LAS VEGAS -- The story is all too common. People fly into Las Vegas, full of hope and energy, and all too ready to throw caution to the wind. They leave a little poorer, a little sicker and with a nagging question over what just happened.
Or, in the case of baseball's winter meetings, what didn't happen. This may be a bit of a head twister for the syllogists of the world, but there were a lot of things that didn't happen at the winter meetings.
With that in mind, let's take a tour of the manager interviews conducted in the media room at Mandalay Bay over three days earlier this week. In each instance, the manager was asked about some need his club still has when looking ahead at the 2019 season. Since few of those needs were addressed in Las Vegas, I will offer a friendly suggestion for each club.
NL EAST
Brian Snitker says: "I would like [free agents Evan Gattis and Matt Adams]. All that kind of stuff is going to be up to [GM] Alex [Anthopoulos] as he rounds out this team and things like that. I think the world of both of those guys."
The move: Gattis and Adams are former Braves mashers and either or both would give Atlanta a much-needed bench component. Neither is really a National League player at this point, especially for a team with an every-day first baseman like Freddie Freeman. So perhaps a better focus for now would be to fill the opening of a corner outfielder, perhaps by bringing back free agent Nick Markakis.
Don Mattingly says: "I think you're realistic in where the division is and where we're at right now and you see what's happening within the division."
The move: As Donnie Baseball points out, the NL East is loading up this offseason, making an unexpected surge by the Marlins all the more unlikely. Of all the teams with unfinished business from Vegas, none may garner more interest over the next few weeks than Miami. It will remain that way until they finally find a new home for star catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Mickey Callaway says: "I think after last season we need to get better at the catcher position."
The move: Indeed. Realmuto would fill that hole nicely, but new GM Brodie Van Wagenen has to be careful. Given the number of suitors for Realmuto, you have to be careful that you're not giving away too much value when there are fine alternatives to Realmuto on the free-agent market in Yasmani Grandal and Wilson Ramos. Realmuto is better, but the difference is marginal.
Gabe Kapler says: "If our young starters, Nick Pivetta, Vince Velasquez, Jerad Eickhoff and Zach Eflin, if these guys get a little bit better, they're already really good, our rotation looks incredibly strong. Leaving aside Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta."
The move: Still, a team with designs on a playoff spot needs a little more certainty in at least one more rotation spot, and there is a reason the Phillies were one of the teams in on Patrick Corbin. While everyone is still wondering if Philadelphia might come away with Manny Machado or Bryce Harper, finding another starter may be a more immediate need. The free-agent options are dwindling, so the Phils should move fast on someone like Dallas Keuchel.
Dave Martinez says: "We've got three unbelievable horses: Tanner [Roark] coming back, Joe [Ross], hopefully he's healthy, [Erick] Fedde vying for a fifth starting spot."
The move: Martinez was uttering those words in regards to the completeness of his roster, Bryce Harper limbo notwithstanding. He obviously said this before GM Mike Rizzo shipped Roark to the Cincinnati Reds. The Nationals were light on rotation depth a season ago, so now the focus shifts to another source of good innings, someone whom Rizzo views as a better value than apparently he thought the arbitration-eligible Roark would have been. One possibility could be Matt Harvey; another could be a reunion with Gio Gonzalez.
NL CENTRAL
Joe Maddon says: "[Veteran leadership] is something that is very difficult to analytically prescribe regarding how important this is. It's one of the most important things you could possibly do, to get that right kind of mix in your clubhouse."
The move: Perhaps because the Cubs say they don't have the budget to splurge in the free-agent market, there has been a lot of chatter about leadership in the clubhouse, having the kind of guy who will hold his younger teammates accountable. No, you can't build that into a WAR calculation, but since teams seem to value it, perhaps we should too. Is there a free agent who might both fit that bill and give the Cubs another depth option when it comes to actually playing on the field? Maybe Gattis, as a third catcher and part-time first baseman. Gattis also could take over as Chicago's chief pinch hitter now that Tommy La Stella has been traded. Another excellent option could be Chicago native Curtis Granderson.
Cincinnati Reds
David Bell says: "I know [Nick Senzel] is preparing himself to play center field. He told me that when he walked by me. That's him. He's confident. He's an athlete."
The move: The Reds moved on from Billy Hamilton, non-tendering the speedy center fielder before the deadline to do so. While it might seem ideal that Senzel, an elite third-base prospect blocked at that position by Eugenio Suarez, could take over in center, the Reds need to make sure they have coverage if such a transition doesn't take. Senzel has not played center field during his minor league career. A veteran like Cameron Maybin could be a quality fit.
