The Mets and 10 Teams with the Most Work to Do in MLB Free Agency

Just because Shohei Ohtani is off the board doesn't mean there's not a lot left to be done on Major League Baseball's 2023-24 free agent market.

So, let's dig into 10 teams under especially high pressure to get things done.

These teams' specific situations vary, but what ties them all together is that they're either definitely or ostensibly contenders for 2024 and that they still have holes to fill and money to spend. Basically, they're the teams that should be ruling the open market.

Ranking these teams in a subjective way would have been difficult, so I opted to simply rank them in order of their FanGraphs WAR projections for next season. The lower the number, the higher the rank.

2023 Record: 100-62, 1st in AL West

Free Agent Signings: DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani, OF Jason Heyward, RHP Joe Kelly, RHP Daniel Hudson (MiLB)

2024 Projected WAR: 49.2

OK, so, it feels weird to say the Dodgers have more to do in free agency after they've signed maybe the greatest player ever to a $700 million contract.

But while we're OK-soing, let's grant that Shohei Ohtani's contract isn't really a $700 million deal. With 97 percent of it deferred, he'll make only $2 million per year and count as a $46 million hit against the Dodgers' luxury tax annually.

This means extra payroll space, and there's still room to use it even after Thursday's trade for Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot.

With Clayton Kershaw and Lance Lynn absent and Ohtani unable to return to the mound until 2025 after elbow surgery, the Dodgers still need at least one more starter. To this end, some disappointment will be in the air if they don't win the Yamamoto sweepstakes.

The Dodgers are also pursuing five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader, according to Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated. He's arguably more of a want than a need, but signing him would prove once and for all that the Dodgers really are committed to building a superteam.

2023 Record: 82-80, 4th in AL East

Free Agent Signings: OF Billy McKinney (MiLB)

2024 Projected WAR: 47.2

Is the WAR projection for the 2024 Yankees probably too bullish? That's a yes. Another yes, though, is that they've at least taken care of their biggest shortcoming from this season.

That was production from the left side of the plate, for which trade newcomers Trent Grisham, Alex Verdugo and especially Juan Soto will help. And more generally, the Yankees' starting nine has soft spots but no real weaknesses with the three of them aboard.

Now then, how about some pitching?

Even if one assumes Carlos Rodón has a rebound in him next year, the Yankees still need another front-end type to pair with him and Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole. Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the best possible solution, and the Yankees are very much involved in a race that could result in a $300 million deal.

If not Yamamoto, the Yankees could pivot to pursuing a reunion with Jordan Montgomery. And even after adding Victor González in a trade, another left-hander for the bullpen (i.e., Joely Rodríguez) would be advantageous.

2023 Record: 89-73, 3rd in AL East

Free Agent Signings: None

2024 Projected WAR: 42.9

The Blue Jays made a serious run at Ohtani, with Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reporting that the club's final offer was "right there" with what the Dodgers got him for.

Well, as the song goes: If at first you don't succeed in signing the best player available, dust yourself off and try to make up for it by signing a whole bunch of other guys.

Sans Matt Chapman, Brandon Belt, Kevin Kiermaier and Whit Merrifield, the Blue Jays are missing about half of a functional starting lineup. And they know it, as it was out there that they wanted multiple hitters even before the Ohtani sweepstakes really took off.

A reunion with Chapman seems possible, and Toronto has reportedly had erstwhile Rookie of the Year and MVP Cody Bellinger on its radar. And speaking of one-time MVPs, Toronto native Joey Votto is of some interest to the Blue Jays.

Though the Blue Jays will be meeting with Yamamoto, another starter for a rotation loaded with five All-Stars seems unnecessary. They would be better served fortifying a bullpen that could use another setup man for closer Jordan Romano.

2023 Record: 88-74, 3rd in AL West

Free Agent Signings: None

2024 Projected WAR: 37.9

The Mariners figured to be in the market to upgrade their offense even before Teoscar Hernández filed for free agency, but who knew the situation would go from bad to worse?

The Mariners didn't need to trade Eugenio Suárez or Jarred Kelenic but, well, they did anyway. As a result, their offense is looking dangerously thin outside of Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, J.P. Crawford and Ty France.

On the plus side, those trades did open a $23 million gap between what Seattle spent in 2023 and what it projects to spend in 2024. That's enough room for at least one impact deal.

Bellinger, who would notably satisfy president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto's desire for more contact in the lineup, is reportedly on Seattle's radar. Other on-paper fits include Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Eddie Rosario and Michael Brantley.

Yet Seattle's biggest lineup weakness is actually at designated hitter, which projects for only 0.2 WAR next season. To this end, J.D. Martinez or Jorge Soler should be firmly on the club's list of targets.

2023 Record: 75-87, 4th in NL East

Free Agent Signings: RHP Luis Severino, INF Joey Wendle, RHP Jorge López, RHP Michael Tonkin, RHP Austin Adams, OF Trayce Thompson (MiLB), SS José Iglesias (MiLB)

2024 Projected WAR: 37.7

The Mets opened this season with a $350 million payroll, but the general vibe coming from the franchise is that it won't go that high again any time soon.

Yet upon taking charge, new president of baseball operations David Stearns also didn't sound interested in taking a year off from contention: "We should be in the playoff race and be a true playoff contender. That should be our goal."

Hence the club's pursuit of Yamamoto, wherein SNY's Andy Martino reports the club has "steadily improved" its stance. The 25-year-old is certainly the co-ace they need alongside fellow Japan native Kodai Senga.

