Which teams will look the most different this season?
It always feels like there are a ton of new faces when watching your favorite team play Spring Training games. But when the regular season rolls around, how much has really changed for your club?
We set out to determine which teams have experienced the most (and the least) roster turnover this offseason. Based on FanGraphs depth charts projections through March 7, we calculated what percentage of each club’s 2024 plate appearances (for hitters) and batters faced (for pitchers) will go to players who did not appear for that team in the 2023 regular season (represented as "turnover rate" below.) This includes not only trade and free-agent acquisitions but also prospects who did not reach the Majors in 2023 and players who missed the entire season due to injury, such as the Dodgers’ Walker Buehler and the Tigers' Casey Mize.
Here are the 10 teams projected to have the most roster turnover from 2023 to 2024.
1. White Sox (49.4% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Erick Fedde (622), Michael Soroka (516), Chris Flexen (450), Dominic Fletcher (420), Nicky Lopez (371)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Mike Clevinger (549), Lance Lynn (535), Tim Anderson (524), Lucas Giolito (507), Elvis Andrus (406)
A flurry of offseason trades accounts for four of Chicago’s top five projected newcomers. The White Sox shipped lefty reliever Aaron Bummer to the Braves in November for Soroka -- a 2019 National League All-Star -- as well as Lopez, pitcher Jared Shuster, infielder Braden Shewmake and Minor League pitcher Riley Gowens. In February, Chicago sent right-hander Cristian Mena to the D-backs for Fletcher while dealing reliever Gregory Santos to Seattle for outfielder Zach DeLoach and pitching prospect Prelander Berroa.
The acquisitions have helped add depth to a White Sox organization in flux. The club parted ways with executives Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams on Aug. 22 and promoted Chris Getz to be its new general manager nine days later. After a 61-101 season in 2023, Chicago also added Fedde -- a former Nationals starter who rebuilt his career in Korea -- and signed veterans like Paul DeJong, Martín Maldonado and Kevin Pillar. Youth could be on the way, though: White Sox top prospect Colson Montgomery is expected to debut in 2024 and could make a difference quickly.
2. Brewers (43.0% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Rhys Hoskins (630), Jakob Junis (575), Jackson Chourio (560), Robert Gasser (509), DL Hall (474)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Corbin Burnes (784), Adrian Houser (481), Brian Anderson (361), Rowdy Tellez (351), Julio Teheran (288)
Trading away one of MLB’s premier starting pitchers is a big reason for Milwaukee’s rank here, as the Brewers won’t easily replace Corbin Burnes’ 193 2/3 innings of 3.39-ERA ball from 2023. The Brew Crew also traded righty Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor to the Mets and lost pitcher Julio Teheran to free agency, while Brandon Woodruff is projected to miss most if not all of the 2024 season due to shoulder surgery. With manager Craig Counsell leaving to helm the Cubs, the Brewers are sure to look different in 2024.
That’s not to say the 2023 NL Central champions are done contending. Milwaukee signed former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins -- who missed last season with a torn ACL -- to a two-year, $34 million deal. The Brewers will be bolstered by the additions of pitcher DL Hall and infielder Joey Ortiz, both of whom were part of the return for Burnes. Milwaukee will give Jackson Chourio, MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 prospect, every chance to win a starting job after signing him to a record-setting extension in December. Team No. 6 prospect Robert Gasser is also projected to toss 118 innings for the Crew.
3. Padres (39.4% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Michael King (657), Jhony Brito (546), Randy Vásquez (526), Kyle Higashioka (310), Enyel De Los Santos (277)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Blake Snell (742), Juan Soto (708), Seth Lugo (604), Trent Grisham (555), Michael Wacha (553)
With star closer Josh Hader and three-fifths of their 2023 rotation -- including NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell -- headed to free agency, the Padres had to act decisively to shore up their pitching. San Diego certainly did, dealing superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the Yankees in a seven-player blockbuster that netted the Padres four pitchers. All four hurlers -- King, Brito, Vásquez and right-hander Drew Thorpe -- are expected to contribute in 2024 for a San Diego team that underperformed in 2023 but finished strong to post an 82-80 record.
The Padres’ lineup still includes Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, so the club still feels it stands a good chance of contending in 2024. To replace Hader and Nick Martinez in the bullpen, San Diego signed a pair of international pitchers who are set for major roles: Japanese closer Yuki Matsui and Korean reliever Woo-Suk Go. With top prospect Jackson Merrill a contender to start in center field, the 2024 Padres will sport a new look.
