Post by White Sox GM (Michael) on Dec 13, 2015 20:32:38 GMT -5
Free agency is only a few days away, so the offseason is about to gain full steam. This time of year is oftentimes a turning point for many franchises, but whatever direction the franchise is going in, it needs a plan. Teams understandably don't always divulge these plans, but I'm going to go through every roster (these are in the order of how they show on the Master List) and see how I would move forward with it.
*Note: Don't blame me if you take my advice and it doesn't work out, because I have trouble tying my shoes sometimes so there goes my credibility
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays, as they oftentimes are during the offseason, are a strong but incomplete team. Thankfully, they've alloted some cash to fill holes in the lineup. Really, the lineup should get almost all of the focus, so Forbz can conserve his money through Group A (pitchers) of free agency. Unfortunately, pickings are slim for infielders and left field, Forbz' two biggest needs. I'd probably try to trade for expensive-ish hitters on the cheap - it's a good use of the money, as it's basically like buying a free agent, but this could come at a cheaper cost and more talent is available to him this way.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are in no position to compete this year, but they have some money to play with. An advantage to their current roster construction is that nobody is obligated serious money. In addition, the Jays have no cash obligations next year right now. They could make a play in free agency, but most FAs don't fit their timeline. I could, however, see the Jays going after players like Stephen Strasburg or Jason Heyward. I'm afraid that the money will just be dumped into prospect deals, which is fine, but you have to acquire Major League talent at some point, and it's good to get some head start on it. Strasburg and Heyward will age well and still fit on the Jays' timeline (I'm sure there are similar, cheaper free agents at a similar age). I don't think they have enough incentive to go all-in on one of these players, but they should at least try for them. Worst case scenario, I would allot some money for IFA and in-season waiver wire pickups, and pour the rest into low-risk free agents that can be flipped at the deadline.
Baltimore Orioles
This team is almost complete as-is, but the rotation still needs work. Without a ton of 2017 commitment, the Orioles should consider shifting some salary to next season in order to acquire some more pitching. However, free agency will only get you so far with a limited amount of cash. The rest should be spent on reliable mid-rotation pitchers on short-term deals. Realistically, the Orioles aren't acquiring anything close to an ace, but they should compete this year, so they need contributions from as many pitchers as possible. These types of deals will benefit the Orioles quickly and shouldn't cost too much.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are one of the franchises set up where they don't need to rely on too much externally to succeed. This team can make the AL East a three-team race again, but they can also choose to blow everyone else out of the water. They are short on dough now, but it shouldn't be too difficult to get under and acquire someone like Ben Zobrist to play second or left field for them. They might as well go for a right fielder too (probably via trade - a veteran should do for now), and with that rotation, this could be the most dangerous team in the American League as we anticipated years ago.
New York Yankees
The Yankees have been relatively dormant, but they've been active on the waiver wire, as they should be. I would continue picking up as many assets as possible, no matter how small, especially since money isn't an issue. At some point, Justin will have to do something with that cash. I suspect he will spend it in IFA, which would make sense given his timeline. However, he should also consider the sign-and-trade option; some teams will not be able to sign the free agents they covet, but Justin could cover some salary this year in exchange for picks and the like. Nobody really uses this option, but I think there's a lot of potential here for a rebuilding team with lots of cash.
Cleveland Indians
The Indians should decide whether to rebuild or compete, since they have been around .500 for the past few years. The AL Central is pretty crowded, so they should explore trading players like Scherzer, Cano, and Longoria. I would probably hold out until after SP free agency to put Scherzer on the block, and then do the same again with the hitters. The only issue with this strategy is if nobody bites, the Indians won't be able to recover through free agency (since it will have already passed). However, this shouldn't be a problem, as the Indians have a lot of really talented players who will command a ton of interest from everyone. Someone like Scherzer, especially if he's covered for 2016 (and the Indians have that flexibility, for sure), would command interest from every competing team. I'm just not convinced they'll be able to build a complete team with so much money strapped to their core, so I would start a retool/rebuild and try to grab the AL Central while some other teams are on the downswing.
Detroit Tigers
With a returning Wainwright, the Tigers should be good again. This team is most certainly aging, but the Tigers have a lot of cash, so it's time to go all-in. Competing for the playoffs every year is nice, but flags fly forever, y'know. I mean, you can't expect this core to be as good in 2017 as they were in 2015. You can, however, expect similar output this season. For sure, the Tigers don't have to be shitty forever after 2016, but they should consider buying one or two win-now types in free agency. They don't need pitching, but they need hitters. They could bring back Zobrist on a shorter deal, or they can bet on an Ian Desmond bounce-back (he is a potential free agency bargain). The bullpen needs help for sure, but relievers aren't too expensive in free agency. And the Tigers have a deep enough farm where they'll be able to replace aging or expiring players with new faces, plus they can trade from this reserve to get out of cap trouble.
