What MLB Teams Will Get The Best Bang For Their Buck In 2019?

You weren’t hearing much about the Braves, Brewers and the A’s this time a year ago, were you? 

Not only were they among five teams that managed to have winning seasons with a payroll below the major-league average ($139.3 before benefits, per Spotrac) but they were among the 10 teams that qualified for the postseason. The Rays and Pirates also finished above .500 with below-average payrolls.

Where is money being spent smartly this time around? 

Here are teams that figure to get a bang for their buck in 2019:

1) Brewers — They got within one win of the World Series a year ago with a payroll that ranked 22nd in the majors and have the horses in the lineup to get back, likely without a jump into the top half in spending. 

General Manager David Stearns is as patient as he is calculating. He hasn’t shown his hands yet but should have a big move or two left to make, as the Brewers’ current payroll figure is only $97.8 million, per Cot’s Contracts. He could upgrade at catcher, first base or in the rotation but there are no gaping holes to fill. 

Keep your eye on the fit for Jose Abreu, the White Sox first baseman. He’s the same kind of proven contributor as Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, who were both added on Jan. 25.

2) Twins — No fan base figures to be in for a more interesting ride between now and Opening Day, 2020. We’re not saying Minnesota will be a postseason team — although it was as recently as 2017 — but the combination of young roster team and financial flexibility stokes the imagination. 

Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano are in make-or-break seasons; talented shortstop Jorge Polanco suppressed his own value with a PED suspension last season, and Michael Pineda is due only $8 million after being signed while in the early stages of recovery from Tommy John surgery. Homegrown contributors like Jose Berrios, Eddie Rosario, Max Kepler and Taylor Rogers are either first-year arbitration players are pre-arb guys. 

Derek Falvey’s front office scooped up Jonathan Schoop and C.J. Cron after they were non-tendered elsewhere, and will probably add more bargaining signings, most likely to the pitching staff. But here’s the unique part about the Twins’ situation: They have exactly zero dollars in guaranteed commitments for 2020 and beyond. 

Kyle Gibson, Jake Odorizzi, Jason Castro, Addison Reed, Pineda and Schoop are free agents after the season. If they all leave, it will create almost $50 million in flexibility for the next off-season. The challenge for Falvey and Thad Levine is to spend wisely as they construct a roster designed to take down the Indians.

3) White Sox — Speaking of Abreu, it’s fascinating to see his team in the mix for both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. 

Whether Jerry Reinsdorf has the resolve to sign a $300 million-plus contract remains to be seen but the White Sox are at a fun stage in their rebuild. They were 29th in payroll a year ago and currently have only an estimated $71.5 million on the 2019 payroll. Shortstop Tim Anderson is the only player currently signed beyond ‘19, and he’s only due $20.75 million in 20-22. 

The challenge for Rick Hahn’s front office is to add pieces that complement potential stars like Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, Reynaldo Lopez, Michael Kopech, Dylan Cease, Luis Robert and Nick Markakis. He has to make a decision on whether to re-sign Abreu or trade him at some point this season. It’s safe to say he won’t be traded while Harper and Machado are in play.

4) Rays — They won 90 games and had a Cy Young winner in Blake Snell last season while also popularizing the “opener’’ concept to maximize a thin rotation. Team president Matt Silverman and GM Erik Neander hope the next act is a return to the postseason under manager Kevin Cash, who is in his fifth year as Joe Maddon’s replacement. 

Neander makes bold moves, such as non-tendering C.J. Cron after a 30-homer season and trading youngsters Mallex Smith and Jake Bauers after they had earned lineup spots. The Rays were last in the majors with a $69 million payroll last year and have only $56 million on the books for 2019. That figure includes the cost for Charlie Morton, who was signed to a two-year, $30-million deal. 

The Rays’ biggest remaining need is for experience in the bullpen. It will be tough to improve on 2018 while playing the Red Sox and Yankees on a regular basis but don’t count out these guys.

5) Braves/A’s (tie) — There’s a clamor in Atlanta for the Braves to start spending like a top-tier team after a surprising run to the NL East title last season but it’s possible they will cut spending. The A’s were an under-the-radar wild card team last season despite a devastating run of pitching injuries and look to be competitive again under manager Bob Melvin, whose contract was wisely extended through 2021.

The Braves are counting on their young rotation to be even better in 2019 but made two popular moves early in the off-season — signing third baseman Josh Donaldson (the 2015 MVP with Toronto) to a one-year, pillow contract and importing Brian McCann, a seven-time All-Star as a homegrown player in Atlanta, for his age-35 season. 

They currently have only $109 million as a projected payroll, down from $131 million last season, leaving flexibility for another addition or two.

The A’s were able to add infielder Jurickson Profar and set-up man Joakim Soria because of their payroll flexibility. They currently have $73.7 million on the books after spending $80 million on salaries last season. It will be interesting to see if they deal Khris Davis, who is eligible for free agency after 2019.