Every MLB team’s biggest remaining need

The Major League Baseball offseason is rarely a bold time. Last year, it was the questions of whether or not Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel would ever sign a contract. This year, it was the insanity of rapid-fire deals for Scott Boras clients in December. However, with over a month until spring training begins, every team is sure to remain busy and actively patrol the free agent and trade markets as they look to improve. Here is the biggest remaining need for all 30 clubs.

Atlanta Braves

Biggest Remaining Need: Third baseman

We open this piece with more of a confusion than an absolute need. The Braves need to determine whether or not Austin Riley is ready to make an impact in the majors by Opening Day, or if they need to pursue a pact with Josh Donaldson or trade for Kris Bryant or Nolan Arenado.

Miami Marlins

Biggest Remaining Need: Power bat

The Marlins need to figure out what they are going to do about their second-worst power production in 2019 to make sure it doesn't become the worst in 2020. The Marlins have rounded out their infield nicely, but signing a power bat to plug in will be important.

New York Mets

Biggest Remaining Need: Defensive outfielder

The Mets made some improvements to eliminate their bullpen woes, but now, a weakness appears in the outfield. The Mets need to decide whether they want to acquire a defensive outfielder or an offensive one, and the correct answer is defensive.

Philadelphia Phillies

Biggest Remaining Need: Bullpen help

The signing of Zach Wheeler was huge in rounding out the starting rotation. However, the pitching in general could still use some help with a big gap in the bullpen. Many solid relievers priced around $5 million to $6 million are still on the market.

Washington Nationals

Biggest Remaining Need: Third baseman

While the Nats originally needed bullpen help, a plethora of reliever signings have made that need nonexistent. Now, they shift their focus to third base after losing Anthony Rendon as they zone in on negotiating with Josh Donaldson.

Chicago Cubs

Biggest Remaining Need: Outfield bat

The Cubs’ infield is pretty dominant (that is, until Kris Bryant is traded), but the outfield contains some questions. Replacing Ian Happ and his 11 home runs in center field with a different outfielder with pop could prove to be an effective move.

Cincinnati Reds

Biggest Remaining Need: Bullpen help

The need for bullpen help isn’t an immense one, but after they solidified their outfield with Shogo Akiyama and their infield with Mike Moustakas, it seems as if the Reds’ front office will shift their focus to finding a reliever or two.

Milwaukee Brewers

Biggest Remaining Need: Shortstop

The Brewers found their help at third base with Eric Sogard but they would still benefit from some infield help. Orlando Arcia is a decent shortstop but his efforts at the plate are atrocious. The question is: what better options are out there?

Pittsburgh Pirates

Biggest Remaining Need: Power bat

The Pirates are in desperate need of a poor bat after a season in which they had the second-worst number of homers in the league. They need a big bat to turn their power-hitting woes into at least mediocrity.

St. Louis Cardinals

Biggest Remaining Need: Power-hitting outfielder

The Cardinals lost Marcell Ozuna to free agency and traded Randy Arozarena and Jose Martinez to the Rays. Perhaps the Cardinals could explore signing someone like Yasiel Puig to provide that power bat in the outfield.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Biggest Remaining Need: Center-fielder or second baseman

The Diamondbacks need to decide whether 2019 star Ketel Marte will spend the majority of his time at second base or in the outfield. Whichever position he doesn't play needs to be filled in by an external player as the internal candidates won’t cut it.

Colorado Rockies

Biggest Remaining Need: Pitching

Understandably, nobody wants to pitch at Coors Field. However, someone has to do the dirty work. The Rockies need to convince free agent pitchers to sign with them or else the air coupled with the weak pitching will make Denver the most enticing place to play.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Biggest Remaining Need: Bullpen

The Dodgers needed to improve their bullpen and rotation and they did so by adding Blake Treinen and Jimmy Nelson. However, the team could benefit from one more reliever to solidify their late-inning appearance and cap off a scary pitching staff.

San Diego Padres

Biggest Remaining Need: Starting pitching

The Padres bolstered their infield with Jurickson Profar and their outfield with Tommy Pham. Now, despite signing Drew Pomeranz, they need to shift their focus to starting pitching to improve the unit of arms on rookie manager Jayce Tingler’s Padres club.

San Francisco Giants

Biggest Remaining Need: Outfield and starting pitching

At this point, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija are slated to form the Giants’ one-two punch, and that is not ideal. On the other hand, Alex Dickerson, Steven Duggar, and Mike Yastrzemski would be the starting outfielders. The Giants need help.

