The New Year gives us all a date to potentially make any
upgrades. For MLB teams — even the best — that’s no different.
Each of the 10 playoff teams from 2018 has something about
it that needs to be improved upon. In cases like the Chicago Cubs, Oakland
Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles
Dodgers, that probably means adding at least one new player. Other teams, like
the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees, have a resolution that, at least
theoretically, could be achieved by the current players on the roster.
With an eye towards self-improvement, these are the most
pressing New Year’s resolutions for the 10 MLB playoff teams from the 2018
season.
CHICAGO CUBS:
FIND MORE POWER
Chicago’s lack of offense was apparent at the end of the
2018 season. The Cubs struggled offensively down the stretch. Then they scored
a combined two runs in the NL Central tiebreaker against the Brewers and the NL
Wild Card Game with the Rockies — both losses. Milwaukee also has one of the
NL’s best offenses. Additionally, since the end of the season, the Cincinnati
Reds have upgraded an already potent offense with Yasiel Puig and
Matt Kemp. The St. Louis Cardinals added one of the best players in the game in Paul
Goldschmidt. Chicago must counter.
Free agent second basemen like DJ LeMahieu and Jed Lowrie
would serve as solid replacements for Daniel Murphy. An upgrade in the outfield
with someone like Nick Markakis or even Adam Jones would also make some sense.
Additionally, until he signs Bryce Harper looms as a possibility. There are different ways for Chicago
to upgrade the offense. However it happens, Chicago’s offense needs some fresh
faces in 2019.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS:
MORE INNINGS FROM THE STARTERS
We’d love to see the A’s throw caution to the wind and trade
for someone like Corey Kluber. But whether it’s doing something like that or
just building a deeper rotation, Oakland can’t depend on its bullpen in 2019 as
much as it did in 2018.
The success that teams like the A’s and Tampa Bay Rays had
in 2018 may make starting pitching depth feel less relevant. But looking at
starting pitching innings, tells a different story. Oakland, who ranked fourth-to-last
in MLB, was the only team in the bottom-10 to make the playoffs. Tampa, who was
dead, last, was the only other winning team. So while might have worked okay
for those two teams in 2018, depending too much on the bullpen isn’t
necessarily sustainable. A team is relying too much on its bullpen will
eventually have to rely on the depth of the bullpen in meaningful spots. That
usually doesn’t end well.
COLORADO ROCKIES:
MAKE THE BULLPEN STRONGER
In 2018, Colorado’s starters posted a 4.17 ERA. It may not
look great, but it’s well within the curve that we have to grade on when we
factor in Coors Field. The relievers on the other hand, had a 4.62 ERA. Even
when we factor in the altitude, that’s bad. It’s even worse when we remember
that Adam Ottavino — who posted a 2.43 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 13.0 K/9 rate, and dreams of striking out Babe Ruth in his spare time — is a
free agent and may not return.
Overall, the Rockies certainly have a team that can return
to the playoffs and compete for a World Series. But for that to happen, the
bullpen must get much better. With Nolan Arenado looming as a pending free
agent after the 2019 season, this is the year for Colorado to go big and
splurge on upgrading the relievers.
NEW
YORK YANKEES: FEWER STRIKEOUTS
As a team that’s reached the playoffs in each of the last
two years, the Yankees are clearly close. That only makes the expectations
bigger. So, how does New York get to and win the World Series? Striking out
less would be a good start. The strikeout is less stigmatized now than it’s
been in previous eras, but the fact remains: Teams that win in October are ones
that put the ball in play. Case in point, the Boston Red Sox struck out 1,253
times in 2018. Only four teams struck out less.
Now, there is precedent for a team striking out less without
making wholesale changes. Prior to ascending to MLB’s elite, the Houston Astros
were striking out at record rates. They eventually cut those down and won a
World Series in 2017. The Yankees will have to do the same if they’re going to
win it all in 2019.
ATLANTA BRAVES:
CUT DOWN ON THE WALKS
While the season ended with a disappointing NLDS loss, 2018
was a smashing success for the Braves, who won the NL East. One drawback was
how often Atlanta pitchers walked hitters. Only the Chicago White Sox — a
100-loss team — offered more free passes in 2018. That’s not exactly good
company for a World Series contender to keep.
