John Donovan: MLB team-by-team issues

[cheaptrick77]

AL on the Hot Stove

 

(by John Donovan / SI.com)

 

 

 

Every team in Baseball has issues. Some, of course, have a few more than others. Some clubs, when you get right down to it, have issues only a team psychiatrist could love.

 

But that's what winter is all about: Identifying the issues and doing something about them. Or at least trying to. Here's a quick look at the American League and some major issues each team faces. Look for the National League's questions on Friday.

 

AL EAST

 

NEW YORK YANKEES

Center field, which Bernie Williams once owned, is the Yanks' most pressing need. A first baseman not named Jason Giambi would be nice. (The Giambi fella can DH.) Anyone want Jorge Posada ($20 million over the next two years)? Who'll set up for Mariano Rivera if Tom Gordon bolts? And the Yanks have to do some more shoring up of that creaky rotation, or '06 won't be any prettier.

 

BOSTON RED SOX

Does center fielder Johnny Damon really want "five-plus" years, or is that agent Scott Boras talking? Damon is 32, and his arm's not getting any stronger. Will he settle for a generous four years? The Sox need help at both infield corners, they may have to replace Manny Ramirez, and then there's David Wells' trade request. Sheesh. Theo Epstein was a genius for jumping ship.

 

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

GM J.P. Ricciardi has A.J. Burnett's ear, and if the Jays land him, and he pitches as well as he'll be paid, Toronto will have the best staff in the East. But the Jays have other problems, including a lack of power and a bullpen that needs some stiffening up. Luckily -- or shrewdly -- the Jays have dough to burn. Their payroll's going from $50 million to $85 million.

 

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

New pitching coach Leo Mazzone, the best in the business, might be able to lure some much-needed arms to the Camden Yards. But the O's need a lot more than that, like a first baseman (whatever happened to Rafael Palmeiro?), another good outfielder (ditto Sammy Sosa?) and a solid closer (B.J. Ryan is as good as gone). One more wish, while we're at it: a new owner.

 

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

A new-look front office inherits some good young players, but top-shelf pitching (they'll take three, please) still is needed if the Rays ever want to crack 70 wins. Outfielder Aubrey Huff and closer Danys Baez still could be dealt, maybe for a needed third baseman. The cheapest team in baseball could have about $5 million more to spend, too, up to a cool $34 million.

 

AL CENTRAL

 

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Paul Konerko, the World Series champion's moneyman, will make his this winter. But where? And where are the Sox going to find a replacement for a good guy like Konerko if he goes? (Can Jermaine Dye really play first?) Chicago needs a good DH, too, because Carl Everett just didn't get it done last season. But the Sox are sitting pretty as is. What a place to be.

 

CLEVELAND INDIANS

This was the best-looking team in Baseball in early September, but youth betrayed the Indians when it counted most -- another reason they should think about biting the bullet and re-signing AL ERA-leader Kevin Millwood. The Indians need more offense at first base and in right field. But keeping the pitching staff as intact as possible is paramount.

 

MINNESOTA TWINS

A preseason World Series pick, the Twins now have to make major changes to a good-pitch, weak-hit team. GM Terry Ryan is looking to bolster the infield, and Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller is cheap, but trades will get the Twins more for their effort. Luckily, they have pitching to deal, and maybe Torii Hunter. Will the Alfonso Soriano talk heat up again?

 

DETROIT TIGERS

Free agent Jason Johnson leaves a hole in the rotation, and the Tigers need a closer, too. Then there's the grumpy Pudge Rodriguez issue, of course. The Tigers are trying to take care of all of that by wooing pitchers. (Count the Tigers among the Burnett groupies.) If they're successful, they could get near .500 in '06. Or close enough to make Pudge smile.

 

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

What doesn't this team need? What issues don't they have? What possible cure could there be for all their ills? You name it, the Royals could use it. Luckily for them, they have a few extra dollars to spend this season (around 22 million of them), so they'll be looking for bats and starting pitching and good fielders ... well, $22 million can go only so far.

