MLB Christmas list for the offseason
Check out the five biggest wishes for MLB teams during the 2020-21 offseason.
The Christmas season is officially upon us and there’s no better way to celebrate than an MLB Christmas wish list. While both the offseason trade and free-agent markets have remained relatively quiet up to this point, there are still a few months following the New Year for things to heat up.
In fact, none of our top-five free agents have found a new home yet. Check out the five biggest wishes for MLB teams throughout the remainder of the offseason.
The New York Yankees wish to re-sign DJ LeMahieu for a multi-year contract.
It’s easy to argue that this is the biggest wish of any MLB team on Christmas. The New York Yankees are borderline desperate to ensure that DJ LeMahieu stays in pinstripes for the next four or five seasons.
Just last week, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman doubled down on the team’s focus and priority in re-signing the superstar second baseman.
“Certainly it’s, you know, driving the bus, a little bit,” said the Yankees GM.
For the past two seasons, there’s no question that LeMahieu has been the best player in New York’s organization. Not only did the 32-year-old second baseman lead the entire league in hitting last season, but he also became the first player in modern baseball history to win the batting title in both the American and National Leagues.
Add in his three-time Gold Glove Award caliber defense, this is not somebody even the Yankees can afford to walk away to another team. Yankees fans everywhere will rest easy once New York is able to re-sign the purest hitter in baseball.
The Philadelphia Phillies wish to retain J.T. Realmuto.
J.T. Realmuto should be considered the best catcher in baseball, and for good reason. The 29-year-old posted a 1.4 WAR last season, after belting 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .266/.349/.491 batting line.
While any team in the big leagues would appreciate his combined talents managing a staff, blocking pitches, throwing out runners, and crushing baseballs, the market hasn’t necessarily indicated this. Part of this stems from the ability to spend this offseason, especially at the catcher position. Still, Realmuto may become the richest catcher in MLB history.
More recently, it’s turned into a two-team race for the two-time All-Star. That race came down to the New York Mets and his current club, the Philadelphia Phillies. Well, the Mets pulled the trigger on finding a catcher after signing James McCann last week, so this looks like Philadelphia’s race to lose.
The Phillies finished third in the NL East last season and missed the playoffs. Their future playoff hopes will take a drastic plunge if the franchise is unable to retain Realmuto.
The Los Angeles Dodgers wish to steal Kirby Yates away from the San Diego Padres.
There are a number of MLB fans that will roll their eyes at this suggestion. Understandably so. We all know that the Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2020 World Series. But still, the best team in baseball from a year ago is looking to improve on its championship roster.
Must be nice to operate with that $107 million payroll, right?
One thing that we learned from the Dodgers’ championship run last season was their apparent need for pitching. Kenley Jansen continues to show his age in the postseason, and their reliance on young starters like Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May out of the bullpen hasn’t been easy going.
Julio Urias also fell into this category last October but was considered a success story. Regardless, these three arms are projected as starting pitchers and the Dodgers’ front office would like it to remain that way.
In all honesty, the Dodgers need to bolster their late-inning options besides Jansen. If this issue is unaddressed during the offseason, it could potentially haunt them. So for their Christmas wish, what better way than going after an arm like Kirby Yates.
Yates was the best closer in baseball in 2019. He pitched to a blistering 1.19 ERA, recording 41 saves in 44 opportunities. The injury bug haunted Yates last season, but he should be considered a valuable asset with hopes of returning to his 2019 form.
The cherry on top for Dodgers fans is the opportunity to steal him away from the up-and-coming division rivals San Diego Padres. San Diego gave the Dodgers a scare last season, finishing in second in the NL West and just six games back. The Padres’ front office was willing to spend last season at the deadline and Los Angeles would love to take away their best bullpen arm.
The Houston Astros need bullpen help and wish for Liam Hendriks.
This Christmas wish presents another obvious need. The Houston Astros will need to improve their bullpen arms in order to compete for a championship next season.
While the fate of George Springer’s future remains the most important dilemma in Houston, Astros’ manager Dusty Baker admitted the club is also seeking bullpen help. Baker discussed this need with reporters via a Zoom conference call last week, his first time speaking to the press since the season ended.
“Like I’ve always been told, you can never have enough pitching,” said Baker. “Right now, we’re looking to shore up our bullpen, probably first.”
Last year, Houston’s bullpen ranked 15th in the MLB with a 4.39 ERA. This average bullpen depth was good enough for another ALCS appearance last year, but next year is more uncertain. Currently, the Astros have five bullpen arms locked into contracts next season including Ryan Pressly, Joe Smith, Enoli Paredes, Blake Taylor, and Brooks Raley. None of these names are considered elite arms, especially for the 9th inning.
With that being said, the Astros would love to add an elite arm to their bullpen this Christmas. And what better place to look than Liam Hendriks, the best closer in baseball the past two seasons.
Last year, Hendriks won American League Reliever of the Year after posting a 1.78 ERA. Hendriks also earned an All-Star bid in 2019, pitching to a 1.80 ERA while recording 25 saves.
The New York Mets wish to sign the best pitcher in baseball, Trevor Bauer.
This MLB Christmas wish list would not be complete without mentioning the best arm in the game, starting pitcher Trevor Bauer. This premier top-of-the-rotation starter led the MLB with 5.05 hits per nine innings, and the NL with a 1.73 ERA and 0.79 WHIP last season.
Bauer has been both vocal and over-the-top in messing with the hearts of fans from all 30 MLB clubs, creating lists of the best free-agency pitches sent in by fans via social media. In my opinion, it’s seemed a little desperate but totally plays into Bauer’s brand.
Teams know what they’re getting with a guy like Bauer. He’s sure to let out some controversial comments to the media or have some questionable actions in the dugout during games, but this is the best starting pitcher in baseball. It’s easier to let those things go when your ace pitches to a sub-2.00 ERA.
The Mets would love to land Bauer in time for the holidays. New York has already signed McCann to sure up their need at catcher, but the Mets are also in the market for starting rotation help. Yes, Sandy Alderson recently slipped up declaring the team is looking for back-of-the-rotation help, but we’re not ready to take this one off the board yet.
Next. Five unsung All Stars for 2021. dark
The minute that Steve Cohen took over majority ownership of the franchise, Mets’ fans have been overwhelmingly confident in his ability to turn the team into a “big-spender.” The McCann signing was nice, but Cohen will win over the hearts of every single Mets fan out there if he’s able to land Bauer this offseason.