*Photo from Fox Sports*
It's Christmas time, and all major league activity is paused because of the lockout. It's still the time for gift giving, so here's one present for each MLB team, in alphabetical order.
Arizona Diamondbacks: A true direction for the team
In 2019, the D-Backs were all about selling, until they went on a run after trading Zack Greinke and almost made the playoffs. In 2020, when they tried to capitalize on that momentum, they fell apart. In 2021, after they didn't do anything in the offseason, they had a terrible season. So, one thing they need is a true direction. They need to decide whether they are going to try and compete or begin the rebuild.
Atlanta Braves: Freddie Freeman for whatever money he wants
Freddie Freeman is one of those players who people just expect to spend his entire career in one uniform, it would just be unnatural to see him anywhere else. Freeman is the face of the Braves, and, coming off a title, they need to re-sign Freddie, no matter the cost.
Baltimore Orioles: Less than 100 losses
In 2018, 2019, and 2021, which were the last 3 full seasons of baseball, the Orioles lost over 100 games in all of those seasons. Improvement needs to be shown this year, so the best that the Orioles can hope for is that Adley Rutschman does enough to get called up this season, and that they can win at least 63 games this season.
Boston Red Sox: An extension for Rafael Devers
One of the big reasons that the Red Sox got back into contention in 2021, and made it all the way to the ALCS, was the contributions of Devers, who hit 38 homers and once again surpassed 100 RBI's. His defense still needs work, but he's one of the best hitters in baseball, and the Red Sox need to secure his talents now, as he'll hit free agency after 2023 as things stand.
Chicago White Sox: Some more competition
The White Sox are pretty obviously the kings of the AL Central, but they could use some stiffer competition, both in and out of the division. Because it had seemed like they were coasting all season, and, when they faced teams over .500 out of their division, they looked like a completely different team. Give the White Sox some more competition to overcome, and they can truly make noise.
Chicago Cubs: A team identity
At the trade deadline last year, when the Cubs shipped off Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Baez, we thought they'd be blowing it off. All of a sudden, this offseason they bring in Wade Miley, Clint Frazier, and Marcus Stroman as they seemingly look to get better. What is the true identity of the 2022 Cubs? That's what everyone would love to know
Cleveland Guardians: A new owner
Larry Dolan refuses to spend any money on this team. That is truly what's been handicapping them, because they refuse to make meaningful upgrades to a hitting core that so desperately needs help. They need a new owner who is willing to spend if they want to end their world series drought
Cincinnati Reds: Stop blowing it up
Ever since the Reds got eliminated in the wild card round in 2020, their response to suddenly making the playoffs was to *checks notes* Trade away pieces? That shouldn't be the goal when you were a team on the rise like the Reds were in 2020. If the front office could stop getting in their own way and actually help the team, the Reds could be perennial contenders.
Colorado Rockies: A brand new front office
The tenure of Jeff Bridich was a disaster, and Bill Schmidt's tenure hasn't gotten off to a good start either. The Rockies keep flip flopping their plans. They go from paying money to trade their best player in Nolan Arenado to keeping Trevor Story at the deadline because they said the return wasn't greater than a compensatory draft pick. Figure it out Colorado, or else you won't see fans at Coors Field anymore.
Detroit Tigers: The gifts of the farm system
The Tigers had a very good offseason so far, bolstering their young core with the signings of Eduardo Rodriguez and Javier Baez. Another season of development for the kids, plus the potential debuts of Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene, will make things better in Detroit.
Houston Astros: The return of Justin Verlander, in all it's power
When an almost 39 year old pitcher undergoes Tommy John surgery, it might signal the end of their career. That still might be the case. But, Justin Verlander would be the guy to overcome it. He's not far removed from his 2019 Cy Young season, and the Astros will need it if they want to get back to the World Series.
Kansas City Royals: The gift of Witt
Bobby Witt Jr has been the most prized prospect in the Royals organization since he was drafted, and is one of the best prospects in all of baseball as well. He's one of their upper echelon prospects on the cusp of the majors, and for the Royals fans, their hope is that Witt makes his highly anticipated major league debut at some point this season.
Los Angeles Angels: Help for Trout and Ohtani
The thing that has hampered the Angels has been a lack of effective pitching. They've made some good moves to help that problem by bringing in Michael Lorenzen, Noah Syndergaard, Aaron Loup, and re-signing Raisel Iglesias. Their work is still far from done, because we need to see Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani play baseball in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Cody Bellinger
Would the real Cody Bellinger please step forward? After strong seasons and an NL MVP award, Bellinger regressed hard in 2021, being one of the worst hitters on the Dodgers roster. To make up for the loss of so much high end talent in free agency, the Dodgers need MVP Bellinger back, and they need him now.