Chicago White Sox
Well, this is my team, so I won't get into too many specifics because that would reveal what I actually want to do. This team doesn't need that much work right now, but it will need some in 2017 after a bunch of free agents leave. Therefore, the White Sox' focus for the 2016 offseason shouldn't actually be 2016, but it should be more about 2017. Essentially, the Sox need to find out how to replace all the production (namely, Encarnacion and Bautista if he isn't extended) that they are losing after the season, though, with a rather weak hitting free agent class, this might need to come through trade. Chicago can instead focus on spending money toward pitching, which isn't too weak but can probably use one or two more mid-rotation arms behind deGrom.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals have seemingly done a lot of their work already, acquiring Kluber and Votto among others. There's no real reason to sign major free agents (they also are almost at their budget) nor is there a need to trade for anything huge. *looks again* Nope, this team is pretty set. I'd keep poking around looking for good deals, but there's really not much to do. Log off (but not before the rosters are updated) and go take care of your damn kids.
Minnesota Twins
This team has a new owner, which is cool because he has no emotional attachment to this team. I'm glad he's attached to Machado, Keuchel, and Archer though, because they should be close to untouchable. This team probably isn't one offseason from seriously competing (realistically, it's two), but the Twinkies should get a head-start on the build to dominance and take advantage of a strong free agent class. The team has a pretty weak outfield, so it should clear a little more cash and do everything it can to sign Jason Heyward. If he gets too pricey, the Twins could go for Upton instead (not sure which will cost more). Either way, both are young and probably won't look like bad deals in 2017. This team has a few other holes, but free agency is either poor at those positions or the players available won't help in 2017 (hello, David Ortiz and Albert Pujols). Worst comes to worst, they can sign a few IFAs, but I don't see any other strong use of it besides going after the big outfielders in free agency.
Los Angeles Angels
This team is still in heavy rebuild mode. Given that competing is years away, they can continue acquiring talent through the draft. If they're going to trade cash for picks, they should do it before starting pitching FA begins (or during it), when their cash value will be at an all-time high. Also, take the Justin route and spam the waiver wire to get even more volume. This might not be the most exciting offseason for the Angels, but after this year's draft, they should be able to make lots more moves. Next season, they'll have approximately one fuckton of cash to trade, so they'll be able to get some real assets at that point to keep moving toward putting together an actual team.
Oakland Athletics
After two straight World Series berths, the A's quickly got to work and started a retooling process. I commend their ability to see past their recent success in order to improve for the future. The A's should continue moving players with a lot of their value tied up in the short-term (they've done this for the most part already). Since a lot of the process now will be waiting for player development, I'd scrounge around for breakout plays in the prospect market and look to trade for similarly low-risk, high-reward types on the MLB level in the interim. By gaining value through trade, the A's can keep it for themselves or flip it for something that fits their timeline (competing in 2018 maybe?).
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners were taken over recently by a non-Sack owner, and the future is brighter already. There's lots of talent and lots of money, too. The AL West is especially weak this year, so the Mariners should go for the division as soon as this year. Like many teams, I'm suggesting this one go after Heyward or Strasburg (or maybe Upton), but Seattle is in a unique spot in that they would have enough money for two or even three premium FA. They don't really need to do that to win the division, but I would certainly take advantage of FA here. Maybe sign one premium guy who's young, a few mid-tier FA to fill holes. Maybe sign Ortiz to hit you to a division title for one year? Why not? All you need to do is make the playoffs and then you have a decent chance of going far. Whatever's left in cash can be put toward IFA or it can be traded for assets of any kind - all assets fit the timeline of this team.
Texas Rangers
The Mariners are arguably the favorites right now, but Texas can certainly pull out a division win. Especially with about $40M to blow, the Rangers can get this team past Seattle. I would consider buying one mid-tier bat in free agency (Beltre looks to suit the best, but they could bring back their beloved Pedroia, too). They should go for a pitcher in free agency, too. I can see someone like Jordan Zimmermann going for below market-value since everyone will want Arrieta, Greinke, Cueto, or Strasburg (aside: damn this class is stacked). Maybe sign John Lackey to a one-year deal if possible. If all that gets too expensive, the Rangers can explore getting starting pitching cheaply through trades since, believe it or not, it's often easier to have a makeshift rotation and a strong lineup than the other way around if you're smart about it. Plus, he has Carrasco and a full staff of sorts, so this rotation is already not that weak. I would just keep in mind that the Mariners are coming, but the Rangers can stick with them, or even ahead of them, for a few seasons if they're determined enough.
Atlanta Braves
Alright, time to write about the Braves. Pretty simple - they have a good owner who's in the middle of a rebuild, just keep--*looks at roster* what the fuck they have over $100M in cap space. That's an obscene amount of cash to blow in one season, and it becomes less valuable after free agency. This is a really valuable asset. Well, the first solution is to trade a lot of it, RIGHT when teams need it, to get some future assets (preferably not 2017 cash, since Wood will be in the same situation next year). Maybe sign a few low-cost FA (relievers?) and trade them at the deadline. But that still leaves him with $70M or $80M, easily. I'd have to think the Braves are going to be a big player in IFA, both in January and June. Ok, but even then, there's probably a lot of cash left over. I don't even know what I'd do with it - trading a ton of it away right now, or during free agency, is probably the way to go. Also, Wood should be destroying the waiver wire. Like, getting every unowned player with an ounce of promise. Money is not even close to an object for him, so he might as well add like 50 players throughout the year, because they'll all be super cheap. Good luck with all that cash, and spend wisely.
