How NL Teams Have Addressed Their Weakest Positions Of 2022

We coated the American League’s 15 groups earlier today, so now let’s test in on how the Nationwide League’s 15 members have performed (up to now) in fixing their greatest downside positions from the 2022 season.  Baseball Reference’s position-by-position bWAR breakdown is our information via final 12 months’s numbers….

Braves (Left Discipline, -1.4 bWAR): The bottom complete of any outfield place in baseball, left discipline was a evident weak spot in an in any other case very sturdy Atlanta lineup.  Eddie Rosario and Marcell Ozuna will look to bounce again from down years, however the Braves have in any other case solely tinkered relatively than overhauled the place, including depth items like Sam Hilliard, Eli White, and Jordan Luplow to the combo.  One can by no means rule Alex Anthopoulos out for making a much bigger acquisition, and the Braves are one of many many groups asking the Pirates about Bryan Reynolds.  Nevertheless, with these many choices on board and loads of power elsewhere on the roster, Atlanta would possibly choose to face pat in left discipline for now, and solely pursue assist if no one steps up in the course of the season.

Brewers (Catcher, 0.9 bWAR): Talking of massive Braves trades, the Brewers obtained themselves concerned in the huge three-team blockbuster that introduced Sean Murphy to Atlanta.  The deal introduced Milwaukee its personal catcher of the longer term, as William Contreras has already delivered on his hitting potential with an All-Star efficiency in 2022.  Contreras will be part of Victor Caratini behind the plate, and with Omar Narveaz and Pedro Severino departing in free company, Payton Henry was additionally acquired from the Marlins as a depth transfer.

Cardinals (Catcher, 0.4 bWAR): Each Contreras brothers will probably be within the NL Central, as William’s large brother Willson Contreras jumped from the Cubs to the Cardinals on a five-year, $87.5MM free agent deal.  St. Louis led the majors in non-pitcher bWAR in 2022, although catcher was the weak spot, as accidents hampered Yadier Molina’s farewell season and backup Andrew Knizner didn’t present a lot throughout fill-in obligation.  With Molina hanging up his cleats, the Playing cards will now exchange Molina with one other established star backstop.

Cubs (Middle Discipline, -0.1 bWAR): Cody Bellinger’s offense has badly fallen off since his 2019 MVP season, however his glovework stays very sturdy.  In signing Bellinger to a one-year deal price $17.5MM in assured cash, Chicago is hoping that his protection alone will shore issues up in middle discipline, however naturally the Cubs would like to see Bellinger recapture his outdated batting type.  First base (0.1 bWAR) was one other weak level for the Cubs, and a veteran addition like Eric Hosmer might yet be added, however Chicago can also be planning to present breakout prospect Matt Mervis an extended take a look at the MLB stage.

Diamondbacks (Reduction Pitching, -4.4 bWAR): For comparability’s sake, the Pirates’ -0.8 complete was the second-worst bullpen bWAR quantity, providing you with an thought of simply how little Arizona acquired from its reduction corps.  The D’Backs inked Scott McGough to a two-year/$6.25MM deal, with McGough making his return to the majors after a really profitable four-year stint in Japan.  McGough may very well be one thing of a hidden gem, and he joins a number of different new arms (Miguel Castro, Cole Sulser, Miguel Vargas, Zach McAllister, Austin Brice, Sam Clay, and extra) because the bullpen choices the Diamondbacks will type via throughout Spring Coaching.

Dodgers (Pinch-Hitting, 0.8 bWAR): The Dodgers’ 61.4 complete bWAR led all 30 groups, though each middle discipline (1.5) and left discipline (1.6) have been relative weaker hyperlinks among the many on a regular basis positions.  Even the decrease pinch-hitting complete wasn’t precisely dangerous, even when Los Angeles did have a bit much less depth than lately.  With the Dodgers virtually precisely slated to fulfill the $233MM luxurious tax threshold, it remains to be seen if L.A. will exceed the edge once more or maybe look to reset its tax penalties, which could restrict what the Dodgers can do in amassing extra depth.  Children like Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch, and James Outman are being groomed for bigger roles in 2023, so the Dodgers would possibly first see if they will fill some holes from inside.  Veterans like Jason Heyward, Bradley Zimmer, and Steven Duggar have additionally been signed to minor league contracts.

Giants (Designated Hitter, 0.1 bWAR): The platooning and lineup-juggling that labored so nicely for San Francisco in 2021 backfired final 12 months, as catcher was the one lineup place with a collective bWAR above the 1.2 mark.  The DH spot was on the backside of the checklist, and such frequent designated hitters as Tommy La Stella and Evan Longoria are already gone.  Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto determine to spice up the DH spot after they’re not within the outfield, however by and huge, the Giants will hold biking a number of gamers via the DH position to maintain everybody wholesome.

Marlins (Proper Discipline, -0.7 bWAR): Regardless of signing Avisail Garcia to a four-year, $53MM deal winter, the Marlins nonetheless obtained sub-replacement numbers out of the precise discipline spot, as Garcia battled hamstring accidents and had a dreadful 12 months on the plate.  Miami has sufficient cash dedicated to Garcia that there isn’t a lot to do besides hope for a rebound, which isn’t out of the query provided that Garcia has alternated between good and dangerous seasons over the past six years.  Middle discipline is the extra urgent outfield place for the Marlins, and first base (0.0 bWAR) and catcher (0.1 bWAR) are additionally downside areas.

