MOST IMPORTANT TRADE: St. Louis took advantage of San Diego's salary dump and obtained shortstop Khalil Greene. The Cardinals this season received good defense but minimal offense from shortstop. The position produced only one homer and 31 RBIs, the lowest totals in the majors. The Cardinals believe Greene can return to his 2007 level of production: 27 homers, 97 RBIs and a .468 slugging percentage.
BIGGEST HOLE TO FILL: With lefthander CC Sabathia's move to the New York Yankees, Milwaukee needs a No. 1 starter. Whoever it is will not be able to replace Sabathia. The Brewers made the playoffs for the first time since 1982 because they went 14-3 in Sabathia's starts. Milwaukee was 76-69 in all other games.
MOST ACTIVE TEAM: The Cubs have made only one significant addition, obtaining former Florida closer Kevin Gregg to be a setup man, but they have been hyperactive. Their pursuit of San Diego ace righthander Jake Peavy has hit a lull, but the Cubs will keep trying. The deal could quickly come together if the Cubs agree to include lefthander Sean Marshall.
BEST UNDER-THE-RADAR MOVE: Free-agent lefthander Mike Hampton should help the back of Houston's rotation. Hampton returned to Atlanta's rotation this season after missing more than two years because of injuries and got better the more he pitched. Hampton had eight quality starts — six-plus innings with no more than three earned runs allowed — in his final nine starts.
TOP UNSIGNED FREE AGENT: Attention will turn to righthander Ben Sheets after the top-of-the-line free agents make their choices. Sheets could end up back with Milwaukee, which has money to spend. Sheets this season pitched enough innings (162) to qualify for the ERA title for the first time since 2004, and that seemed to take a toll on him. Sheets was 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA in his first 18 starts and 3-6 with a 3.46 ERA in his final 13 starts.
MOST IMPROVED TEAM: Until the Cubs get Peavy, St. Louis has the distinction of helping itself the most to date. Greene will increase the offensive output at shortstop, and free-agent signing Trever Miller will give manager Tony La Russa a matchup lefthander in the bullpen, a resource the club lacked this season. With Tampa Bay this season, Miller held left-handed hitters to a .209 average in 91 at-bats.
TEAM WITH THE MOST TO DO: Milwaukee has lost a No. 1 starter in Sabathia and could have to replace its No. 2 starter, Sheets. With the unexpected retirement of righthander Salomon Torres, the Brewers also need a closer. Torres' decision will allow the Brewers to upgrade at the position. He had 28 saves in 35 chances to rank 22nd in conversion percentage (80) among closers with more than 20 chances.
NL West
TOP SIGNING: The Los Angeles Dodgers filled one infield hole by re-signing free-agent third baseman Casey Blake. That allows the Dodgers to put Blake DeWitt at second, where he is a better defensive fit. Blake had only two errors in 56 games at third with the Dodgers this season.
MOST IMPORTANT TRADE: Colorado decided it would not be able to re-sign outfielder Matt Holliday when he reached free agency after the coming season. Rather than settle for draft-picks compensation, the Rockies sent Holliday to Oakland for a package that included talented but high-maintenance young outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and closer Huston Street. The deal allows the Rockies to put the younger and less-expensive Ian Stewart in left if desired and also gives them a trade chip in Street.
BIGGEST HOLE TO FILL: Dodgers manager Joe Torre stressed the need for the club to add an experienced, front-of-the-rotation starter to lessen the heat on righthander Chad Billingsley and lefthander Clayton Kershaw, both of whom are younger than 25. The Dodgers missed out on free-agent lefthander CC Sabathia and could lose free-agent righthander Derek Lowe, too.
MOST ACTIVE TEAM: San Francisco signed free-agent shortstop Edgar Renteria to give them more offense in that position. Giants shortstops combined to hit .228 with one homer, 36 RBIs and a .576 OPS this season. Renteria struggled with Detroit this season, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland said a return to the NL will help him. The Giants also added a pair of setup relievers in righthander Bob Howry and lefthander Jeremy Affeldt. This season's bullpen finished next-to-last in the NL for holds with 56.
BEST UNDER-THE-RADAR MOVE: The Dodgers upgraded their bench by signing free-agent infielder Mark Loretta. He made multiple starts at each infield position with Houston this season and has been among the NL's top pinch-hitters in recent seasons. In the last two years, Loretta has hit .354 with two homers, 15 RBIs and a .969 OPS as a pinch-hitter.
TOP UNSIGNED FREE AGENT: Outfielder Manny Ramirez could remain in southern California, but with what team? With Sabathia off the market, the Dodgers have the financial resources to make a deal with Ramirez. The Los Angeles Angels will also have money to burn if they are shut out on free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.
MOST IMPROVED TEAM: St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak was asked which team in 2009 could follow the path of Colorado and Tampa Bay in the last two seasons. Mozeliak quickly nominated San Francisco. Like his peers, Mozeliak likes a rotation headed by Cy Young-winning righthander Tim Lincecum. Another bat or two would make the Giants more of a threat.
TEAM WITH THE MOST TO DO: Arizona created a gap in the rotation with a low-ball offer to free-agent lefthander Randy Johnson, now unlikely to return. The Diamondbacks also need an inexpensive replacement (possibly Felipe Lopez?) for free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson, a positive force in the clubhouse, and find a new home for gimpy-legged outfielder Eric Byrnes, who is due $22 million over the next two seasons. The Diamondbacks appear to be feeling the effects of the national recession more than most clubs.
