How 10 teams can turn weaknesses into strengths

With the window for major additions all but closed, teams have a good idea of how their rosters are going to look entering the season.

The trade market could bring reinforcements later in the year, but for now, clubs looking to shore up weaknesses will have to find solutions from within. The 10 teams below could do just that.

These teams rank poorly in projected WAR (per FanGraphs Depth Charts) at specific spots on the diamond, but they have the potential to outperform expectations.

Catcher: Pirates (24th in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: Joey Bart experienced an offensive breakthrough following a trade from the Giants to the Pirates in 2024 (121 wRC+), but he still has a lot to prove on both sides of the ball as he looks to cement himself as Pittsburgh¡¯s starting backstop. Despite his success last season, Bart has been a below-average hitter for his career (93 wRC+). He has also struggled to distinguish himself on defense, posting a fielding run value of -8 (per Statcast).

Why they could outperform the projections: Bart remains a work in progress on defense, but what if the offensive level he reached last season turns out to be the new normal? He¡¯s certainly never been lacking in raw power -- it¡¯s a big reason why he went second overall in the 2018 MLB Draft. If he can sustain last year¡¯s .462 slugging percentage and 121 wRC+ -- both of which ranked fourth among catchers with at least 200 plate appearances -- he could be a real asset for the Pirates.

First base: Athletics (27th in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: The A¡¯s are poised to open 2025 with Tyler Soderstrom as their starting first baseman. While Soderstrom made strides at the plate in 2024 (114 wRC+), he had a 34 wRC+ the previous year and will enter the upcoming campaign with -0.7 career WAR (per FanGraphs) over 106 games.

Why they could outperform the projections: There¡¯s reason to believe the 23-year-old Soderstrom could be on the verge of a breakout. The left-handed slugger not only trimmed his strikeout rate by more than six percentage points from 2023 but also produced some impressive contact-quality metrics last year, including a 49.6% hard-hit rate and a 14.6% barrel rate. The A¡¯s also have a solid backup plan behind Soderstrom, with Nick Kurtz (MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 38 overall prospect) waiting in the wings. So even if Soderstrom¡¯s breakout doesn¡¯t materialize, first base might not be a total lost cause for the club.

Second base: Dodgers (T-22nd in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: With a star-studded roster, the defending World Series champions should rank among MLB¡¯s best at a number of positions entering 2025. However, second base is not expected to be one of them. Part of the problem is that Los Angeles doesn¡¯t have a set starter at the position, with Hyeseong Kim, Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor and Kik¨¦ Hern¨¢ndez all potentially seeing time there. Each of those four is projected to be a below-average hitter in 2025.

Why they could outperform the projections: Kim, who joined the Dodgers on a three-year, $12.5 million deal in the offseason after a decorated career in Korea, is the key here. The door is open for the 26-year-old to seize the starting job at second base, and he has the potential to make a sizable impact on both sides of the ball if he plays like he did in the KBO. Kim doesn¡¯t have much power to speak of, but he is an excellent defender with plus speed and strong bat-to-ball skills.

Shortstop: Red Sox (26th in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: Trevor Story's first three years of a six-year, $140 million deal with the Red Sox have done little to inspire optimism for 2025. The veteran shortstop has managed just an 87 wRC+ with a 31.3% strikeout rate in a Boston uniform while battling a series of major injuries.

Why they could outperform the projections: The simplest solution for the Red Sox is for Story to stay on the field. If he can turn back the clock and recapture the offensive form (111 wRC+) he displayed over six seasons with the Rockies, even better. Despite his offensive shortcomings over the past three years, he has still produced 3.5 WAR in 163 games -- roughly the equivalent of a full season -- with much of that value coming from his strong defense. Of course, the Red Sox aren¡¯t relying solely on Story at shortstop. They also have a potential ace in the hole: Marcelo Mayer, baseball's No. 12 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline. After taking a step forward in an injury-shortened 2024 season with Double-A Portland, Mayer has been turning heads this spring.

Third base: Tigers (T-19th in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: After recording just 0.9 fWAR at third base in 2024, the Tigers pursued Alex Bregman in free agency but were unsuccessful, leaving Detroit to address the position internally. However, one of its potential hot-corner options, Matt Vierling, will miss Opening Day due to a strained muscle in his right rotator cuff. Vierling¡¯s injury places even more pressure on rookie Jace Jung, who had an underwhelming 34-game cameo with the Tigers last season.

Why they could outperform the projections: The Tigers selected Jung 12th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft in part because of his impressive power potential. But after swatting 28 homers over 486 at-bats during the 2023 Minor League season, Jung battled a right wrist injury last year that clearly impacted his swing. The 24-year-old failed to homer during his brief time with the Tigers last season and went deep just four times overall after suffering the injury last June. With Jung¡¯s wrist now healthy after he had surgery on it during the offseason, the hope for the Tigers is that he will develop into an integral part of their lineup in 2025.

