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Hold or be bold? NL contenders face questions
- Updated: December 16, 2016
The Cubs, defending World Series champions, will enter 2017 as the favorites to return to the Fall Classic, although no team since the 2008-09 Phillies has followed a championship with a pennant. That puts other contenders in catch-up mode, and in fact, the next five teams in last season’s National League standings all have made at least one significant move already.
In the West, the Giants signed closer Mark Melancon and the Dodgers have re-signed starter Rich Hill, closer Kenley Jansen and third baseman Justin Turner. In the Central, the Cardinals struck a blow at the Cubs by landing center fielder Dexter Fowler. And in the East, the Nationals swung a prospect-filled trade for center fielder Adam Eaton, while the Mets brought back left fielder Yoenis Cespedes.
• Hot Stove Tracker
For each of those challengers, the work isn’t done. Each faces a decision with regard to at least one key position: Stick with internal solutions, or sacrifice payroll or prospects for an external upgrade that might help push the club over the hump.
Cardinals: First base
Stand pat: St. Louis addressed its biggest need with the addition of Fowler, and the team’s infield is deep. Matt Carpenter is set to move to first in an effort to improve the unit defensively, and he should play alongside Kolten Wong, Aledmys Diaz and Jhonny Peralta, with Jedd Gyorko and Matt Adams available in reserve.
Go for it: Adding a big bat to hit behind on-base machines Fowler and Carpenter has to be an enticing idea. Plus, St. Louis already sacrificed its first-round pick in the 2017 Draft by signing Fowler, so there is less to lose by bringing in another free agent who declined a qualifying offer, such as Edwin Encarnacion or Mark Trumbo. The longer those two and fellow free agent Mike Napoli languish, the easier it might be for the Cards to swoop in and grab one.
Modest proposal: Though it wouldn’t help the defense, sign Encarnacion to a short-term, big-money deal — if such a thing is possible. Offset part of his salary by trading Peralta, who will make $10 million in the final year of his contract.
Dodgers: Second base
Stand pat: The Dodgers shelled out a reported $192 million to retain Hill, Jansen and Turner. While the club’s current leadership hasn’t been shy about spending money, it does have to consider the luxury tax. That concern, plus a desire to hold on to …
