Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

The Red Sox are considering a number of position player targets, including a pair of outfielders. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports that the Sox are interested in Lourdes Gurriel Jr., KPRC’s Ari Alexander reports that Michael A. Taylor is another player of interest, and Boston is also looking at help behind the plate in Martin…

The Red Sox are considering a number of position player targets, including a pair of outfielders. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports that the Sox are interested in Lourdes Gurriel Jr., KPRC’s Ari Alexander reports that Michael A. Taylor is another player of interest, and Boston is also looking at help behind the plate in Martin…

theScore's MLB offseason team needs series breaks down every club's roster and key departures, along with how holes could be filled in free agency ahead of the Dec. 4-7 winter meetings. Division previews will roll out daily through Nov. 30.AL EAST I NL EAST I AL WEST I AL CENTRAL I NL CENTRAL *Bolded names are players traded this offseasonArizona Diamondbacks Norm Hall / Getty Images Sport / Getty2023 record: 84-78 (2nd in NL West)Projected 40-man payroll: $114MKey departures: Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Evan Longoria, Tommy PhamNeeds: Corner outfield, DH, rotation depth, bullpen depthWhere the lineup stands ORDER PLAYER POSITION fWAR 1 Corbin Carroll (L) LF 6.0 2 Ketel Marte (S) 2B 4.2 3 Eugenio Su rez 3B 3.2 4 Christian Walker 1B 3.8 5 Alek Thomas (L) CF 0.5 6 Gabriel Moreno C 1.7 7 Dominic Fletcher (L) DH 0.6 8 Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS 2.7 9 Jake McCarthy (L) RF 0.1 The D-Backs crossed off one need just before Thanksgiving by acquiring Su rez from Seattle. Not only is he a significant upgrade over Longoria at third base, but he'll inject some much-needed power into the middle of the lineup. There's still more work to be done, though. McCarthy's regression this past season, combined with Gurriel's possible departure, makes adding another corner outfielder imperative. A platoon partner for Fletcher at DH would also be helpful given his struggles against left-handed pitching in Triple-A and the majors.How the rotation looks Daniel Shirey / Major League Baseball / Getty ROLE PITCHER THROWS fWAR 1 Zac Gallen R 5.2 2 Merrill Kelly R 3.2 3 Brandon Pfaadt R 0.3 4 Ryne Nelson R 0.7 5 Tommy Henry L 0.7 Pfaadt's emergence during the playoffs gives the D-Backs a third dependable starter behind Gallen and Kelly, but upgrades are still needed. Ideally, Pfaadt would pitch behind a No. 3 starter imported via either trade or free agency. One more starter would push either Nelson or Henry to the bullpen, increasing Arizona's overall pitching depth. The back of the bullpen is in a good spot with Sewald, Franco, and Castro. However, the club would welcome additional depth.Colorado Rockies Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / Getty2023 record: 59-103 (5th)Projected 40-man payroll: $142MKey departures: Chase Anderson, Ty Blach, Tommy Doyle, Chris Flexen, Matt Koch, Brent SuterNeeds: Right field, pitching, bullpenWhere the lineup stands ORDER PLAYER POSITION fWAR 1 Charlie Blackmon (L) DH 0.8 2 Ezequiel Tovar SS 1.6 3 Nolan Jones (L) LF 3.7 4 Kris Bryant 1B -1.2 5 Brendan Rodgers 2B 0.0 6 Ryan McMahon (L) 3B 1.2 7 Elias D az C 0.0 8 Hunter Goodman RF -0.4 9 Brenton Doyle CF 0.9 This lineup needs work and has to add experience. Goodman started last season at Double-A and finished 2023 in Colorado thanks to his solid bat. While he's earned the right to compete for the Rockies' Opening Day right-field job in 2024, the team should still consider looking for someone else to man the position, at least in the short term. A natural catcher and first baseman, Goodman only started playing the outfield in 2023. He might benefit from more defensive seasoning at the position in Triple-A. It would also be a good idea for Colorado to add some insurance for the oft-injured Kris Bryant.How the rotation looks Jason O. Watson / Getty Images Sport / Getty ROLE PITCHER THROWS fWAR 1 Kyle Freeland L 1.2 2 Cal Quantrill R 0.7 3 Austin Gomber L 0.9 4 Ryan Feltner R 0.9 5 Peter Lambert R 0.2 Pitching, as usual, remains a major need for Colorado. Adding Quantrill as a potential bounce-back candidate was a nice pickup for this otherwise underwhelming rotation. It wouldn't be surprising if the Rockies signed a few veteran relievers to short-term deals with eyes on flipping them at the trade deadline, as they did this past summer with Brad Hand and Pierce Johnson.Los