Left field: Braves (T-20th in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: Jurickson Profar is the Braves¡¯ new starting left fielder, having inked a three-year, $42 million deal with the club on the heels of an unexpected breakout with the Padres in 2024. While Profar had the 15th-best wRC+ (139) among qualifying hitters last season along with 4.3 WAR, his projected numbers for 2025 (1.7 WAR, 111 wRC+) aren¡¯t nearly as good, taking both his age (32) and lackluster production before ¡¯24 into account.

Why they could outperform the projections: Profar might seem like an obvious regression candidate, but the Braves are clearly confident in his ability to replicate last year¡¯s performance, and perhaps we should be, too. The veteran hit the ball much harder than ever before in 2024, producing his highest hard-hit rate (44.4%), average exit velocity (91.1 mph) and barrel rate (7.2%) in a single season under Statcast tracking (since 2015). He managed to do so without making significant changes to his plate approach, as his strikeout (15.1%) and walk (11.4%) rates both held steady. If Profar is able to sustain those contact-quality gains, he could easily exceed expectations once again.

Center field: Brewers (T-21st in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: Injuries have complicated Garrett Mitchell¡¯s efforts to cement himself as Milwaukee¡¯s everyday center fielder. In 2023, it was a left shoulder subluxation, which led to surgery and knocked him out for more than five months. Then, last spring, he fractured his left index finger and didn¡¯t make his season debut until July 1. He¡¯ll enter 2025 with just 365 career plate appearances, along with a lofty lifetime strikeout rate of 34.2%.

Why they could outperform the projections: If he stays healthy, Mitchell has a chance to be a well-rounded contributor for the Brewers. The 26-year-old recorded 1.8 WAR over 69 games in 2024, producing eight homers, 11 steals and a 126 wRC+ on offense, along with a fielding run value of +3. He runs well and throws hard. He has a solid grasp of the strike zone. And his bat speed is superb. Now, it¡¯s just a matter of putting it all together.

Right field: Nationals (T-22nd in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: Expected starter Dylan Crews has tallied just 132 plate appearances in the Majors, over which he owns a .218/.288/.353 slash with an 80 wRC+. He was also close to league average with a 106 wRC+ across 238 PAs in Triple-A last season. As a result, there's a significant degree of uncertainty surrounding the 23-year-old prior to his first full season.

Why they could outperform the projections: Crews possesses undeniable upside. Selected second overall in the 2023 MLB Draft behind LSU teammate Paul Skenes, he is one of the leading candidates to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award this year. The outfielder currently ranks fourth on MLB Pipeline¡¯s list of baseball¡¯s Top 100 prospects, with plus tools across the board.

Rotation: Orioles (23rd in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: The Orioles lost ace Corbin Burnes and didn¡¯t bring in an obvious replacement, opting instead to sign 41-year-old Charlie Morton and 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano. Those two collectively are projected for just 1.9 WAR, 1.8 less than Burnes produced on his own last season.

Why they could outperform the projections: The strength of Baltimore¡¯s rotation largely hinges on Grayson Rodriguez, a former top prospect now going into his third MLB season. The 25-year-old has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency as a big leaguer, but if anyone on this staff has the potential to fill Burnes¡¯ shoes, it¡¯s him. If Rodriguez is able to effectively assume the ace mantle for the O¡¯s, it would allow Zach Eflin to settle in as the club¡¯s No. 2 starter, a more natural fit for him than the No. 1 spot. Sugano will also be a key factor for the O¡¯s in 2025. Despite his advanced age and modest projections (4.69 ERA, 0.7 WAR), it¡¯s not hard to imagine the right-hander becoming an overqualified No. 3 starter in his rookie year, given his dazzling results over 12 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. The control artist won his third Central League MVP Award in 2024 after going 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA and a 6.94 K/BB ratio over 156 2/3 innings.

Bullpen: Cubs (T-22nd in projected WAR)

Why the projections are pessimistic: Although the Cubs solidified the closer role with their trade for Ryan Pressly, they are otherwise lacking in relievers who have lengthy track records of success at the Major League level. While WAR may not be the best metric for evaluating relievers, the Cubs¡¯ poor ranking illustrates the uncertainty associated with their bullpen.

Why they could outperform the projections: The Cubs have the makings of a solid bullpen if a few things break in their favor. Porter Hodge was quietly one of the best relievers in the NL after being called up last May, finishing with a 1.88 ERA, a 32.8% whiff rate and a 31.7% strikeout rate. Only seven pitchers (minimum 150 batters faced) allowed a lower expected BA than Hodge¡¯s .175. He could be the team¡¯s top setup man in front of Pressly. Veterans Julian Merryweather and Ryan Brasier could also be valuable pieces if they experience better health than they did a year ago. Merryweather¡¯s strikeout stuff makes him especially important, as he posted a 3.38 ERA with a 32.3% K-rate over 72 innings for the Cubs in 2023.