The crazy part about Yoenis Cespedes, Chris Davis, Alex Gordon and Justin Upton all remaining unemployed at this late date in the offseason is that there’s still a tremendous need for corner bats across the game.
The Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are just a few of the contending clubs who should add an impact hitter as the 2016 season inches ever closer.
Before compiling the shopping list that follows, the first order of business was defining the term “contender.” For the purpose of this exercise, contenders had to meet one of two requirements:
- Post a .500 record or better in 2015
- Work aggressively to improve their club on the free-agent and trade fronts this winter
Ultimately, 21 clubs cleared at least one of those bars and cracked a spot. And with the Senior Circuit flooded with teams in tank mode, the American League dominates the list.
Starting in the AL West and moving across the league, let’s explore the one pesky area—whether it’s a position, depth or a quality (like power)—that each contender needs to address to mask a weakness and improve its playoff chances.