Miami Marlins: Hitting, hitting, hitting
The Marlins have some of the best young pitching in the game, headlined by Sandy Alcantara, Trevor Rogers, Sixto Sanchez, Pablo Lopez, and much more. What they need to develop next is the hitting game, which they've so far upgraded this offseason, but they could use more to get back in competition.
Milwaukee Brewers: See Miami Marlins
Pretty much just copy and paste the same thing I said for the Marlins, because the hitting really was what held the Brewers back last season
Minnesota Twins: Armor for Byron Buxton
When he is healthy, Byron Buxton is one of the best players in all of baseball. He just isn't healthy very often, which is horrible for the Twins. If they wish to unlock the full talents of Buxton, they need to keep him healthy no matter the cost.
New York Yankees: Something, anything
The Yankees, after a down season in 2021, have not signed anyone of note this offseason, except Joely Rodriguez. Brian Cashman called it a player problem last season, not an Aaron Boone problem. Now act like it
New York Mets: A competent baseball team
The Mets have been doomed in recent memory by something different every year. With what Steve Cohen has done this offseason, it's pretty clear he wants that to end. For Mets fans sake, please finally end this year with a playoff appearance.
Oakland Athletics: A ballpark in Oakland
They might be relocating pretty soon. That would be terrible for the Oakland area, who have already lost the Raiders, and the A's might now be gone too. The city of Oakland needs to do whatever possible to keep the A's, and they needed to do it yesterday.
Philadelphia Phillies: Playoffs, now
The Phillies finally did the impossible and finished with a record over .500 last season. Now, the next step is to build a bullpen that does something other than blow saves, setting the single season record. They need to make the playoffs this season, Bryce Harper can't do it by himself.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Anything to hope for
The Pirates just need something to hope for. Literally anything. It'll be a bad season in terms of the record, but if there's some positive story to come out of 2022, it's a win for the Pirates.
San Diego Padres: The pitching staff staying healthy
The Padres were absolutely and utterly decimated by injuries to the pitching last year. It was ugly in the second half, and it was shown publicly. What the Padres need is healthy pitching no matter the cost, and the hitting to return to first half 2021 form that they had last year.
San Francisco Giants: Sustainability
One thing we don't know about the 2021 Giants is whether or not the season they had is sustainable. They've lost a good bit of pitching this offseason, especially with Kevin Gausman leaving. If they can make more strides and not regress, that would be a boon for Farhan Zaidi and the front office.
Seattle Mariners: More and more development
After a surprisingly strong finish to the 2021 season, nearly making the playoffs, the Mariners need more pieces. They've done it with Robbie Ray this offseason. They need their prized outfield young guns to stay healthy, namely Kyle Lewis. They also need Jarred Kelenic to keep chugging along, and Julio Rodriguez to make his MLB debut.
St.Louis Cardinals: The new voice to send the right message
We were confused when Mike Shildt was fired, especially after that torrid winning streak they had in August into September. They have the players necessary to go far, but Oliver Marmol will be the difference maker in the Cardinals season.
Tampa Bay Rays: Fans, and no Montreal
The Tampa Bay Rays have had long documented attendance issues, and it's bad. Ownership has said they believe in a half season split with Montreal for the Rays, and that's just a terrible idea. They need a new stadium closer to Tampa Bay so that fans will show up, and they need to abandon the Montreal idea immediately.
Texas Rangers: The spending to be meaningful
All the players brought in, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Kole Calhoun, and Jon Gray, are worth the money they got. However, it needs to be meaningful, and they need the young supporting cast around them to grow as players and get better.
Toronto Blue Jays: A bullpen
The Blue Jays have themselves a nice looking rotation, and Cavan Biggio figures to be an adequate replacement for Marcus Semien, if that's the worst case scenario. Their hitting core is still incredibly deadly, there's another full season of Guerrero Jr and Springer, but they need a better bullpen, because, ultimately, Toronto was just a few blown saves away from making the playoffs last season.
Washington Nationals: Patrick Corbin, please and thank you
Patrick Corbin, since signing his 6 year, $140 million deal, has fallen off in 2020 and 2021. He needs to either return to his dominant form now, or the Nationals need to figure out a way out of the $83 million he's still due. They also need to keep rebuilding the farm system while Juan Soto carries the team on his back in 2022.
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