Five Teams that will shape MLB

1. Mets. After a disastrous fourth-place finish that coincided with their crosstown rivals winning their 27th World Series, the Mets need an overhaul. Injuries played a big part in their 2009 struggles, but this team can't afford to go into the season with Daniel Murphy at first base, Luis Castillo at second base and some revolving platoon at the corner outfield spots. In addition, there are holes in the rotation. But a big bat is the No. 1 priority. The Mets finished last in the majors with only 95 homers—27 fewer than the Giants, who were the team directly above them. If David Wright isn't going to go deep anymore, New York needs someone who will. And that means either Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, if the Mets are willing to spend and are serious about a turnaround.

2. Red Sox. Last offseason, they raided the bargain bin, signing John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Rocco Baldelli and Takashi Saito to very affordable one-year deals. Meanwhile, the Yankees were throwing $423 million at CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett. It is obvious which approach was more successful, just as it is obvious Boston can't gamble on low-priced reclamation projects again. Re-signing Bay is the focus, but if he leaves, the Red Sox must go all-in on Holliday and hope the Yankees don't get involved. And Bay/Holliday still won't be enough. This team is aging at third base and DH and must address that problem as well.

3. Dodgers. You also can lump in the Rangers here. Both franchises have uncertain ownership situations, meaning they might have to corral spending. Rangers owner Tom Hicks is having financial problems, while Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are having marital problems (as in, they have to decide who gets the dog, the house, the toaster and the team). Los Angeles stands to shed a lot of players (and payroll) in the next few weeks. But it remains to be seen whether it will reinvest those savings. John Lackey would fill the team's immediate need for a No. 1 starter, but a more prudent financial approach would be to trade for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay.

4. Giants. We know they can pitch, but we also know they can't hit (last in MLB in OPS, 29th in homers, 26th in runs). San Francisco added second baseman Freddy Sanchez and first baseman Ryan Garko before the trading deadline this season, but they were hardly enough to propel it to the NL wild card. The Giants need an impact bat, and there are two on the market: Holliday and Bay. Add one of those bats to a rotation that features Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, and we could have a shift in power in the NL West, especially if the Dodgers don't go on a spending spree.

5. Brewers. General manager Doug Melvin is talking in conservative tones. While he would love to sign Lackey to shore up a rotation that finished with an MLB-worst 5.37 ERA, he isn't confident he can meet Lackey's asking price. But remember that this was a franchise that offered $100 million to retain Sabathia last offseason. Sabathia's impact in 2008 showed Milwaukee the value of an ace, and the Brewers could pursue Lackey in hopes that he will be the piece that solidifies the starting five. Another option would be to divide that money among two or three second-tier free-agent starters.

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