Per Jim Bowden of The Athletic, there's otherwise an expectation among rival executives that the Mets will pivot to two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell if they can't get Yamamoto.

The Mets also had a hole unexpectedly open up on their infield when prospect Ronny Mauricio, who had been slated to compete for the third base job, tore his ACL. A stopgap solution such as Justin Turner or Donovan Solano could be in order.

2023 Record: 82-80, 3rd in NL West

Free Agent Signings: None

2024 Projected WAR: 36.8

Sure, the Padres removed a likely future Hall of Famer from their lineup when they traded Soto to the Yankees.

Yet a path to redemption is clearly there in the form of all the payroll space the Padres now have. They're projected at $156 million for 2024, putting them well short of their purported goal of $200 million.

As to what's on the menu, president of baseball operations A.J. Preller was unambiguous after the Soto trade: "We're going to keep looking at starting pitching. We're starting to get some depth and numbers...Again, you need a lot of starting pitching to get through a season."

A reunion with Snell may not be out of the question, though there's been notably little buzz about that or potential reunions with Hader or Michael Wacha either. If so, hypothetical newcomers could include Montgomery, Marcus Stroman or Lucas Giolito.

Since the Padres now also need help in their outfield, they're worth keeping an eye on Bellinger. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, he's likely on the team's radar after it missed out on Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee.

2023 Record: 78-84, 5th in AL East

Free Agent Signings: RHP Cooper Criswell, C Roberto Pérez (MiLB)

2024 Projected WAR: 35.3

Though several of the teams discussed so far need starting pitching to one degree or another, those needs almost look petty in comparison to the Red Sox.

Out of MLB's 30 teams, their starters ranked 22nd with a 4.68 ERA and 27th with 774.1 innings in 2023. They project to be better in 2024, but that's taking a lot on faith with a clearly post-prime Chris Sale.

There's thus a fair amount of pressure on new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to do something about the situation, so it's to his credit that he's at least trying on Yamamoto. The Red Sox are also known to have spoken to Montgomery.

Not to be overlooked, meanwhile, is that the Red Sox also have serious needs on the offensive side. Specifically, for a right-handed bat even after the trade for Tyler O'Neill.

There's sense in reuniting with either Duvall or Turner, and Boston could also consider options at second base. Merrifield is there for them, and they could potentially also ponder an upside play on fallen All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson.

2023 Record: 83-79, 2nd in AL Central

Free Agent Signings: C Jorge Alfaro (MiLB)

2024 Projected WAR: 34.3

Just how seriously the Cubs were involved with Ohtani became a point of contention toward the end, but what's for sure either way is that they didn't get him.

In the aftermath, things seem about as grim for the Cubs as their WAR projection suggests. As much as having Craig Counsell in the manager's chair will help, you can't just subtract Bellinger and Stroman from an 83-win roster and expect things to be hunky-dory.

A reunion with Bellinger remains possible, though Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic thinks Bellinger's price tag will need to come down below $200 million:

Whether or not they re-sign Bellinger, the Cubs could realize their reported interest in either Chapman or Rhys Hoskins, who's coming back from missing 2023 with a torn ACL. Either way, some combination of the three would upgrade what looks like a half-finished lineup.

Stroman, on the other hand, probably won't be returning to the North Side of Chicago in 2024. It's possible his replacement (e.g., Tyler Glasnow or Shane Bieber) is more likely to come via the trade market, but a Giolito or a Wacha could make sense in free agency.

2023 Record: 79-83, 4th in NL West

Free Agent Signings: OF Jung Hoo Lee

2024 Projected WAR: 34.2

Go ahead and add Ohtani to "The List." As in, the list of sluggers the Giants have tried and failed to add in recent winters, which otherwise includes Giancarlo Stanton, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa.

To their credit, Lee was a nice add on a six-year, $113 million contract. He's like if Masataka Yoshida was a good defender in addition to an elite bat-to-ball hitter, so he should help the Giants on both sides.

Lee is no slugger, however, so the Giants would do well to consider their remaining options. Chapman, who's no stranger to the Bay Area, would work especially well in the sense that he would also upgrade what was a leaky defense in 2023.

The Giants otherwise need an impact starter to slot alongside Logan Webb. They're in on Yamamoto, by all accounts, and could possibly turn to Snell if they can't get him. Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, they might even be the favorites for Snell.

It's not a "need," per se, but another bullpen weapon is at least a nice to have. Especially somebody with velocity, such as Chapman (Aroldis, that is) or Jordan Hicks.

2023 Record: 73-89, 4th in AL West

Free Agent Signings: RHP Luis García, RHP Adam Cimber, LHP Adam Kolarek

2024 Projected WAR: 32.2

The Angels couldn't make the playoffs even once in six tries with Ohtani, so why should anyone believe they're a contender going into 2024?

Well, because they say they are, for one thing. And even if that strains belief, you have to give the Angels this much: with a $62 million gap between their 2023 spending and projected 2024 payroll, they can afford to throw their weight around in free agency.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, they're "very interested" in Snell. They're arguably the best fit for him, as he's a risky pitcher but they're in a position where they should take risks.

Bats are also needed in Anaheim, including one who could spell Ohtani at DH. A tall order if there ever was one, to be sure, but Martinez and Soler are two options who at least qualify as "viable."

Another outfielder is also needed, be it an everyday type (i.e., Hernández) or more of a time-share type (i.e., Pham). Either way, the Angels can only be taken seriously as a contender if they fill all three of these needs.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.