t mean the organization should rest on its laurels. Several experienced late-inning arms remain available in free agency, potentially creating a solid value opportunity and adding what could be an open camp competition for the closer’s job.
- Left-handed Reliever: Jose Alvarez has turned in two solid campaigns as a lefty setup man, but he’s hardly an overwhelming pitcher. Adding another lefty — some possible options are noted above — might provide a nice boost to the late-inning mix while allowing the club to use Alvarez for matchups earlier in a game.
- Rotation Depth: Signing Jesse Chavez likely rounds out the Halos’ staff, but that doesn’t mean there’s adequate depth. That’s especially true given the health questions surrounding Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs, and Matt Shoemaker. While pitchers like Alex Meyer, Nate Smith, Chris Jones and perhaps Manny Banuelos and John Lamb provide upper-level depth, it wouldn’t hurt to plug in a veteran on a minor-league deal (or perhaps even aim higher, if a good value can be found on a pitcher such as Hammel).
- Center Fielder: The A’s currently project to utilize some combination of Brett Eibner and Jake Smolinski up the middle, making for one of the least promising center-field situations in baseball. At a minimum, adding a veteran, left-handed hitter (such as Michael Bourn) would allow the team to set up a platoon. There are also some bounceback players on the open market (including Austin Jackson and Desmond Jennings), and the A’s could still pursue a more impactful asset via trade.
- First Base: It came as something of a surprise when Oakland reached agreement on an arb deal with Yonder Alonso, who had seemed a non-tender candidate. But the club has still looked to improve at first, most notably chasing Encarnacion, despite also possessing some other internal possibilities. Stephen Vogt is one, though he could serve as the DH and still appear at times behind the dish; Mark Canha is back as a righty bat; and Ryon Healy may profile as a first bagger if he can’t handle the hot corner defensively. With so many sluggers still floating around in free agency, Oakland could add some thump while deepening its overall roster. As an alternative, the A’s could add a third baseman (Luis Valbuena and Trevor Plouffe remain available) while bumping Healy into the first base/DH mix.
- Veteran Starter: While the A’s are said to be high on their rather expansive mix of young starters, the current staff is short on MLB experience outside of staff ace Sonny Gray, who will be looking to return to form in 2017. There’s not a need, strictly speaking, for innings, but Oakland has had success in the past with short-term starters, and a targeted strike could pay dividends — by improving the team’s near-term outlook, but also by adding depth to account for a hypothetical mid-season trade of Gray and reducing the need to press less-established arms into major-league service.
I would love for the Padres to try to buy low on Profar. I can’t imagine the skills that made him the #1 prospect in baseball have atrophied so much. I know there’s only a couple years of cheap control left, but San Diego has virtually no payroll committed after this season and could afford him if he could rejuvenate his career. Shortstop has been such a barren wasteland for the Padres for so long.
The Padres can try and buy low, but JD isn’t stupid and wouldn’t sell low on Profar.
Probably not, but maybe Texas loves Travis Jankowski or something. It doesn’t seem like Profar has a role on Texas this season.
That’s why they wouldn’t trade him in 15. And last year he was pretty good prior to all star. I only see profar being traded for young starter with upside.
Could a trade based around Profar for Myers be worked out? Add in Gallo and/or Chi Chi?
I think Gallo and Chi Chi don’t have much value right now, and I don’t see Texas with enough other pieces to get Myers. Their farm system is pretty thin.
Vince Velasquez could be of interest to the Mariners or Rangers, seeming as the Phillies have a ton of young rotation depth, they could look to deal VV.
What do those have to offer? I’m sure that the Phillies would listen.
Rangers don’t have much beyond profar and Gallo, unless somebody is interested in single a prospects. We gave up all upper level pieces of significance for hamels, lucroy and Beltran. We only have 1 top 100 prospect left
Rangers were interested in him at deadline last year. I’d imagine they still would be. He’s prolly type player the rangers would consider profar for
If Jd doesn’t get creative, rangers r in trouble in 17-18. U can’t get swept in 1st round, then lose Mitch, prince, Desmond, Beltran, holland, and Colby and replace with cashner, Napoli, and Hamilton and still expect to do better. Then we lose lucroy and darvish after 17. Astros and mariners r upgrading, were downgrading and think it’s gonna get them a series. lol
They were incredibly, unsustainably lucky last year anyway. They won’t be as good this year.
still have Mazara and a pretty young core. JD is smart, im guessing the farm is rebuilt soon and they find a FA or 3 to keep competitive.
i wouldnt want to spend 20M plus on lucroy or Darvish. the rest are pretty easily replaced.
