If the winter is a time for goals, the spring is a time for options. Your staff could have been going after Juan Soto or Aaron Decide or Shohei Ohtani, relying on the offseason, however in need of one thing going bizarre in free company (just like the unsigned Boras shoppers final yr), when you don’t have them underneath contract at this level, they’ll be enhancing another person’s membership. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply that spring coaching is barely about ramping up for the day by day grind. Groups have actual wants to handle, and whereas they’re little question workshopping their very own options – or presumably convincing themselves that the issue doesn’t exist, like after I surprise why my acid reflux disorder is terrible after some spicy meals – that doesn’t imply that we are able to’t prepare dinner up some concepts within the FanGraphs check kitchen.
That is the second piece in a three-part collection through which I’ll suggest a method for every staff to fill a roster gap or enhance for future seasons. A few of my options usually tend to occur than others, however I attempted to say away from the utterly implausible ones. We’ll go away the hypothetical trades for Bobby Witt Jr. and Paul Skenes to WFAN callers. Additionally, I cannot suggest the identical repair for various groups; in actual life, for instance, David Robertson will help just one membership’s bullpen. Right now, we’ll cowl the ten groups within the Central divisions, starting with the 5 within the AL Central earlier than transferring on to their counterparts within the NL Central. Every division is sorted by the present Depth Charts projected win totals.
Minnesota Twins: Take Mickey Gasper severely
Confronted with massive questions at first base, the Twins made simply concerning the least attention-grabbing transfer attainable, signing Ty France to an inexpensive one-year deal. Over the past two seasons, France has put up 0.4 WAR in 1,200 plate appearances, however Minnesota appears content material to run him on the market in at the least a timeshare with Jose Miranda. As a substitute, what the Twins ought to do is let Mickey Gasper take nearly all of the taking part in time at first in opposition to righties, with Miranda getting the nod in opposition to lefties. In fact, the Twins in all probability received’t eliminate France after signing him to a assured deal, however Gasper provides positional flexibility and must be on the roster anyway. Along with first base, he additionally has expertise at second, third and catcher. Whereas within the minors with the Crimson Sox final yr, Gasper posted a 165 wRC+ throughout 380 plate appearances, with a 179 mark over his 204 PA at Triple-A. These numbers are greater than adequate for him to deserve an opportunity within the majors.
Detroit Tigers: Do one thing bizarre with Javier Báez
If not for his wage, Javier Báez in all probability wouldn’t be assured a spot on this roster primarily based on his manufacturing over the past two seasons. I believe his incapability to make contact is right here to remain, so the Tigers are going to must take him for what he’s now as a substitute of the participant they thought they had been signing three offseasons in the past. At this level, he’s nothing greater than a short-side platoon accomplice for shortstop Trey Sweeney, but when he’s going to be on the roster anyway, the Tigers would possibly as properly strive some issues with him. Why not get bizarre and provides him some bullpen innings this spring? Báez has at all times had a powerful arm, so if he’s down with the thought, possibly that is one other method to justify his presence on the roster. In spite of everything, that two-way participant designation is a factor now! Positive, it’s unlikely that Báez would transition right into a usable reduction pitcher at age 32, however the staff doesn’t have a lot to lose right here. On the very least, Detroit ought to give Báez reps in a super-utility function, however I like dreaming massive, or at the least dreaming odd. I’ve at all times felt spring coaching was the time for groups to embrace their bizarre impulses as a result of it’s the one time they’ll really experiment with their main league roster.