Baltimore Orioles

Biggest Remaining Need: Starting pitching

The Orioles are still in the midst of a painful rebuild and there is no reason for them to pursue free agency’s top names. Nonetheless, they need to construct a roster than can at least win them 50 games, and starting pitching is essential.

Boston Red Sox

Biggest Remaining Need: Bullpen solidification

Unlike most people, I am not ready to say the Red Sox need to break the bank for a star reliever. Instead, they should sign one middle-tier reliever for cheap and hone in on determining what roles each pitcher will have instead of the roles-by-committee approach they had in 2019.

New York Yankees

Biggest Remaining Need: Middle infield depth

All it takes is one injury to D.J. LeMahieu or Gleyber Torres and the Yankees will be forced to see Tyler Wade. While Wade isn’t the worst backup plan, the Yankees could do better in their pursuit of someone who can serve as depth in the middle of the infield.

Tampa Bay Rays

Biggest Remaining Need: Catcher

The Rays lost Travis d’Arnaud to the Braves and, as of now, are slated to employ Mike Zunino as the starter despite his .165/.232/.312 slash line in 2019. Those numbers are painful to look at, so an adjustment behind the dish is quite necessary.

Toronto Blue Jays

Biggest Remaining Need: Depth across the board

The Blue Jays have been quite busy with the additions of Hyun-Jin Ryu, Tanner Roark, Shun Yamaguchi, and Travis Shaw. The Jays’ biggest areas of needs continue to be depth in the bullpen and outfield, as well as a solid No. 4 or 5 starter.

Chicago White Sox

Biggest Remaining Need: Relief pitching

The White Sox’ wheeling and dealing has landed them names like Edwin Encarnacion, Dallas Keuchel, Jose Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, and Nomar Mazara. The one unit they didn’t improve was their bullpen, so that will be essential if they intend to contend in the AL Central this year.

Cleveland Indians

Biggest Remaining Need: Outfield

The Indians need outfield help and it could happen sooner rather than later. They are the favorites to land Marcell Ozuna, but the Cardinals could hustle to re-sign him after their trade with the Rays. If this happens, the Indians would likely pivot to Yasiel Puig.

Detroit Tigers

Biggest Remaining Need: Outfield help and overall depth

Like the Orioles, there isn’t really one main focus here because the whole roster isn’t looking too good. The Tigers made some moves to their pitching staff and the right side of their infield but their outfield remains painful just to look at.

Kansas City Royals

Biggest Remaining Need: Corner outfield help

It doesn't to be some big-name, hotshot free agent. Just find someone who is better than Ryan O’Hearn and the .195/.281/.369 slash line that supposedly qualifies him to be in the 2020 starting lineup.

Minnesota Twins

Biggest Remaining Need: Depth in general

The Twins came in with big plans for the offseason and, despite missing out on Zack Wheeler, landed six big-name pitchers and a backup catcher. Their major-league roster looks really good, so now they just need to be on the lookout for depth across the entire field. Brock Holt, anyone?

Houston Astros

Biggest Remaining Need: Bullpen help

The Astros entered the offseason losing a plethora of arms and the only pitcher they brought back so far is Joe Smith. Thus, it would be wise for them to pursue the signing of at least one more reliever, or perhaps even two.

Los Angeles Angels

Biggest Remaining Need: Pitching help

The Angels entered the offseason with aspirations of adding Gerrit Cole. While Anthony Rendon, Julio Teheran, Kyle Keller, Garrett Williams, and Dylan Bundy are all fabulous additions, one more pitching addition (probably rotation) would provide extra security.

Oakland Athletics

Biggest Remaining Need: Pitching help

The Athletics, quite simply, need help with both their rotation and bullpen. It seems like the need for another reliever is slightly greater, although the addition of a fifth starting pitcher would solidify and complete the rotation.

Seattle Mariners

Biggest Remaining Need: Pitching help

While the Mariners have bullpen depth, the talent isn’t quite at the level it should be. The same can be said about rotation. The Mariners could add a low-end starter and shift someone from their rotation to the bullpen, or just sign a solid reliever. Either way, the need for pitching in the AL West is immense.

Texas Rangers

Biggest Remaining Need: Third baseman

The Rangers added four notable pitchers (including Corey Kluber) this offseason while losing Nomar Mazara. Thus, the need for a third baseman remains, making the final “biggest remaining need” on this list an easy one to determine.