A Wish-List for Every MLB Team to Improve Before 2024 Spring Training

There's a point during any given offseason when spring training goes from feeling forever away to suddenly feeling quite nigh.

With pitchers and catchers due to report in three weeks, that point may well be now. And as such, teams had better hurry if they want to improve before spring training.

In the interest of helping them out and, really, just having some fun, I've arranged wish lists for every team in Major League Baseball. These concern not what they could rearrange in-house, but rather what they might still add off the free-agent or trade markets.

Though specific players were recommended when appropriate, the wish lists cover teams' needs more generally. And since not every roster is in the same space right now, not all the lists contain the same number of items. Some have as many as four. Others, as few as one.

Let's go one at a time, proceeding in alphabetical order by city.

Note: All 2024 projections are courtesy of FanGraphs.

The Wish List

1. Designated hitter
2. Relief pitcher

The Diamondbacks have been among the busiest teams in either league this winter, notably retaining Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and adding Eduardo Rodriguez and Eugenio Suárez.

Yet the reigning National League champions aren't done yet, as general manager Mike Hazen has been open about wanting another hitter. There's space for one in the designated hitter slot, in which either J.D. Martinez or Jorge Soler would fit nicely.

Otherwise, another reliever wouldn't hurt. Arizona's bullpen did get better after Paul Sewald came aboard last summer, but it still projects as a relative weakness (i.e., the bottom 10 of MLB with 2.6 WAR) for 2024.

The Wish List

1. Right-handed-hitting outfielder

Atlanta already had the best roster in MLB at the outset of the winter, and now it's that much deeper with the likes of Chris Sale, Jarred Kelenic and Reynaldo López now aboard.

Projections for the coming season would lead one to believe that Atlanta should look to upgrade over Orlando Arcia at shortstop, where the club is projected to get only 1.8 WAR. But then again, the guy was an All-Star in 2023 and this winter's market isn't exactly as rich in shortstops as last winter's market.

As such, a right-handed-hitting outfielder who could platoon with Kelenic and occasionally spell Michael Harris II might be all Atlanta needs. If he can't find a starting job elsewhere, Michael A. Taylor would be perfect.

The Wish List

1. Top-of-the-rotation starter
2. Relief pitcher
3. Fourth outfielder

Signing Craig Kimbrel to stand in for Félix Bautista in the closer's role in 2024 isn't nothing, to be sure. But it's really all the Orioles have done this winter, which is a danged shame with a 101-win season fresh in their wake.

Priority No. 1 remains adding a No. 1 starter, for which the trade route is likely Baltimore's only option. How likely any of them is to move at this point is a fair question, but Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes and Shane Bieber are still out there. The Miami Marlins also have multiple arms to offer.

Even with Kimbrel in the mix, it also still feels like Baltimore's pen is short an arm. And as fun as it is to browse Sam Hilliard's Baseball Savant page, the O's can do better than him as a spare outfielder on their bench.

The Wish List

1. Starting pitcher
2. Right-handed hitters

The Red Sox's offseason has taken a turn, and not in a good way. Per his comments to Sean McAdam of MassLive, team chairman Tom Werner seems to regret the "full throttle" comment he made after the offseason began.

Lucas Giolito was a nice addition, but the previous trade of Sale basically put Boston back at square one with its quest to upgrade its rotation. A deal with Blake Snell seems like a reach, but Jordan Montgomery is still out there and reportedly of interest to the Red Sox.

Even with the additions of Tyler O'Neill and Vaughn Grissom, the Red Sox also still need at least one more right-handed hitter. A reunion with Adam Duvall is reportedly very much in play, and they've also been linked to Soler.

The Wish List

1. Impact hitter
2. Relief pitcher

The Cubs found a good replacement for Marcus Stroman when they signed Shōta Imanaga. And when they picked up Michael Busch and Yency Almonte in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, they got options at first base and for their bullpen.

Yet it still feels like there's a big hole in the Cubs' lineup. Re-signing Cody Bellinger would be one way to fill it. Otherwise, they might tab top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong as their new center fielder and pivot to adding Matt Chapman at third base.

