If it were me in Rizzo's shoes, I'd address only a few things, yet big things.
Number 1 - 1st Base. Adam LaRoche in his two and two thirds tenure here has been hurt, then amazing and then slumpy and inconsistent. I think he is "done" and even a severe uptick next year doesn't bode well for the club long term. I look into "my" farm system and see that I have Tyler Moore, Chris Marrero and Matt Skole. What do "we" really have with Tyler Moore? Is he a potential starter at 1B with good power numbers but a bad OBP and AVG? Is he only a bench guy? Is he just AAAA filler? Are Chris Marrero or Matt Skole MLB ready and are they any better than Moore? "My" scout's eye is only sold on Moore being a bench guy right now and the other two options are non-factors at this point. Marrero probably is a never will be and Skole is too old for his level in the minors and is too injury prone.
Solution - Kendrys Morales on a three year deal (through age 33) for about 15 Mil a year. I go with "my" gut that Zimmerman turns it around at 3B defensively and "I" can sign a middle of the order bat to drive in runs. "I" ship LaRoche out to any team willing to take on a modicum of his salary next year.
Number 2 - Rotation. Haren is gone. Assuming all four of "my" main starters can come back healthy the following season, I look at my options in house and on the trade or free agent market. Garza, Kuroda, Hughes and Ervin Santana are all free agents. Price and maybe Samardzija are available by trade. My system has Lucas Giolito, Taylor Jordan, Nathan Karns, A.J. Cole, Robbie Ray, Tanner Roark, Sammy Solis and Matt Purke as names that someone in another organization has actually heard of. I see the FA market as Kuroda as a number 2, Garza as a 3/4 and Santana and Hughes as back end pieces. I probably don't want to get into bidding wars for one or two years on Kuroda, and I'm not inclined to go more than three years on Garza. The other two FA pitchers worth mentioning are likely worse than a combination of Jordan and Karns. I then try to trade a package to get either of Price or Samardzija, and with a lack of hitting prospects in the system, I probably get shot down.
Solution - Karns or Taylor Jordan battle out the last spot.
Number 3 - Bullpen arms. Bullpen arms tend to vary year to year. I'm more inclined to stand put or add a relatively complimentary piece.
Solution - Soriano, Storen, Clippard, Krol, Mattheus, Stammen. Acquire Eric O'Flaherty on a two year deal worth 5 a year.
