We lined the Nationwide League’s 15 groups earlier on Monday, so now let’s verify in on how the American League’s 15 golf equipment have executed (so far) in fixing their greatest drawback positions from the 2023 season. Baseball Reference’s position-by-position bWAR breakdown is our information by way of final yr’s numbers….
Angels (First base, -0.7 bWAR): No staff obtained much less from its first basemen than the Angels, even with Brandon Drury hitting effectively in part-time responsibility and rookie Nolan Schanuel rising late within the season. Schanuel and Drury working in a platoon may enhance issues, but the Halos are in one thing of a state of flux basically, because the staff is weighing a lot of internal trade possibilities and different free-agent signings within the wake of Shohei Ohtani’s departure. Not that there’s a silver lining to Ohtani leaving, however the Angels do now have the DH spot open to probably add a slugging first base/DH sort to pair with Schanuel and maybe preserve Drury at second base.
Astros (First base, 0.0 bWAR): Jose Abreu struggled badly for many of 2023 earlier than lastly heating up within the ultimate six weeks of the common season and all through Houston’s playoff run. For the reason that former AL MVP is owed $39M over the subsequent two years, the Astros can solely hope that Abreu has shaken off any new-team jitters and can be again to his outdated type for the remainder of his tenure in Houston.
Athletics (Aid pitching, -0.9 bWAR): Whew, the place to start. Oakland had the second-lowest reduction bWAR and rotation bWAR, and thus their 0.0 whole pitching bWAR was the bottom in baseball. The A’s additionally obtained sub-replacement-level manufacturing at third base (-0.8), heart area (-0.5), shortstop (-0.3), and an excellent 0.0 bWAR from their pinch hitters. Trevor Gott, Osvaldo Bido, and Gerardo Reyes have at the very least been signed to try to beef up the pitching, but with the A’s rebuilding and targeted extra on determining the place they’ll be enjoying between the tip of their lease on the Coliseum and the opening of their new ballpark in Las Vegas, anticipate solely low-cost additions between now and Opening Day.
Blue Jays (Pinch-hitting, 1.7 bWAR): Toronto’s lack of position-player depth was uncovered each time the Jays had even one common out with an harm. The shortage of bench assist contributed to the Blue Jays’ total offensive struggles, and this drawback gained’t be any clearer till the staff addresses its large holes at second base and third base. If at the very least one beginning infielder was obtained, the in-house infield choices (i.e. Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, Davis Schneider, Ernie Clement, Spencer Horwitz, Orelvis Martinez, Addison Barger, Leo Jimenez) may then make for a comparatively deep, if unproven, bench.
Guardians (Shortstop, -0.3 bWAR): Cleveland dealt the underperforming Amed Rosario to the Dodgers earlier than the commerce deadline, opening the door for Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio to get a lot of the enjoying time at shortstop. Neither has hit a lot on the Main League stage, however the Guardians will proceed to offer the duo (in addition to Tyler Freeman, Jose Tena, and maybe Juan Brito) extra alternatives in 2024. It isn’t a completely excellent state of affairs for a staff in sore want of hitting assist, but since spending is again limited, the Guards will follow their regular plan of counting on their minor league pipeline.
Mariners (First base, 0.7 bWAR): Ty France hit .250/.337/.366 with 12 residence runs over 665 plate appearances final season, translating to a couple of league-average offensive efficiency. With Mitch Garver now signed as the first DH, Seattle would possibly follow France at first base, or the staff may proceed to discover different first base targets and maybe look to commerce France elsewhere. Isaac Paredes, Josh Naylor and Rhys Hoskins are a number of the names linked to the Mariners for a possible commerce or signing.
Orioles (Pinch-hitting, 1.5 bWAR): It is a comparatively minor weak hyperlink so far as “weakest positions” go, as Baltimore nonetheless ranked fourth in baseball in pinch-hitting bWAR. The expertise ground ought to solely proceed to rise because the Orioles introduce much more prime prospects to common Main League motion, so there isn’t a lot to fret about on the position-player aspect. As for pitching, the O’s nonetheless would possibly take into account shifting a bat for an arm, both for the rotation or for a bullpen that has been considerably fortified by the signing of Craig Kimbrel.
Rangers (Aid pitching, 0.0 bWAR): The shaky Texas bullpen virtually price the Rangers a postseason berth altogether, but the relievers stabilized sufficient within the playoffs to assist ship the staff’s first World Sequence championship. The Rangers signed Kirby Yates to assist make up for the departures of Will Smith and Chris Stratton, and the staff has additionally reportedly proven curiosity in such high-leverage relievers as Jordan Hicks and Robert Stephenson. Although Texas isn’t going to be persevering with their spending sprees from the final two offseasons, they need to nonetheless have sufficient payroll room to bolster the pen, even when signing Josh Hader may be a attain.