Kansas Metropolis Royals: Give Drew Waters a good shake at a beginning nook outfield job
The Royals missed a chance to improve their nook outfield positions this winter, however that doesn’t imply they need to run it again with the group they’d final yr. Drew Waters actually didn’t excel with a semi-regular function for an extended stretch in 2023, however his wRC+ of 81 that yr wasn’t a lot totally different from the 85 mark that MJ Melendez posted in 2024, and Melendez’s tough line got here in 3 times as many plate appearances. Possibly Melendez has extra offensive upside, however that isn’t sufficient of a cause for Kansas Metropolis to maintain operating him on the market in left area, the place he’s a defensive legal responsibility. Waters is the extra well-rounded participant, and even when he doesn’t enhance on the plate, his defensive worth ought to make up for at the least a few of his lack of offense. Furthermore, each gamers are 26, so this isn’t an age-related factor. Enjoying Waters in left doesn’t imply the Royals ought to hand over on Melendez altogether; there’ll nonetheless be alternatives to get him plate appearances with out having him put on a leather-based glove.
Cleveland Guardians: Stretch out a reliever for brief begins
The Guardians look to have a terrific, deep, thrilling bullpen, however the rotation doesn’t have that very same rizz. Am I utilizing that phrase proper, fellow children? I talked extra about starter-reliever ambiguity with the Orioles in the primary a part of this collection, however it’s related right here for Cleveland, too. Triston McKenzie isn’t any certain factor, and Shane Bieber isn’t seemingly returning till midseason, so one other starter could be a pleasant factor to have. For the reason that Guardians don’t wish to spend cash, I received’t give them one of many remaining inning-eaters nonetheless accessible in free company. As a substitute, I’ll pitch the thought of stretching out one among their relievers to start out some four-inning specials. The deep bullpen offers them each the chance to lose somebody and canopy for a starter with a light-weight workload, even by 2025 requirements. Hunter Gaddis broke out within the bullpen in 2024, however he was one among their least dominant relievers when it comes to punching out batters. Gaddis isn’t precisely a failed starter, as a result of he hasn’t gotten sufficient run in that function, however he has refined his strategy and grow to be a greater pitcher throughout his time within the bullpen. He’s now throwing extra first-pitch strikes than he ever did within the minors. If he can preserve that up, he’ll in all probability be the staff’s best choice for this starter-lite function.
Chicago White Sox: Embrace riskiness on offense
The White Sox haven’t any hope of creating a playoff run, so that they don’t have anything to lose by taking probabilities with their roster. And proper now, their lineup is stuffed with veteran function gamers who don’t provide them a lot future worth. Guys like Mike Tauchman, Michael A. Taylor, Austin Slater, Andrew Benintendi, and Joey Gallo received’t be round by the point this staff is able to contend once more, and Chicago in all probability received’t have the ability to flip them for a lot on the commerce deadline. So what’s the purpose in giving them common taking part in time? As a substitute, the White Sox must be chasing upside proper now, even when that upside comes with danger.
At this level within the offseason, the Pale Hose received’t discover high-upside hitters on the free agent market, however they’ve loads of them of their farm system. Actually, the White Sox must be extraordinarily aggressive with their prospects and non-prospect minor leaguers this spring, and provides them as many alternatives as attainable to grab a beginning spot away from the veterans. Let Chase Meidroth push Lenyn Sosa; provide Bryan Ramos each probability to knock Miguel Vargas completely off the new nook. Even less-heralded guys like Cal Mitchell, Andre Lipcius, or the lately outrighted Zach DeLoach have a greater probability of sooner or later contributing to a great White Sox staff than Benintendi or Slater do.
Chicago Cubs: Discover a commerce for Germán Márquez
ZiPS is very optimistic concerning the Cubs getting into 2025, however that’s largely because of a really bullish outlook on the bullpen, somewhat than an excessive amount of sunshine radiating over the pitching workers. The Cubs really feel like a staff that might use yet one more beginning pitcher, with our Depth Charts having them simply forward of the Cardinals for the worst projected rotation within the NL Central, and ZiPS liking them solely barely higher.