Miami Marlins
Always a fun team. Kevin likes getting big-time players in big-time trades. That's probably the way the Marlins will continue to acquire talent because the team is deep and the pockets aren't. Another starting pitcher should be the priority since I expect the Phillies to be pretty strong, and fuck going for the Wild Card, especially in the NL. The lineup is insane even without Trout; all it needs is a RF, but Kevin knows that. He should probably settle for a good average hitter who can steal a few bases, because he doesn't need power. There are no stars in the bullpen, but he has about a thousand relievers at hand, so some will turn out to be productive. There isn't too much to do here otherwise besides being prepared in the summer to make moves and take the division.
New York Mets
The Mets want to compete, and I say let them compete. This team actually has a pretty good lineup, and if it signed two aces and made other smart moves through trades, it has a serious shot for the NL Wild Card or maybe even the division. Now, is signing two aces smart? I dunno. There goes almost half your cap for a few seasons. He should go for one ace and one lesser (but still capable) pitcher. The safest sign will be Greinke, but I actually like the idea of going for Strasburg more. He's significantly younger and will age better for Jack, a team that most certainly shouldn't be pushing for 2016 only. For a second pitcher, John Lackey seems like a good sign - not too expensive, and a known commodity in a rotation of question marks. Other than that, Jack has some more money to play with ($10M-$15M after those two) and a decent amount of work still in the trading market. To get to the level of his competition, Jack has to work hard to inquire about lots of players in order to get the right deals for his team. If he can get some low-cost options for the holes in his lineup or rotation, he could be in good position to compete.
Washington Nationals
Hey, Bryan's team! Also, is it me or does every team have either no money or a ton of money available? Washington has half of their budget clear. This comes with a caveat, though: This is a really, really incomplete team. The lineup has some decent players but is pretty weak in comparison to the rest of the East, and the rotation after King Felix is unstable. I have the feeling Bryan's going to try to compete, especially because of that bet with Jack, but money aside, I don't see a reason to try to win this season. The competition is just too strong. I would hold on to Felix, Ellsbury, and Wright to see if they can gain some value before trying to trade them. Luckily, these are Bryan's only true money obligations for the next few years, so he can quickly turn this franchise around, especially given how often he trades. There won't be much use for the money outside of IFA or perhaps trades for prospects, so I wouldn't be against Bryan investing some of it in mid-tier free agents. Ian Desmond is the type of player I'd target - he's youngish (30) and won't cost too much, but he has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone at a not-franchise-cornerstone price. After that, Bryan can try for players like Strasburg or Heyward, too, but I keep mentioning those guys so they could get pricey. The Nationals don't have to be torn to pieces, but they probably need a remodeling job this offseason and upcoming season.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have one of the strongest lineups in the league, but their pitching needs a little help. Luckily for them, the market has a ton of pitchers. I think they can get by with one ace - I would target Zack Greinke, but even Cueto would work. Imagining that rotation plus Cueto seems solid enough to me. The bullpen needs remodeling, too, so the Phils should continue clearing money for free agency. Again, given the team's relatively inexpensive yet competitive team, I would go for the top shelf and try to acquire Andrew Miller. Signing the top starter and top reliever in the market runs Oren about $40M, but he can get to that point and try to set himself apart through those two moves. Other than that, he needs some depth, which can either be acquired in the form of low-tier FA or low-cost trading. Just as the Marlins' goal is to beat the Phillies (and let's throw the Mets in there), the Phillies also have to have their eyes on the division title.
Houston Astros
As evidenced from the Pineda deal, Houston isn't competing right now. Instead, they're building from within. With so many teams trying to compete in the league right now, the move to rebuilding is a good one for teams like the Astros. The NL Central can be tough, but this is exactly how the Cubs and Pirates got successful. Max just has to be patient. Next season, he doesn't have a lot of obligations, so that is the time to start spending in free agency. Until then, Max should continue trading for prospects and picks. There are a few more Major League assets to move, but after that the pickings get slim, so he will have to be ahead of the game scouting-wise. With a focus on the farm, as well as some younger players that won't cost too much to acquire, the Astros can be back in the thick of things within a few seasons.
Milwaukee Brewers
This team is a little stealthy. Right now, it's not a fully competitive team, but the pieces are there. With a consistent influx of talent, 2017 seems like a reasonable time for the Brewers to go for their first playoff berth in (ODC) franchise history. Right now, there's too much ground to make up. Milwaukee has almost $30M in change, though, so they should take advantage of it by signing some multi-year deals. Perhaps someone like Francisco Liriano or Albert Pujols would be a good option if they come cheap enough. Nick seems to like building a pitching staff cheaply, a tactic that I use myself, so I would continue along that route while also looking to get some big-time bats into this lineup for 2017 or 2018. And once the prospects start coming up (the farm looks deep based on a 4-second look from my non-expert judgement), this team could be deep enough to compete for the NL Central eventually.
St. Louis Cardinals
Another heavy rebuilder. Matt has fully committed to overhauling the 2013 champs, so he hardly has a MLB roster, but the farm is strong and there's a lot of money left over. Even $45M is too much money for just IFA, so about half of the remaining money should be shipped off via trades or used as sign-and-trade bait. The Cards are still a few years away, so they don't have much of a reason to trade for big leaguers unless a deal falls into their lap. Really, they have to crush the 2016 amateur draft, and then they can get cooking on building a team out of the assets they have. Until then, acquire lots of picks and start scouting early.