Mets (Pinch-Hitting, 0.0 bWAR): With the Carlos Correa signing not but official, we’ll wait earlier than declaring that Eduardo Escobar will probably be an overqualified backup for the Amazins’ subsequent season.  Nevertheless, the Mets is perhaps extra more likely to hold Escobar than commerce him to a staff that may provide extra enjoying time, for the reason that Mets will need loads of depth to maintain its World Collection push from being waylaid by accidents (particularly given whatever concerns New York has about Correa’s well being).  Amongst on a regular basis positions, the Mets solely obtained 0.1 bWAR from the catching spot, however James McCann was traded to the Orioles and Omar Narvaez was signed.  With Narvaez, Tomas Nido, and star prospect Francisco Alvarez prepared for the majors, the Mets expect much more from behind the plate.

Nationals (Beginning Pitching, -4.8 bWAR): If the Diamondbacks have been feeling dangerous about their lackluster bullpen, right here come the Nats with an excellent larger hole between final and second-last place in a single place.  The Tigers have been twenty ninth within the majors with a cumulative 1.7 rotation bWAR, making Washington the one staff with sub-replacement efficiency from their whole beginning pitching corps.  Trevor Williams was signed to a two-year, $13MM deal to supply some assist, however for the reason that rebuild is on, D.C. will probably be restricted to related veterans on modest offers relatively than any large splashes.  The Nationals are relying on children Josiah Gray, MacKenzie Gore, and Cade Cavalli to take some steps ahead in 2023, and getting any sort of rebound from Patrick Corbin or good well being from Stephen Strasburg could be immensely useful to the Nats’ efforts.

Padres (Pinch-Hitting, 0.4 bWAR): The DH spot was subsequent on the checklist with 1.2 bWAR, including to the Padres’ total aim of constructing extra depth.  Josh Bell, Wil Myers, Brandon Drury, and Nomar Mazara have all signed elsewhere, however San Diego’s blockbuster signing of Xander Bogaerts shuffled across the on a regular basis lineup to the extent that Fernando Tatis Jr. now seems to be slated for the outfield when his suspension is over.  Matt Carpenter was additionally signed to help the DH combine, and since president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is nothing if not aggressive, any variety of commerce potentialities are nonetheless open for the Padres to additional bolster the place participant ranks.

Phillies (Proper Discipline, 0.4 bWAR): Bryce Harper’s torn UCL restricted him to DH obligation for nearly the whole season, leaving Nick Castellanos dealing with many of the motion in proper discipline.  Sadly for the Phils, Castellanos struggled each offensively and defensively, delivering a subpar -0.1 bWAR in his first season in Philadelphia.  Since Harper will probably be out till at the very least midseason whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure, Castellanos must maintain the fort, although he would possibly get extra DH at-bats on days when Matt Vierling or Dalton Guthrie are used within the outfield.  The Phillies obtained 0.6 bWAR from each the middle discipline and shortstop positions in 2022, however middle discipline would possibly’ve already been addressed by the midseason commerce for Brandon Marsh, and the Phils upgraded at shortstop in a serious means with their signing of Trea Turner.

Pirates (First Base, -2.1 bWAR): Pittsburgh had low bWAR scores over most positions, with proper discipline, the bullpen, pinch-hitter, and catcher additionally clocking with destructive figures.  With first base standing out as the largest difficulty, the Bucs swiftly moved on from Yoshi Tsutsugo and Michael Chavis by signing Carlos Santana and swinging trades for Ji-Man Choi and Connor Joe.  Santana and Choi determine to primarily cut up first base obligation, and Santana particularly may very well be in line for a bounce-back 12 months given how closely opposing groups have used defensive shifts in opposition to him lately.  With the brand new guidelines proscribing using shifts, Santana determine to enhance on his roughly league-average offense from 2022.

Reds (Catcher and Middle Discipline, -0.8 bWAR): Like their NL Central brethren in Pittsburgh, the Reds are one other rebuilding staff with wants everywhere in the diamond, together with 4 positions that had sub-replacement bWAR totals.  Curt Casali and Luke Maile have been signed to play catcher, however getting a wholesome 12 months from Tyler Stephenson (even when Stephenson sees further time as a primary baseman or DH) will probably be Cincinnati’s greatest increase in that regard.  If Nick Senzel can keep wholesome, he’ll nonetheless be the Reds’ best choice in middle discipline, however the membership has been looking around for assist in middle and might even be willing to trade from its surplus of younger shortstop prospects to land an equally promising younger outfielder.

Rockies (Catcher, 0.1 bWAR): There hasn’t been a lot buzz in regards to the Rox getting concerned within the catching market, so it appears doubtless the staff will simply run it again and hope for higher outcomes from Elias Diaz and backup Brian Serven.  Diaz signed a three-year, $14.5MM extension in November 2021, and adopted up that long-term pact by hitting solely .228/.281/.368 over 381 plate appearances.  Given the shortage of MLB expertise on the catching depth chart, the Rockies will most likely signal at the very least one veteran backstop to a minor league deal, if for no different cause than to supply Serven with some competitors in Spring Coaching.