MLB: Ranking the Biggest Logjams in the League Right Now

Sometimes talent comes in bunches. While it’s not ideal for starting-caliber players to be stowed away, it’s a relatively common problem in MLB.

Succeeding in MLB is all about accumulating talent throughout your organization. Whether it be at the major league level or in the lower levels of the minors. However, sometimes all that talent can overlap, and players that are deserving are unable to carve out a role.

There’s something to the strategy of just getting the best available players and working it out later. Normally, there are position changes or trades that occur, which help to solve these issues of logjams.

Throughout MLB, there are teams still attempting to figure out that process, for this season, and for the years ahead. This list will look at the most completed quandaries that clubs will have to face for 2017 and beyond.

It should be noted that starting rotations or bullpens usually don’t suffer from this problem because of the sheer number that are needed throughout a regular season. But that doesn’t mean that some teams don’t have decisions to make (spoiler alert).

Overall, the greater the amount of talent would affect the organization, the higher they are in the rankings. So while this season may seem a little more cut and dry for some, it’s their future prospects that contribute to the potential logjam.

Now with all of the semantics out of the way, let’s dive into which teams have done too good of a job of accumulating starting-caliber players.

10 – 6

10. Texas Rangers (Adrian Beltre, Rougned Odor, Shin-Soo Choo, Nomar Mazara, Mike Napoli, Jurickson Profar, Ryan Rua, Joey Gallo)

Thanks to a recent report that Mike Napoli had reached an agreement with the Texas, the Rangers were effectively pushed into the top ten of this list. Before the imminent deal, Joey Gallo and Ryan Rua looked to split time in a platoon at designated hitter. Now, Napoli looks like he will be the everyday DH, launching Rua and Gallo into ambiguity. The outfield spots are also locked up with Nomar Mazara, Carlos Gomez and the expensive Shin-Soo Choo still under contract. There will be some potential time at first base off Profar were to falter, but that seems like more of a negative for a player that was once ranked as the best prospect in MLB. Luckily, Gomez and Napoli are only signed for one year, meaning that at the very least some of the younger guys can have more time to refine their game.

9. New York Yankees (Matt Holliday, Greg Bird, Chris Carter, Aaron Judge, Tyler Austin, Aaron Hicks, Clint Frazier)

I’m not sure that the Yanks would have even been mentioned if not for their recent signing of first baseman/designated hitter Chris Carter. Getting a 41-home-run hitter for $3 million is pretty much a steal. But there is a reason that the Bronx Bombers weren’t frequently mentioned as a suitor. One, the team already signed a defensive liability in Matt Holliday earlier in the winter, while already having two promising first base prospects in Greg Bird and Tyler Austin. Now Carter will likely split time at DH and first base against lefties. This leaves Aaron Judge in a precarious position because of the gluten of power hitters, in addition to another more defensive outfielder in Aaron Hicks.

8. New York Mets (Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jose Reyes, Wilmer Flores, Amed Rosario, Gavin Cecchini)

Much of the spotlight has been on the outfield with Sandy Alderson re-signing Yoenis Cespedes and picking up Jay Bruce‘s option. Bruce and Curtis Granderson have been the subjects of trade rumors all offseason. This outfield dilemma has overshadowed a crowded infield with veterans Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Reyes both vying for the starting shortstop spot. Wilmer Flores is a little more versatile defensively, but he won’t see everyday playing time assuming David Wright is healthy. Down on the farm, Ahmed Rosario projects to be an MLB All-Star shortstop with Gavin Cecchini also having starting potential as well. Don’t overlook that the Mets still have some tough decisions to make regarding the middle infield.

7. Colorado Rockies (Ian Desmond, DJ LeMahieu, Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, Brendan Rodgers, Ryan McMahon)

Another club that has put a lot of emphasis on the outfield, the Rockies have a very good problem brewing for the future of the organization. After signing Ian Desmond, Colorado seems to have a set lineup for the 2017 season, but the real controversy stems from what the organization will do down the road. Nolan Arenado is going to be a free agent two years from now with the team seemingly having to make a spot for a high first-rounder in Brendan Rodgers. Many have questioned Rodgers’ ability to stay at short because of how big he is, but even if the team keeps him there, the Rockies already have one of the most powerful middle infielders in MLB. Trevor Story burst onto the scene last season with a surprising All-Star campaign.