Chicago Cubs
Ahh, CubCorp, the modelindustrial company franchise. The rotation is stacked beyond belief, but the lineup is kinda shoddy right now, so that should be the focus. Actually, I know it's the focus because the Cubs don't have $63M for no reason. So, this should be a simple case - buy hitters in free agency. Well, sorta. This might sound loony, but if I were the Cubs, I would trade an arm (Lester, Hamels, maybe both) for hitters, and then buy back that talent through free agency. The hitter's market is simply too weak for Psych to sign half of a lineup and expect to compete strongly with it. As far as who the Cubs should target, I would go with Jake Arrieta. That's maybe the first time I've brought up his name, but Greinke has been brought up as a target several times. I'm predicting Arrieta will be the cheaper option because he will be perceived to be riskier (well, he's less established), but he could very well be the better pitcher of the two and I think he will cost less. To the Cubs, even if he regresses a lot, they will still have a top-three rotation in the league, but he could be less of a cap hit for a team that has some more holes to fill. Offensively, I think Zobrist fits because of his flexibility, though there are other strong 2B available as well. I would also go for Pujols since the first baseman core is a little weak as of now. If the Cubs took this route, it would probably be seen as unexpected, but it might be the best way for them to get back to the World Series through the offseason.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Welp, the Cubs' main rivals have a ton of money, too. The Pirates have a really strong lineup, but they need to go after pitching to keep pace with Chicago. They can do this through free agency because all their players are inexpensive - I see a dependable pitcher like Johnny Cueto or Jordan Zimmermann as a good option to head a rotation of younger, less predictable arms. The Pirates will have more money to blow after that, so I'd go for a second baseman - Walker or Pedroia - to fill out the lineup. The rest can be spent on mid-rotation SP (Yovani Gallardo seems like a good option if there's enough money for that) or relievers (Davis is a closer now, so maybe get a cheap holds guy). Pittsburgh still has a farm system, so they can also improve from trades during the season, but their lack of money obligations for the next few years gives them some incentive to spend it and take their team to the next level.
Cincinnati Reds
Slowly but surely, the Reds are piecing together a good team. It might seem like they are caught between rebuilding and competing, but they are just getting strong value deals for Major Leaguers (take the A-Gon deal, for example). I think this is another good example of a team who could benefit from signing Jason Heyward - it would accelerate the rebuild without sacrificing the future. I mean, the guy's only 26. He should age well and provide a lot of value for the Reds when they need it. The Reds could wait for next year's FA class, too, but with young guys like Heyward, Upton, and Strasburg, there's no real reason to wait another year because all these guys are young. Unfortunately, those three can only go to three teams, so there have to be plan Bs - sign-and-trade looks like a good option. If the Reds were unable to trade a player within 48 hours, holding on to him wouldn't be detrimental to their roster or anything. Plus, covering a player for 2016 shouldn't be an obstacle for the Reds. As long as they continue to get value deals at the Major League level, there's no reason to argue with this unconventional mode of rebuilding.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The defending world champs still have a strong team, but after losing some talent to free agency, they have work to do. Pitching probably has to be the main focus, but they need to shed some cap if they want to be serious players - I would drop Melky and maybe try to move Braun. The other, potentially more practical option is to go for one or two mid-rotation SP in the FA market and improve the rest of the team through trading. Luckily, the bullpen is probably the league's strongest, so the pitching isn't as needy as it first seems. However, without a lot of cash or hitting depth available, the D-Backs need to be tight with what they have, so Hemmons should look to wrestle good players for cheap from other teams as he always seems to do.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been an average team at the MLB level for a few seasons now. With a lot of players expiring, this is the time for a rebuild or a retooling at the very least. Again, with so many teams competing (especially after free agency), this is a great time to be a rebuilder, especially one starting out with a bunch of MLB assets. The Dodgers could build a respectable farm in a very short period of time, and it could get even stronger if the Dodgers trade their excess cash for more picks or prospects. While it might be tough for the Dodgers to decide to rebuild, the team isn't in the greatest position to compete right now, but it can get there through trades and patience.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants are retaining a pretty strong lineup along with a rather suspect rotation. Rumor has it the Giants will amnesty Cain, a really good decision that would get the team up to $40M in cap space. What's more, the pitching market is strong (I've said it ten times by now), and the Giants should be right in the thick of it. If they acquire someone like Arrieta or Cueto, the Giants would be in good position to compete for the division title in 2016. They might want to spend the rest of their money acquiring a shortstop - Desmond is the best one there, though there are some more serviceable ones, and Zobrist probably has eligibility - or deepening the bullpen. If the Giants make a strong enough play in free agency, they won't have to worry too much about trading for more talent, because they could be the NL West favorites.
Colorado Rockies
It looks like the Rockies have entered rebuild mode. I'm not going to defend all of the past moves, but now that the franchise is rebuilding, it definitely has a decent start. The farm looks pretty strong, and there are still some MLB pieces to move. I'd focus on competing for 2018, especially since Colorado is almost out of money right now. By that point, some of his prospects will be regular Major Leaguers. Until then, Alex can hope to acquire some talent on the scale - it's easier said than done, so he might want to shoot low. Taking a page from Cody's rebuild strategy wouldn't be a bad idea, either, since the farm is already pretty strong. The most important thing is that Alex continues to rebuild while salvaging his farm.
