Some say that the run to the championship begins on Opening Day, but the new baseball season has already begun. The very next day after the Kansas City Royals were crowned once more, MLB executives across the league must have been busy summoning every personnel on the management team, all for a chance to capture the glory enjoyed by the 2015 Royals.
Realistically, for a few teams, the offseason decisions will not be made to bring home a championship in 2016. Like every season, Opening Day will see some teams positioned as frontrunners, and others as rebuilding franchises. Throughout the season, underdogs and dark horses will emerge, completing the blueprint of our favourite sports league.
While nothing is certain in the MLB, one saying is almost always applicable to this competitive league: “If you are not taking a step forward, you are taking a step back.” For that reason, general managers of all 30 MLB teams will be acquainted with their phones for the next few months, strategizing with the team and executing his (or her) vision for years to come.
Whether it is re-signing a player, exercising or declining a club option, issuing minor league contracts, making impactful trades, or pursuing the free agents searching for a new home, management must now earn their money. One bad move could result in a bad season, the firing of executives, or even the loss of franchise players and fan support for the team.
Here, we analyze the biggest decisions each general manager of a certain division must make in order to come out on top. In honour of the victorious Royals, we will begin with the American League Central Division.
- Detroit Tigers (GM: Al Avila)
While the winter is the proving ground for all general managers, Al Avila may have more to prove. As the first Cuban-born general manager in the history of the league, and in his very first season, Avila has blazed the trail that his successors will one day follow. However, Avila has his work cut out for him.
With one of the most promising starting rotations over the past few seasons, featuring the likes of Doug Fister, Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer, Drew Smyly, Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, and David Price, the Tigers have somehow performed worse every year following the World Series sweep at the hands of the 2012 Giants. After losing to the Red Sox in the ALCS in 2013, they were swept by the Orioles in the ALDS in 2014. This season, the Tigers have stumbled to a pitiful 74-87 record, second-last in the Junior Circuit, just ahead of the 68-94 Athletics.
Former general manager Dave Dombrowski was fired, and manager Brad Ausmus narrowly avoided the chopping block. With Miguel Cabrera, arguably the best hitter in the game today, turning 33 years old just two weeks after Opening Day 2016, the time is running out for the Tigers to make a run for the trophy.
There is nothing harder than being at the helm of a struggling team that is not rebuilding. The Tigers have their fair share of talent, and has been positioned to compete in the playoffs, yet they were simply mediocre on their best day this season.
For Avila, it all begins with the bullpen.
In 2015, the Tigers’ bullpen had an embarrassing 4.38 ERA, good for 27th in the Majors. Detroit’s 35 saves (25th in the Majors), 25 blown saves (3rd in the Majors), and 58.33% in save percentage (29th in the Majors) show why the Tigers were 13 games under .500. As it stands, Neftalí Feliz may very well be the frontrunner for the closer position.
Feliz used to be a tremendous closer, for those who fondly recall his 2010 All-Star Rookie of the Year campaign, in which he set the MLB record for the most saves by a rookie in a single season, at 40. However, his career went downhill after giving up the crucial 2-run triple to David Freese in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, being mistakenly transitioned into a starter and suffering multiple injuries over the past three seasons.
Supporting a fragile Feliz is a whole cast of pitchers who should really be in Triple-A. Unproven youngsters who have been hammered by sluggers this season will not help change the Tigers’ situation. Thus, Avila must attract some of the top relievers on the market this offseason.
With a submariner in Darren O’Day and a dazzling power pitcher in Mark Lowe, the Tigers should be able to attract notable relievers with the talent that they boast. Also, Detroit has never been one to shy away from spending big, and that should be tempting for many of the relievers who are looking for a big payday after a standout season.
If the Tigers can sign one more Cy Young-calibre starter, with Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander pitching their vision for a championship dynasty during the meeting, Detroit may very well position themselves to be one of the early favourites for a playoff spot come October 2016.