4. Giants (38.2% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Matt Chapman (623), Jorge Soler (616), Jung Hoo Lee (581), Jordan Hicks (566), Mason Black (412)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Sean Manaea (499), Alex Wood (429), Joc Pederson (425), Anthony DeSclafani (419), Ross Stripling (381)
The Giants bolstered their lineup considerably this offseason, signing third baseman Matt Chapman on March 3 to mark their third major offensive addition. San Francisco added slugging outfielder Jorge Soler on a three-year deal after opening its offseason in December with a six-year pact with high-average, slick-fielding Korean center fielder Jung Hoo Lee. With Brandon Crawford now manning shortstop in St. Louis, Joc Pederson off to Arizona and Mitch Haniger shipped to Seattle for lefty Robbie Ray, it’s easy to see how different San Francisco’s starting nine will look in 2024.
So will the pitching staff: After Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, none of the five Giants pitchers who faced the most batters in 2023 will return this season. San Francisco will attempt to stretch out free-agent signing Jordan Hicks as a starter, but early injuries to Nos. 4 and 5 starters Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck and surgery rehabs for Ray and Cobb mean there are plenty of innings up for grabs. Lefty Carson Whisenhunt -- MLB Pipeline’s No. 83 prospect -- and Giants No. 8 prospect Mason Black could be new faces in the mix.
5. Mets (35.2% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Sean Manaea (675), Luis Severino (596), Adrian Houser (559), Harrison Bader (448), Tyrone Taylor (350)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Max Scherzer (444), Carlos Carrasco (417), Justin Verlander (386), Daniel Vogelbach (319), Mark Canha (303)
Any team dealing away both Scherzer and Verlander in the same season will have holes to fill. The Mets’ ex-aces now reside in Texas, and with Kodai Senga set to miss Opening Day, New York’s rotation will look different in 2024. The Mets made moves to address their vacancies, striking a deal with Milwaukee for Houser and signing the lefty Manaea and former Yankees hurler Luis Severino.
Taylor and another former Yank, Gold Glove center fielder Harrison Bader, will be additions to New York’s outfield. Otherwise, the Mets’ offense is manned by a familiar crew: Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Co. Prospects Drew Gilbert and Luisangel Acuña could see some time in the Majors late in 2024, but otherwise, the Mets’ turnover is primarily on the pitching side of things -- particularly with Edwin Díaz now healthy after missing all of 2023 due to a knee injury.
6. Dodgers (34.2% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (754), Shohei Ohtani (651), Teoscar Hernández (602), Tyler Glasnow (599), Walker Buehler (561)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Julio Urías (482), J.D. Martinez (479), David Peralta (422), Lance Lynn (273), Caleb Ferguson (270)
It’s hard to picture a more star-studded group of newcomers than the Dodgers have awaiting them in 2024. Buehler is the only one of the top five already with the club, but he missed all of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery recovery and won’t be ready for Opening Day. Los Angeles landed the two biggest stars on the free-agent market, signing 2023 American League MVP Shohei Ohtani to a massive 10-year contract and adding Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on a 12-year deal.
Add in one-year pacts with Hernández and lefty James Paxton and a trade for the hard-throwing Glasnow, and the Dodgers’ offseason is hard to top. (Plus, infielder Gavin Lux is back after an ACL tear cost him all of 2023.) Of course, L.A.’s roster influx meant designated hitter J.D. Martinez and midseason trade acquisition Lance Lynn hit free agency. The Dodgers also traded key reliever Caleb Ferguson to the Yankees in February. But it seems like Los Angeles has only improved since being swept out of the 2023 NL Division Series, although it could take a while for everything to click.
7. Cardinals (32.7% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Kyle Gibson (767), Lance Lynn (758), Sonny Gray (679), Andrew Kittredge (262), Keynan Middleton (253)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Jordan Montgomery (509), Jack Flaherty (485), Adam Wainwright (484), Dakota Hudson (354), Paul DeJong (306)
That’s right: All five of the Cardinals’ key newcomers here are pitchers. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak said in November that St. Louis needed “at least two starters,” so he went out and got three: Gibson, Lynn and Gray, who are projected to trail only veteran Miles Mikolas in innings pitched for the Cards. After a team 4.79 ERA that ranked 24th in MLB in 2023, things are looking up for the Cardinals’ pitching staff.
