As the Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the World Series to win the first World Series in team history, the other 28 teams were focused on the upcoming free agency period. Each team has an offseason to-do list and players that they are interested in bringing in to join their team. The AL East was one of the most competitive divisions in the MLB this past year with the Yankees and Rays both making the playoffs. Elsewhere, the Boston Red Sox should never be counted out and the Toronto Blue Jays have a young roster spearheaded by future superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Baltimore Orioles seem disinterested in winning in the short term but could still look to plug some of the holes on their roster through free agency.
New York Yankees
After sweeping the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, the New York Yankees fell to the Houston Astros in six games in the ALCS. After making the playoffs for the third straight year in 2019, the Yankees will attempt to reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.
The Biggest Need: Starting Pitching
The offseason to-do list should be fairly simple for the Yankees, Gerrit Cole. The Astros and Nationals proved that starting pitching wins in the postseason, and Cole is the prized fish of the free-agent class. Outside of Cole, better health should be a big boost to the Yankees who got 102 games from Aaron Judge, 82 from Didi Gregorius, 44 from Edwin Encarnacion, 18 from Giancarlo Stanton, and 12 from Miguel Andujar. Despite those injuries, the Yankees led the MLB in runs scored. Full seasons from those five players and Gerrit Cole leading the pitching staff would make the Yankees a World Series favorite.
Tampa Bay Rays
After defeating the Oakland A’s in the AL Wildcard Game, the Tampa Bay Rays pushed the Astros to Game 5 in the ALDS before losing 6-1. The Rays did that despite a bottom five opening-day payroll and continue to be a playoff contender without spending big money.
The Biggest Need: #3 Hitter
The Rays pitching staff had the second-lowest team ERA in 2019 despite a down year from 2018 AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell. A breakout year from Tyler Glasnow and the consistency from Charlie Morton carried the team to 96 wins. The starting lineup, however, ranked 18th in runs scored and 21st in home-runs. If the Rays are serious about keeping this contending window open, they need to consider opening up the checkbook for any of the big-name bats in free agency. With Anthony Rendon most likely out of their price range, Marcell Ozuna, Josh Donaldson, and Yasmani Grandal are players that could add some thump to the middle of the Rays order.
Boston Red Sox
After winning the World Series in 2018, the defending champion Boston Red Sox struggled to an 84 win season. With a down season from Chris Sale and a bullpen that struggled to find a consistent closer, the Red Sox are left looking for answers ahead of the 2020 season.
The Biggest Need: A Clear Direction
The Red Sox have had discussions involving trading 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts to avoid being over the luxury tax line for the third season in a row. A trade of Betts would signal a shift in the organizations’ mindset for 2020. It would take a massive haul of prospects and young, controllable talent to get Betts out of Boston. Keeping Betts would require the Red Sox to improve drastically in the bullpen and find resurgent years from David Price, Chris Sale, and Rick Porcello if they wanted to compete with the Yankees and the Rays in the AL East.
Toronto Blue Jays
67 win seasons rarely come with good news. The debuts of Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Cavan Biggio, and Bo Bichette qualify as good news for the Toronto Blue Jays. Those three will form the heart of the Blue Jays lineup for years to come as they look to return to contention in a crowded AL East.
The Biggest Need: More Time
The Blue Jays are at the turning point in their rebuild. Most everyone from the 2015-16 ALCS teams is no longer with the team and young talent is beginning to make its way to the Major Leagues. Continued development from their top pitching prospects will help as number one prospect Nate Pearson expects to make his debut in 2020. A trade of closer Ken Giles should be in order as the Blue Jays look for more young and controllable talent to build their next contender around. The Blue Jays will most likely look to add a veteran innings-eater in free agency.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles struggled mightly in 2019, winning only 54 games. The Orioles, unlike the Blue Jays, do not have young talent on this roster. The Orioles finished in the bottom ten of most major hitting and pitching stats.
The Biggest Need: Lots and Lots of Time
This Orioles team is going to be bad for the foreseeable future. The debuts of Ryan Mountcastle and Yusniel Diaz in 2020 will be the most excitement the team sees until top prospect Adley Rutschman is ready to make his debut in a few years. Until then, expect the Orioles offseason to-do list to include bargain hunting in the free-agent market.
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