The Cubs also aren't done with their bullpen, with Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reporting that Cleveland Guardians right-hander Emmanuel Clase is of interest. With Josh Hader spoken for in free agency, Clase is now the best closer anyone can add this winter.

The Wish List

1. Right fielder
2. Starting pitcher

Though they're ostensibly rebuilding after losing 101 games in 2023, you have to hand it to the White Sox for being willing to add from both the free-agent and trade markets this winter.

If they want to keep it up, a right fielder is a natural next step. Oscar Colás is the de facto starter out there now, but new GM Chris Getz would prefer that he starts the 2024 season at Triple-A. Somebody like Whit Merrifield would be a nice placeholder, as he would still be useful as a utility guy if Colás were to eventually prove worthy of the starting role.

Even though their rotation has three new members in Erick Fedde, Michael Soroka and Chris Flexen, additional starting depth would be ideal. At the least, the White Sox might look to add a veteran on a minor league deal.

The Wish List

1. Outfielder

After adding Jeimer Candelario to their offense, Frankie Montas and Nick Martinez to their rotation and Emilio Pagán to the bullpen, Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall indicated his work is mostly done:

This was before the Reds signed Brent Suter, thus adding another arm to their bullpen. With that done, it would seem to be bench or bust.

If the Reds are going to add another bench player, it should be an outfielder. The outfield is a relative weakness in general, and neither Stuart Fairchild nor Jake Fraley should stand in the way of adding someone like, say, former Red Tommy Pham or Aaron Hicks.

The Wish List

1. Power hitter
2. Starting pitcher

Scott Barlow and Ben Lively should be enough to remove relief pitching from the Guardians' list of priorities, but the team has otherwise done nothing of consequence this winter.

That's especially frustrating with regard to their lineup, which badly needs a new power source after producing a league-low 124 home runs last season. A Martinez or a Soler is probably not in Cleveland's budget, but is it too much to ask for a Rhys Hoskins or a Joc Pederson?

No other need is as big as that one, but the Guardians' rotation doesn't have much in the way of support for its promising starting five. A minor league contract with a veteran should be in the cards.

The Wish List

1. Left-handed-hitting outfielder
2. Reserve infielder
3. Starting pitcher

The Rockies project for an MLB-low 15.6 wins above replacement in 2024, so let's not pretend like anything short of a miracle is going to turn them into a contender.

But if they want to at least pretend at being competent, their idea to add a left-handed-hitting outfielder isn't a bad one. They might roll the dice on Joey Gallo or Jesse Winker and see if either has anything left to offer after back-to-back lost seasons.

The Rockies could also use a middle infield type who could occasionally spell Ezequiel Tovar and Brendan Rodgers. Pitching is also always needed at Coors Field, though any free agent who willingly signs up to pitch there is either courageous or just plain desperate.

The Wish List

1. Impact hitter
2. Infielder

The Tigers actually project to be weakest at shortstop in 2024, but there unfortunately isn't a whole lot they can do about that for the time being.

What they can do is look to add a hitter that would deepen a lineup that's solid up top but then gets thin in a hurry. A Bellinger or a Chapman would fit them nicely on paper, but that's almost certainly aiming too high. A reunion with Martinez could make more sense, though it would force Kerry Carpenter into an outfield gig.

One X-factor is when Colt Keith, who's ranked by B/R's Joel Reuter as MLB's No. 13 prospect, will be ready to take over at third base or second base. In the meantime, the Tigers should consider an insurance option for Matt Vierling and Zach McKinstry at one or both spots.

The Wish List

1. Starting pitcher
   
2. Outfielder

Things had been awfully quiet in Houston up until Friday, but then the Astros made a loud bang by signing Hader to a five-year, $95 million contract.

With Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek having filed for free agency, one can still look at Houston's bullpen and see three holes. But the Hader signing is at least a response to Kendall Graveman's shoulder surgery, and that may be good enough.

If so, only minor needs remain in Houston. Another starting pitcher is a nice-to-have, and ditto for an outfielder now that Michael Brantley won't be walking through that door.

The Wish List

1. Outfielder
2. Infielder

The Royals have been uncharacteristically aggressive this winter, spending more in free agency than all but five other teams.