- Chicago White Sox (GM: Rick Hahn)
One of the charter franchises of the league, the White Sox have had their fair share of ups and downs over the past decade. From the incredible 2005 World Series team that featured Jermaine Dye, A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Crede, Paul Konerko, and Mark Buehrle, to the 63-99 record compiled in the 2013 season, Chicago’s worst record in 43 years, the White Sox have seen it all.
However, their current predicament may be more of a challenge than the franchise has ever witnessed before. The American League Central Division has grown drastically over the past few years, with the Kansas City Royals sitting atop the division by 12 games this season. The White Sox have not made the postseason since 2008, when they won a tiebreaker elimination game against the Minnesota Twins. Ever since, the rival teams have battled for the top spot, with Chicago reluctantly embracing its role as a mere accessory to the playoff race.
Finishing with a 76-86 record in 2015, 10 full games under .500, the Southsiders’ biggest weakness has been their offense. Scoring a mere 622 runs this season (28th in the Majors) and mashing just 136 homers (tied for 26th in the Majors), the White Sox need to find a way to win more games. Since it seems unlikely that the “Hitless Wonders” of 1906 can be replicated by the storied franchise, Chicago must evolve with the modern era of baseball, which has revolved around stunning offense.
Aside from José Abreu, who hit 30 home runs and drove in 101 runs, not a single player on the White Sox roster had more than 14 round-trippers (Adam Eaton) and 77 RBIs (Melky Cabrera). If the White Sox should be praised for any single achievement for the 2015 season, it must be their ability to win 76 games with that kind of offensive numbers.
Justin Upton may very well be the perfect fit for the White Sox. Having played in the National League for the entirety of his 9-year career, Upton may see his numbers go up if he transfers to the Junior Circuit. Chicago lacks power in the outfield as well, which is a big problem considering that some of the best power hitters in the league are outfielders. The White Sox will have to add a big outfield bat to compete with some of the other teams, and Upton will add just that.
At second base, the White Sox could make an upgrade with the signing of Daniel Murphy or Howie Kendrick, two players who have some power but great batting averages over their respective careers. Young Carlos Sanchez may have a lot of potential as he adapts to the MLB, but as it stands right now, the White Sox can use some immediate offense to help win a few more games.
Finally, Chicago should search for a third baseman who has a lot of power and respectable defensive abilities at the hot corner. The difficulty in accomplishing this task, however, stems from a very weak free agent market for third basemen, with David Freese likely the hottest free agent at the position. If GM Rick Hahn can pull off an impossible trade akin to the Jays’ deal that brought Josh Donaldson to the Great White North just a year ago, the White Sox may be able to give the defending champions a run for their money.
- Cleveland Indians (GM: Chris Antonetti)
Out of the four AL Central teams that did not qualify for the playoffs in 2015, the Indians are in the best position to snag a Wild Card berth in 2016. The influx of youngsters, such as Francisco Lindor and Cody Anderson, along with solid starters, like Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, will only propel the team forward from here.
GM Chris Antonetti could make a couple of moves this offseason to accelerate the growth of the team. Similar to the Chicago White Sox, the Indians desperately need a good third baseman to replace Giovanny Urshela, who is young and inexperienced, although his defensive prowess may need to be sacrificed if a new player is brought in at the position.
From there, a power slugger could be brought in to serve as the designated hitter. Ryan Raburn has put the bat to the ball many times during the season, hitting at a clip of .301 in 82 games, but with a big market of aging sluggers, the Indians can give free agents the luxury of being taken off the field, thus extending their careers.
Antonetti’s last task before Opening Day 2016 should be to pursue a solid starter. Unlike many teams in the league right now, Cleveland does not need to spend aggressively and sign an ace, as they already have one in Corey Kluber. Instead, the Indians should look for a veteran workhorse or a solid number three starter who can deliver consistency and allow better management of the bullpen. Mark Buehrle and Doug Fister come to mind, as they can both be signed with a team-friendly contract.