DJ LeMahieu is a legit elite second baseman as well. Corner infield prospect Ryan McMahon is not far away from his MLB debut too. There’s no shortage of talent; the Rockies just need to figure out what to do with it.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers (Andrew Toles, Trayce Thompson, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo)

Ever since the days of Carl Crawford, the Dodgers have always had a numbers issue in the outfield. Dave Roberts knows he has Joc Pederson firmly entrenched as the center fielder, but it’s the corner outfield slots that may keep him up at night. Andrew Toles was a welcome surprise late in the season. However, Trayce Thompson will definitely cut into some of his playing time. Yasiel Puig has been on the trade block for over a year and Andre Ethier is well past his prime.

The Dodgers may be wise to turn to the farm with top prospects Cody Bellinger and Alex Verdugo waiting in the wings. Both are ranked in the top 65, according to MLB Pipeline, and both have put up good numbers in Triple-A. There’s not much use for them in the minor leagues if they continue their dominance, but the large contracts and glut of outfielders will make it tough for Roberts to give them a large role in MLB this season.

5. Atlanta Braves Middle Infield

Major Leaguers: SS Dansby Swanson, 2B Jace Peterson, UTIL Sean Rodriguez

Minor Leaguers: 2B/SS Ozzie Albies, SS Kevin Maitan, 2B Travis Demeritte

Atlanta got a steal when they were able to acquire the first overall pick of the 2015 MLB draft for starter Shelby Miller. The soon-to-be 23-year-old looked like he belonged in his short stint in MLB last season. However, his arrival makes the Braves infield a little more complicated moving forward.

Ozzie Albies came up through the Braves system as a shortstop since being signed as an international free agent in 2013. At 20 years old, he was able to reach Triple-A ball in 2016, which is very impressive. He has an impressive hit tool and above average speed that would play nicely at the top of a lineup. Defensively, knowing that Swanson was firmly entrenched at shortstop, Albies was moved to second base. Having barely played that position, it may be tough on the young infielder to be up-to-speed in the coming year. Although many fans may be clamoring for him.

For the time being, Jace Peterson and Sean Rodriguez will probably platoon next to Swanson for much of 2017. In addition, the Braves have two other talented middle infielders in their farm system as well. They just signed the best international free agent in last year’s class in Kevin Maitan. Yes, he is just 16 years old, but it’s something to keep in mind. Travis Demeritte also hit 25 home runs in the Carolina league this past season.

Albies may be further along, but in the current situation they all may be near the majors at the same time, which would create quite the dilemma for the Braves organization.

3. New York Yankees Infield 

Major Leaguers: 2B Starlin Castro, SS Didi Gregorius, 3B Chase Headley

Minor Leaguers: SS Gleyber Torres, SS Jorge Mateo, 3B Miguel Andujar

You thought the Yankees had a tough situation in the outfield, first base and designated hitter with the signing of Chris Carter. Trust me, Brian Cashman has a much more long-term problem with figuring out how he is going deploy all of his infield talent in the major leagues.

At the moment, Starlin Castro, Didi Gregorius and Chase Headley will round out the infield outside of first base. All three, especially Castro and Gregorius, are starting-caliber players who are controllable for more than one season. This doesn’t mean that they are the future of the ball club.

That honor goes to a player that the team traded for in July, Gleyber Torres. At just 20 years old, the shortstop had an attention-getting 2016 campaign. He posted an on-base percentage of .354 and hit 45 extra-base hits between Double- and Triple-A ball. At 6’1” and 175 lbs, Torres has the frame to grow into a close-to-five-tool player. In fact, MLB Pipeline just rated him as its number-three prospect in MLB.

Before some of the trade deadline pieces came to the Yankees, Jorge Mateo was all the rage of the Yankees farm system. A shortstop by trade as well, Mateo signed by the Yanks in 2012 and has been impressing down on the farm ever since. Although he does not have the sheer power potential of Torres, the 21-year-old is a plus-plus runner with a strong hit tool. He’s shown a willingness to move to second, which may put him in line to work alongside Torres when both make their respective MLB debuts. Miguel Andujar is another name to add to the infield mix as well. He’s just 21 years of age and is on the same trajectory as the previous two players.

The sheer talent in the Yankees organization at these spots right now is going to force Cashman to choose his guys sooner or later. It was just reported yesterday by Joel Sherman of the New York Post that “they let some clubs know that [Castro] was available.”

2. Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Rotation

Major Leaguers: Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, Scott Kazmir, Julio Urias, Alex Wood, Brandon McCarthy

Minor Leaguers: Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart, Walker Buehler, Jordan Sheffield, Yadier Alvarez

It’s a crowded party when talking about the number of starting pitching options the Dodgers have. Obviously, Clayton Kershaw remains the premier starter in MLB. He was spectacular when he was on the mound last season and it doesn’t look like he is slowing down.

Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda are the clear hurlers behind Kershaw. Los Angeles acquired Hill just prior to the trade deadline even though he was suffering from chronic blisters throughout the regular season. Still, the veteran left-hander proved that his short and successful stint with the Red Sox in 2015 was no fluke. He finished with a 2.12 ERA and a very impressive strikeout rate of 10.5 K/9. Maeda is an underpaid number-three starter after the Dodgers gave him a long-term contract coming from Japan. He certainly wasn’t perfect, but his solid performance guarantees him the opportunity to get the ball every five days.

Scott Kazmir is also probably assured a rotation spot because of the money he is going to make over the next two years. He’s slowed down considerably after his resurgent season in Cleveland four years ago. His ERA has risen over the past two seasons, while injuries have limited his effectiveness as well.

This creates a major competition for the final rotation spot. Julio Urias is by far the most talented, but he is young and inconsistent. Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu have much more of a track record and will be paid considerably more money. Both are under contract until after the 2018 season. Alex Wood shouldn’t be forgotten because he’s had a number of solid seasons in Atlanta. Throw in minor league depth options in Ross Stripling and Brock Stewart and the major league roster could be crowded with potential starters in the bullpen too.

This logjam isn’t just a problem for 2017. Walker Buehler and Yadier Alvarez are top pitching prospects who the Dodgers refused to include in a Brian Dozier trade. Jordan Sheffield was the organization’s 2016 first-round pick. He is an advanced college arm who has the talent to shoot through the Dodgers minor league system.

Dave Roberts will have depth throughout the Dodgers organization, so if Hill, Kazmir or any other pitcher gets hurt in 2017 he will have a number of solid options to turn to. If not, the logjam could create a situation where a lot of talent is going to be stunted over the next two years. This is even without Jose De Leon, whom Los Angeles traded to Tampa for Logan Forsythe.

1. Chicago Cubs Outfield/Second Base/Catcher

Major Leaguers: Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora, Javier Baez, Jon Jay, Willson Contreras, Miguel Montero

Minor Leaguers: Ian Happ, Eloy Jimenez

The defending World Series champs have the most talent of any club in MLB. The talent runs not only throughout the major league roster, but in every level of their farm system. Particularly, there is a jumble at second base and in the outfield. Theo Epstein did a tremendous job to get one of the game’s best closers in Wade Davis for an outfielder without a major league role in Jorge Soler. Still, the team will have to deal with the realization that players who should be playing every day simply won’t get the time with the way the roster is constructed.

Joe Maddon is one of the most respected managers in baseball and he has handled the Cubs roster brilliantly during his time in Chicago. Once again, he will have to deal with Javier Baez not having a place in the field if Ben Zobrist shifts to second base and Schwarber takes his old spot in left field.

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Schwarber won’t likely go back behind the plate because they have a talented backstop in Willson Contreras and an expensive backup in Miguel Montero. Baez and Zobrist have also played in the outfield, but that is crowded as well. Jason Heyward was a flop in 2016, but he’s under a long-term contract at a hefty price. Epstein was also able to bring in Jon Jay on a one-year, $8 million deal to split time with Albert Almora in center field.

In addition, many of these players are young and under team control for the foreseeable future, so this is a “problem” that is going to persist. Ian Happ is an advanced minor league hitter who, you guessed it, plays both second base and the outfield. Eloy Jimenez may be a bit further away but his tools are as good as any prospect in baseball right now.

This logjam isn’t really a negative because injuries happen and flexibility is a good thing. However, all of these players would start for an average MLB team, and it’s disappointing for them that they won’t be able to contribute as much as they could if they got the chance to play every day.

Next: Where Are World Series MVPs Now?

Are there any other notable logjams in MLB? How do you think these teams should handle some of their current predicaments? Let us know in the comment section below.