There's not a whole lot left for the team to do, particularly on the pitching side after adding two new starters and as many as four new relievers. But their offense is still weak, especially in the infield spots occupied by Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia and Kyle Isbel's spot in center field. The three of them have little, if anything, to offer on the offensive side.

The Royals might at least go for some upside in their spots, for which a deal with an Amed Rosario or a Tim Anderson or an Enrique Hernández would do nicely.

The Wish List

1. Top-of-the-rotation starter
2. Impact hitter

Hats must go off to the Angels for signing Robert Stephenson to a three-year, $33 million contract on Friday. If he picks up where he left off after a dominant showing for the Tampa Bay Rays in the latter half of 2023, he'll form a nasty late-innings duo with Carlos Estévez.

Otherwise, the Angels' wish list might as well read "Somebody like Shohei Ohtani." Alas, only Shohei Ohtani is like Shohei Ohtani, and it'll be a while before cloning technology will be capable of solving problems of this sort.

Which is to say the Angels can only hope to replace Ohtani by signing the best starter and hitter the market has to offer. Snell is a real possibility for the former, while Bellinger perhaps should be a possibility for the latter.

The Wish List

1. Relief pitcher
   
2. Shortstop

The Dodgers spent over $1 billion in signing Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Teoscar Hernández off the free-agent market, plus another $136.5 million to extend Tyler Glasnow to complete a trade for him. Seriously, what more does anyone want?

Well, what they seem to want is another reliever. There had been some Hader-related buzz to this end, and the Dodgers had also been connected to Robert Stephenson. With the two of them no longer up for grabs in free agency, a trade for Clase is the best they can do now.

Otherwise, dare I say the Dodgers shouldn't be too comfortable with Gavin Lux and Miguel Rojas atop their shortstop depth chart? Just sayin': Willy Adames is still a trade candidate and he'd further elevate the Dodgers' standing as a superteam.

The Wish List

1. Shortstop
2. Designated hitter
3. Relief pitcher

Unless anyone has an unusually high opinion of Christian Bethancourt or Vidal Bruján, the Marlins haven't exactly been loading up on talent after making the playoffs last year.

They know they need a shortstop, for which their free-agent options are pretty much Anderson or Rosario. And even if they don't re-sign Soler, they're probably better off cutting Avisaíl García loose rather than actually using him as their regular DH.

Though their relievers finished fourth in MLB in fWAR last season, the Marlins' pen looks like it could use another arm. It would be cool to see them make an upside play on, say, a Shintaro Fujinami.

The Wish List

1. First baseman
2. Third baseman
3. Starting pitcher

The Brewers were weak on the corners last season, and now they project to tie for 29th in WAR from first base and to rank 28th in WAR from third base in 2024.

Given how much payroll they've shed this winter, one would hope that the Brewers would at least be in on somebody like Hoskins for the cold corner. Fixing the hot corner is more of a challenge, though they might at least consider a Gio Urshela or a Donovan Solano.

As he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021, Milwaukee is also taking a risk with Joe Ross in the No. 5 spot in its rotation. Another option is needed, even if it's merely a veteran on a minor league contract.

The Wish List

1. Center fielder
2. Starting pitcher
3. Right-handed-hitting corner outfielder/first baseman

There's quiet, and then there's how quiet the Twins have been this winter. Their projected 26-man roster features exactly zero new additions, which only makes it harder to ignore the losses of Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda and Emilio Pagán from the pitching staff.

Such is life when ownership wants to cut payroll, but it'll be malpractice if Minnesota doesn't at least find center field insurance for Byron Buxton. They know for a fact that Taylor can handle the job, and he's still available.

The Twins should also add a starter and a right-handed hitter who could platoon with Matt Wallner and Alex Kirilloff. Since they figure to be affordable, I propose calling old friend Jake Odorizzi and Trey Mancini.

The Wish List

1. Designated hitter
2. Relief pitcher
3. Starting pitcher

Moving forward with DJ Stewart in the DH spot wouldn't be inexcusable, but the Mets can and should do better by realizing their interest in either Martinez or Soler.

