10 MLB teams with the most work to do after lockout ends, including the Yankees and Dodgers
Whenever the lockout ends, these 10 teams have the most work to do leading into spring training
By Mike Axisa
3 hrs ago
16 min read
The holidays are upon us and this is usually the slow time of the offseason. The few weeks between the Winter Meetings and New Years are often quiet. This year there is radio silence. The owners' lockout has halted all meaningful hot stove activity, and seeing how MLB and the MLBPA aren't expected to discuss core economic matters until January, it will remain quiet another few weeks.
Whenever the lockout ends, there will be a relatively short period of time in which teams must wrap up all their offseason business (that includes arbitration signings and the Rule 5 Draft in addition to any trades and free-agent deals) before spring training. Some teams have more to do than others. A lot more. Not every club was active during the pre-lockout free agent frenzy.
With that in mind, here are the 10 teams with the most work to do once MLB and the MLBPA agree to a new collective bargaining agreement, ending the lockout. The 10 teams are ranked in order of just how much work they have to do, and how much that work will impact their 2022 season outlook.
1. New York Yankees
Biggest needs: Shortstop. Also the outfield, first base, rotation, and maybe catcher
The Yankees sat out the pre-lockout portion of the offseason and as a result have a full to-do list waiting for them once the lockout ends. Shortstop is the most glaring need because the Yankees literally do not have one at the moment, unless you count third baseman Gio Urshela, who played short after the team pulled the plug on Gleyber Torres at the position in August.
Given their financial might, the Yankees should just sign Carlos Correa, a 27-year-old who is one of the 2-3 best players in the world at his position. If not Correa, then Trevor Story. The shortstop options beyond those two are unappealing glove-first stopgap types who would not move the needle much for a team that ranked 10th in the American League in runs scored in 2021.
New York's needs do not end there though. The Yankees seem set on moving on from Luke Voit in an effort to diversify their lineup with more lefty bats. That means first base is an open question. Aaron Hicks' injuries create a need in the outfield, and another starter to knock Nestor Cortes Jr. and Domingo Germán down a peg on the depth chart would be nice too. Upgrading on Gary Sánchez behind the plate will be difficult given the catching market, though that's something they've explored as well.
How much will the Yankees spend? That part is unclear. Ownership has prioritized staying under the luxury tax in recent years and the team's pre-lockout inactivity suggests the Yankees are waiting to see what the new CBA does to the sport's economic structure before committing future dollars. Either way, New York's post-lockout shopping list is the longest among contenders.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Biggest needs: Rotation depth
It is still a bit stunning the Dodgers let Max Scherzer leave given how excellent he was down the stretch, at least until he got worn down come postseason time. Scherzer's contract with the Mets is exorbitant (three years and $120 million) but it's not like the Dodgers couldn't afford it. Now the team that appeared to have too much pitching last spring is in need of depth behind Walker Buehler and Julio Urías.
Clayton Kershaw's return is not a given -- his hometown Rangers are seen as a legitimate threat to sign him -- but, even if he does return, it's difficult to know how much he'll contribute. He twice dealt with forearm issues in 2021, a common precursor to Tommy John surgery, and Kershaw reportedly wants to see how he responds this offseason before making a decision about his future.
The Dodgers signed Andrew Heaney to a low cost one-year deal early in the offseason and he fits their mold as an upside guy, even if he won't necessary pitch deep into games. Carlos Rodón, the best available free agent starter, is a (much) better version of Heaney and would fit as well. Signing Rodón and re-signing Kershaw would be the perfect world scenario, I think. Los Angeles has the prospect depth to swing any trade (Luis Castillo?), so that's another possibility.
Bottom line, the Dodgers need more rotation depth with David Price best suited for the bullpen at this point in his career (and there's no sense in counting on Trevor Bauer). Re-signing or replacing Kenley Jansen also figures to be on the offseason agenda, and the Dodgers will at least need to think about how they'll handle the universal DH once the new CBA makes it permanent.
8. Texas Rangers
Biggest needs: Rotation, left field
No team made more noise pre-lockout than the Rangers, who added Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to the infield and Jon Gray to the rotation (and Kole Calhoun to the outfield). This was a 102-loss team in 2021 though, and there's still a ways to go before the Rangers can all themselves legitimate contenders. Realistically, 2023 is a better target for their coming out party. Not 2022.
Anyway, the rotation beyond Gray and Dane Dunning obviously needs reinforcement. AJ Alexy, Taylor Hearn, Spencer Howard, and Glenn Otto all showed promise in 2021, but you'd rather not count on all of them right out of the gate in 2022. Another veteran guy to chew up innings and potentially serve as a midseason trade chip would seem to be in the cards. Can't hurt, right?
Texas has had success helping veterans level up in recent years (Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, Mike Minor) and I'd be interested to see what they could do with Yusei Kikuchi, who has high-end stuff but poor results. It feels like there's a very good pitcher lurking under the surface, waiting to be unlocked. If not Kikuchi, then Michael Pineda or even Johnny Cueto could fit as innings guys.
Top prospect Leody Taveras hasn't hit in his limited MLB time, so right now Adolis García is in center and the left field job will go to some combination of Nick Solak, Zach Reks, and Eli White. Surely the Rangers can do better than that, no? They don't have to spend big, but respectability goes a long way. Tommy Pham or Corey Dickerson would work. For now, pitching is the top priority. Gray alone isn't enough.
10. New York Mets
Biggest needs: Rotation depth, bullpen
The Mets fortified their rotation (Max Scherzer) and lineup (Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar, Starling Marte) prior to the lockout, so most of their major moves have been made. At this point there's not much left to do other than tinker and upgrade on the margins. The Mets have been derailed by a lack of viable big-league depth too many times in recent years. That must be corrected.
New York still has room for a back-end starter, someone to push Tylor Megill and David Peterson down the depth chart and to guard against Jacob deGrom's and Carlos Carrasco's injury concerns. The bullpen also needs one more high-leverage option, ideally a southpaw to neutralize those lefty hitting NL East titans like Bryce Harper and Juan Soto (and possibly Freddie Freeman again).
Teams these days lean toward upside with their back-end starters, suggesting Yusei Kikuchi and Michael Pineda could be targets for the Mets. Maybe Matthew Boyd if they're willing to wait until he recovers from flexor tendon surgery (expected back in the middle of 2022). Andrew Chafin and Jake Diekman are the top of the free-agent lefty reliever class at this point.
www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kikucyu01.shtmlwww.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pinedmi01.shtmlFor the Mets' sake, I hope they go with Pineda. But a big fuck you to both Max & Corey. Nah. I don't dislike them. But they chased the money. This is what you get.
92 wins take the NL West in 2022. Mark it down.