Rangers wish list;
1) sign Romo to help in bullpen.
2) sign Napoli to be 1b/dh.
3) sign Desmond Jennings and see if he can pull a Ian Desmond.
Would also like to see them take a gamble on Nate Eovaldi by giving him 2 year low salary high incentive deal.
Eovaldi will not pitch in 2017 ….
that’s why they’d give him a two year deal ….
Agreed
they have a lot of relievers ..do not need an another however good gamble on Jennings though and it appears they are getting Napoli.. The rangers need another starter possobly a number 3 they can offer a reliever, a prospect and maybe a Gallo/Profar .they have to go for it this year.!.
Hope that Hamilton has something left in the tank after a year off. I doubt it, but it’s hard to remember how good he was when he was good.
Don’t the A’s also have Alcantra as a CF option? Or is he not ready or poor defensively
Couldn’t hit anything so he was released.
That’s odd didn’t he have good minors hitting numbers? Anyone know what happened as he advanced?
got released and picked up with the reds i think
I should’ve added him in that group.
EDIT: Actually, wait, he was outrighted and claimed off waivers by the Reds.
He sucks and won’t ever hit.
He ready and was good. He was blocked on the Cubs at every position but if given a shot Alcantra can be a good starter
Houston needs a top of the rotation starter only they have 6 starters counting Musgrove and Devinski is being stretched out as a starter so that is 7 and they have Martes as well (as long as he is not traded for a TOR starter). They could use a lefty reliever but will probably give Sipp another chance since they are paying him good dollars.
TEXAS RANGERS
Infield
If Joey Gallo can play 1B and hits anything like I’ve seen him hit, the Rangers don’t need help here. With C Jonathan Lucroy, 1B Gallo, 2B Rougned Odor, 3B Adrian Beltre, SS Elvis Andrus and Super Sub Jurikson Profar. they seem like the class IF of MLB.
Outfield.
If Delino DeShields returns to form, the Rangers OF seems versatile with RF Nomar Mazara, CF Carlos Gomez, LF Chi-Soo Chu and 4th OF DeShields mixed in almost every day. I would like to see DeShields in CF with Gomez and Chu splitting time in LF and DH.
Starting Pitching:
If A.J. Griffin returns to his potential, he and Martin Perez will be a strong addition to aces Cole Hammels and Yu Darvish to the rotation.
This is where I think Texas has a NEED. I’m not sold on Andrew Cashner, Mike Hauschild or any other names in the Texas organization. The Rangers need a solid spot starter-long reliever type to fill this role.
Left Handed Relief Pitching:
Alex Claudio and Dario Alvarez looked excellent and Jake Diekman looked like a solid left handed reliever.
Right Handed Relief Pitching:
Matt Bush was a find of the 2016 season. Tony Barnette had a solid 2016 but he’s 33.
After that, I’m a little concerned. Sam Dyson had 38 saves last year and so what! Neither Dyson’s nor Tanner Scheppers’ nor Jeremy Jeffrees’ SO:BB ratio was very good to be consistently effective in the bullpen much less in the CL’s role.
Class IF of MLB? They’re not even the best if in their state.
Rangers arnt even the second best infield in the division. If you say Cano is going to regress this year you have to say the same for Beltre.
24thekid- exactly! I’m biased but clearly the best Inf in the AL West is in Seattle. 1B Valencia/Vogelbach platoon, 2B (all-star GG) Cano, SS (all-star) Segura, 3B Seager and C Ruiz/Zunino platoon
Rizzo, Baez/Zobrist, Russell, and Bryant are far and away the class of MLB Infields.
This is a joke right?
Angels need Hammel and Holland and they might have a glimpse of a shot
Hammel would be a solid pick up, I really want them to bring back Weaver, I can’t see him in another uniform but Hammel would be an upgrade over him. Holland would be good for the bullpen or Feliz.