Angeles Dodgers Denis Poroy / Getty Images Sport / Getty2023 record: 100-62 (1st)Projected 40-man payroll: $151MKey departures: Ryan Brasier, Enrique Hern ndez, Joe Kelly, Clayton Kershaw, Lance Lynn, J.D. Martinez, Shelby Miller, David Peralta, Amed Rosario, Julio Ur as, Kolten WongNeeds: Starting pitching, relief pitching, DHWhere the lineup stands ORDER PLAYER POSITION fWAR 1 Mookie Betts 2B 8.3 2 Freddie Freeman (L) 1B 7.9 3 Will Smith C 4.4 4 Max Muncy (L) 3B 2.9 5 James Outman (L) CF 4.4 6 Jason Heyward (L) RF 2.2 7 Chris Taylor LF 1.9 8 Gavin Lux (L) SS DNP 9 Michael Busch (L) DH -0.5 Everyone knows the Dodgers will be in on Shohei Ohtani, but the offense needs more fine-tuning regardless of whether they sign him. Nevertheless, this is an excellent lineup, but without Martinez, there's an imbalance of left-handed bats. Whether at DH if Ohtani goes elsewhere or a primary left fielder who allows Taylor to move around the diamond, signing one more righty power bat should be on the Dodgers' to-do list. Heyward's return as a corner outfielder is welcomed, allowing Betts to continue in his utility role by playing second base against right-handers. However, he needs a platoon partner.How the rotation looks Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty ROLE PITCHER THROWS fWAR 1 Walker Buehler R N/A 2 Bobby Miller R 2.8 3 Ryan Pepiot R 0.4 4 Ryan Yarbrough L 0.2 5 Emmet Sheehan R 0.5 One way or another, the Dodgers' rotation will look different in 2024. The club will welcome Buehler's return from elbow surgery, and its youngsters provided hope for the future after being pressed into action last year due to a myriad of injuries. Yarbrough brings nice left-handed depth, but L.A. can, and should, easily find an upgrade for the No. 5 spot. More rotation depth is essential for the Dodgers to avoid repeating what happened last summer when multiple starters went down.San Diego Padres Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty2023 record: 82-80 (3rd)Projected 40-man payroll: $189MKey departures: Scott Barlow, Garrett Cooper, Luis Garc a, Josh Hader, Rich Hill, Tim Hill, Seth Lugo, Nick Martinez, Austin Nola, Gary S nchez, Blake Snell, Michael WachaNeeds: Starting pitching, reliever, catcher, first baseWhere the lineup stands ORDER PLAYER POSITION fWAR 1 Xander Bogaerts SS 4.4 2 Fernando Tatis Jr. RF 4.4 3 Juan Soto (L) LF 5.5 4 Manny Machado 3B 3.5 5 Ha-Seong Kim 2B 4.4 6 Jake Cronenworth (L) 1B 1.0 7 Luis Campusano C 1.1 8 Matt Carpenter (L) DH -0.3 9 Trent Grisham (L) CF 1.7 The most important holes for the Padres to fill right now are at DH and first base. Carpenter turned back into a pumpkin last season, and he should be used, at best, in a platoon DH situation. However, a bench role might suit him best. San Diego could also potentially find an upgrade over Cronenworth, who could return to his roots as a utility player and bounce around the infield. Of course, all of this is assuming that Soto remains with the team. If he's traded, it not only opens up left field as an area of need, but it probably signals a rebuild or that a retool is in the offing. The Padres' offseason strategy would change entirely in that case.How the rotation looks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty ROLE PITCHER THROWS fWAR 1 Joe Musgrove R 2.1 2 Yu Darvish R 2.4 3 Matt Waldron R 0.1 4 Pedro Avila R 0.6 5 Jay Groome L N/A This entire staff will take a hit with Snell and Hader likely departing in free agency. Musgrove and Darvish still give the Padres a solid duo atop the rotation, but they need help. Any team with Groome penciled in as its No. 5 should consider finding multiple viable back-end starters essential. Groome posted an 8.55 ERA and 2.10 WHIP in 30 starts at Triple-A in 2023 and has never pitched in the majors.San Francisco Giants Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images2023 record: 79-83 (4th)Projected 40-man payroll: $148MKey departures: Scott Alexander, Brandon Crawford, Jakob Junis, Sean Manaea, Joc Pederson, Alex WoodNeeds: Starting pitching, bullpen depth, center field, first baseWhere the lineup stands ORDER PLAYER POSITION fWAR 1 LaMonte Wade Jr. (L) 1B 2.1 2 Thairo Estrada 2B 3.9 3 Mike Yastrzemski (L) RF 1.8 4 Wilmer Flores DH 2.5 5 Michael Conforto (L) LF 1.1 6 J.D. Davis 3B 2.2 7 Luis Matos CF -0.4 8 Patrick Bailey (S) C 2.8 9 Marco Luciano SS 0.2 Matos had a difficult rookie season on both sides of the ball, so finding an upgrade at center field is essential if the Giants hope to get back into contention in 2024. Although they're less urgent, first base and DH would also be spots