With the MLB spring training right around the corner, the time has come to start looking ahead to the 2017 season with an eye towards what to expect this coming season. We decided to break down the biggest need for what we think will be the top five World Series contenders based on the current odds to win it all this coming fall. Here is a look at the one area where the top five contenders must still improve.
Chicago Cubs
Biggest Need: Left-Handed Reliever
Like a lot of teams around the majors Chicago could really improve by bolstering the left-handed arms in its bullpen. The Cubs brought in Wade Davis and Koji Uehara to help improve their bullpen but both are right-handed arms. Brian Duensing is currently the top left-handed option in their bullpen and his 4.05 ERA last season wasn’t exactly impressive. The defending World Series champions have arguably the deepest team in all of baseball but they could still use another talented left-handed arm in the bullpen.
Boston Red Sox
Biggest Need: Infield Depth
The Red Sox made a huge splash this offseason with the acquisition of Chris Sale and the addition of Mitch Moreland at first base but they lost David Ortiz as their DH and they might not want to rely too heavily on Pablo Sandoval as their top option at third base. Brock Holt is a good insurance option as a potential fill-in at all four infield spots but if he is pressed in to full-time duty at any position then Boston’s depth will take a hit. There have been reports that the Red Sox could be interested in Trevor Plouffe and after he hit .260 with 12 home runs while playing multiple infield positions last season it might make sense to grab him in order to solidify their depth in that area.
Cleveland Indians
Biggest Need: Complete Outfielder
Cleveland landed another big hitter in Edwin Encarnacion but while their offense has the potential to be even more dangerous this coming year they still have question marks in the outfield. Michael Brantley, Tyler Naquin, Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer are all in the fold but none of those names stands out as the type of star player that can put this team over the top. Cleveland could take a long look at another form Blue Jays hitter in Michael Saunders as he could fit what they need in order to create some competition for their starting outfield jobs.
Washington Nationals
Biggest Need: Closer
Washington lost incumbent closer Mark Melancon to the San Francisco Giants and then missed out on Davis and Kenley Jansen in the offseason, so they are currently stuck with a bullpen that isn’t as strong as it needs to be to contend for a World Series title. Shawn Kelly headlines the list of in-house options to take over the closer role but he has only 11 career saves in eight seasons in the majors and there aren’t many capable options behind him. The transition to a greater reliance on bullpens has been a major talking point in the MLB over the past few years and right now the closer situation is arguably the biggest weakness for the Nationals.
The good news is that when it comes to closers, there are usually one or two available during the season when teams are looking to sell at the trade deadline (see: Aroldis Chapman last season).
Houston Astros
Biggest Need: Left-Handed Reliever
The Astros bolstered their offense this MLB offseason with the additions of Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann and while they could still use another starting pitcher their focus should be on acquiring an above average left-handed reliever. Tony Sipp is currently the top left-handed option in their bullpen but he posted a 4.95 ERA in 43.2 innings last season and that simply isn’t good enough to be the first name called. Houston is absolutely loaded on offense and its starting pitching is strong enough to contend but they still need to shore up the bullpen in order to contend for a World Series championship in 2017.
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