Despite three new additions to the bullpen, the bridge to Edwin Díaz in the ninth inning is still looking a little weak. The Mets could perhaps look to reunite with Adam Ottavino, though that outcome is contingent on him being game to return.

That's really it as far as actual needs go, but I don't see the harm in the Mets adding a starter to complement their upside plays on Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser. A Michael Lorenzen, for example, would fit them as a capable innings-eater.

The Wish List

1. Relief pitcher
2. Starting pitcher

Among American League teams, only the Astros have better odds to win the 2024 World Series than the Yankees do at DraftKings. As such, they arguably don't need to do more.

Yet it's clear the team wants another impact reliever. The Yankees had been connected to Hader and Stephenson before they signed elsewhere. Probably their best remaining option is Neris, who casually posted a 1.71 ERA last season.

As to the rotation, there's simply too much volatility after Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole. Suggesting Snell or Montgomery seems silly after the Yankees signed Marcus Stroman, but a blockbuster deal for Cease, Burnes or Bieber shouldn't be off the table.

The Wish List

1. Starting pitcher
2. Relief pitcher
3. Shortstop

Projections for 2024 don't have the A's as being especially disastrous in any one area. The problem is more so that they're not good anywhere, which gets to the truth of the matter: What's needed here is a whole new team.

But since that's not practical, pitching, pitching and more pitching should be the club's top priority. No big splashes, of course, but it would be nice to see them pick up at least one low-risk, high-reward veteran such as Hyun-Jin Ryu or Alex Reyes.

Since it's not clear who's going to be starting at shortstop this year, the A's could look to add someone there as well. They're an intriguing option for Anderson or Rosario, or maybe Adalberto Mondesi after he didn't play at all in 2023.

The Wish List

1. Relief pitcher
2. Starting pitcher
3. Outfielder

Even after re-signing Aaron Nola, the Phillies made a play to add another big-name starter by extending an offer to Yamamoto. If so, could Snell or Montgomery be in play for them now?

Even if the answer is "yes," I nonetheless consider a starter a secondary need to another reliever. While it's doubtful that Kimbrel will be missed after what happened in October, the fact is he's gone unreplaced. If that's going to change, reuniting with Neris would be ideal.

The Phillies don't necessarily need to upgrade on the position player side, but an outfielder should be the play if they do. Taylor would be perfect, as he's a slick fielder in center with power to offer on the offensive side.

The Wish List

1. Starting pitcher
   
2. Second baseman
3. Right fielder

The Bucs added a couple useful lefties when they signed Martín Pérez and traded for Marco Gonzales, yet they were apparently in on Imanaga before he signed with the Cubs.

One imagines that was merely the Bucs doing their homework, but let's pretend that they were actually interested in making a mid-level splash to upgrade their rotation. If so, maybe a Lorenzen or a Mike Clevinger could be in order?

As to the lineup, things are solid until you get to Liover Peguero and Joshua Palacios down at the bottom. They play second base and right field, respectively, so Pittsburgh might two-birds-one-stone the situation by signing Merrifield. Just a suggestion.

The Wish List

1. Outfielder
2. Designated hitter
3. Late-inning relief pitcher
4. Starting pitcher

In case anyone needs a recap of the Padres' offseason, they've lost a generational hitter, a Gold Glove center fielder, three above-average starting pitchers and a five-time All-Star closer.

The one area where they're vaguely OK despite these absences is in their rotation, which is mainly thanks to getting Michael King and Randy Vásquez back in the Juan Soto trade. And maybe the bullpen, which now has Yuki Matsui and Woo Suk Go.

With the club's payroll apparently unlikely to go any higher than $200 million, it's useless to suggest big moves for the Padres. But for those outstanding needs in the outfield and at DH, it shouldn't be too much to ask for a Taylor and/or a Pederson.

The Wish List

1. Impact hitter
2. Starting pitcher
3. Shortstop

They didn't get Ohtani or Yamamoto, but let's not ignore that the Giants still have room to spend even after $157 million worth of deals with Jung Hoo Lee and Jordan Hicks.

Whether it's Bellinger or Chapman, the Giants need to add an impact hitter, lest they rank at or near the bottom of the NL in runs and other major offensive categories in 2024. They also need a proper starter, a role for which Snell should be in play.