My inclination right here was to impact a reunion with Marcus Stroman, however the Luis Gil harm appears to have put the kibosh on that. With that not an choice, I’d like to see the Cubs swing a cope with the Rockies for Germán Márquez. A respectable Cy Younger contender at one level, Márquez has seen his final two seasons roughly worn out because of elbow issues. Which means there’s actual danger, however as Michael Baumann wrote final week, Márquez’s velocity is again, and there’s an excessive amount of upside right here if he’s wholesome, much like Jack Flaherty getting into 2024. If there’s room for Márquez to make his arduous sinker a bigger a part of his recreation, there are few higher locations to permit some additional grounders than in entrance of Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson.
Milwaukee Brewers: Commerce with the Nats for Andrés Chaparro
The Brewers love low-key additions, and one participant who fascinates me for the time being is Andrés Chaparro, a former “sorta” prospect with the Yankees and Nationals. He destroyed Triple-A pitching final yr, however Washington’s additions of Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell complicate his path to taking part in time. The Brewers already had Rhys Hoskins after they signed Mark Canha this offseason, that means it could be powerful for Chaparro to make the Opening Day roster as a primary baseman, however on the very least he could be an attention-grabbing Triple-A stash. ZiPS might be overrating Chaparro in projecting him to be an enough defender at third base, however the probabilistic location-based system that ZiPS makes use of for minor leaguers thought he took a giant step ahead final yr, and this technique regularly spots some surprisingly stable fielders. I don’t suppose the Nats would ask for a lot in return, and Milwaukee must be including anybody who might at the least theoretically play third base, particularly now that the staff seems to have soured on Tyler Black on the place.
St. Louis Cardinals: Begin speaking about non-Arenado trades
The Cardinals are coming off one of many quietest offseasons I ever bear in mind from them, with almost all their effort this winter going towards a Nolan Arenado commerce that hasn’t materialized. St. Louis appears to have accepted that Arenado will probably be its beginning third baseman come Opening Day, however that doesn’t imply the staff ought to flip off its telephone. There are different trades to make. Free company has few treasures remaining, and I’d argue that this can be a vendor’s market. Solely handful of groups lack a practical shot on the postseason in 2025, and I’d argue that the Cardinals must be thought-about amongst that group, even when the playoff odds say in any other case. Put it this manner: In the event that they had been really decided to contend this yr, they’d’ve made extra of an effort this winter to enhance their roster. Sonny Grey and Brendan Donovan are gamers that contending golf equipment would in all probability be keen to accumulate in the event that they had been accessible.
Cincinnati Reds: Speak megadeal with Elly De La Cruz
The Reds have mainly no long-term contracts bogging down their payroll, as Hunter Greene is the one participant with a assured deal previous 2026. They haven’t made a splash in free company to bolster their roster of low cost expertise, however as a substitute of pocketing that cash saved, they need to make investments it of their spectacular shortstop to verify they’ll preserve his utter awesomeness round for the 10-15 years. Sure, Elly De La Cruz is a Scott Boras shopper, and Boras shoppers have a tendency to not signal extensions, however that doesn’t imply the Reds shouldn’t attempt to work out a deal, particularly now when his free company is a great distance off.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Launch Andrew McCutchen
There’s nothing mistaken with saying goodbye when it’s time. It was enjoyable to see Andrew McCutchen again in Pittsburgh and be reminded of what an exquisite participant he was from 2009 to 2015, adequate that I’ll must ponder someday within the early 2030s whether or not his peak was sufficient to make my Corridor of Fame poll. However the determination to re-sign him for $5 million for 2025 was a horrible one as a result of utilizing the DH spot for a no-upside 38-year-old with no defensive worth is a waste of assets. I believe the Pirates are much better off utilizing these plate appearances to provide Jack Suwinski a clearer bounce-back probability or to function a pleasant residence for Henry Davis sooner or later this season in the event that they haven’t already given up on him. No, the Pirates received’t truly do that, however they actually ought to. The $5 million is gone it doesn’t matter what, and the Pirates are a staff that truly might make the playoffs if they’d a greater lineup.