Rays (Catcher, 1.2 bWAR): Tampa Bay has been attempting to stabilize the catching place for years, and the hunt will proceed this winter. Christian Bethancourt was non-tendered, leaving Rene Pinto and Alex Jackson lined up as the present tandem behind the plate. The Rays already moved their greatest commerce chip (Tyler Glasnow) with out getting a catcher as a part of the return from the Dodgers, but since Tampa’s entrance workplace is at all times actively searching for out offers, the Rays may choose up a backstop in a deal. Some form of signing appears inevitable, whether or not it’s including somebody for a extra common function, or just signing a few veterans to minors contracts to supply Spring Coaching competitors.
Purple Sox (Second base, 0.0 bWAR): Ten completely different gamers lined up at second base for the BoSox final season, with little success available. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has highlighted the keystone as a pure goal space, ideally for a right-handed hitter with a superb glove. Free agent Whit Merrifield is one identify recognized to be on Boston’s radar, and Merrifield’s potential to play the outfield additionally provides extra flexibility to the roster, notably ought to the Purple Sox have curiosity in giving Ceddanne Rafaela a have a look at second base. Breslow’s first couple of months on the job have been largely targeted on remaking the Sox outfield, and pitching stays a bigger overarching want of the Purple Sox offseason.
Royals (Aid pitching, -1.4 bWAR): Few anticipated the Royals to be one of many offseason’s extra aggressive spenders as we hit Christmas, but Kansas Metropolis has splurged (by their requirements) to improve its dismal pitching state of affairs. Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha had been signed to bolster the rotation, and the bullpen has additionally been a spotlight with the additions of Will Smith, Nick Anderson, and Chris Stratton. The work executed to the rotation may filter all the way down to the reduction corps, as such names as Daniel Lynch, Angel Zerpa, or Alec Marsh could possibly be used within the bullpen in the event that they’re not getting used as beginning depth.
Tigers (Third base, -0.3 bWAR): Zach McKinstry, Nick Maton, and Matt Vierling are nonetheless round to man the second and third base positions and act as utility depth basically. Nonetheless, the Tigers aren’t prone to hunt down an enormous improve since they hope some assistance is approaching the farm. It isn’t clear the place any of Colt Keith, Jace Jung, or Justyn-Henry Malloy would possibly finally find yourself across the diamond, but all of this trio is anticipated to make their MLB debuts in 2024 and will assist instantly on the keystone or on the scorching nook.
Twins (First base, 1.4 bWAR): Alex Kirilloff’s younger profession has been stricken by accidents, so simply getting a wholesome yr from Kirilloff would mechanically assist the Twins get extra from the primary base place. Edouard Julien may additionally play first if Jorge Polanco stays at second base and isn’t traded, although there is an expectation that at the very least considered one of Polanco or Max Kepler gained’t be in Minnesota by Opening Day. President of baseball operations Derek Falvey recognized first base as a possible goal space in some vogue back in November, although it’s been a fairly quiet offseason to date for the Twins, with a lot of the discuss centered around payroll cuts and uncertainty over the membership’s TV deal.
White Sox (Proper area, -2.4 bWAR): There weren’t many positives in Chicago’s depressing 101-loss season, and that may be taken actually given the entire destructive bWAR numbers across the diamond. The White Sox had a league-worst collective 0.4 bWAR for all non-pitchers, and had been additionally beneath alternative stage at shortstop (-1.7), catcher (-1.5), pinch-hitting (-0.6), second base (-0.4), and left area (-0.1). New GM Chris Getz has added expertise at a few of these positions already, however with so many holes to be plugged, Getz has but to show his consideration to bettering on the proper area mixture of Oscar Colas and Gavin Sheets. Some outfield additions appear inevitable, and Chicago’s roster would possibly find yourself trying fairly completely different in 2024 contemplating that Getz has been open to trade offers for almost any White Sox participant.
Yankees (Left area, -1.6 bWAR): This was additionally the bottom left area bWAR whole for any staff in baseball in 2023, as New York’s revolving door of outfield choices didn’t end in any constant manufacturing. Nonetheless, the Yankees have already upgraded their outfield in eye-opening vogue, buying each Juan Soto as the brand new proper fielder and Alex Verdugo from the Purple Sox to deal with left area. Although Verdugo had some clashes with Sox supervisor Alex Cora and Verdugo has been solely barely above common during the last couple of years, that also represents a strong enchancment over the mess that was the Yankees’ left area state of affairs. Verdugo and Soto are additionally each left-handed hitters, so the Yankees have balanced out their closely righty-swinging lineup.