Breaking down all MLB team needs

Offensively, they're set. They just need skills growth from their young hitters, and that'll probably happen. Elsewhere, the only concern is replacing the innings of Livan Hernandez should he, as expected, depart via free agency. They'll probably do that from within.

The youth movement continues with the recent trade of Edgar Renteria. Andruw Jones is of course bound for elsewhere, and that means the Braves must get around to replacing him. As internal solutions go, there's Willie Harris and prospect Brandon Jones, but the Braves are more comfortable deploying them at corner outfield positions. It's hard to imagine their paying the going rates for someone like Torii Hunter or Aaron Rowand, so don't be surprised if Atlanta winds up with a veteran stop-gap like Kenny Lofton or Jeff DaVanon. One interesting idea might be signing Mike Cameron to a bargain contract and making do until he serves his 25-game suspension. With the addition of Jair Jurrjens and the anticipated return of Mike Hampton, the Braves will have depth in the rotation for the first time in quite a while.

The list of pending Oriole free agents is littered with uninspiring names like Kris Benson, Jaret Wright and Corey Patterson, so there's no one bound for market over which they should fret. The O's, of course, aren't going to compete in 2008, and that means they should not pointlessly sign any high-dollar free agents. That also means they should look to trade away whatever veterans they can in the service of the rebuilding effort. Moving Miguel Tejada would be a good start.

The world champs face tough decisions on Mike Lowell and Curt Schilling. There's of course the Alex Rodriguez scuttle going around, but the fans and clubhouse are united in wanting to see Lowell back. The Yankees may drive up Lowell's price, so that's something to be considered. There's nothing on the market after Lowell and A-Rod, so if the Sox fail to sign one of those two they may be forced to trade for a Joe Crede or a Miguel Tejada. The pitching market is similarly thin, so Boston might do well to take Schilling up on his offer to sign a one-year deal. Otherwise, they might be in the mix for top import pitcher Hiroki Kuroda.

The Cubs could use middle-relief help and, in an ideal world, an upgrade at shortstop. They also must make decisions on Kerry Wood (no big loss), Cliff Floyd (they can do better) and Daryle Ward (they could use his production off the bench). Also, the Cubs would do well do land themselves a center fielder, which would allow them to platoon Jacque Jones and Matt Murton in right. To that end, they have options: Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter, Aaron Rowand and Mike Cameron (after his suspension is fulfilled, of course) all make sense.

Next season, the Sox won't have much of a prayer in the tough AL Central, but they still seem determined to make a run at it. If they're serious about catching up to the manifestly superior Indians, Tigers and Twins, then this isn't the time for half-measures. That means spending loads of money this winter. Specifically, that means Alex Rodriguez at shortstop and a front-line addition in center. And even then the odds would be against them.

It's a tough spot for the Reds — they should be building for the future, but they're in an eminently winnable division. First and foremost, don't trade Adam Dunn — at least not until Jay Bruce is ready for a full-time major-league job. Then they should endeavor to deal Ken Griffey Jr. Failing that, trade Dunn. Then, it's mostly a matter of hoping Homer Bailey lives up to the press clippings. Overall, this team has upside, particularly in baseball's worst division.

There's no reason to re-sign Joe Borowski, who, despite his AL-leading saves total, was pretty darn bad in 2007. Give the closer's job to Rafael Betancourt and then add a middle reliever to the fold. Also, there's no need to re-up with Trot Nixon; if David Dellucci can stay healthy, he'll provide the left-handed outfield bat they need. Otherwise, GM Mark Shapiro should be focused on signing C.C. Sabathia to a long-term contract.

The NL champs are in a good position: they don't need much. A full year of Aaron Cook and the return of Jason Hirsh should solidify the rotation, and Juan Morillo is ready for an important role in the bullpen. The hope is that Chris Iannetta will solidify the catcher position, and his minor-league track record suggests he'll do just that. Expect a quiet winter in Denver; that's exactly how it should be.

