Most people don't think about the needs of the teams who were the lucky ones to make the playoffs last season, but every team needs to continue to improve to stay on top.  Three of the teams who made the playoffs in 2012 missed the playoffs in 2013 and it was because they did not do enough to improve the team they already had.  The moves may be subtle, but each team needs to make at least one if they are going to maintain their winning ways, or take them to the next step.

Cleveland Indians

The Indians made the playoffs in the last week of the season after making splashy moves in the 2012 offseason, but they are going to need to make a few more this season if they are going to take the next step.  The Detroit Tigers have won the division for three straight seasons, and if the Indians are going to be the team to knock them off of the top they are going to have to fix the bull-pen.  This offseason they have watched set-up man Joe Smith and closer Chris Perez walk away via free agency, and while they are going to be tough to replace, they are both replaceable.  So far the Indians have done a decent job of filling the need when they signed veteran John Axford, but signing a quality closer is going to be key for making it back to the playoffs in 2014.

Need: Closer

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have a very similar issue to the Indians.  The Rays have lost their closer, Fernando Rodney, to free agency this offseason, but unlike the Indians they don’t have it in their budget to go out and sign replacements.  If they Rays are going to find a quality closer to fill the back end of their bullpen they are going to have to do it with a value signing or find someone from within the organization.  In the 2013 season the Rays made a splashy trade that filled the need of a quality outfielder, and that could be the case again this season as they look to trade starting pitcher David Price.  While a trade could be in the cards to fill the position, a value signing like Andrew Bailey who could come cheap because of two seasons of injuries.  No matter how they do it, they will have to fill that need to maintain the status quo.

Need: Closer

Detroit Tigers

When a team wins their division title three years in a row, has had the league MVP in those three seasons, and has played in back to back ALCS’ it is hard to believe there is something they could do to improve, but there is.  The Tigers have already made moves to improve their needs.  The first was a lead-off man that could consistently get on base, and they did that when they made the trade for Ian Kinsler.  The second was to fill the role of closer that has been trouble for the team over the past two seasons, and they filled that when they signed Joe Nathan to hold down the job.  So what could they possibly need now?  How about a third baseman now that MVP Miguel Cabrera has moved to first base?  The problem is, there aren’t a lot of quality third baseman out there.  With all of the moves the Tigers have made they may be able to cover up the inefficiency at this position, but if they are finally going to get over the hump and win a championship they are going to need a quality player at third base.

Need: Third Baseman

Oakland Athletics

The A’s are now back-to-back American League West Champions, but they have watched as all of the teams around them have spent all kinds of money to take their spot on the top.  The A’s have done their part to make maintain their spot on top and move to the next level, but they still have one big need if they are going to finally win the final game of the season for General Manager Billy Beane.  That spot is a power hitter to fill the designated hitter role for the team.  Knowing Beane when he does fill this spot it will be an underrated move that no one thinks will work, but no matter how you slice it, they need someone who can protect slugger Yoenis Cespedes in the lineup.

Need: Power Hitter

Boston Red Sox

The Sox made one of the biggest improvements in recent memory in 2013 going from worst to first by winning the World Series after finishing in last place.  They were nearly dominant on their way to the championship, but they still had one inefficiency that could have held them back, the back end of the bull-pen.  While in the end Koji Uehara turned out to be the treasure at the end of the rainbow, imagine if the Sox had that strong bull-pen for the entire 2013 season.  It seems simple, but if the Sox are going to get back to the series and win another championship the biggest thing they need is a full season of consistency in the bull-pen.  With former closers Bailey and Joel Hanrahan now off the team they will need the bullpen that carried them down the stretch to continue their solid play while incorporating new acquisition Edward Mujica into the back-end of the pen.

Need: Bullpen Chemistry and Health