I would also like weaver back but I highly doubt it unless nobody offers him anything. Hammel would be a good pick up and move Chavez to the pen as a swing man. Either holland or Feliz would be good all though I would prefer holland
maybe they could use another bat, I wonder how cheap weiters would come
I don’t see a fit with weiters as he isnt that good defensively and wouldn’t have traded bandy if they were gonna sign him
I was shocked they traded bandy, I think he was better then Perez but hopefully Maldonado works out for us. I know it’s to early to say, I was hoping we could get todd frazier for next year or do we wait till 2018 and make a run at Machado?
Yeah I felt bandy was good and he would be good for a full season. I really hope the angels do get Frazier and I think machado will be a bit pricey and out of the angels budget unless they just backload a deal
I think Frazier could come cheaper then Machado, and then next year I believe we should sign some pitching, Not sure who we could targert, I would like to see them get Cueto if he opts out, Arrieta would be too much money, Could give Hellickson a contract
Frazier seems like a cool dude and contributes with the bat in terms of power but that OBP is ugly. Don’t get me wrong if he’s cheap I wouldn’t mind but he’s not the kind of guy you commit alot to IMO.
Or we bring back Escobar on a nice cheap contract
Frazier is a cool dude signed for everybody at the big a before the game and I would personally like to see trout and Frazier on the same team
Bringing Escobar back is also a good idea as well
im not a big fan of Escobar. Love Frazier as a great clubhouse figure with Trout but he can not get on base to save his life and he’ll start to regress quite a bit as time rolls on. I would honestly love to see us get Plouffe. He’s always been decent and consistent, plus he should come pretty cheap.
hammel wouldn’t help our chances that much, but if it’s a really low deal than it’d be smart too do it
Angels should take a risk at greg holland , they just everyone to stay healthy in the rotation led by richards
Yep, that’s pretty much what they have to hope for. If, somehow, all of those starters can stay healthy, and trout keeps trouting, they have a shot at wc
they need more depth at the rotation, their wildcard for them is alex meyer. a power arm who I think could put it all together and reach his potential
if they have any real hope of competing they will need those pitchers to stay healthy all year, making depth less important imo. If they start to go down, they are not gonna be in the hunt, unless the rest of the west also suffers failures.
the angels need to get off to a good start, and health being a big concern. they improved on defense by a wide margin from last season.
The west looks like it should be a competitive division. But since baseball is baseball it wont work out that way
the angels could be better then what experts have them at. fangraphs put them at 85 wins
fangraph’s projections are basing that on a healthy rotation.
They typically discount for health in projecting innings totals, though that’s obviously quite an imperfect science.
I actually like Travis Wood for the Halos. His versatility is nice, he can be a lefty pen piece and step into the back of the rotation if/when an arm goes down.
Holland, Hammel would be cool if the price was right.
the angels just need a healthy rotation and trout being trout. If Richards , Shoemaker and Skaggs can stay healthy and make 25-28 starts, they have a chance and with contributions from Nolasco and Chavez. Could use some more depth off the bench, Davis and Crisp. Holland and Feliz for the bullpen.
Wood makes a lot of sense as eppler likes those kinds of guys as he can pitch in the pen and start
I think the angels are fine with revere marte Pennington and Perez/ Maldonado as the bench
MLBTR is going to do a special article on the Angels. It will be called 30 Remaining Needs.
The angels aren’t the best team but I doubt you can name 30 remaining needs.
You’re right. I was using hyperbole. I do it 110 percent of the time.
The article will be called…
Angels: 15 Remaining Needs.
Still a little too much
i’d say about 2 real needs. bullpen for sure and maybe a starter.
Accurate
Still going right over your head, I see….
Angels fans — 3 Remaining Needs:
1) Sarcasm awareness. ….
I would love to see Wood and Holland on the angels. Our biggest need is bullpen/health for 2017. Hammel would be a nice pick up, he kind of reminds me of Weaver.
reminds me of Lackey
I noticed that all 5 teams in the division have starting pitching listed as a remaining need. This is going to be an all out war in 2017. Angels, Astros, Mariners, and Rangers are all going to fight for it since they all have rotation concerns.
Not the Angels. Fighting it out with Oakland for last in AL West.