where president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi could get help. The next generation is ready to step in, as top prospect Marco Luciano will take over shortstop full time from Crawford next season.How the rotation looks Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / Getty ROLE PITCHER THROWS fWAR 1 Logan Webb R 4.9 2 Anthony DeSclafani R 1.0 3 Ross Stripling R -0.3 4 Kyle Harrison L -0.1 5 Keaton Winn R 0.2 Webb is a luxury for the Giants and gives them certainty every five days. Behind him, it's a bit of a mess. Stripling had a difficult first season in San Francisco. While youngsters Winn and Harrison showed flashes of potential during late-season cameos, they're still largely unproven. Alex Cobb is also back but will start 2024 on the injured list after hip surgery. The bullpen, anchored by Camilo Doval and the Rogers twins, is a strength for this club.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Major League Baseball free agency in full swing, theScore's MLB editors Michael Bradburn, Josh Goldberg, Bryan Mcwilliam, Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, and Brandon Wile answer some of the biggest questions heading into the offseason:Which FA would you want to sign if you're a GM?Yoshinobu Yamamoto: The Japanese star is one of the offseason's most intriguing free agents. At just 25 years old, Yamamoto is entering his prime and appears poised to pitch his peak years in North America. The right-hander dominated in Japan, posting a microscopic 1.82 ERA over seven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. There is always a degree of risk with a pitcher from Japan adjusting to the big leagues, but the performance of New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga in his rookie season should help alleviate a lot of those concerns. Senga landed a five-year, $75-million contract from the Mets last offseason but was entering his age-30 season. Yamamoto is five years younger with a proven track record of success and the possibility that he has another level to reach. He could land the biggest contract of any starting pitcher this winter. - GoldbergShohei Ohtani: Every front office wants a player like Ohtani. He's one of the game's most gifted talents and a marketing dream. The 29-year-old just claimed his second AL MVP, guided Japan to a World Baseball Classic title, and has graced the covers of GQ, Sports Illustrated, and TIME since arriving in North America. Ohtani won't pitch until 2025 after undergoing elbow surgery, but he should hit without restrictions next season. That bodes well for clubs, considering he led the AL in home runs and OPS. Of course, there's serious risk in signing any player long term, and the likely record-setting price tag will scare off most teams, but it's not often you have an opportunity to sign a generational player in their prime. And if there ever was a player worth the risk, it's Ohtani. - McwilliamJosh Hader: Signing elite closers is a luxury only some teams can afford, but for those contenders, landing Hader should be a top priority. Few free agents available this winter can tip the scales of a pennant race quite like a 29-year-old lefty who's capable of entering a game during its highest-leverage moment and striking everyone out. Since breaking into the majors in 2017, the five-time All-Star struck out 42.2% of batters faced - the highest of any pitcher during that span. Yes, better than Edwin D az's 40.2% mark that helped land him a record-breaking $102-million contract. Expect Hader's deal to fall in that neighborhood. - Bradburn Mark Blinch / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhich high-profile FA would you stay away from?Matt Chapman: It's entirely reasonable to call Chapman one of the top three available position players this winter, but that isn't as big a compliment as it seems. Chapman started his 2023 season on fire, hitting .384/.465/.687 in April and leading the majors in fWAR during the first month. From May 1 on, however, he posted an 84 wRC+ - worse than all but seven qualified players over that span - while slugging .361. Chapman still scorched the ball when he hit it - he was in the top 2% of exit velocity - but his contact and home-run rates dipped this year while his already high K-rate spiked. As a defensive player, the reigning AL Gold Glove third baseman has a ton of value, and that's not likely to change - although those post-April offensive numbers remain worrisome. Chapman will likely find his big payday somewhere since high-end free-agent options are scarce this year, but this past season showed