The youth movement continues apace in Florida. There aren't any pending free agents they need bother with re-signing, and considering their payroll limitations there's no move they can make to position themselves as contenders. Steady as she goes and all that.

The Astros don't have much of a prayer, even in the down-cycled NL Central. They badly need help in the rotation behind Roy Oswalt, but there's not enough on the market to fix that mess.

At long last, Mike Sweeney's contract comes off the books, and that, happily, means an every-day job for Billy Butler. Needless to say, the Royals aren't going to be active on the free-agent market, but between now and the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline they should be endeavoring to deal Mark Grudzielanek.

Alex Rodriguez makes perfect sense for the Angels. Signing him would allow Chone Figgins to return to his customary "super sub" role, and it would also give the Angels the power bat they sorely need. As well, it would steal the So Cal headlines back from the Dodgers. Oh, and they've also got the coffers to pull it off. There's no reason to re-up with Bartolo Colon unless he's willing to take a low-base, incentive-laden deal.

Joe Torre's on board, but, as detailed previously in this space, that's merely a good start. They should be in the mix for A-Rod and otherwise looking to upgrade in center field (Juan Pierre just doesn't cut it). Also, bringing back Randy Wolf on the cheap might be a sensible calculated risk.

A healthy Ben Sheets (never to be assumed) and progress on the part of all those young hitters will make the Brewers the team to beat in the Central. Step one, though, will be re-signing closer Francisco Cordero. Adding a reliable innings-eater to the rotation also makes sense. Curt Schilling named the Brewers as one of the teams he'd play for, so that's worth Doug Melvin's consideration. They'll also need to dig up a replacement for Geoff Jenkins, whose 2008 option they recently declined. That means finding a left-handed bat to pair with Kevin Mench. Trot Nixon, Brad Wilkerson and Cliff Floyd are all possibilities.

It appears Torii Hunter won't be re-signed, and his loss means it'll be tough for the Twins to hang with Cleveland and Detroit. Carlos Silva is also headed for market, but the big question in Minnesota is whether they're willing and able to sign Johan Santana to a contract extension. With or without him, the long-term outlook in Minnesota isn't especially promising.

Omar Minaya and the Mets are certainly in the A-Rod fray. Of course, that would mean transitioning David Wright to a corner outfield spot, which would harm his value going forward. Still, A-Rod is A-Rod. The Mets shouldn't hesitate to let the deliriously overrated Paul Lo Duca walk, but they do need to re-up with Ramon Castro and give him the starting job at catcher. There are also pitching questions. Do they try to re-sign Tom Glavine? Or do they find another starter elsewhere on the market? Or do they give the fifth starter's job to Philip Humber or Mike Pelfrey? As presently constructed, the rotation is thin. They also need to sort out the second-base situation now that Luis Castillo and Jose Valentin are both free agents.

If Yankee brass is to be believed, then they're done with A-Rod. In all likelihood, they'll pursue Mike Lowell, who's about the only other free-agent option at third base. Failing that, the job should go to Wilson Betemit, who's not a huge drop-off from Lowell. Elsewhere, there's the matter of persuading Andy Pettitte to exercise his $16-million player option for 2008. Re-signing Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada will also be priorities. As well, Joba Chamberlain's likely shift to the rotation will leave a hole in the bullpen, and that's to say nothing of the other losses in the 'pen. It'll be a challenging winter for Brian Cashman and company.

Mike Piazza and Shannon Stewart are gone, but that's no disaster. The A's, of course, won't be active on the market (barring an unlikely run at Barry Bonds), and their 2008 fortunes will come down to whether or not they can stay healthy. If guys like Rich Harden, Eric Chavez, Huston Street, Mark Kotsay and Travis Buck can stay healthy, then the A's may contend. Also, full seasons of Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki will help matters.

Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber are free agents, but the big pending loss is Aaron Rowand. On the other hand, the Phillies have outfield depth (Michael Bourn or Jayson Werth could step into a starting role, and Shane Victorino is capable of playing center), and third base and the back of the rotation are bigger needs. The Phils should be in the mix for Curt Schilling (although his fly-balling ways might not play well in Citizens Bank Park). Otherwise ... Kenny Rogers? It's a thin market indeed for pitching. A trade for Dontrelle Willis (provided Florida is willing to swap within the division)? As with other teams in need of help at third, Mike Lowell is a possibility, as is a trade for Joe Crede, Miguel Tejada, Troy Glaus or Wilson Betemit.

The rebuilding project begins for new GM Neal Huntington. There's no in-house free agent they need to worry about re-signing, and the focus should be on moving veterans like Jack Wilson, Matt Morris and Damaso Marte in exchange for whatever young talent they'll fetch. Looking further down the road, if Jason Bay manages to rebound and get off to a hot start in '08, then he should be shopped.

The Cardinal rotation was a disaster last season, and they'll be without Chris Carpenter for most of 2008. Curt Schilling will be of interest, as will Dontrelle Willis on the trade market. Much less likely — but still possible — is a run at Roger Clemens. The Cardinals, of course, could badly use Alex Rodriguez at short, but the odds of that happening are beyond remote. It's the Central, so anything can happen; however, there's little about the St. Louis roster that inspires much confidence.

Perhaps no other team is in for more upheaval this winter. The Padres' aging roster is facing the key losses of Mike Cameron, Michael Barrett, Marcus Giles and Milton Bradley, among others. It's likely that Greg Maddux will exercise his player option for 2008, but that still leaves plenty of holes and not much in the way of in-house replacements. Also, this isn't the off-season to be filling so many holes.

Barry Bonds is no more, and that means the only thing the Giants have going for them is a trio of gifted young starters. That's not enough to afford contention in the tough NL West. GM Brian Sabean has made some initial rumblings about pursuing A-Rod, but that would be a colossal waste of resources for a hopeless team like the Giants. Adding A-Rod might keep this team out of last place, but that's about it. More bad news: None of their outgoing free agents is the type to whom you can safely offer arbitration in the hopes of getting a compensatory draft pick or two when they sign elsewhere. This could be a comically bad team in 2008.

The only semi-serious loss for the M's face is Jose Guillen, and with the arrival of Adam Jones there was no reason to bring Guillen back. Jeff Weaver and his 6.20 ERA will likely be elsewhere next season, but that's obviously no great loss. With that said, the back of the Seattle rotation badly needs help (Horacio Ramirez and Chae Seung Baek do not a tolerable back end make). Considering the M's past successes in the Pacific Rim, don't be surprised if Hiroki Kuroda winds up in Seattle (should he decide to post, of course). Failing that, it's making do on the thin free-agent and trade markets for pitching.

The arbitration-eligible Carlos Pena will be agitating for a multi-year contract, but rather than indulge him the Rays should look to trade the 29-year-old first baseman now that his value as its highest. In all likelihood, he's going to come crashing back to earth in 2008, and he almost certainly won't be a highly useful player by the time the Rays are ready to contend. Otherwise, the focus should be on signing Scott Kazmir to a long-term deal.

They've got free-agent decisions to make on Sammy Sosa and Brad Wilkerson, but there's no reason bring back either one. Given the seller's market for third baseman, shopping Hank Blalock makes a lot of sense. Most of all, though, the Rangers need to resist the temptation to be buyers this winter. The rebuilding process is off to a fine start, and they don't need to compromise that progress.

Now that Matt Stairs is locked up, the only notable Toronto free agent is Joe Kennedy. The rotation made good strides last season, so given a healthy Roy Halladay and better production from left field, this team can contend. Speaking of left field, a platoon of Adam Lind and Reed Johnson might just do the job. In other words, there's no reason for Toronto to do anything but make tweaks at the margins.

The Nats have no free agents worth worrying about, and that means they can focus solely on dealing superfluous vets like Cristian Guzman and Dmitri Young (two-year deal notwithstanding). D.C. isn't going to contend in 2008, so cultivating the young talent that's in place needs to be goal.