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All of the beat writers at MLB.com are weighing in on their teams’ offseason strategies. We’ve summarized each writer’s comments in this giant update.
- Carrie Muskat breaks down the Chicago Cubs game plan for the Hot Stove season. The team has a new hitting coach, and will likely soon be soon divorced from Milton Bradley, who has more than worn out his stay in Chicago. The team’s big stumbling block this offseason is its already huge payroll, which could hinder its plans to make any big acquisitions, so the Cubbies may focus on trades.
- Marty Noble writes that Mets GM Omar Minaya will need to exercise patience at the upcoming Winter Meetings. The Mets needs include a power-hitting left fielder, a starting pitcher, an everyday catcher, and a set-up man.
- Doug Miller reports that that the Mariners’ payroll flexibility could lead to the club being very active at the Winter Meetings. With several trade candidates and free agents (most notably infielder Adrian Beltre) potentially coming off the books, Seattle’s needs and wants could change rapidly during the course of the offseason.
- Ian Browne contends that the Red Sox’ offseason will center around filling the team’s gaping hole at shortstop. Other needs include either bringing back Jason Bay or replacing him (possibly with Matt Holliday), and even finding a permanent first baseman (Adrian Gonzalez, perhaps).
- Mark Bowman writes that the Braves will spend this offseason looking to move one of its top two pitchers, Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez. Lowe is due $45 million over the next three years, so he’s the obvious choice to be moved, but that may prove much easier said than done. If they’re able to free up some salary by doing so, the team will likely look to grab some help in the outfield, at first base, and in the bullpen.
- Todd Zolecki reports that the Phillies offseason needs center around third base and their bullpen. At third, the top options appear to be Adrian Beltre, Placido Polanco, and Mark DeRosa, but GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says the team would like to maintain payroll flexibility. That likely means no huge-name acquisitions for the Phillies this offseason.
- Jason Beck writes that the Tigers may or look to shed huge amounts of payroll this winter. GM Dave Dombrowski admits the team will have “a lot of talks” at next week’s Winter Meetings. The Tigers have multiple albatross contracts on the books for 2010 (Magglio Ordonez at $18 million — ouch!), so no one would be surprised if the club winds up looking a lot different in 2010 than it did in 2009.
- Adam McCalvy reports that, like many other teams, the Brewers will focus on pitching at the Winter Meetings. However, the club also needs some help in its middle infield, after trading J.J. Hardy and promoting still-unproven prospect Alcides Escobar to the starting shortstop role.
- Brian McTaggart contends that the Astros will focus on its bullpen this winter, but may not have the financial flexibility to make big improvements. Its main priorities lie in re-signing free agent closer Jose Valverde and reliever LaTroy Hawkins, as well as bolstering the rest of the back-end of its bullpen. If either Valverde or Hawkins leave for another club, the Astros would have an even bigger hole to fill in the ‘pen.
- Joe Frisaro writes that the Marlins will need to shed some serious payroll this offseason in order to maintain its paltry 2009 level of just $36 million. At the center of trade talks is second baseman Dan Uggla, who has already drawn considerable interest from several teams. Jorge Cantu could also provide nice trade bait, but the club is leaning more toward re-signing him, according to reports.
