These 10 teams would dictate the free market

Which club will be daring enough to “win the winter”?

For many, that is quite a difficult title – one that is very often not rewarded either in the summer or in the fall. But one of the deepest litters of free agents in recent years deserves a group of teams that seem ready to fall for the better alternatives.

That will be seen in this offseason. Not only are there powers with large gaps to fill, but a good number of teams that were not protagonists in 2021 that have clearly expressed their intention to think big in winter.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement will probably need to be clarified first before the market starts to move. However, here we point out 10 teams that would be involved in the biggest moves.

1. Sailors
Between the big strides they made in a surprising 2021, the long postseason drought that began in 2001, and a relatively underinvested roster, the Seattle squad is an obvious candidate to be one of the most aggressive of the season. dead.

“We have budget flexibility, and we will use it to improve the team,” Mariners CEO Jerry Dipoto said.

Seattle would be targeting an impact bat and several starters. He will have to find the best way to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Kyle Seager, whose $ 20 million option was rejected.

2. Giants
San Francisco reestablished themselves as a powerhouse with 107 wins in 2021, and they have the financial strength to be so in free agency as well. They have a mere $ 48 million invested in six players in 2022. And while retaining their own free agents (Kris Bryant, Brandon Belt, Kevin Gausman, and Anthony DeSclafani) would be excellent moves, the Giants are in a position to impact the free agent market. starting pitching, which is his highest priority.

3. Yankees
A disappointment campaign in 2021 and a 12-year drought without a World Series title has the Bombers looking for a more athletic club that will keep up all season. The whole of the Bronx did not have to pay the luxury tax in 2021, so it will be ready to exceed the limit in 2022 (of course, depending on the Collective Bargaining Agreement). With Gleyber Torres moving to middleweight later this season, the Yankees are shaping up to look for one of the high-profile shortstops on the market, and that’s one reason they have them on this list. But they would also be looking to reinforce pitching and possibly catch it.

4. Dodgers
Los Angeles will be very busy. He has 13 free agents, and Corey Seager, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Chris Taylor are among those who stand out. That’s why renewing or replacing those figures qualifies as a great activity (the Dodgers already opened the market by signing starter Andrew Heaney for a year and $ 8.5 million). It’s an interesting crossroads for a steady powerhouse that still boasts multiple stars and depth, but you’ll need to determine if they’ll pay for stability to help them search for another title.

5. Mets
Whoever is chosen to lead the management for the second winter of the owner Steve Cohen era appears to have the financial resources at his disposal to improve a team that did not meet expectations in 2021. Rotation will be one of the focuses behind the injuries that hit ace Jacob deGrom and Venezuelan right-hander Carlos Carrasco. The prairies and the anteroom will also be gaps for New York to fill, which would make Kris Bryant one of the biggest focuses. Bottom line: It’s about the Mets. Then things will be quite interesting.

6. Rangers
President of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels has used the phrase “active and aggressive” to describe Texas’ plans this offseason, and that’s what fans want to hear after watching his team hit .369 in wins. and lost during the last two seasons. The Rangers have openings all over the field, which would make them one of the “mystery teams” looking to add high-profile free agents.

7. Tigers
Not much was expected of the Felines in 2021, and although they finished with 77 wins, they are in the rebuilding stage where their valued prospects are ready to contribute to the big team. Detroit is seen as one of the teams that would seek out a big-name shortstop, but they also have plenty of opportunity to add to the rotation and catching. In general, this winter would be similar to the one we saw before the 2004 season, when the Tigres showed they were ready for a turnaround and began what was a series of successes with the hiring of Puerto Rican catcher Iván Rodríguez.

8. Tiles
With AL Cy Young finalist Robbie Rays and MVP finalist Marcus Semien now free agents, Toronto has huge holes to fill in the rotation and infield. Team president Mark Shapiro has indicated that his squad intends to invest more in 2022, and it seems to be the ideal time to bet everything behind a young core that looks ready to be in the fight for the AL East.

9. Angels
Here’s a very obvious story: The Angels need pitching. They have needed it for several years now. It is the bridge that still needs to be built to help Mike Trout (and now Shohei Ohtani) make it to October, and Los Angeles-Anaheim will again have to move urgently to do so. It will be a challenge to solve those questions despite the huge contracts of Trout and Anthony Rendón (also considering Ohtani’s arbitration in 2023 and his possible free agency in 2024), but the Angels cannot be ruled out as one of the teams looking for the best arms on the market.

10. Cubs
No team dismantled as much in 2021 as North Chicago’s, which shed nine players, including several of the core members who helped win the 2016 World Series. But it wouldn’t be the kind of rebuilding that would keep the teams going. Cubs out of contention for several years. President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer has expressed new economic flexibility to build a competitive club in 2022, and that would mean adding chips in the rotation and on shortstop. What remains to be seen is whether Chicago will look to invest in the sought-after free agents or make more discreet moves.