why teams pursuing him should do so with caution. - Sharkey-GotliebJordan Montgomery: No free agent boosted their value during the postseason like Montgomery. The left-hander played a pivotal role in the Rangers winning the World Series, posting a 2.90 ERA across six appearances. That performance will likely get him paid like an ace when he's more of a solid No. 3 starter on a contender. Montgomery is coming off a career-high 188 2/3 innings, plus another 31 postseason innings. That heavy workload may be a concern considering it's the first time he's ever thrown more than 180 innings. There are multiple ways to be an effective starter, and Montgomery has gotten by despite a lack of strikeouts. He posted a 21.4% strikeout rate in 2023 - the second-lowest mark of his career - and has been striking out fewer batters per year in each of the last three seasons. As he continues to age, and his velocity continues to decline, can he still be as effective without missing bats? Good value for Montgomery would be in the range of Kevin Gasuman's five-year, $110-million deal, but he'll likely command much more given the competition for pitching this winter, and that's where the contract gets uncomfortable. - Wile Blake Snell: I picked Snell to win NL Cy Young before the 2023 campaign even began, so don't get me wrong: His ceiling is tantalizing. When the two-time ERA title winner is on, very few pitchers are better at missing bats. The problem is that the lefty is entering his age-31 season, will command an enormous payday based on his deserved accolades, and has struggled in the seasons between his ERA titles. From 2019-22, Snell authored a 3.85 ERA and 3.44 FIP over 413 2/3 innings. While he maintained elite strikeout rates and surrendered so few hits thanks in part to an elite Padres defense, he issued 99 walks - the most by a pitcher in any single season since 2012. He's great at missing bats, but he just also misses the zone a lot. That can lead to some extended cold streaks, and it just isn't the recipe for a bona fide ace on a top contender. He's also only thrown more than 130 innings twice in seven seasons (not counting the COVID-shortened season). - Bradburn Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhich team needs to win the offseason?San Francisco Giants: Last winter, the Giants reached for the stars, only to be snubbed by Aaron Judge before backing out of an agreement with Carlos Correa over physical issues. The result was a sub-.500 club that cost Gabe Kapler his job only two years removed from a 107-win season. We know the Giants are willing to spend and will be aggressive again this offseason. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has been open about these desires, and vocal about his intentions to pursue star Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They're likely going to be in on many of the big available bats, including Shohei Ohtani. But it's not enough to just be linked to those players anymore. There's immense pressure on Zaidi to finally reel in his big fish and bring this team back to prominence in the NL West. His job may be riding on it. - Sharkey-GotliebNew York Yankees: There are always lots of eyes on the Yankees' offseason, but this winter feels different after the Bronx Bombers posted their lowest winning percentage since 1992. Last season's failure prompted captain Aaron Judge to call for changes, and owner Hal Steinbrenner appeared to agree. This means longtime GM Brian Cashman is on the hot seat to improve an aging Yankees club that needs help all over the field, mainly in the starting rotation and outfield. New York has already been linked to San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto, but that might not be enough on its own to return the Yankees to glory in baseball's toughest division. - McwilliamToronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays went all in on prioritizing pitching and defense last offseason, jettisoning the likes of Teoscar Hern ndez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and bringing in veterans Brandon Belt and Kevin Kiermaier. GM Ross Atkins' biggest move was betting on outfielder Daulton Varsho and cashing in top prospect Gabriel Moreno. The first season of the trade couldn't have gone much worse for the Blue Jays with Moreno and Gurriel helping the Diamondbacks to a deep postseason run while Varsho slumped at the plate. The Blue Jays have holes to fill, including the likely departure of third baseman Matt Chapman. With the Yankees and Red Sox unlikely to struggle as badly as they did last season and the Rays and