These big-market franchises still have work cut out in free agency
It gets late early, as a great American once said. And its no longer early by any standard in free-agency season. Its late for the players, who generally like to know where theyre going by this time, and its especially late for some big-market teams, who have done nothing or so close to nothing it may as well be nothing.
Here are six big-market, big-revenue teams besides the Mets with work to do:
1. Angels
They are prioritizing pitching, although they could consider offensive upgrades as well. And why not? They lost their best hitter as well as their best pitcher when Shohei Ohtani did the record $700M deal (worth $432M via the union, based on unprecedented 97 percent deferrals) 45 miles up the 5 freeway with the Dodgers. Jordan Montgomery and NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who’s spending time in Orange County this winter, have been linked here, and Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga could be a possibility, as well. Lucas Giolito is unlikely since his brief time there following his first deadline trade didnt work out.
2. Red Sox
Word is they had a nice presentation for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but the belief here now is he wasnt too likely to go anywhere but the Dodgers. Anyway, the Red Sox still need to do something in a division thats getting tougher for them (three last-place finishes in four years). Pitching is the main need. James Paxton has a decent chance to return and theyve been connected to Montgomery, Imanaga and Giolito.
Pitcher James Paxton works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth-inning. AP## 3. Giants
Unlike the other teams on this list, they already made one significant move, procuring star Korean center fielder Jung Hoo Lee for $113M. However, their difficulty in luring non-Bay Area Americans is well-documented, having tried fr and been rebuffed by Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Kris Bryant (yes, him too) and more. Matt Chapman, who played for new Giants manager Bob Melvin, across the Bay, presumably does not have the inexplicable aversion to San Francisco. They also have been connected to Cody Bellinger, who played for baseball president Farhan Zaidi in LA days.
4. Cubs
They tried for Ohtani and are still looking for offense. Bellinger makes the most sense since he regained his offensive form on the North Side. Chapman also could work; he would give them perhaps the best defensive left side of the infield in baseball with Dansby Swanson. Rhys Hoskins is yet another free-agent hitter they are looking at.
Cody Bellinger runs the bases on his way to scoring a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con## 5. Jays
The Jays gave it an honest shot with Ohtani and along with the Giants and, of course, Dodgers, and were willing to do the $700M deal, too, but we all probably shouldnt be surprised he wasnt swayed by their nice spring facility in Dunedin, Fla., and decided to stay west. They added defensive whizzes Kevin Kiermaier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa since, and while theyve been linked to both Bellinger and their own Chapman, both seem somewhat less likely now.
6. Mariners
They did add Mitch Garver, and since they espouse a 54 percent solution (a consistent 54 percent of wins is a publicly stated goal) that may be their big deal. They look on the cusp of greatness thanks to great young pitching but seemingly ready to settle for something less.
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