Sifting through all the rumors and whispers that take place during an MLB offseason can be tiring, but there are often trends we can draw conclusions from with the reports we hear during the winter.
A trend that usually ends up being pretty accurate is discovering which teams plan to be active and which don’t. The teams that are involved in various discussions wind up with impressive offseason hauls more times than not.
Over the next few slides, we’ll look at a few teams that are poised for significant upgrades this winter.
Some of those improvements have already happened. The Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox have already shown their commitment to upgrading this offseason with trades for Andrelton Simmons and Craig Kimbrel, respectively. Despite those trades, don’t expect Billy Eppler and Dave Dombrowski to stop adding to the roster.
Of course, the Los Angeles Dodgers and that near-$300 million payroll will be factors this winter. L.A.’s division rivals in San Francisco will also spend in hopes of returning to the postseason, while the Chicago Cubs will try to build off a magical 2015 season.
Whether it’s through large free-agent contracts or trades centered around impressive prospects, the following teams are ready to do whatever is necessary to qualify for the postseason and, ultimately, the World Series.