2023 MLB Offseason Outlook
Tier 4: The Re-Toolers
With the 2022 season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward to 2023. The Astros took some pressure off of themselves with a World Series victory, but 29 other teams are tasked with figuring out how to be in Houston’s position next fall— or, in some cases, at some point down the road.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be taking a look at each team’s outlook for the coming offseason and beyond. This second installment focuses on six teams that may not be playoff contenders this season, but can shuffle some things around to set up a run in 2024.
24. Los Angeles Angels
Young core- Taylor Ward, Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak, Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers, José Suarez
Key veterans- Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon
Prospects knocking at the door- Logan O’Hoppe
Needs- shortstop, upside arms, bullpen help
Free agent targets- Dansby Swanson, Zach Eflin, Ross Stripling, Craig Kimbrel, Kenley Jansen
Trade targets- Tim Anderson
Trade pieces- Taylor Ward, Patrick Sandoval
40-man candidates- Jeremiah Jackson, Jordyn Adams
To have both Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani on your team and not even sniff the postseason is an abomination. But clearly this isn’t working, and odds are heavily against Ohtani signing an extension. Exploring a trade is an option, as is dusting off the checkbook to try to compete now, but Ohtani is a uniquely difficult player to trade, and the Angels are so far from putting out a contender this coming season. The most realistic scenario would see them hover around .500 yet again in 2023, planning to start anew around Trout and Anthony Rendon in 2024. To expedite that process, Perry Minasian could consider shipping out a pair of valuable, controllable pieces in Ward and Sandoval for Major League-ready prospects whose team control will align more with the Angels’ potential window.
23. Boston Red Sox
Young core- Triston Casas, Jeter Downs, Jarren Duran, Brayan Bello, Connor Seabold, Bryan Mata
Key veterans- Rafael Devers, Trevor Story, Alex Verdugo, Enrique Hernández, Chris Sale, Nick Pivetta
Prospects knocking at the door- Ronaldo Hernández
Needs- youth, veteran depth
Free agent targets- Xander Bogaerts, Robbie Grossman, J.D. Martinez, Carlos Santana, Nathan Eovaldi, Rich Hill
Trade targets- N/A
Trade pieces- Reese McGuire
40-man candidates- Enmanuel Valdez, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Gilberto Jimenez, Brandon Walter, Thad Ward, Wikelman Gonzalez
The Red Sox could go in one of two directions this offseason. First, they could sign Xander Bogaerts to a long-term deal, add some front-line pitching and make a play for the division. Or, given that the Yankees, Blue Jays and Rays are miles better at the moment, they could treat 2023 as a layover, allowing several Major League-ready prospects to take on a full-time role– most notably Ronaldo Hernandez, Triston Casas and Jeter Downs. Eovaldi and Hill seem likely to return alongside Sale and Pivetta, but Boston has a handful of young arms waiting for their shot at a spot in the rotation, as well.
Red Sox fans surely wouldn’t be thrilled with a quiet offseason, but as long as a Rafael Devers extension is agreed upon, this organization would be in a good position to go all in for 2024. It’s important to see what you have in the pipeline before spending money just to finish fourth in the AL East, anyway.
22. Milwaukee Brewers
Young core- Luis Urías, Keston Hiura, Garrett Mitchell, Aaron Ashby, Devin Williams
Key veterans- Christian Yelich, Willy Adames, Kolten Wong, Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer
Prospects knocking at the door- Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer
Needs- youth, catching depth, bullpen depth
Free agent targets- Mike Zunino, Matthew Boyd, Matt Strahm
Trade targets- Mitch Garver, Lucas Luetge
Trade pieces- N/A
40-man candidates- Brice Turang, Joey Wiemer, Tristen Lutz, Joe Gray Jr, Carlos Rodriguez, Cam Robinson
Milwaukee has its full rotation – one of the best in baseball when healthy – set in stone for the next two years. Burnes’ name has popped up in trade talks, but this team is not far from contention, and Cy Young candidates don’t grow on trees. Replenishing the typically-strong bullpen is important, but the Brewers’ future hinges on their incoming prospects. Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer and Brice Turang should join Garrett Mitchell on the Opening Day roster, or at least get the call soon thereafter. If that quartet proves to be impactful in 2023, Milwaukee should be able to compete for the coming years— it fell just short of a postseason berth in 2022. If not, a rebuild may be on the horizon, especially since the Brewers’ farm system depth is quite poor.
