Who could make a splash this MLB offseason? Passan's perfect moves for 17 teams that could go big

Jeff Passan’s look at the winter market centers on the kinds of moves that can change a season before it starts. The focus is not just on star power, but on fit, urgency and cost, with different teams facing very different paths to improvement.

For some clubs, the clearest answer is a frontline starter. In baseball, an ace can steady a rotation, take pressure off the bullpen and give a team a chance in any series. That kind of pitcher is hard to find, which is why the need for one often becomes the loudest offseason storyline.

Other teams may be better served by making a bigger deal on the trade market. A contender with holes in the middle of the lineup or on the mound can use prospects and controlled talent as currency, but that move always comes with risk. The reward is immediate help; the downside is thinning out the system that supports the future.

That balance is what makes an offseason like this so compelling. Clubs have to decide whether their window is open now, whether a bold move is worth the price, and whether standing pat is more dangerous than spending. In a market built on scarcity, one aggressive move can alter the shape of an entire division.

For fans, the next few weeks should bring a familiar set of questions. Which teams are satisfied with smaller upgrades, and which ones are prepared to chase the kind of move that forces everyone else to react? The answers will define the winter, and possibly the season that follows.