Orioles poised to remain competitive, Atkins and the Blue Jays must find a way to set the franchise up for success in October. Toronto only has two more years with Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. under contract. The clock is ticking. - Goldberg Rob Carr / Getty ImagesWhich contender will have the most underwhelming offseason?Baltimore Orioles: It should be a no-brainer for Baltimore to spend this winter to supplement a talented roster coming off a surprise 101-win season. But given the success of a young core and a loaded farm system that has more pieces yet to come, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Orioles' front office continues to build from within. Owner John Angelos has already gone on record saying it would be difficult for the club to sign players to $150 million-$200 million deals without significantly increasing ticket prices. The team also wants to keep future financial flexibility in order to potentially sign younger players to extensions. So why spend lavishly when the Orioles are already winning? There's a logical argument to stay the course and continue to bring more young players along, but the Cubs and Astros added bigger stars when they came out of their rebuilds and that put them over the top. Although Baltimore should do the same, it won't be a shock if the O's make smaller moves, much like they did last season. - WileMinnesota Twins: The Twins won a playoff series for the first time since 2002 and entered the offseason with some real momentum. Minnesota's financial realities quickly poured cold water on that with Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey admitting the 2024 payroll will decrease from a franchise-record $156 million last season. The Twins need to replace Cy Young finalist Sonny Gray and may have to find a center fielder if Byron Buxton's knee issue doesn't allow him to return to the position on a consistent basis next season. Those could be challenging tasks if their ability to spend is limited. - GoldbergNew York Mets: Think of everything the Mets would have to accomplish this winter to rekindle some semblance of hope. It's off to a good start after appointing David Stearns as their president of baseball operations - perhaps the team's first competent executive in years. But still, it's an uphill battle after a season that blew up so spectacularly despite adding Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Kodai Senga while also retaining Brandon Nimmo and Edwin D az. So, what do Stearns and Co. have to do for this to not look disappointing? And don't forget, Scherzer was apparently told that the team planned to take a step back next year. What does that mean for Pete Alonso, entering his final year before free agency? There are a lot of ways this could go poorly, and only a few ways this could possibly be perceived as a great offseason in Flushing, barring the addition of Ohtani and Yamamoto. - Bradburn Daniel Shirey / Major League Baseball / GettyWhich FA will be the biggest bargain?Shota Imanaga: Yamamoto is getting all of the buzz, but there's another star Japanese pitcher who's about to make an impact in the majors. Imanaga posted the Central League's highest K/9 rate (10.6) for Yokohama in 2023, and his 174 strikeouts led all of NPB. He's posted an ERA below 2.85 and a WHIP of 1.00 or lower in each of his last three seasons. The 30-year-old's four-pitch arsenal includes a fastball that closed in on 95 mph during the WBC - he was Japan's starter in the WBC final against the U.S. - and he's also the rare southpaw that throws a splitter. Imanaga shouldn't be expected to serve as an ace in the majors, but he should have no trouble as a solid mid-rotation arm with plenty of experience, and he'll likely sign for far less than what Yamamoto gets. That will likely make the winner of these sweepstakes very happy. - Sharkey-GotliebRhys Hoskins: Hoskins likely won't command a lucrative free-agent deal like some of his peers after missing the entire 2023 campaign recovering from knee surgery. Now that he's healthy, he should be an appealing target for clubs seeking affordable production at first base or designated hitter. The 30-year-old has never posted an OPS below .794 and he's hit 27 or more homers in four of his six seasons. And since his big-league debut in 2017, Hoskins ranks first in FanGraphs' offensive rating and wRC+ among free-agent first basemen. - McwilliamKenta Maeda: The right-hander really started to resemble his former self when he posted a 2.81 ERA and 26 strikeouts across 25 2/3 innings over the final month of the season. Maeda