SoMnFan
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Bowdens INSIDER article
There have been a lot of trades and signings already this offseason, but there's still time for more. Here's the missing link for each AL team and potential solutions:
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have had a disappointing offseason after reaching the ALCS in 2014, including the loss of free agents Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. The Orioles are hoping the returns of Manny Machado (knee injury), Chris Davis (suspension) and Matt Wieters (elbow) will help make up for it, but losing Cruz and Markakis definitely hurt. The Orioles feel they showed great restraint by not overpaying to keep both players, which might help them in the long run but will definitely hurt them in 2015. They've failed so far to replace them, but they are still working on signing lesser free agents such as Colby Rasmus and Nori Aoki and continue to have trade conversations with the Dodgers regarding Andre Ethier.
Missing link: Corner outfield power bat
Possible solutions: Colby Rasmus, Nori Aoki, Andre Ethier
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have had a tremendous offseason, adding middle-of-the-order bats (Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez) and starting pitchers (Rick Porcello, Wade Miley). But they still lack a No. 1 starter. The good news is their farm system is loaded, and they have enough to make a run at Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto or Jordan Zimmermann if any of them are traded between now and the July trade deadline. Although they're not interested in paying James Shields' current asking price, if it were to drop, the Red Sox could jump in and get him at the last minute.
Missing link: Top-of-rotation starter
Possible solutions: Cole Hamels, James Shields, Jordan Zimmermann, Johnny Cueto
New York Yankees
The Yankees have been wheeling and dealing in an effort to get younger, better defensively and deeper in their bullpen and have accomplished all three. Especially the bullpen, which is loaded with power arms (Andrew Miller, Justin Wilson, David Carpenter, Chasen Shreve) setting up Dellin Betances. They still lack an impact No. 3 hitter, but their biggest need is a top-of-rotation starter to anchor an otherwise high-risk rotation that includes Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia. The Yankees claim to not be "in" on Max Scherzer or Shields, but either one would really enhance their chances of winning the AL East, and because they're the Yankees, I’m not going to believe they're not interested until those two free agents actually sign elsewhere.
Missing link: Top-of-rotation starter
Possible solutions: Max Scherzer, James Shields
Tampa Bay Rays
Rays rookie GM Matt Silverman has been wheeling and dealing, but in all those trades, they got back just one proven major league player (reliever Kevin Jepsen, who was acquired in the Matt Joyce deal with the Angels). The Rays did sign free agent Asdrubal Cabrera to a one-year deal, but that signing has led to speculation that Ben Zobrist will soon be traded. The Rays are hoping Steven Souza becomes a middle-of-the-lineup impact bat; if not, they’ll again have very little to protect Evan Longoria in the lineup.
Missing link: Impact middle-of-the-lineup bat
Possible solutions: None that I can think of unless they trade one of their fine starting pitchers, which would be a huge mistake.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have had a strong offseason, trading for one of the game's best all-around third basemen in Josh Donaldson and signing the top free-agent catcher in this year’s class in Russell Martin. They also think they’ve shored up second base long term with the acquisition of second baseman Devon Travis from the Tigers and are hoping that talented Michael Saunders develops a more consistent hitting approach as he replaces Melky Cabrera in left field. The Jays could use another left-handed bat and a starting pitcher, but their biggest need could be in the back end of the bullpen.
Missing link: Reliever
Possible solutions: Casey Janssen, Matt Lindstrom, Alexi Ogando, Chris Perez, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano
Chicago White Sox
Rick Hahn has quickly become one of the most aggressive -- and best -- GMs in baseball over the past couple of years, and has had another banner offseason this year. The White Sox spent $132 million on free agents Adam LaRoche, Zach Duke, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera and Emilio Bonifacio. He also made arguably one of the best trades of the offseason when he landed Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa in a six-player deal with the Athletics. To land Samardzija without giving up a single above-average player was amazing. The White Sox still have questions at second base, third base and catcher, but they're hoping all three will be answered in-house. The White Sox are counting on Micah Johnson and Carlos Sanchez to solve second base and are hoping Conor Gillaspie and Tyler Flowers hit well enough at third base and catcher, respectively, for those positions to not be a need between now and the trade deadline.
Missing link: Second base
Possible solutions: In-house options (Micah Johnson, Carlos Sanchez, Leury Garcia, Emilio Bonifacio), Rickie Weeks
Cleveland Indians
The Indians have had a relatively quiet offseason, making only two notable moves, trading for slugger Brandon Moss and signing starting pitcher Gavin Floyd. The Indians will depend on bounce-back years from Jason Kipnis, Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to improve their offense, along with the acquisition of Moss. The Indians also have one of the best young rotations in the game, and their season will probably hinge on whether the young pitchers after Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber improve, regress or spend too much time on the disabled list. But the Indians' missing link remains a middle-of-the-lineup impact bat.
