The offseason is a critical time for Major League Baseball teams, and the annual General Managers Meetings in San Antonio provide a unique opportunity to gain insights into the strategies and priorities of the league's decision-makers. In this article, we delve into the key takeaways from the recent meetings, exploring the Kansas City Royals' plans to bolster their offense, the Milwaukee Brewers' new hitting coach, and the Cleveland Guardians' pursuit of power, among other intriguing storylines.

Powering Up the Royals' Offense

The Kansas City Royals made significant strides in 2024, going from a 56-win team to an 86-win playoff contender. However, J.J. Picollo, the team's Executive Vice President and General Manager, recognizes that the offense needs to take the next step. "We need to be a little more dynamic offensively, and by that I mean we need to get on base at a higher rate than we did this year," Picollo told David Laurila.The Royals' offensive production in 2024 was solid, with the sixth-highest run total in the American League. However, their on-base percentage ranked ninth, and Picollo believes that improving this metric is the key to unlocking more consistent run-scoring. "We're trying to target players we can lengthen out our lineup with, whether it's someone at the top, in the middle, or toward the back end," he explained.Picollo is confident that the Royals' young core, including Maikel Garcia, Michael Massey, and MJ Melendez, has the tools to become better major league hitters. By adding players who can get on base and take pressure off these developing talents, the Royals hope to create a more dynamic and productive offense.

Blending Old and New in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Brewers have promoted Al LeBoeuf to be their lead hitting coach for the 2025 season, and General Manager Matt Arnold is excited about the veteran's ability to blend traditional and progressive approaches."Buffy has experience," Arnold said, using LeBoeuf's nickname. "He's been a hitting coach — a really good hitting coach — for a very long time. Somebody with that kind of experience who is able to blend the old school and the new school approaches… he's been introduced to a lot of new school ideas, and he's super receptive to all that. He also has a lot of ingredients that I think help our hitters in ways that have been tested over the course of time. His ability to bring both of those schools together is something we're excited to have at the major league level."The Brewers' decision to promote LeBoeuf from Triple-A Nashville reflects their belief that his unique blend of traditional and modern hitting philosophies can help their hitters take the next step. As the team looks to build on its success and compete for a championship, the new hitting coach's ability to adapt and evolve will be crucial.

The Guardians' Power Surge

The Cleveland Guardians saw a significant increase in their home run production in 2024, hitting 185 long balls, the sixth-highest total in the American League. This marked a substantial improvement over the previous two seasons, when they hit just 127 and 124 home runs, respectively.According to Chris Antonetti, the Guardians' President of Baseball Operations, much of this power surge came from the internal growth and development of players already on the roster. "A lot of the increased power came from guys who were on the roster the prior year and it was part of their growth and development," Antonetti said.The numbers back up Antonetti's assessment. José Ramírez jumped from 24 home runs in 2023 to 39 in 2024, while Josh Naylor went from 17 to 31, Steven Kwan from 5 to 14, and David Fry from 4 to 14. Despite the offensive improvements, Antonetti acknowledged that the Guardians still have room for growth, stating, "We weren't the best offensive team in baseball, so there is clearly room for us to improve. We'll work to try to figure out ways that we can improve on that in the winter."

Rebuilding the Reds' Pitching Staff

The Cincinnati Reds' pitching staff showed promise in 2024, even as the team's offense underperformed. According to Nick Krall, the Reds' top executive, the team's starting rotation is a particular area of strength, with a group of young, dynamic pitchers poised to take the next step."I think we have some really good, dynamic starting pitching," Krall said. "You look at what Hunter Greene did last year, the steps he took. You look at where Nick Lodolo was before he ended up getting hurt (a sprained finger on his pitching hand) at the end of the year. Rhett Lowder pitched really well at the end of his Double-A season, went to Triple-A and threw a shutout, then came up here to the big leagues and pitched really well. Andrew Abbott was solid before he got hurt (shoulder strain) as well."The Reds' projected starting rotation features five pitchers between the ages of 22 and 27, including Greene, Lodolo, Lowder, Abbott, and Graham Ashcraft. Krall is optimistic about the group's potential, but he also acknowledges the importance of keeping them healthy, as injuries plagued the Reds' position players in 2024.

Scouting the International Talent Pipeline

The offseason is a crucial time for MLB teams to keep a close eye on the international talent pipeline, and the GM Meetings in San Antonio provided an opportunity to discuss some of the top prospects from overseas.One name that has been generating significant buzz is Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old right-hander from the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. Sasaki is expected to be posted as an international amateur free agent this winter, and MLB teams are eager to add his electric stuff to their organizations."If he was in A-ball he would be a Top 10 prospect in MLB for sure," former MLB pitcher Frank Herrmann, who was Sasaki's teammate in Chiba Lotte, said in a previous interview. Herrmann's praise for the young phenom is echoed by many, and the Reds' Krall acknowledged that every MLB team has their eyes on Sasaki.Another Japanese pitcher generating interest is Hiroto Takahashi of the Chunichi Dragons. The 22-year-old right-hander had a dominant 2024 season, going 12-4 with a 1.38 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 143.2 innings. While the chances of Chunichi posting him anytime soon are slim, MLB teams are closely monitoring his development and eagerly awaiting the opportunity to bring him stateside.

Prospect Spotlight: Tony Blanco Jr.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a promising young slugger in their system in Tony Blanco Jr., the 19-year-old son of former MLB and NPB player Tony Blanco. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 243 pounds, the Boston-born, Dominican Republic-raised first baseman/outfielder has already showcased his immense raw power."The exit velo is already at the highest percentile of major league quality — it's elite — but what was impressive this year was the quality of his at-bats," Pirates GM Ben Cherington said. "The contact [Blanco's strikeout rate was 28.4%] was better than we expected for a guy in his first year in the States."However, Blanco's development has been hampered by a series of nagging injuries since signing with the Pirates. "He's had a series of nagging injuries since we signed him, and that's the piece we have to get him past," Cherington explained. "He's not getting the amount of at-bats he needs because of the time he's missed. Probably the biggest goal going into 2025 is to keep him on the field."If the Pirates can keep Blanco healthy, the towering slugger has the potential to become a dominant force in their lineup. His combination of elite power and improving contact skills make him an intriguing prospect to watch in the years to come.