has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2022. Entering his age-36 season, Maeda won't command a long-term deal, but he has the ability to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter for a good team. His strikeout, whiff, chase, and walk rates all grade high. The Twins also opted to not extend Maeda a qualifying offer, which is another bonus for teams looking for pitching help. - WileCopyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Major League Baseball free agency in full swing, theScore's MLB editors Michael Bradburn, Josh Goldberg, Bryan Mcwilliam, Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, and Brandon Wile answer some of the biggest questions heading into the offseason:Which FA would you want to sign if you're a GM?Yoshinobu Yamamoto: The Japanese star is one of the offseason's most intriguing free agents. At just 25 years old, Yamamoto is entering his prime and appears poised to pitch his peak years in North America. The right-hander dominated in Japan, posting a microscopic 1.82 ERA over seven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. There is always a degree of risk with a pitcher from Japan adjusting to the big leagues, but the performance of New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga in his rookie season should help alleviate a lot of those concerns. Senga landed a five-year, $75-million contract from the Mets last offseason but was entering his age-30 season. Yamamoto is five years younger with a proven track record of success and the possibility that he has another level to reach. He could land the biggest contract of any starting pitcher this winter. - GoldbergShohei Ohtani: Every front office wants a player like Ohtani. He's one of the game's most gifted talents and a marketing dream. The 29-year-old just claimed his second AL MVP, guided Japan to a World Baseball Classic title, and has graced the covers of GQ, Sports Illustrated, and TIME since arriving in North America. Ohtani won't pitch until 2025 after undergoing elbow surgery, but he should hit without restrictions next season. That bodes well for clubs, considering he led the AL in home runs and OPS. Of course, there's serious risk in signing any player long term, and the likely record-setting price tag will scare off most teams, but it's not often you have an opportunity to sign a generational player in their prime. And if there ever was a player worth the risk, it's Ohtani. - McwilliamJosh Hader: Signing elite closers is a luxury only some teams can afford, but for those contenders, landing Hader should be a top priority. Few free agents available this winter can tip the scales of a pennant race quite like a 29-year-old lefty who's capable of entering a game during its highest-leverage moment and striking everyone out. Since breaking into the majors in 2017, the five-time All-Star struck out 42.2% of batters faced - the highest of any pitcher during that span. Yes, better than Edwin D az's 40.2% mark that helped land him a record-breaking $102-million contract. Expect Hader's deal to fall in that neighborhood. - Bradburn Mark Blinch / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhich high-profile FA would you stay away from?Matt Chapman: It's entirely reasonable to call Chapman one of the top three available position players this winter, but that isn't as big a compliment as it seems. Chapman started his 2023 season on fire, hitting .384/.465/.687 in April and leading the majors in fWAR during the first month. From May 1 on, however, he posted an 84 wRC+ - worse than all but seven qualified players over that span - while slugging .361. Chapman still scorched the ball when he hit it - he was in the top 2% of exit velocity - but his contact and home-run rates dipped this year while his already high K-rate spiked. As a defensive player, the reigning AL Gold Glove third baseman has a ton of value, and that's not likely to change - although those post-April offensive numbers remain worrisome. Chapman will likely find his big payday somewhere since high-end free-agent options are scarce this year, but this past season showed why teams pursuing him should do so with caution. - Sharkey-GotliebJordan Montgomery: No free agent boosted their value during the postseason like Montgomery. The left-hander played a pivotal role in the Rangers winning the World Series, posting a 2.90 ERA across six appearances. That performance will likely get him paid like an ace when he's more of a solid No. 3 starter on a contender. Montgomery is coming off a career-high 188 2/3 innings, plus another 31 postseason