Craig Counsell says: "You need some offense from that position as well."
The move: Counsell was answering a question about how he prioritizes different traits of a catcher. The Brewers have a couple of solid defensive backstops in Manny Pina and Erik Kratz. Neither adds a whole lot on the offensive end. This would be a good spot for the Brewers to upgrade their offense, and I love Wilson Ramos for that task.
Clint Hurdle says: "[Lonnie Chisenhall] brings a lot of intangibles as well as skill sets to the game that can complement our club. Our roster as it sits right now, and the absence of [Gregory] Polanco, to go out and perform with some consistent at-bats."
The move: As Polanco recovers from his shoulder injury, it's a golden opportunity for someone to get some everyday time in the outfield, with Chisenhall the current leading candidate. Another competitor for that role couldn't hurt, and someone who is available, eager to demonstrate some value and is good in the clubhouse is Carlos Gonzalez.
Mike Shildt says: "Clearly we'd like to improve our bullpen. I think [John Mozeliak] and [Matt] Girsch have communicated what that looks like. And I'm confident that they're looking to do just that and in what capacity, we'll figure out and we'll work with."
The move: The Cardinals have a loaded lineup and a deep stable of starting pitchers, though you could argue that the rotation lacks an ace. But really, St. Louis is in prime position to pump up the quality of its bullpen depth. But beyond depth guys, the Cardinals could really look dynamic on paper with the addition of a super reliever, such as Andrew Miller.
NL WEST
Torey Lovullo says: "I trust [GM Mike Hazen]. I trust where this organization is going. And it's his vision. I believe in that. So when he's informing me about some of the thoughts that he's having, I support him."
The move: Hazen says he's not apt to descend into a full-on rebuild, which is good to hear. Trading Paul Goldschmidt was a sensible move, and the two big league players the Diamondbacks got back -- catcher Carson Kelly and starting pitcher Luke Weaver -- can be key contributors. Still, for a team looking to stretch its resources and remain viable, having one player -- Zack Greinke -- earning over $25 million more per season than any other player on the roster doesn't fit. You'd like to be able to distribute those funds a little more across the roster. It's hard to identify a taker for Greinke, but finding one has to be Arizona's top priority.
Bud Black says: "There's going to be a little turnover in our roster. And I do think there will be some new additions. And I think, like I said, there's going to be younger guys who will get more of an opportunity to play."
The move: One of those younger guys of whom Black speaks is infielder Brendan Rodgers, who has a great chance to fill the void opened up by the departure of free-agent second baseman DJ LeMahieu. Another possibility is Garrett Hampson. Still, Colorado needs some veteran coverage at that spot, something that should easily be addressed given the flooded market of free-agent second basemen. My favorite pick for them would be former Oriole Tim Beckham, who could serve as a high-quality utility option.
Dave Roberts says: "Obviously we have an excess in starting pitching. Outfielders, quality. And some depth."
The move: As usual, the Dodgers are operating from a position of power. They have the pieces to make major splashes in both the free-agent and trade markets. Obviously, using the trade option to free up money to go heavy in free agency is one likely path. The Dodgers also would be fine if they didn't do anything. I liked the idea of dealing young-but-blocked outfielder Alex Verdugo for Indians ace Corey Kluber, despite the rotation depth already on hand. I'm not sure that's as likely for the Indians given their maneuvering on the final day of the meetings. Now I think Verdugo ought to be the foundation of a move to land Realmuto.
Andy Green says: "We're in the position right now that the dust will settle on our roster construction hopefully in the next couple of weeks. And we'll have a better idea how we can use the guys that we have, that we expect to be in the rotation. I don't think anything is off the table for us."
The move: Green was talking about the possibility of using the opener to help fill out their starting rotation. The Padres are a team in position to take advantage of such a strategy, especially with some of the young arms they should be transitioning to the majors over the next couple of years. Right now, though, the San Diego rebuild could be shortened with an upper-echelon starter, and a package of some of their coveted prospects in exchange for Kluber would fit that bill.
Bruce Bochy says: "[GM Farhan Zaidi] is trying to get us more athletic, more versatile. He's trying to give me more options during the game."
The move: Improving athleticism via free agency can be a challenge since, by definition, players are a little older. As Zaidi gradually improves the Giants' payroll structure, he will surely be targeting value plays over major splashes. It would seem that the best way to do this would be to move Madison Bumgarner for a couple of younger, cost-controlled players. The problem with that is that Bumgarner's value is at an ebb as the industry waits to see if he can recover some of his missing velocity.
AL EAST
Earl Weaver said: "Don't worry, the fans don't start booing until July."