San Diego Padres
The Padres are looking to compete. Much like the Mets, Noah's team has doubters, but I actually have confidence he can compete in the NL West. The Giants and the Diamondbacks are both weaker than they were last season (in part because FA hasn't started), but the Padres already have a really good rotation and some bats to go along with it. Really, they have over $30M to complete their lineup. I suspect it will largely be done through trades, but they can certainly get a new second baseman (any of the ones listed earlier fit the Padres). I think Ian Desmond is a clear fit here, too, given the weak SS combination currently. Other than that, maybe they could use a mid-to-back-end SP to fill out the rotation, but this is a near-complete team that could be competing for a division title this season.
*Note: Don't blame me if you take my advice and it doesn't work out, because I have trouble tying my shoes sometimes so there goes my credibility
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays, as they oftentimes are during the offseason, are a strong but incomplete team. Thankfully, they've alloted some cash to fill holes in the lineup. Really, the lineup should get almost all of the focus, so Forbz can conserve his money through Group A (pitchers) of free agency. Unfortunately, pickings are slim for infielders and left field, Forbz' two biggest needs. I'd probably try to trade for expensive-ish hitters on the cheap - it's a good use of the money, as it's basically like buying a free agent, but this could come at a cheaper cost and more talent is available to him this way.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are in no position to compete this year, but they have some money to play with. An advantage to their current roster construction is that nobody is obligated serious money. In addition, the Jays have no cash obligations next year right now. They could make a play in free agency, but most FAs don't fit their timeline. I could, however, see the Jays going after players like Stephen Strasburg or Jason Heyward. I'm afraid that the money will just be dumped into prospect deals, which is fine, but you have to acquire Major League talent at some point, and it's good to get some head start on it. Strasburg and Heyward will age well and still fit on the Jays' timeline (I'm sure there are similar, cheaper free agents at a similar age). I don't think they have enough incentive to go all-in on one of these players, but they should at least try for them. Worst case scenario, I would allot some money for IFA and in-season waiver wire pickups, and pour the rest into low-risk free agents that can be flipped at the deadline.
Baltimore Orioles
This team is almost complete as-is, but the rotation still needs work. Without a ton of 2017 commitment, the Orioles should consider shifting some salary to next season in order to acquire some more pitching. However, free agency will only get you so far with a limited amount of cash. The rest should be spent on reliable mid-rotation pitchers on short-term deals. Realistically, the Orioles aren't acquiring anything close to an ace, but they should compete this year, so they need contributions from as many pitchers as possible. These types of deals will benefit the Orioles quickly and shouldn't cost too much.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are one of the franchises set up where they don't need to rely on too much externally to succeed. This team can make the AL East a three-team race again, but they can also choose to blow everyone else out of the water. They are short on dough now, but it shouldn't be too difficult to get under and acquire someone like Ben Zobrist to play second or left field for them. They might as well go for a right fielder too (probably via trade - a veteran should do for now), and with that rotation, this could be the most dangerous team in the American League as we anticipated years ago.
New York Yankees
The Yankees have been relatively dormant, but they've been active on the waiver wire, as they should be. I would continue picking up as many assets as possible, no matter how small, especially since money isn't an issue. At some point, Justin will have to do something with that cash. I suspect he will spend it in IFA, which would make sense given his timeline. However, he should also consider the sign-and-trade option; some teams will not be able to sign the free agents they covet, but Justin could cover some salary this year in exchange for picks and the like. Nobody really uses this option, but I think there's a lot of potential here for a rebuilding team with lots of cash.
Cleveland Indians
The Indians should decide whether to rebuild or compete, since they have been around .500 for the past few years. The AL Central is pretty crowded, so they should explore trading players like Scherzer, Cano, and Longoria. I would probably hold out until after SP free agency to put Scherzer on the block, and then do the same again with the hitters. The only issue with this strategy is if nobody bites, the Indians won't be able to recover through free agency (since it will have already passed). However, this shouldn't be a problem, as the Indians have a lot of really talented players who will command a ton of interest from everyone. Someone like Scherzer, especially if he's covered for 2016 (and the Indians have that flexibility, for sure), would command interest from every competing team. I'm just not convinced they'll be able to build a complete team with so much money strapped to their core, so I would start a retool/rebuild and try to grab the AL Central while some other teams are on the downswing.
Detroit Tigers
With a returning Wainwright, the Tigers should be good again. This team is most certainly aging, but the Tigers have a lot of cash, so it's time to go all-in. Competing for the playoffs every year is nice, but flags fly forever, y'know. I mean, you can't expect this core to be as good in 2017 as they were in 2015. You can, however, expect similar output this season. For sure, the Tigers don't have to be shitty forever after 2016, but they should consider buying one or two win-now types in free agency. They don't need pitching, but they need hitters. They could bring back Zobrist on a shorter deal, or they can bet on an Ian Desmond bounce-back (he is a potential free agency bargain). The bullpen needs help for sure, but relievers aren't too expensive in free agency. And the Tigers have a deep enough farm where they'll be able to replace aging or expiring players with new faces, plus they can trade from this reserve to get out of cap trouble.