innings. That heavy workload may be a concern considering it's the first time he's ever thrown more than 180 innings. There are multiple ways to be an effective starter, and Montgomery has gotten by despite a lack of strikeouts. He posted a 21.4% strikeout rate in 2023 - the second-lowest mark of his career - and has been striking out fewer batters per year in each of the last three seasons. As he continues to age, and his velocity continues to decline, can he still be as effective without missing bats? Good value for Montgomery would be in the range of Kevin Gasuman's five-year, $110-million deal, but he'll likely command much more given the competition for pitching this winter, and that's where the contract gets uncomfortable. - Wile Blake Snell: I picked Snell to win NL Cy Young before the 2023 campaign even began, so don't get me wrong: His ceiling is tantalizing. When the two-time ERA title winner is on, very few pitchers are better at missing bats. The problem is that the lefty is entering his age-31 season, will command an enormous payday based on his deserved accolades, and has struggled in the seasons between his ERA titles. From 2019-22, Snell authored a 3.85 ERA and 3.44 FIP over 413 2/3 innings. While he maintained elite strikeout rates and surrendered so few hits thanks in part to an elite Padres defense, he issued 99 walks - the most by a pitcher in any single season since 2012. He's great at missing bats, but he just also misses the zone a lot. That can lead to some extended cold streaks, and it just isn't the recipe for a bona fide ace on a top contender. He's also only thrown more than 130 innings twice in seven seasons (not counting the COVID-shortened season). - Bradburn Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhich team needs to win the offseason?San Francisco Giants: Last winter, the Giants reached for the stars, only to be snubbed by Aaron Judge before backing out of an agreement with Carlos Correa over physical issues. The result was a sub-.500 club that cost Gabe Kapler his job only two years removed from a 107-win season. We know the Giants are willing to spend and will be aggressive again this offseason. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has been open about these desires, and vocal about his intentions to pursue star Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They're likely going to be in on many of the big available bats, including Shohei Ohtani. But it's not enough to just be linked to those players anymore. There's immense pressure on Zaidi to finally reel in his big fish and bring this team back to prominence in the NL West. His job may be riding on it. - Sharkey-GotliebNew York Yankees: There are always lots of eyes on the Yankees' offseason, but this winter feels different after the Bronx Bombers posted their lowest winning percentage since 1992. Last season's failure prompted captain Aaron Judge to call for changes, and owner Hal Steinbrenner appeared to agree. This means longtime GM Brian Cashman is on the hot seat to improve an aging Yankees club that needs help all over the field, mainly in the starting rotation and outfield. New York has already been linked to San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto, but that might not be enough on its own to return the Yankees to glory in baseball's toughest division. - McwilliamToronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays went all in on prioritizing pitching and defense last offseason, jettisoning the likes of Teoscar Hern ndez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and bringing in veterans Brandon Belt and Kevin Kiermaier. GM Ross Atkins' biggest move was betting on outfielder Daulton Varsho and cashing in top prospect Gabriel Moreno. The first season of the trade couldn't have gone much worse for the Blue Jays with Moreno and Gurriel helping the Diamondbacks to a deep postseason run while Varsho slumped at the plate. The Blue Jays have holes to fill, including the likely departure of third baseman Matt Chapman. With the Yankees and Red Sox unlikely to struggle as badly as they did last season and the Rays and Orioles poised to remain competitive, Atkins and the Blue Jays must find a way to set the franchise up for success in October. Toronto only has two more years with Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. under contract. The clock is ticking. - Goldberg Rob Carr / Getty ImagesWhich contender will have the most underwhelming offseason?Baltimore Orioles: It should be a no-brainer for Baltimore to spend this winter to supplement a talented roster coming off a