We’re nonetheless over a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring coaching, and the 2025 season gained’t start till the Dodgers and Cubs play in Tokyo on March 18 (and the remainder of baseball will get underway on March 27). So, whereas there may be nonetheless tons of time for golf equipment to maintain shoring up their rosters, let’s take a look at how all 30 groups have up to now tried to repair their largest weak factors from final season. Baseball Reference’s position-by-position bWAR rating identifies how every crew fared at each place in 2024, so let’s begin by specializing in the American League’s 15 golf equipment…
Angels (Second base, -0.9 bWAR): This was the least manufacturing any crew obtained from the second base place in 2024, as 9 totally different gamers noticed motion on the Los Angeles keystone with little success. The Angels made a push to signal Gleyber Torres earlier than he joined the Tigers, and the membership added to its infield combine by buying Kevin Newman and Scott Kingery. This extra depth would possibly permit the Halos to only set up super-utilityman Luis Rengifo because the common starter at second base, however they may wish to hold bouncing Rengifo across the infield to fill different holes. Shortstop Zach Neto’s shoulder surgical procedure would possibly hold him from making the Opening Day lineup, whereas Anthony Rendon’s lack of outcomes has left the Halos on the lookout for third base assist.
Astros (First base, -1.0 bWAR): Jose Abreu’s continued struggles led the Astros to launch him earlier than even the halfway level of the three-year, $58.5M deal he signed within the 2022-23 offseason, and whereas Jon Singleton had a 105 wRC+ in 405 plate appearances, Singleton additionally completed the 12 months with replacement-level manufacturing. Houston responded to its obtrusive first base drawback in an enormous manner, inking Christian Walker to a three-year, $60M contract. Walker and Isaac Paredes now look to be the Astros’ new nook infield mixture, with Paredes stepping in at third base within the doubtless occasion that Alex Bregman indicators elsewhere.
Athletics (Third base, -0.6 bWAR): The problems on the scorching nook narrowly edged out first base (-0.5 bWAR) because the Athletics’ largest drawback place, and the A’s are hoping Tyler Soderstrom’s continued growth can assist shore issues up at first base. As for the opposite nook infield slot, Gio Urshela was signed to a one-year, $2.15M so as to add a minimum of a little bit of veteran stability at third base. Darell Hernaiz additionally figures to get some at-bats at third base if and when Urshela spells Soderstrom towards some left-handed pitchers.
Blue Jays (Bullpen, -3.9 bWAR): This was far and away the bottom bWAR for any crew at any single place, which isn’t too shocking given how accidents and ineffectiveness torpedoed the Blue Jays’ bullpen final 12 months. Toronto began the overhaul from the highest down, non-tendering former nearer Jordan Romano after he missed many of the 2024 season on account of elbow issues. Outdated good friend Yimi Garcia was re-signed to a two-year, $15M contract, and Nick Sandlin
was acquired from the Guardians as maybe the ignored a part of the Andres Gimenez commerce, however the Jays determine so as to add a minimum of a pair extra relievers earlier than Opening Day rolls round.
Guardians (Catcher, 0.2 bWAR): Bo Naylor hit solely .201/.264/.350 in 389 plate appearances throughout his first full Main League season, although his glovework was glorious. Defensive specialist Austin Hedges was re-signed to once more act as Naylor’s backup, so if nothing else, Cleveland would possibly properly have the very best defensive catching tandem in baseball. The Guardians are absolutely hoping for Naylor to contribute much more on the plate now that he has extra expertise towards massive league pitchers, and so they’ll want the youthful Naylor brother to choose up a number of the general offensive slack now that massive brother Josh Naylor has been traded.
Mariners (First base, 1.1 bWAR): Luke Raley and commerce deadline pickup Justin Turner helped stabilize the primary base place later within the season, and the left-handed hitting Raley, particularly, did sufficient to have earned himself a minimum of a platoon function on the 2025 crew. Re-signing Turner remains to be a chance if the Mariners needed to easily run it again, and another first basemen linked to Seattle this winter — Carlos Santana, Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker, Josh Naylor — landed elsewhere. Rumors persist that Triston Casas would possibly find yourself in Seattle if the Mariners and Crimson Sox can lastly line up on a pitching-for-hitting commerce, however for now, Raley seems to be the highest choice. If one other first baseman is certainly introduced in, Raley might additionally get some at-bats on the DH spot, because the M’s solely bought 1.3 bWAR from their designated hitter group in 2025.
Orioles (Bullpen, 1.8 bWAR): Dropping Felix Bautista to Tommy John rehab for the season understandably took a chew out of the Orioles’ aid corps, and Bautista’s anticipated return will alone assist bolster the pen. Aside from signing Matt Bowman to a minors deal, the O’s haven’t gone a lot else to deal with their bullpen and subtracted from final 12 months’s group when Jacob Webb was non-tendered and Baltimore declined its $4M membership choice on Danny Coulombe. Nonetheless, it appears like Albert Suarez could possibly be returning to the aid ranks now that Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano have been signed to hitch the rotation. (We’re dishonest the submit’s premise a bit with this entry, because the Orioles’ 1.4 bWAR for pinch-hitters is technically their lowest of the positions listed by Baseball Reference. Nonetheless, since that 1.4 quantity is likely one of the higher totals of any pinch-hitting group in baseball, the bullpen can extra precisely be described because the weakest of the 2 positions.)