Chicago White Sox
Well, this is my team, so I won't get into too many specifics because that would reveal what I actually want to do. This team doesn't need that much work right now, but it will need some in 2017 after a bunch of free agents leave. Therefore, the White Sox' focus for the 2016 offseason shouldn't actually be 2016, but it should be more about 2017. Essentially, the Sox need to find out how to replace all the production (namely, Encarnacion and Bautista if he isn't extended) that they are losing after the season, though, with a rather weak hitting free agent class, this might need to come through trade. Chicago can instead focus on spending money toward pitching, which isn't too weak but can probably use one or two more mid-rotation arms behind deGrom.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals have seemingly done a lot of their work already, acquiring Kluber and Votto among others. There's no real reason to sign major free agents (they also are almost at their budget) nor is there a need to trade for anything huge. *looks again* Nope, this team is pretty set. I'd keep poking around looking for good deals, but there's really not much to do. Log off (but not before the rosters are updated) and go take care of your damn kids.
Minnesota Twins
This team has a new owner, which is cool because he has no emotional attachment to this team. I'm glad he's attached to Machado, Keuchel, and Archer though, because they should be close to untouchable. This team probably isn't one offseason from seriously competing (realistically, it's two), but the Twinkies should get a head-start on the build to dominance and take advantage of a strong free agent class. The team has a pretty weak outfield, so it should clear a little more cash and do everything it can to sign Jason Heyward. If he gets too pricey, the Twins could go for Upton instead (not sure which will cost more). Either way, both are young and probably won't look like bad deals in 2017. This team has a few other holes, but free agency is either poor at those positions or the players available won't help in 2017 (hello, David Ortiz and Albert Pujols). Worst comes to worst, they can sign a few IFAs, but I don't see any other strong use of it besides going after the big outfielders in free agency.
Los Angeles Angels
This team is still in heavy rebuild mode. Given that competing is years away, they can continue acquiring talent through the draft. If they're going to trade cash for picks, they should do it before starting pitching FA begins (or during it), when their cash value will be at an all-time high. Also, take the Justin route and spam the waiver wire to get even more volume. This might not be the most exciting offseason for the Angels, but after this year's draft, they should be able to make lots more moves. Next season, they'll have approximately one fuckton of cash to trade, so they'll be able to get some real assets at that point to keep moving toward putting together an actual team.
Oakland Athletics
After two straight World Series berths, the A's quickly got to work and started a retooling process. I commend their ability to see past their recent success in order to improve for the future. The A's should continue moving players with a lot of their value tied up in the short-term (they've done this for the most part already). Since a lot of the process now will be waiting for player development, I'd scrounge around for breakout plays in the prospect market and look to trade for similarly low-risk, high-reward types on the MLB level in the interim. By gaining value through trade, the A's can keep it for themselves or flip it for something that fits their timeline (competing in 2018 maybe?).
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners were taken over recently by a non-Sack owner, and the future is brighter already. There's lots of talent and lots of money, too. The AL West is especially weak this year, so the Mariners should go for the division as soon as this year. Like many teams, I'm suggesting this one go after Heyward or Strasburg (or maybe Upton), but Seattle is in a unique spot in that they would have enough money for two or even three premium FA. They don't really need to do that to win the division, but I would certainly take advantage of FA here. Maybe sign one premium guy who's young, a few mid-tier FA to fill holes. Maybe sign Ortiz to hit you to a division title for one year? Why not? All you need to do is make the playoffs and then you have a decent chance of going far. Whatever's left in cash can be put toward IFA or it can be traded for assets of any kind - all assets fit the timeline of this team.
Texas Rangers
The Mariners are arguably the favorites right now, but Texas can certainly pull out a division win. Especially with about $40M to blow, the Rangers can get this team past Seattle. I would consider buying one mid-tier bat in free agency (Beltre looks to suit the best, but they could bring back their beloved Pedroia, too). They should go for a pitcher in free agency, too. I can see someone like Jordan Zimmermann going for below market-value since everyone will want Arrieta, Greinke, Cueto, or Strasburg (aside: damn this class is stacked). Maybe sign John Lackey to a one-year deal if possible. If all that gets too expensive, the Rangers can explore getting starting pitching cheaply through trades since, believe it or not, it's often easier to have a makeshift rotation and a strong lineup than the other way around if you're smart about it. Plus, he has Carrasco and a full staff of sorts, so this rotation is already not that weak. I would just keep in mind that the Mariners are coming, but the Rangers can stick with them, or even ahead of them, for a few seasons if they're determined enough.
Atlanta Braves
Alright, time to write about the Braves. Pretty simple - they have a good owner who's in the middle of a rebuild, just keep--*looks at roster* what the fuck they have over $100M in cap space. That's an obscene amount of cash to blow in one season, and it becomes less valuable after free agency. This is a really valuable asset. Well, the first solution is to trade a lot of it, RIGHT when teams need it, to get some future assets (preferably not 2017 cash, since Wood will be in the same situation next year). Maybe sign a few low-cost FA (relievers?) and trade them at the deadline. But that still leaves him with $70M or $80M, easily. I'd have to think the Braves are going to be a big player in IFA, both in January and June. Ok, but even then, there's probably a lot of cash left over. I don't even know what I'd do with it - trading a ton of it away right now, or during free agency, is probably the way to go. Also, Wood should be destroying the waiver wire. Like, getting every unowned player with an ounce of promise. Money is not even close to an object for him, so he might as well add like 50 players throughout the year, because they'll all be super cheap. Good luck with all that cash, and spend wisely.