 

AL WEST

 

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

The Angels went "splat" in the postseason, victims of balsa wood bats. So the Halos will look for hitters, probably via trade, to help out Vladimir Guerrero. Yes, they may have a hole in the rotation if Paul Byrd departs. But replacements in center (for Steve Finley) and at first (for Darin Erstad) are a bigger priority. The payroll could hit $100 million in '06, a slight bump.

 

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

They sputtered down the stretch after a fine bounceback from 15 games under .500, so the A's know what their issues are; they need a little more oomph in the lineup. Good luck, considering they don't figure to stray much from their mid-$60s (that's millions) payroll. Still, remember that Billy Beane would trade his left arm (or Barry Zito's) if he thought it made sense.

 

TEXAS RANGERS

Will they trade Soriano? (Maybe) How about Hank Blalock? (Can't rule it out) Can they nail down Mark Teixeira long-term? (It won't be easy) Are they serious with this talk of small ball? (Nah ... tigers and stripes) Interesting questions, but the Rangers -- surprise! -- need pitching, and a lot of it. That'll be new GM Jon Daniels' primary focus this winter.

 

SEATTLE MARINERS

The Mariners need Jamie Moyer back, giving them three solid starters (with Felix Hernandez and Joel Pineiro), and it wouldn't hurt figuring out what to do with Gil Meche or Ryan Franklin (both are arbitration-eligible). The Mariners will look for starters first, but they also need a big lefty bat and a catcher. They'll spend, but the payroll will stay in the $85-$90 million range.

[shoelessjoelives]

There is a lot of wishin' and hopin' (reminds me of a song by Ms. Warwick) going on in that list !!

 

Too many wishes and not enough toys to go around !!

[cheaptrick77]

NL on the Hot Stove

 

(by John Donovan / SI.com)

 

 

Here's a quick look at some issues each National League team faces as the winter free agency period opens. Go here for a team-by-team breakdown of the American League.

 

NL EAST

 

ATLANTA BRAVES

Can the Braves talk shortstop Rafael Furcal into returning when the Mets and Cubs will throw big money his way? If not, who leads off? Will the club deal catcher Johnny Estrada? Or arbitration-eligible second baseman Marcus Giles, to free up some money? The bullpen is a mess, and closer Kyle Farnsworth is a free agent, too. It doesn't get easier after 14 straight division titles.

 

FLORIDA MARLINS

The starting pitching, minus A.J. Burnett, remains strong, but the rest of the roster will undergo big changes. Resurgent closer Todd Jones is a free agent, and if he leaves (which is probable), the bullpen is gutted. Alex Gonzalez likely is too expensive to keep. Juan Encarnacion won't be back. Jeff Conine is a question. New skipper Joe Girardi has a lot of work ahead.

 

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Does anyone want Jim Thome -- and his contract? Can the Phils pony up to re-sign Billy Wagner? Will Ryan Howard go to the outfield, if need be, prompting a trade of Bobby Abreu or Pat Burrell? Center field is a mess, and third base and catcher also need addressing. They could use a new starter, too. New GM Pat Gillick has a lot of parts in the puzzle that is the Phillies.

 

NEW YORK METS

They need a closer, badly, so they'll make a run at Wagner. They've already talked to Tampa Bay about a trade for Danys Baez. But it's not all about pitching. The Mets need some offense from first and second base and, now that Mike Piazza is gone, catcher. Good thing they have bold GM Omar Minaya, who will try to pry Furcal away from Atlanta.

 

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

The ownership still is unsettled. GM Jim Bowden has a day-to-day contract. Such is life in the Nats' front office. Bowden wants to keep workhorse Esteban Loaiza and Hector Carrasco, whose discovery of a changeup at 35 has earned him a place in a solid rotation. The 'pen is good, too. As for the rest of a light-hitting team, it's all up in the air.

 

NL CENTRAL

 

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Another disappointing end to another fine season has the Cardinals in soul-searching mode. They'll have to fix the outfield, with Larry Walker gone and Reggie Sanders a free agent. They'll need a new second baseman. The bullpen's in flux. Starter Matt Morris may be gone. And, even with a new stadium in '06, they don't have much to spend. Few teams will be busier.