There’s a lot to like about Atlanta. The 2018 season felt
like the beginning of what could be a nice, long run of success for the Braves.
But especially in a time when teams are hitting home runs at record rates,
pitchers must keep hitters off base as much as they can. That means that walks
must be minimized.
CLEVELAND INDIANS:
TAKE COREY KLUBER OFF THE BLOCK
We’ll give the Indians credit for this. While Kluber is on the block, they’re clearly not giving him away. That’s a good start. But as the
calendar turns to 2019, Cleveland needs to take the next step and hang on to
him. We’d understand a Kluber trade a little more if the American League
Central was in better shape. While this is subject to change, it’s awfully hard to see any of the
Indians division rivals competing with them over 162 games. Cleveland’s goal
should be all about getting to and winning the World Series. That won’t happen
in 2019 without Kluber on the roster.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS:
LAND AN ACE
Milwaukee is similar to Oakland. The difference is that
while the A’s need general starting rotation help, the Brewers have a
relatively deep staff. What they need is a true top guy. If Cleveland really is
serious about trading Kluber and/or Trevor Bauer, Milwaukee should be
beating down the doors. The New York Mets probably have too much invested into
competing in 2019 to trade Jacob deGrom. But Noah Syndergaard seems to loom as an option. Other potential options
include San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner or Arizona Diamondbacks No.
1, Zack Grienke.
It’s tricky. Small market teams tend to compete by stocking
up a good farm system. These trades would definitely cut into what the Brewers
have built. On the other hand, Milwaukee has a team that was nearly in the
World Series in 2018 and will start 2019 on a short list of favorites — at
least in the NL. The Brewers owe it to themselves to make the most of this
current opportunity.
HOUSTON ASTROS:
BRING J.T. REALMUTO TO SPACE CITY
A look at Houston’s roster doesn’t show many weaknesses. One
potential issue is the catcher position. The current options are Robinson
Chirinos (.222/.338/.419, 18 home runs in 2018) and Max Stassi (.226/.316/.394,
eight home runs in 2018). In truth, you can do worse from the catcher’s spot
and offense isn’t everything at that position. With that understood, J.T.
Realmuto (.277/.340/.484, 21 home runs in 2018) would be a sizable upgrade over
both.
The drawback is that Realmuto is slated to be a free agent
after the 2020 season. But many of the key Astros have similar timelines. We’re
not going to say that Houston should just ignore the future beyond 2020. But
extending the championship window beyond then will be tough. The goal now should
be making the most out of the next two years. Landing a star catcher like
Realmuto would be a huge step towards doing that.
LOS
ANGELES DODGERS: BUILD A BULLPEN AND KEEP BUILDING
Clayton Kershaw has received a good deal of blame for Los
Angeles’ postseason struggles. Some of it was fair, some of it wasn’t. But with
Walker Buehler slated to spend a full season in the majors, the Dodgers have a
solid starting rotation behind Kershaw. Another star, closer Kenley Jansen,
took his lumps in both the 2017 and 2018 World
Series. But the reality is that Los Angeles’ bullpen in front of
Jansen has been the consistent issue.
The Dodgers need to revamp the bullpen. When they think
they’ve added enough quality relievers, they need to add at least one more.
It’s physically impossible for a World Series contender to have too many good
relief pitchers. A shaky bullpen has been a primary culprit in Los Angeles
winning no championships despite winning the NL West in each of the last six
years. That can’t happen to the Dodgers again in 2019. If it does, it can’t be
for a lack of effort.
BOSTON RED
SOX: GO FOR THE THROAT
Houston followed a World Series win in 2017 by adding Gerrit
Cole to an already formidable starting rotation. While the Astros didn’t
repeat, they did make the ALCS, winning 103 regular season games in the
process. Boston must have the same mindset. Why not add an ace to slot right
behind Chris Sale? Heck, why not add another MVP candidate to have in the
lineup with Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez? Baseball isn’t as conducive to
super teams as other sports. But there’s no harm in trying.
The Red Sox won 108 regular season games and went 11-3 in
the playoffs en route to a World Series win. Teams like that don’t generally
have many flaws. Now, make no mistake, we’re not saying that Boston shouldn’t
try to improve its biggest weakness, which is the bullpen. But it shouldn’t be
confining the offseason to just that. Most teams are already well behind the
Red Sox. Boston might as well make that gap even greater.
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