Rangers (Catcher, -0.1 bWAR): Jonah Heim was an enormous a part of Texas’ 2023 championship crew, however he had a tough season in 2024. The Rangers are primarily relying on Heim to bounce again, however since he performed in 279 regular-season and postseason video games during the last two seasons, the addition of Kyle Higashioka ought to permit Heim to get extra relaxation. Higashioka signed a two-year deal price $13.5M in assured cash, which signifies that he and Heim will in all probability break up the taking part in time in one thing nearer to a timeshare slightly than Higashioka appearing strictly as a backup. So as to add much more depth behind the plate, Texas additionally signed former two-time Gold Glover Tucker Barnhart to a minor league contract.
Rays (Catcher, 0.2 bWAR): Loss of life, taxes, and the Rays looking for an on a regular basis catcher….some issues by no means change. Tampa Bay was aggressive in making an attempt to acquire a one-year repair by signing Danny Jansen to a deal price $8.5M in assured cash within the hopes that Jansen might rebound from a tough 2024 marketing campaign. Jansen typically posted robust numbers for the Blue Jays when he was capable of keep away from the injured checklist, however it appeared just like the accidents caught as much as him final 12 months, notably after he suffered a fracture in his wrist throughout spring coaching. The Rays will fortunately welcome Jansen getting again to something near his outdated type, and Ben Rortvedt (final 12 months’s most common backstop) stays on the roster because the backup.
Crimson Sox (First base, -0.1 bWAR): The aforementioned Triston Casas performed in solely 63 video games final season on account of torn cartilage in his ribcage, and whereas he hit properly over his 236 PA as a primary baseman, it wasn’t sufficient to pull Boston’s first base corps over the replacement-level threshold. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been insistent that the Sox aren’t trying to transfer Casas and that Rafael Devers will stay at third base slightly than shifted over to first base (maybe to make room for a 3rd base improve like Alex Bregman). For the second, the primary base spot appears strong sufficient simply by dint of Casas having a wholesome and productive 2025 marketing campaign, however issues could possibly be shaken up shortly if a commerce does certainly occur.
Royals (Left area, -0.7 bWAR): The Royals additionally obtained -0.1 bWAR from the fitting area place, and solely three groups bought much less from their outfielders than Kansas Metropolis’s collective 1.0 outfield bWAR in 2024. Former prime prospect and incumbent left fielder MJ Melendez has but to interrupt out after three MLB seasons, plus veteran Hunter Renfroe is again in proper area after exercising his $7.5M participant choice for the 2025 season. It wouldn’t be a shock if both is moved to bench obligation now because the nook outfield is a pure spot for the Royals to add an enormous hitter. Some left-field assist would possibly come from an uncommon supply, as each new acquisitions Jonathan India and Michael Massey are keen to maneuver from second base to left area if it’ll assist the crew (and garner them extra common taking part in time). Keep tuned to this example, as now that Ok.C. is firmly again in playoff competition, the Royals needs to be extra aggressive in shoring up the lineup to attempt to make a deeper October run.
Tigers (Shortstop, -0.3 bWAR): No crew bought much less from the shortstop place than the Tigers, as Javier Baez endured a brutal season earlier than present process hip surgical procedure in August. With three years and $73M nonetheless remaining on Baez’s contract, Detroit can solely hope that improved well being for Baez can salvage what has been a bust of a signing over the primary three seasons of that deal, however the Tigers have already eyed methods to scale back Baez’s taking part in time. Trey Sweeney would possibly properly find yourself getting the vast majority of shortstop time in 2025, however Ha-Seong Kim can be on Detroit’s radar as a potential shortstop candidate.
Twins (Second base, -0.1 bWAR): There’s loads of fluidity round Minnesota’s infield, as any of Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Edouard Julien, or utilityman Willi Castro could possibly be slotted in at second base subsequent season, relying on how the Twins would possibly tackle first base now that Carlos Santana has signed with Cleveland. A wholesome breakout 12 months from Lewis or Lee at any place could be a large assist for a Twins membership in a payroll crunch, because it doesn’t seem like Minnesota can have a lot of something to spend on new upgrades.
White Sox (Catcher, -1.8 bWAR): Korey Lee, Martin Maldonado, and Chuckie Robinson mixed to present Chicago the least manufacturing of any catching corps in baseball. Matt Thaiss was acquired from the Cubs to pair with Lee because the catching tandem for now, however highly-touted prospects Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel ought to each make their massive league debuts in some unspecified time in the future in 2025. It won’t shock you to be taught {that a} 121-loss crew had loads of weak hyperlinks, because the White Sox bought destructive bWAR totals from the DH, left area, proper area, second base, and third base positions. To present you an thought of how little the Sox bought from their place gamers in 2024, think about that the Marlins’ 2.1 bWAR from non-pitchers ranked Miami twenty ninth of 30 groups. The Sox had been thirtieth, with a shocking -6.7 bWAR.
Yankees (First base, -0.1 bWAR): After Anthony Rizzo’s membership choice was declined, the Yankees checked in a number of first base candidates and technically got here away with two, as Cody Bellinger was first acquired in a commerce with the Cubs. Signing Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5M deal will now push Bellinger into outfield obligation, and the Yankees are hoping {that a} change of surroundings permits each former NL MVPs to rediscover a few of their outdated type. Specializing in Goldschmidt, the 37-year-old was hampered by a really tough first half that resulted within the worst general season of his 14-year profession, however his stronger second half and general spectacular hard-contact numbers trace that Goldschmidt has extra to supply. New York doesn’t even want prime Goldschmidt, as even getting a repeat of his strong 2023 numbers (122 wRC+ over 687 PA with the Cardinals) could be a considerable improve.