If Antonetti can execute and bring together a team with solid pitching and respectable offense, the Cleveland Indians may very well be the team to beat in the AL Central for years to come.
- Minnesota Twins (GM: Terry Ryan)
If MLB had an award for the most improved team, the Minnesota Twins would undoubtedly be on the short list of frontrunners for that award. Averaging just 66 wins in each of the past four seasons, the Twins shocked the world by winning games despite mediocre batting and pitching. For the majority of the season, the Twins were in the race for the second Wild Card spot, faltering in the home stretch when the Astros and the Angels dominated. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs again, the Twins won 83 games and compiled a record above .500 for the first time since their division title in 2010.
Much of the improvement has been accredited to rookie manager Paul Molitor, and rightfully so. After all, the quiet 2014 offseason for the Twins only featured the signing of a 39-year-old homecoming Torii Hunter. To take the same roster that won just 70 games the year prior, and compete honourably for a playoff berth for much of the season, is a job well done by Molitor.
However, Terry Ryan must now build upon the success of the 2015 Twins, and the unexpected momentum generated by these underdogs. Molitor’s management will only get better from here, as he gains experience in the dugout and earns the respect of his players. Similarly, rookie sensations Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton have demonstrated flashes of their hyped brilliance, and will almost certainly take the league by storm in 2016.
Ryan will have to focus on his pitching staff if he seeks to make the greatest improvements with the fewest transactions. Minnesota ranked 8th in the American League in starter ERA (4.14) and 10th in reliever ERA (3.95), and lost 17 one-run games and 12 two-run games in 2015. With a stronger starting rotation, perhaps with the inclusion of Jeff Samardzija, Mike Leake, John Lackey, or Marco Estrada, the Twins could grind their way to a few more victories.
In the bullpen, Glen Perkins and Kevin Jepsen show great promise for the closer role (which could even be platooned). As such, the missing piece of the puzzle for the Twins remains a reliable setup man who can bridge the gap between the starter and the closer. Tyler Clippard and Ryan Madson fit the bill, and could help the Twins become instant contenders.
- Kansas City Royals (GM: Dayton Moore)
Yes, even the favourites to win the 2016 World Series can improve upon their recent success and become a more formidable team. Imagine that, a Royals team fortified further through the offseason.
First, GM Dayton Moore will have to handle his own free agents. The Royals currently have nine players in free agency, with key World Series pieces such as Ben Zobrist, Alex Gordon, Chris Young, Ryan Madson, Alex Rios, and Johnny Cueto all up for grabs. If Moore lets these key players walk away and offer their services elsewhere, he will have an angry fan base to respond to.
The Royals showed an excellent blend of starting pitching and bullpen relief throughout the 2015 season, which was strengthened by the addition of Johnny Cueto at the trade deadline. Having tasted the champagne showers that accompany a World Series championship, many of the Royals’ free agent should be tempted to remain with the club, and Moore should have few problems en route to securing team-friendly contracts with the free agents.
However, the situation concerning Johnny Cueto is a bit more curious. For his value, Johnny Cueto did not perform as well as the team would have hoped. Sure, Cueto came through when it mattered most, pitching a one-run, two-hit complete game in Game 2 of the World Series, but if Cueto delivers consecutive rough outings during the regular season like he did after the trade deadline, the Royals may not necessarily want to bring him back. With the same contract, Kansas City could offer it to David Price or Zack Greinke instead, enlisting the help of a perennial Cy Young award contender in the process.
On the field, away from the mound, no significant upgrades need to be made. The Royals have figured out – and mastered – their own success formula to the game of baseball, opting to play small ball with speed, defense, and guts, and each player at every position has played cohesively with one another to deliver one of the strongest World Series teams in recent memory.
The 2015 World Champions were fun to watch, and if the team stays together for a few more years, we may be looking at a new dynasty in baseball – the Royal Era.