Miami Marlins
Always a fun team. Kevin likes getting big-time players in big-time trades. That's probably the way the Marlins will continue to acquire talent because the team is deep and the pockets aren't. Another starting pitcher should be the priority since I expect the Phillies to be pretty strong, and fuck going for the Wild Card, especially in the NL. The lineup is insane even without Trout; all it needs is a RF, but Kevin knows that. He should probably settle for a good average hitter who can steal a few bases, because he doesn't need power. There are no stars in the bullpen, but he has about a thousand relievers at hand, so some will turn out to be productive. There isn't too much to do here otherwise besides being prepared in the summer to make moves and take the division.
New York Mets
The Mets want to compete, and I say let them compete. This team actually has a pretty good lineup, and if it signed two aces and made other smart moves through trades, it has a serious shot for the NL Wild Card or maybe even the division. Now, is signing two aces smart? I dunno. There goes almost half your cap for a few seasons. He should go for one ace and one lesser (but still capable) pitcher. The safest sign will be Greinke, but I actually like the idea of going for Strasburg more. He's significantly younger and will age better for Jack, a team that most certainly shouldn't be pushing for 2016 only. For a second pitcher, John Lackey seems like a good sign - not too expensive, and a known commodity in a rotation of question marks. Other than that, Jack has some more money to play with ($10M-$15M after those two) and a decent amount of work still in the trading market. To get to the level of his competition, Jack has to work hard to inquire about lots of players in order to get the right deals for his team. If he can get some low-cost options for the holes in his lineup or rotation, he could be in good position to compete.
Washington Nationals
Hey, Bryan's team! Also, is it me or does every team have either no money or a ton of money available? Washington has half of their budget clear. This comes with a caveat, though: This is a really, really incomplete team. The lineup has some decent players but is pretty weak in comparison to the rest of the East, and the rotation after King Felix is unstable. I have the feeling Bryan's going to try to compete, especially because of that bet with Jack, but money aside, I don't see a reason to try to win this season. The competition is just too strong. I would hold on to Felix, Ellsbury, and Wright to see if they can gain some value before trying to trade them. Luckily, these are Bryan's only true money obligations for the next few years, so he can quickly turn this franchise around, especially given how often he trades. There won't be much use for the money outside of IFA or perhaps trades for prospects, so I wouldn't be against Bryan investing some of it in mid-tier free agents. Ian Desmond is the type of player I'd target - he's youngish (30) and won't cost too much, but he has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone at a not-franchise-cornerstone price. After that, Bryan can try for players like Strasburg or Heyward, too, but I keep mentioning those guys so they could get pricey. The Nationals don't have to be torn to pieces, but they probably need a remodeling job this offseason and upcoming season.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have one of the strongest lineups in the league, but their pitching needs a little help. Luckily for them, the market has a ton of pitchers. I think they can get by with one ace - I would target Zack Greinke, but even Cueto would work. Imagining that rotation plus Cueto seems solid enough to me. The bullpen needs remodeling, too, so the Phils should continue clearing money for free agency. Again, given the team's relatively inexpensive yet competitive team, I would go for the top shelf and try to acquire Andrew Miller. Signing the top starter and top reliever in the market runs Oren about $40M, but he can get to that point and try to set himself apart through those two moves. Other than that, he needs some depth, which can either be acquired in the form of low-tier FA or low-cost trading. Just as the Marlins' goal is to beat the Phillies (and let's throw the Mets in there), the Phillies also have to have their eyes on the division title.
Houston Astros
As evidenced from the Pineda deal, Houston isn't competing right now. Instead, they're building from within. With so many teams trying to compete in the league right now, the move to rebuilding is a good one for teams like the Astros. The NL Central can be tough, but this is exactly how the Cubs and Pirates got successful. Max just has to be patient. Next season, he doesn't have a lot of obligations, so that is the time to start spending in free agency. Until then, Max should continue trading for prospects and picks. There are a few more Major League assets to move, but after that the pickings get slim, so he will have to be ahead of the game scouting-wise. With a focus on the farm, as well as some younger players that won't cost too much to acquire, the Astros can be back in the thick of things within a few seasons.
Milwaukee Brewers
This team is a little stealthy. Right now, it's not a fully competitive team, but the pieces are there. With a consistent influx of talent, 2017 seems like a reasonable time for the Brewers to go for their first playoff berth in (ODC) franchise history. Right now, there's too much ground to make up. Milwaukee has almost $30M in change, though, so they should take advantage of it by signing some multi-year deals. Perhaps someone like Francisco Liriano or Albert Pujols would be a good option if they come cheap enough. Nick seems to like building a pitching staff cheaply, a tactic that I use myself, so I would continue along that route while also looking to get some big-time bats into this lineup for 2017 or 2018. And once the prospects start coming up (the farm looks deep based on a 4-second look from my non-expert judgement), this team could be deep enough to compete for the NL Central eventually.
