Major League Baseball

10 offseason moves that need to happen

Published Nov. 17, 2009 6:38 p.m. ET

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The coils of the Hot Stove are heating up, and you can be sure plenty of trades and free-agent signings are forthcoming.

Here's something else you can be sure of: Some teams are going to screw up. They'll screw up by throwing too much money at a mediocre vet, or failing to fill a gaping hole in the roster, or letting someone walk who's essential to the future, or making an ill-advised trade, or ... well, there are any number of ways for teams to spend their winter getting methodically worse. So in the interest of helping teams help themselves, Dayn Perry is here to recommend 10 offseason moves that need to happen before Opening Day 2010.

1. The Twins should sign Joe Mauer to a contract extension.

Consider Joe Mauer's merits: He's the AL MVP in waiting, he's a skilled defensive catcher, he has won three batting titles, he's a career .327 BA/.408 OBP/.483 SLG hitter, and he's still just 26 years old. It so happens the American League's best player will be eligible for free agency after next season — unless, of course, the tight-fisted Twins sign him to a contract extension. This should not be a difficult decision. Besides being such a gifted and accomplished talent, Mauer is also a Minnesota native who came up through the Twins' system. Starting next season, they'll be moving into a new park — one built largely with tax dollars — and that means additional revenues. The Twins, now on the dole, owe it to their fans to sign Mauer long-term. Failure to do so will hurt the team on the field and damage the brand.

2. The Mets should trade for Roy Halladay.

News and notes

There's making personnel decisions, and then there's performing triage. In the Mets' case, it's the latter. The Mets fell to pieces in 2009, but they still return an enviable core (Johan Santana, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Francisco Rodriguez). The challenge, then, is surrounding that enviable core with something other than dreck. Enter Halladay. When he's healthy (and once you adjust for strength of opposition), Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball. He's also bound for free agency, and that's why the Jays are willing to trade him. The Mets can send Fernando Martinez and Wilmer Flores to Toronto, and — just as critically — they can take Vernon Wells' contract off the Jays' hands (wings?). That's a hefty cost for the Mets, but for their troubles they'll trot out one of the best one-two punches ever.

3. The Giants should sign Matt Holliday.

If the Giants are going to contend in a deep NL West, they must improve a woefully weak offense. For starters, they could use help at the outfield corners. Gunning for Holliday would be a bold move for San Fran, but its lineup needs such a signature addition. Holliday will be good for a .900-plus OPS for the next handful of seasons, and he'll thus greatly improve the Giants' attack. He'll be expensive, but regional charms, a return to the NL West, the promise of contention and lots and lots of money should get it done. The Giants' rotation deserves a hitter like Holliday. And unlike fellow free agent Jason Bay, Holliday can play a little defense.

4. The Braves should trade for Adrian Gonzalez.

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