 

HOUSTON ASTROS

Roger Clemens holds all the cards. If he returns -- healthy -- that's good, but it straps the payroll. If he doesn't return, bad, but look at the money! The bullpen should be fine, despite its postseason flop. But the Astros still need bats (Jeff Bagwell's return to decent form is still real iffy) and they'll need a catcher if Brad Ausmus leaves. So, any decision there yet, Rocket?

 

CHICAGO CUBS

Suddenly second-tier in Chicago, the Cubs have a lot of work to do. Jeromy Burnitz is gone, so they need a right fielder. They need a shortstop, but Furcal is going to cost them. They'd like another starter, just as an insurance against all those injuries of '05 and Kerry Wood's uncertain status. They'll have their chances. But they are, let's remember, the Cubs.

 

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

After a surprising .500 season, the Brewers face the hurdle of trying to become a winning team. They'll need a boost for the back end of the rotation, some arms to prop up a bullpen that ran out of gas and some help at third base, if Billy Hall backtracks. The best way to get better may be by trading first baseman Lyle Overbay. (Young Prince Fielder is ready.)

 

CINCINNATI REDS

A new set of owners with deep Cincinnati ties may not be in place soon enough to make a difference this winter. Still, everyone knows what the Reds have to do: Trade one of the outfielders, maybe Ken Griffey Jr. (if some team's willing to take his salary), for pitching. Good pitching, not Eric Milton types. Worry about Ryan Freel at second later. Get some arms!

 

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Their needs are glaring enough -- a power bat, in right field or at either infield corner -- but how to address them? The Pirates say they'll spend, and they have some pitching (Kip Wells?) to deal, if they can find the right fit. The Bucs, stuffed with good-looking young pitching, are a lot closer to competing than they've been in years. That last step's a bear, though.

 

NL WEST

 

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Can a team as punchless as the Padres afford to lose outfielder Brian Giles, one of the best on-base guys around? Can they afford to keep him? Can they keep catcher Ramon Hernandez? Can someone close if Trevor Hoffman takes off? Can Vinny Castilla hit in Petco? Can the Padres find a taker for Sean Burroughs? Can you believe this team won the West?

 

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Going from 111 losses to 85 losses is a step up. But the Diamondbacks still have a full flight of stairs to go. Will Stephen Drew be ready to take over at shortstop on Opening Day if Royce Clayton leaves? Is Troy Glaus really on the trade block? Can the D'backs find a catcher? More power? What about improving that lame bullpen? Welcome to the Valley, Josh Byrnes.

 

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Barry Bonds should be back (whoopee!), but he's not the answer in San Fran. The Giants need a top-flight starter -- yeah, get in line -- and they need to re-sign bullpen stud Scott Eyre. A good-hitting first baseman would be nice, too, considering J.T. Snow is probably gone. The Giants are creaky and have holes, but the West is winnable with a good winter.

 

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Somebody -- anybody -- better hit the air brakes. With nobody at the controls, and in a thin market filled with teams eager to spend, the Dodgers are about to nosedive. They need to replace (or pay) starter Jeff Weaver, solve problems at first and third base and figure out the Milton Bradley saga. But who's flying this baby? And where are the parachutes?

 

COLORADO ROCKIES

The Rockies are to be commended for committing to their youth. Or committed. Colorado lost 95 games last season, when you couldn't swing a fungo without hitting a rookie Rockie. Still, the Rocks are sticking to the bunny slopes, with maybe just a look at an old guy or two this winter (Atlanta's Estrada is a rumor). It's hard growing up sometimes.

[shoelessjoelives]

At first glance at these updates it sounds like the NL will be won in '06 by the last one standing in a league full of change and uncertainty..............

[Aggie2008]

The astros will pretty much have everyone back...even if Clemens leaves the pitching staff is still top 5 in the NL. They need one more decent bat IMO. Ausmus isn't going anywhere.

[BigRocky99]

Originally posted by shoelessjoelives

There is a lot of wishin' and hopin' (reminds me of a song by Ms. Warwick) going on in that list !!

 

Too many wishes and not enough toys to go around !!

[BigRocky99]

Actually, Dusty Springfield's version of Wishin and Hopin is better!