St. Louis Cardinals
Another heavy rebuilder. Matt has fully committed to overhauling the 2013 champs, so he hardly has a MLB roster, but the farm is strong and there's a lot of money left over. Even $45M is too much money for just IFA, so about half of the remaining money should be shipped off via trades or used as sign-and-trade bait. The Cards are still a few years away, so they don't have much of a reason to trade for big leaguers unless a deal falls into their lap. Really, they have to crush the 2016 amateur draft, and then they can get cooking on building a team out of the assets they have. Until then, acquire lots of picks and start scouting early.
Chicago Cubs
Ahh, CubCorp, the model
Pittsburgh Pirates
Welp, the Cubs' main rivals have a ton of money, too. The Pirates have a really strong lineup, but they need to go after pitching to keep pace with Chicago. They can do this through free agency because all their players are inexpensive - I see a dependable pitcher like Johnny Cueto or Jordan Zimmermann as a good option to head a rotation of younger, less predictable arms. The Pirates will have more money to blow after that, so I'd go for a second baseman - Walker or Pedroia - to fill out the lineup. The rest can be spent on mid-rotation SP (Yovani Gallardo seems like a good option if there's enough money for that) or relievers (Davis is a closer now, so maybe get a cheap holds guy). Pittsburgh still has a farm system, so they can also improve from trades during the season, but their lack of money obligations for the next few years gives them some incentive to spend it and take their team to the next level.
Cincinnati Reds
Slowly but surely, the Reds are piecing together a good team. It might seem like they are caught between rebuilding and competing, but they are just getting strong value deals for Major Leaguers (take the A-Gon deal, for example). I think this is another good example of a team who could benefit from signing Jason Heyward - it would accelerate the rebuild without sacrificing the future. I mean, the guy's only 26. He should age well and provide a lot of value for the Reds when they need it. The Reds could wait for next year's FA class, too, but with young guys like Heyward, Upton, and Strasburg, there's no real reason to wait another year because all these guys are young. Unfortunately, those three can only go to three teams, so there have to be plan Bs - sign-and-trade looks like a good option. If the Reds were unable to trade a player within 48 hours, holding on to him wouldn't be detrimental to their roster or anything. Plus, covering a player for 2016 shouldn't be an obstacle for the Reds. As long as they continue to get value deals at the Major League level, there's no reason to argue with this unconventional mode of rebuilding.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The defending world champs still have a strong team, but after losing some talent to free agency, they have work to do. Pitching probably has to be the main focus, but they need to shed some cap if they want to be serious players - I would drop Melky and maybe try to move Braun. The other, potentially more practical option is to go for one or two mid-rotation SP in the FA market and improve the rest of the team through trading. Luckily, the bullpen is probably the league's strongest, so the pitching isn't as needy as it first seems. However, without a lot of cash or hitting depth available, the D-Backs need to be tight with what they have, so Hemmons should look to wrestle good players for cheap from other teams as he always seems to do.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been an average team at the MLB level for a few seasons now. With a lot of players expiring, this is the time for a rebuild or a retooling at the very least. Again, with so many teams competing (especially after free agency), this is a great time to be a rebuilder, especially one starting out with a bunch of MLB assets. The Dodgers could build a respectable farm in a very short period of time, and it could get even stronger if the Dodgers trade their excess cash for more picks or prospects. While it might be tough for the Dodgers to decide to rebuild, the team isn't in the greatest position to compete right now, but it can get there through trades and patience.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants are retaining a pretty strong lineup along with a rather suspect rotation. Rumor has it the Giants will amnesty Cain, a really good decision that would get the team up to $40M in cap space. What's more, the pitching market is strong (I've said it ten times by now), and the Giants should be right in the thick of it. If they acquire someone like Arrieta or Cueto, the Giants would be in good position to compete for the division title in 2016. They might want to spend the rest of their money acquiring a shortstop - Desmond is the best one there, though there are some more serviceable ones, and Zobrist probably has eligibility - or deepening the bullpen. If the Giants make a strong enough play in free agency, they won't have to worry too much about trading for more talent, because they could be the NL West favorites.
Colorado Rockies
It looks like the Rockies have entered rebuild mode. I'm not going to defend all of the past moves, but now that the franchise is rebuilding, it definitely has a decent start. The farm looks pretty strong, and there are still some MLB pieces to move. I'd focus on competing for 2018, especially since Colorado is almost out of money right now. By that point, some of his prospects will be regular Major Leaguers. Until then, Alex can hope to acquire some talent on the scale - it's easier said than done, so he might want to shoot low. Taking a page from Cody's rebuild strategy wouldn't be a bad idea, either, since the farm is already pretty strong. The most important thing is that Alex continues to rebuild while salvaging his farm.
San Diego Padres
The Padres are looking to compete. Much like the Mets, Noah's team has doubters, but I actually have confidence he can compete in the NL West. The Giants and the Diamondbacks are both weaker than they were last season (in part because FA hasn't started), but the Padres already have a really good rotation and some bats to go along with it. Really, they have over $30M to complete their lineup. I suspect it will largely be done through trades, but they can certainly get a new second baseman (any of the ones listed earlier fit the Padres). I think Ian Desmond is a clear fit here, too, given the weak SS combination currently. Other than that, maybe they could use a mid-to-back-end SP to fill out the rotation, but this is a near-complete team that could be competing for a division title this season.