The move: The Orioles didn't finish their reported deal with former Cubs coach Brandon Hyde as their new manager during the meetings, so we'll pull this apt Earl quote from the dustbin for now. As for the roster, it's not good. But as new GM Mike Elias digs into Baltimore's rebuild, landing some stable rotation innings would seem to be a priority, coming in the form of a free agent like James Shields, who is looking to rebuild some value.
Alex Cora says: "With the guys that we have right now, I'm good with it."
The move: Cora was speaking about his bullpen, a couple of days before Joe Kelly signed with the Dodgers. It's probable Cora made that statement knowing that Kelly's return to Boston was unlikely. The Red Sox's roster is pretty complete, yet some additional bullpen arms couldn't hurt, especially if closer Craig Kimbrel finds his riches elsewhere. If Boston is looking to moderate its spending in this area, a couple of bounce-back candidates who might be good values are Hunter Strickland and Greg Holland. A lefty such as Tony Sipp or Luis Avilan couldn't hurt, either.
Aaron Boone says: "I don't [have a preference whether the Yankees add a shortstop]. I think the offseason will kind of dictate it and the different moves we make will kind of dictate that. I will say that with Gleyber [Torres] and his versatility, I feel it becomes about the best player and the best option and what makes the most sense roster-wise."
The move: As the Yankees await the return of Didi Gregorius, Boone will be challenged with filling the void at shortstop, made more difficult by the defensive shortcomings of incumbent third baseman Miguel Andujar. Recently released former Blue Jay Troy Tulowitzki makes so much sense here it almost hurts, and he won't cost much.
Kevin Cash says: "In a perfect world, you try to complement the opener with the length guy that falls in. So the best example is probably a guy like Ryan Stanek coming in that throws very hard, high velocity, and you complement him with a guy like Ryan Yarbrough that's left-handed and uses his pitch mix to navigate his way through a lineup. You're not always going to have that."
The move: Exactly. The Rays are looking at navigating a good portion of the season with at least one and perhaps two rotation spots attached by bullpenning. This is why they should bring back former Ray James Shields, who can chew innings and has the club-first mentality to serve in any role his old club wants to use him in.
Charlie Montoyo says: "If he is what I think it is, he'll be in the top of the lineup."
The move: Montoyo was asked more about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. than anything else during his session with the media. That's a reflection of just how much anticipation there is over Guerrero's imminent arrival in the big leagues, but also of the fact that the gaze in Toronto is squarely fixed on the future. That said, the Blue Jays do need to add some low-cost veteran arms for stability. Free agents such as Martin Perez, Gio Gonzalez and Matt Harvey all could work in that capacity while offering enough residual upside that perhaps a good half-season could allow a club to flip them at the trade deadline.
AL CENTRAL
Rick Renteria says: "It's a big boost because now we're in a position, potentially, to be able to possibly acquire someone of a status, of a reputation, of a skill set, that can impact your club in a significant way."
The move: Sign Bryce Harper. Do it now. Cubs fans will be jealous.
Terry Francona says: "I would say so far 99.9 [percent of rumors] are not correct. I mean, Chris [Antonetti] and [Mike Chernoff] talk to every team. They do their due diligence, but I think that some of this stuff, it's the winter meetings. It gets a life of its own."
The move: Let's say the Indians, against all external expectation, decide to keep their high-throttle starting rotation intact. Now that Jake Bauers and old friend Carlos Santana have been added to deepen the power sources of the position player group, what's left for a team looking to keep its long-term payroll outlook at a sustainable level? Another option at catcher seems like a must, even if it's a defense-first, low-cost type like Drew Butera or A.J. Ellis. More than that, though, the Indians should look at adding a second base option, though despite the number of decent free-agent options at the keystone, I'd look at third baseman Mike Moustakas. Moustakas would add yet more thump, fits into any clubhouse and would bump star infielder Jose Ramirez to second base, where he finished last season.
Ron Gardenhire says: "We don't have one right now."
The move: Gardenhire is talking about the shortstop position, and even rebuilding teams like the Tigers have to put a shortstop on the field, so they went out and reportedly signed Jordy Mercer. At this point of his career, Mercer has to be looked at as kind of an upper-echelon stopgap shortstop. That move actually gives the Tigers a pretty functional transitional roster. I'd like to see them add to the outfield/DH mix. An excellent stopgap candidate would be former White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia.
Ned Yost says: "I just think that shift, it makes the game much, much more boring, in my opinion."