Missing link: Middle-of-the-lineup impact bat
Possible solutions: Josh Hamilton (with the Angels paying the freight), Carlos Gonzalez, Mark Trumbo
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have had a solid offseason, including the re-signing of DH Victor Martinez and trades for outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Anthony Gose. They also added a couple of quality back-of-rotation starters in trades for Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon. Their team will be much better defensively up the middle with the return of Jose Iglesias at shortstop and with Gose in center. The Tigers' bullpen remains a question, but their biggest missing link is a top-of-rotation starter to go with Justin Verlander, David Price and Anibal Sanchez.
Missing link: Top-of-rotation starter
Possible solutions: Max Scherzer, James Shields
Kansas City Royals
After reaching the World Series for the first time in 29 years, the Royals said goodbye to free agents Billy Butler and James Shields. They then spent more than $50 million on free agents Edinson Volquez, Kris Medlen, Alex Rios and Kendrys Morales. The moves should be enough for them to contend again in 2015, but I’m not convinced Rios and Morales will both have bounce-back years. I think a right-handed bat is their missing link.
Missing link: Right-handed power bat
Possible solution: Mark Trumbo
Minnesota Twins
The Twins have made only two moves this offseason, signing SP Ervin Santana and OF Torii Hunter, who returned to where his career started 18 years ago. For the Twins to be competitive, they must continue to improve their starting rotation, so when their top prospects, such as 3B Miguel Sano and CF Byron Buxton, finally arrive in the next couple of years, they're ready to win. If they can surprise the baseball world and sign James Shields, they could actually be in a pennant race sooner than expected.
Missing link: Top-of-rotation starter
Possible solutions: James Shields
Houston Astros
The Astros' biggest need this offseason was revamping their bullpen, and it was mission accomplished with the signings of Pat Neshek and Luke Gregerson. The Astros also found their short-term shortstop in Jed Lowrie, who can keep the position warm until Carlos Correa arrives. In fact, the only thing the Astros can do right now is wait for their prospects to develop, especially their bevy of pitching prospects, including Mark Appel, Michael Feliz, Mike Foltynewicz and Vincent Velasquez. There is no point rushing the development of this team. They are going in the right direction and might even be a .500 team in 2015. It would be a mistake to acquire more short-term stopgaps unless their intent is to trade them at the deadline for more prospects.
Missing link: Development of their top prospects
Possible solution: Patience
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels won the most games in baseball (98) in the 2014 regular season and surely would have won more than 100 if Garrett Richards hadn't gotten hurt and either C.J. Wilson or Josh Hamilton had not had "down" years. GM Jerry Dipoto continued to add young, long-term starting pitchers this offseason with his trades for southpaw Andrew Heaney (a former first-round pick) and right-hander Nick Tropeano. Dipoto also acquired depth in his acquisitions of Matt Joyce and Josh Rutledge and bullpen depth in lefty reliever Cesar Ramos. The Angels don't get Tyler Skaggs (Tommy John surgery) back until late summer at the earliest, and it’s unknown when Richards will be healthy enough to join the rotation (the Angels hope it will be near the start of the season). As such, I still think one more veteran starter would be a good acquisition for them. They’ll probably do something if they can fit it in their budget and keep them under the luxury-tax line.
Missing link: Veteran starting pitcher
Possible solutions: James Shields, Bartolo Colon, Jonathon Niese, Mike Leake, Dan Haren
Oakland Athletics
After going for it all last summer and falling short, the A's have spent their offseason rebuilding for the future by trading some of their best players, including Jeff Samardzija, Brandon Moss, Derek Norris and Josh Donaldson. Having to compete in the strong AL West won't be easy for them, so it makes sense that the A’s next move would be to deal left-handed starter Scott Kazmir, who will be a free agent at season’s end. The A’s have successfully rebuilt teams quickly under GM Billy Beane's leadership, but they’ve had to take a step back again this year and make these trades in order to do it again.
Missing link: More long -term prospects
Possible solutions: Trading Scott Kazmir
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners were able to solve their biggest missing link, an impact right-handed hitter to put between Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager in their lineup, signing major league home run leader Nelson Cruz. The Mariners also added back-of-rotation depth with their trade for J.A. Happ and acquired a solid right field platoon in Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano. The Mariners' biggest missing link right now is probably first base. They're hoping Logan Morrison can bounce back and provide the same type of production he gave the Marlins back in 2011 (23 homers, 72 RBIs), but if he doesn’t, the team will need an upgrade.
Missing link: First base power bat
Possible solutions: Edwin Encarnacion, Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, Justin Morneau, Ryan Howard, Lucas Duda
Texas Rangers
The Rangers have had arguably the worst offseason of any American League team. They did re-sign Colby Lewis and brought in the long swing of Kyle Blanks and utility infielder Adam Rosales via free agency. They also made one trade with the Nationals, bringing in former first-round pick Ross Detwiler, who could compete for the fifth spot in their rotation. But they still have needs in left field, at catcher and DH, and even in the starting rotation, depending upon the health of their returning starters. Catcher is the biggest need.
Missing link: Catcher
Possible solutions: Matt Wieters, Jason Castro, Dioner Navarro, Evan Gattis (could also solve LF or DH), Wilin Rosario (could also solve LF or DH).
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