Shortstop is reportedly another area where the Giants want to add, though they're more likely to look for solutions on the trade market than on the open market. Adames is a hypothetical possibility, though the Giants could also call the Padres about Ha-Seong Kim.

The Wish List

1. Third baseman
2. Second baseman
3. Relief pitcher

The Mariners have definitely been active this winter, but whether it's really been in the name of improvement is at best a "maybe." They simply look...different.

They need to think twice about moving forward with Luis Urías at third base and Josh Rojas at second base. If not Urshela on a major league deal, they should consider calling up old friend Jean Segura and see if he's amenable to a minor league deal as an insurance option.

Though Seattle's bullpen is solid at the back end with Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz, it feels like another electric arm is needed. Which is really just another way of me saying I kind of want to see Fujinami's gas added to the mix. You know, for maximum fun purposes.

The Wish List

1. Relief pitcher

The Cardinals got the three starting pitchers they wanted, and their reunion with Matt Carpenter is good for additional depth at DH in addition to being a fun story.

From my perspective, the Cardinals look pretty good for a team that just finished in last place. If anything, they might have turned themselves into the team to beat in the NL Central. At least until the Cubs do more, anyway.

Yet as tempted as I was to leave this page blank, it was only last Monday that Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that the Cardinals are monitoring the relief market. They could use another right-hander, for which even a lesser target like Fujinami, Keynan Middleton or Ryne Stanek would suffice.

The Wish List

1. Catcher
2. Starting pitcher
3. Shortstop

The Rays have been weak at catcher ever since Mike Zunino had a career year for them in 2021, and especially so now. Their depth chart is topped by René Pinto and non-roster invitee Rob Brantly.

Zunino is a free agent if the Rays want to go back to that well, or they could otherwise consider Gary Sánchez or Yasmani Grandal. Regardless, they'll also need to consider adding a starting pitcher to deepen a rotation that's been dinged by injuries and the Glasnow trade.

Meanwhile at shortstop, José Caballero is slated to play on an everyday basis for now. But since he'd work better in a utility infield role, one wonders if Rosario's market is small enough for him to fit into the Rays' price range.

The Wish List

1. Relief pitcher
   
2. Starting pitcher
3. Designated hitter

A reliever is No. 1 on this list partly because that's where the Rangers' attention seems focused right now, with the likes of Neris and Ryan Brasier in play.

But while this indicates that the Rangers aren't blind to the zero rWAR their bullpen posted last season, they would do well to also add reinforcements for a rotation that unexpectedly lost Max Scherzer to back surgery in December. To this end, it can't hurt that Montgomery reportedly "loves Texas."

The only other thing resembling a need for the Rangers is at DH, where they have an opening following Mitch Garver's departure. But if they want to see what Ezequiel Duran can do with regular at-bats, that's fine too.

The Wish List

1. Designated hitter
2. Outfielder
3. Third baseman

The Blue Jays have thus far settled on re-signing Kevin Kiermaier and adding Isiah Kiner-Falefa in their search for position players, but that could soon change.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post has tabbed them as the favorite for Soler, who'd fill Brandon Belt's shoes in the DH spot. They'll still need a right-handed-hitting outfielder even if they sign him, however, which is an excuse to get back in touch with Taylor.

Is a third baseman more of a want than a need? Yeah, probably. But in the event that Soler slips their grasp, circling back and seeing if Chapman is interested in coming back to Toronto wouldn't be the worst idea.

The Wish List

1. Designated hitter
2. Starting pitcher
3. Center fielder

No team has a worse projection at DH than the Nationals, so they need to consider their options there. If not Martinez, Soler or Justin Turner, then maybe a Pederson, a Winker or a Carlos Santana.

Starting pitching is another area where Washington projects poorly, though in this case it could get away with a back-end type who could be turned into trade bait. His name hasn't appeared yet in this space, but Jakob Junis could have some upside after a solid 2023 season with the Giants.

Lastly, the Nationals can only be so optimistic about Victor Robles in center field at this point. Another option is needed, even if it's only a Randal Grichuk or a Raimel Tapia.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.