Time for a change
Five MLB teams could have a decidedly different look in 2017,
Even before the turkey’s in the oven, several baseball teams have hinted at an offseason reshuffling that might significantly change their roster composition for next year. Here are five clubs that could be on the verge of a remake and a look at which direction they are headed:
Detroit Tigers
General manager Al Avila has made it clear the Tigers are seeking to trim payroll and add young talent with an eye on the future. Detroit is loaded with established veterans and their burdensome contracts, presenting both challenges and opportunities for Avila.
On the plus side, outfielder J.D. Martinez, 29, and second baseman Ian Kinsler, 34, have considerable value without long-term financial commitments. They’re both coming off seasons in which they registered an on-base-plusslugging percentage well north of .800, and the team’s obligation to them extends only through 2017.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is right-hander Anibal Sanchez, whose career has cratered but who is owed $21 million next year (including a buyout of his 2018 option). He’s virtually immovable unless Detroit packages his contract with a more valuable player.
Here’s where things get interesting. The Tigers have a number of productive players with monster contracts whose market value Avila needs to gauge. How much can he get for Miguel Cabrera, considering the two-time MVP is still an elite-level run pro- ducer but is owed $220 million over the next seven seasons and will turn 34 in April?
Justin Verlander might have been the best starter in the AL last season, but he’s due to make $28 million in each of the next three years and turns 34 in February. What can he fetch?
Is there a market for DH Victor Martinez, who turns 38 in December but hit 27 homers and drove in 86 runs last season? He has $36 million coming the next two years. And do the Tigers have a choice but to hope for better seasons from Justin Upton (owed $110 million) and Jordan Zimmermann (due $92 million)?
Accepting the inevitability of a rebuilding process is only the first step. Now the hard part begins for Detroit, which already traded outfielder Cameron Maybin after the best season of his career. Plenty of others likely will follow him out the door.
Chicago White Sox
Much like their Central Division rivals to the east, the White Sox have hung the “open for business” sign and let it be known their top stars are available in exchange for the right package of prospects. After four consecutive losing seasons and a managerial change, it only makes sense to shake things up.
The biggest name being dangled belongs to five-time All-Star Chris Sale, who is 27 and would cost a reasonable $38 million over the next three years. Just as appealing would be fellow lefty Jose Quintana, who had a slightly better ERA (3.20 to 3.34) and is under contract for the next four years at a total of $35.35 million.
Acquiring one of those high- quality starters might require more than an array of prospects. The interested party could also be saddled with the $22 million that Chicago still owes James Shields over the next two seasons.
The White Sox haven’t publicly committed to a full-scale rebuild, although comments by GM Rick Hahn this month seemed to point in that direction. Their intentions will be more obvious if they part with major pieces such as first baseman Jose Abreu or outfielder Adam Eaton. The likes of third baseman Todd Frazier, outfielder Melky Cabrera and reliever David Robertson can be had at a cheaper price.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The sheer number and quality of Dodgers players who have entered a weak free agent market almost guarantees that the four-time NL West champs will have a new look next season. And, of course, the question of Yasiel Puig ’s future adds further intrigue.
Some of the game’s top free agents — third baseman Justin Turner, closer Kenley Jansen and lefty starter Rich Hill — wore Dodger blue last season. So did outfielder Josh Reddick, who has agreed to a $52 million deal with the Houston Astros, and catcher Carlos Ruiz, who was traded to the Seattle Mariners on Nov. 7.
Los Angeles retains an everyday core of rookie of the year Corey Seager, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal and Joc Pederson, with Clayton Kershaw and Kenta Maeda anchoring the rotation.
Everything else is up for revising, especially an unsettled outfield that could use another potent hitter such as Ryan Braun. A trade of the Milwaukee Brewers slugger for Puig was discussed during the season and could be rekindled if the Dodgers commit to parting ways with their controversial outfielder.
They also figure to provide some chances for young starters such as Julio Urias and Jose De Leon to crack next season’s rotation.
Houston Astros
GM Jeff Luhnow has wasted no time in trying to reshape the lineup and clubhouse of a young team that staggered toward the end in the last two seasons, with losing records in the final monthplus each time.
The trade for respected catcher Brian McCann was designed to address some of those failings, and adding him and Reddick balances a batting order that leaned too much to the right side. Houston also brought in a veteran option to its disappointing rotation in Charlie Morton, who missed most of the 2016 season with a torn left hamstring.
The Astros would like to obtain another starter and address holes in one of the outfield spots and first base, as well as figuring out the best position for Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays insist that the addition of DH-first baseman Kendrys Morales will not preclude them from re-signing AL RBI leader Edwin Encarnacion, but it’s clear either he or Jose Bautista — likely both — won’t return. Outfielder Michael Saunders is a free agent as well, leaving lots of uncertainly in the lineup.
Toronto has some positionplayer anchors in 2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, but this might not be the fearsome slugging team of the past anymore.
A strong rotation featuring Aaron Sanchez, Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ and Marcus Stroman will be back next season and likely set the tone for the Blue Jays going forward.
They still need to address the bullpen, with Brett Cecil gone and Joaquin Benoit possibly on the way out, too.