surprise 101-win season. But given the success of a young core and a loaded farm system that has more pieces yet to come, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Orioles' front office continues to build from within. Owner John Angelos has already gone on record saying it would be difficult for the club to sign players to $150 million-$200 million deals without significantly increasing ticket prices. The team also wants to keep future financial flexibility in order to potentially sign younger players to extensions. So why spend lavishly when the Orioles are already winning? There's a logical argument to stay the course and continue to bring more young players along, but the Cubs and Astros added bigger stars when they came out of their rebuilds and that put them over the top. Although Baltimore should do the same, it won't be a shock if the O's make smaller moves, much like they did last season. - WileMinnesota Twins: The Twins won a playoff series for the first time since 2002 and entered the offseason with some real momentum. Minnesota's financial realities quickly poured cold water on that with Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey admitting the 2024 payroll will decrease from a franchise-record $156 million last season. The Twins need to replace Cy Young finalist Sonny Gray and may have to find a center fielder if Byron Buxton's knee issue doesn't allow him to return to the position on a consistent basis next season. Those could be challenging tasks if their ability to spend is limited. - GoldbergNew York Mets: Think of everything the Mets would have to accomplish this winter to rekindle some semblance of hope. It's off to a good start after appointing David Stearns as their president of baseball operations - perhaps the team's first competent executive in years. But still, it's an uphill battle after a season that blew up so spectacularly despite adding Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Kodai Senga while also retaining Brandon Nimmo and Edwin D az. So, what do Stearns and Co. have to do for this to not look disappointing? And don't forget, Scherzer was apparently told that the team planned to take a step back next year. What does that mean for Pete Alonso, entering his final year before free agency? There are a lot of ways this could go poorly, and only a few ways this could possibly be perceived as a great offseason in Flushing, barring the addition of Ohtani and Yamamoto. - Bradburn Daniel Shirey / Major League Baseball / GettyWhich FA will be the biggest bargain?Shota Imanaga: Yamamoto is getting all of the buzz, but there's another star Japanese pitcher who's about to make an impact in the majors. Imanaga posted the Central League's highest K/9 rate (10.6) for Yokohama in 2023, and his 174 strikeouts led all of NPB. He's posted an ERA below 2.85 and a WHIP of 1.00 or lower in each of his last three seasons. The 30-year-old's four-pitch arsenal includes a fastball that closed in on 95 mph during the WBC - he was Japan's starter in the WBC final against the U.S. - and he's also the rare southpaw that throws a splitter. Imanaga shouldn't be expected to serve as an ace in the majors, but he should have no trouble as a solid mid-rotation arm with plenty of experience, and he'll likely sign for far less than what Yamamoto gets. That will likely make the winner of these sweepstakes very happy. - Sharkey-GotliebRhys Hoskins: Hoskins likely won't command a lucrative free-agent deal like some of his peers after missing the entire 2023 campaign recovering from knee surgery. Now that he's healthy, he should be an appealing target for clubs seeking affordable production at first base or designated hitter. The 30-year-old has never posted an OPS below .794 and he's hit 27 or more homers in four of his six seasons. And since his big-league debut in 2017, Hoskins ranks first in FanGraphs' offensive rating and wRC+ among free-agent first basemen. - McwilliamKenta Maeda: The right-hander really started to resemble his former self when he posted a 2.81 ERA and 26 strikeouts across 25 2/3 innings over the final month of the season. Maeda has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2022. Entering his age-36 season, Maeda won't command a long-term deal, but he has the ability to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter for a good team. His strikeout, whiff, chase, and walk rates all grade high. The Twins also opted to not extend Maeda a qualifying offer, which is another bonus for teams looking for pitching help. - WileCopyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.