Not much has changed on the offensive side, although injuries to outfielders Tommy Edman and Lars Nootbaar could pave the way for team No. 4 prospect Victor Scott II to make an earlier-than-expected debut. Overall, the biggest change for St. Louis might be Wainwright’s retirement after an 18-year career as one of the faces of the franchise made a memorable exit.
8. Mariners (32.4% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Jorge Polanco (602), Mitch Haniger (532), Mitch Garver (529), Luke Raley (441), Luis Urías (294)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Eugenio Suárez (694), Teoscar Hernández (678), Jarred Kelenic (416), José Caballero (280), Justin Topa (279)
Whereas the Cardinals’ top additions are all pitchers, all five of the Mariners’ biggest acquisitions will help fill out the lineup. One of the best pitching staffs in MLB changed little over the offseason, apart from trades sending Robbie Ray to San Francisco and Topa to Minnesota. The first deal brought Mitch Haniger back to Seattle, while the second landed an All-Star in Polanco to fill a major hole: Mariners second basemen posted a .607 OPS in 2023, which ranked 28th in MLB.
It’s perhaps little surprise that general manager Jerry Dipoto’s other big moves also came through the trade market, including deals shipping out Suárez and Kelenic and others bringing in Raley and Caballero. When the dust settled on a trade-filled offseason, the Mariners’ roster looked considerably different.
9. Pirates (31.0% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected PA/BF: Martín Pérez (632), Marco Gonzales (596), Jared Jones (516), Edward Olivares (406), Rowdy Tellez (399)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Rich Hill (530), Carlos Santana (393), Osvaldo Bido (236), Rodolfo Castro (224), Tucupita Marcano (220)
The Pirates found themselves with holes in their rotation with Johan Oviedo set to miss 2024 due to Tommy John surgery and Hill hitting free agency after a midseason trade to San Diego. With the additions of left-handers Pérez and Gonzales, Pittsburgh has addressed those concerns while also adding Olivares and Tellez to its lineup.
The most intriguing newcomers, though? Pitching prospects Paul Skenes (MLB No. 3) and Jared Jones (No. 62), both of whom could see Major League innings in 2024. Jones could snag a spot in the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation, while Skenes -- the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 Draft -- will start the season in the Minors but won’t likely stay down long.
10. Tigers (30.8% turnover rate)
Newcomers with most projected BA/BF: Jack Flaherty (667), Kenta Maeda (570), Mark Canha (532), Colt Keith (504), Casey Mize (478)
Departures with most 2023 PA/BF: Eduardo Rodriguez (621), Michael Lorenzen (418), Miguel Cabrera (370), Matthew Boyd (303), Nick Maton (293)
It’s hard to picture not seeing Miggy in a Tigers uniform, but it’s Detroit’s reality after the future Hall of Famer wrapped up his career in 2023. To replace Rodriguez and Lorenzen, Detroit added free-agent starters in Flaherty and Maeda to fill their rotation vacancies and will also welcome back Casey Mize, the former No. 1 overall Draft pick who is fully recovered from elbow and back injuries.
MLB No. 22 prospect Colt Keith, fresh off signing a six-year contract with the club, is projected to be a regular in the Tigers’ lineup as a rookie. Keith and newly signed outfielder Mark Canha join a lineup led by Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter and a fully healthy Riley Greene.
Here are the five teams with the LEAST roster turnover this offseason.
1. Astros (10.6% turnover rate): Houston added star closer Josh Hader in January, but its rotation remains intact and its star-studded lineup hasn’t changed much. After coming just one win away from making the World Series, the Astros saw no reason to make major moves.
2. Phillies (11.0% turnover rate): Like the Astros, the Phillies were on the verge of making the Fall Classic. They signed utilityman Whit Merrifield to a one-year deal and brought back Aaron Nola on a seven-year contract but made no other major acquisitions.
3. Blue Jays (16.3% turnover rate): The Blue Jays’ roster looks mostly the same as it did in 2023, with free-agent adds Justin Turner and Isiah Kiner-Falefa replacing Matt Chapman in the infield.
4. Angels (17.1% turnover rate): The Angels’ biggest departure is obvious, but apart from Shohei Ohtani, things haven’t changed much. Reliever Robert Stephenson is the club’s biggest offseason acquisition.
5. Rangers (17.5% turnover rate): Why mess with success? Free-agent pickup Tyler Mahle and top prospect Wyatt Langford are likely to fit into Texas’ 2024 plans, but the rest of a World Series-winning roster is largely intact.