21. Minnesota Twins
Young core- Ryan Jeffers, Luis Arraez, Alex Kirilloff, Jose Miranda, Royce Lewis, Trevor Larnach, Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran
Key veterans- Jorge Polanco, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle, Kenta Maeda
Prospects knocking at the door- N/A
Needs- infield defense, pitching depth
Free agent targets- Carlos Correa, Kolten Wong, Justin Turner, José Iglesias, Omar Narvaez, Luis Severino, Noah Syndergaard, Mike Clevinger
Trade targets- Reese McGuire, Paul DeJong, Gleyber Torres, Ryan McMahon, Pablo López, Tarik Skubal
Trade pieces- N/A
40-man candidates- Andrew Bechtold, Edouard Julien, Matt Canterino
Minnesota saw its division title chances disappear down the stretch in 2022, and is certainly inferior to both Cleveland and Chicago as we look forward to the 2023 season. The Twins are not one or two splash moves away from being World Series contenders – especially since one splash move would be needed just to replace (or bring back) Carlos Correa – so it may not be wise to invest too heavily in the short-term future. By 2024, though, several of the team’s top prospects – including Royce Lewis, who will miss most of 2023 with a knee injury – will be ready to contribute. For now, Minnesota’s priority should be improving defensively and building depth in the rotation.
20. Chicago Cubs
Young core- Nico Hoerner, Nick Madrigal, Christopher Morel, Justin Steele, Hayden Wesneski, Keegan Thompson, Brandon Hughes, Manuel Rodriguez
Key veterans- Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Marcus Stroman
Prospects knocking at the door- Miguel Amaya, Matt Mervis, Brennen Davis, Caleb Kilian, Brailyn Marquez
Needs- controllable bats, mid-rotation arms, bullpen depth
Free agent targets- Willson Contreras, Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodón
Trade targets- Sean Murphy, Danny Jansen, Santiago Espinal, Evan White, Alek Thomas, Taylor Trammell, Frankie Montas, Germán Márquez, Clarke Schmidt, Nick Neidert
Trade pieces- Ian Happ
40-man candidates- Matt Mervis, Chase Strumpf, Brennen Davis, Kevin Alcantara, Ben Brown, Chris Clarke, Ryan Jensen
Chicago could decide to make a big splash or two, but a more realistic timeline should have them pushing in the chips next offseason, when many of its top prospects will be big league-ready, the contracts of Jason Heyward and Kyle Hendricks will be off the books, and Shohei Ohtani will be headlining a strong free agent class.
In the meantime, filling out the roster with controllable, young talent could go a long way. In order to do so, the Cubs will have to get some value for Ian Happ– something they failed to do with Willson Contreras. In a weak division, Chicago could be right up there with St. Louis before you know it— especially if Milwaukee tears it all down.
19. San Francisco Giants
Young core- Joey Bart, Mike Yastrzemski, Logan Webb, Camilo Doval
Key veterans- Brandon Crawford, Wilmer Flores, Alex Cobb, Alex Wood
Prospects knocking at the door- Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt, Sean Hjelle
Needs- power bats, controllable pitching, bullpen depth
Free agent targets- Aaron Judge, Joc Pederson, Michael Conforto, Joey Gallo, David Peralta, Dominic Leone, Tyler Duffey
Trade targets- Patrick Sandoval, Pablo López, Tarik Skubal
Trade pieces- N/A
40-man candidates- Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Tristan Beck
The Giants were among the oldest teams in baseball last year, but they have essentially no guaranteed money owed beyond 2023. So the opportunity to get both younger and better is there for the taking. It’s hard to envision a competitive Giants team this season, but preparing for the future entails spending money and making creative trades – for pitching, specifically – as early as this offseason. If Judge is interested in coming aboard long-term, he’d likely be patient for one season if it meant chasing sustained success. Write him a blank check, tread water for a year and make a push in 2024.