The move: We get it, Ned. You don't like the shift. But here's the thing: Because your club has been built in the past, and likely will be in the future, on a foundation of contact hitting, speed, defense and all-fields ability, it's likely you're going to have rosters against which the shift is of negligible value. If other teams can't shift the Royals (because it doesn't really help), but you can shift them as needed, and those other teams are going to be more laden with fly-ball, dead-pull hitters, and you've got elite outfield defense, isn't all of that a competitive edge for your team? The Royals' move: Explain this to Ned.
Rocco Baldelli says: "Going forward, I think he's ready from all the conversations that I've had with him to get out there and start fresh and play and get out there and have a great year."
The move: You probably know that Baldelli was referring here to disgruntled center fielder Byron Buxton, but he could have made the same comments about Jonathan Schoop, C.J. Cron, Jorge Polanco or Miguel Sano. It's like the Twins have decided the new market inefficiency is bounce-back candidates. It's an approach that marks the Twins as a sleeper contender in the AL Central, if the Indians should falter. To maximize that possibility, the Twins need to add to their pitching staff, which doesn't look bad on paper. However, an elite reliever could mean so much for this club. I wouldn't give Craig Kimbrel six years, $100 million, but I might go hard on a more reasonable free agent such as Adam Ottavino, Andrew Miller or even Cody Allen. In fact, Miller and Allen would fit right in after suffering disappointing seasons in 2018.
AL WEST
A.J. Hinch says: "The rotation, I get asked a lot about the rotation because we lost [Lance] McCullers to injury and [Charlie] Morton and [Dallas] Keuchel to free agency. Time will tell how those gaps are filled."
The move: Hinch then went on to rattle off some internal candidates: Brad Peacock, Collin McHugh, Josh James, Cionel Perez and, eventually, hot prospect Forrest Whitley. Nevertheless, in the arms race to keep up with the Yankees and Red Sox, a high-impact starter feels like a need even more than the need for an additional bat. Right now, it seems like Keuchel might be the best remaining option, so maybe renewing that relationship is the way to go. Otherwise, dipping into the prospect pile for a shot at a may-or-may-not-be-available Cleveland starter (Kluber or Trevor Bauer) would be a true power move.
Brad Ausmus says: "We talk about wanting to improve the pitching staff. One way you would improve the pitching staff, by getting a catcher who can make the pitchers better."
The move: Spoken like a true former backstop. Yasmani Grandal, for all his problems on defense during the postseason, is a great on-paper fit, though it's possible he'll be too pricey for the Angels. Otherwise, why not a reunion with Martin Maldonado? Sure, the ideal would be J.T. Realmuto, but it's hard to see the Angels matching trade packages with Realmuto's other pursuers.
Bob Melvin says: "Part of our decision is holding down the fort until we get some of these injured pitchers back."
The move: The A's did a tremendous job piecing things together in their injury-riddled rotation. Now, most of those ad hoc solutions -- Edwin Jackson, Mike Fiers, Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill -- are free agents. As Melvin suggests, between injury returnees and on-the-come young pitchers, the A's have plenty of names for the depth chart. But poor Melvin could use some stability in this area. Low-cost, make-good candidates are really the way to go, as the A's probably don't want to overcommit on any one pitcher. We've discussed some of these types -- Shields, Derek Holland, Martin Perez, Nate Karns and Matt Harvey, to name a few.
Scott Servais says: "Jerry has been shopping for the groceries, and I take the recipe and put the soup together."
The move: One would think that a manager working under Trader Jerry Dipoto would require a calm demeanor and multitudes of patience. That makes Servais a good match. Given the virtual impossibility of moving the contract of Felix Hernandez, the Mariners still have plenty of pricey veterans who could be moved, if Dipoto can finder takers. Kyle Seager is the most oft-discussed, but newly acquired Edwin Encarnacion and Jay Bruce also would make more sense on a team thinking in the short term. It's hard to say which teams might want to take on those players at the money they are earning, but if there is a deal to be made, Dipoto is the one to find it.
Chris Woodward says: "We need to explore everything to make ourselves successful. So I talk to all of our offensive guys. Every guy is different. My discussion with Delino DeShields is different than Joey Gallo. I guess the reason is the same: We need to score runs."
The move: Woodward talked a good deal about the need to establish a certain style of play. With the Rangers, establishing that would likely entail cutting down on strikeouts and being less easy to shift against. The Gallo project is a litmus test. If Woodward and his staff can coax Gallo, one of baseball's most extreme hitters, into becoming a more functional situational hitter, that would be a good sign for Rangers fans. This, more than any player acquisition, is the best move the Rangers could make. That's especially true after Texas shored up its rotation with veteran Lance Lynn.