Predicting Every MLB Team's 2024 Opening Day Lineup, Version 1.0 (2024)

The frenzy of activity that is the annual MLB winter meetings kicks off next week, and in the aftermath of those moves, the landscape for next season will begin to take shape.

For now, predicting what each team's lineup might look like on Opening Day is extremely difficult, but that didn't stop us from trying.

Ahead, we've assigned all of the top remaining free agents to logical landing spots and projected a few blockbuster trades on the way to predicting each MLB team's Opening Day lineup for the 2024 season.

Last season's lineup data from Baseball Reference, the projected rosters from FanGraphs and a healthy amount of speculation on where remaining free agents will sign went into compiling each team's batting order.

This will be updated throughout the offseason, so this is just a starting point.

Note: Names in bold indicate a projected acquisition.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Corbin Carroll
2B Ketel Marte
3B Eugenio Suárez
1B Christian Walker
DH Brandon Belt
C Gabriel Moreno
CF Alek Thomas
RF Dominic Fletcher
SS Geraldo Perdomo
SP Zac Gallen

Notes

-Veteran Brandon Belt had a 136 OPS+ and 19 home runs in 404 plate appearances playing on a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays last year. The 35-year-old has an .813 OPS with 12 home runs and 44 RBI in 74 career games at Chase Field from his many years with the San Francisco Giants.

-Dominic Fletcher hit .301/.350/.441 for a 115 OPS+ over 102 plate appearances in his first MLB action last season, and he could get the first crack at replacing Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the starting outfield. A reunion with deadline pickup Tommy Pham is also not out of the question.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
1B Matt Olson
DH Marcell Ozuna
C Sean Murphy
CF Michael Harris II
LF Hunter Renfroe
SS Orlando Arcia
SP Max Fried

Notes

-The only obvious hole in the Atlanta lineup is left field after Eddie Rosario had his $9 million club option declined. Slugger Hunter Renfroe has averaged 34 home runs per 162 games during his eight-year career, and also has one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball.

-Manager Brian Snitker will have a difficult decision on who to hand the ball to on Opening Day between Max Fried and Spencer Strider, and having two ace-caliber starting pitchers is a great problem to have.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B Gunnar Henderson
C Adley Rutschman
RF Anthony Santander
DH Ryan Mountcastle
1B Ryan O'Hearn
LF Austin Hays
CF Cedric Mullins
SS Jackson Holliday (R)
2B Jordan Westburg
SP Kyle Bradish

Notes

-The Orioles' focus in free agency will be on filling out the starting rotation and bolstering a bullpen that will be without All-Star closer Félix Bautista while he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

-If top prospect Jackson Holliday does not play his way into the team's Opening Day plans, it will likely be Gunnar Henderson at shortstop and Ramón Urias at third base to begin the year. Slugger Heston Kjerstad could also push for a regular role to open the year after getting his first taste of the big leagues in 2023.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Jarren Duran
2B Whit Merrifield
3B Rafael Devers
DH Mitch Garver
1B Triston Casas
SS Trevor Story
LF Masataka Yoshida
RF Alex Verdugo
C Connor Wong
SP Chris Sale

Notes

-Unless prospect Nick Yorke is viewed as MLB-ready, the Red Sox will need to do something about second base where Enmanuel Valdez is the team's best in-house option, so a one-year deal for Whit Merrifield is a nice stopgap. Eventually, the everyday role will belong to top prospect Marcelo Mayer, but he's a long shot at best for an Opening Day job.

-Veteran Justin Turner posted a 114 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 24 home runs and 96 RBI in what will likely be his lone season with the Boston Red Sox. Mitch Garver could help replace that lost production while also starting a couple games per week behind the plate.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Nico ho*rner
SS Dansby Swanson
LF Ian Happ
1B Rhys Hoskins
RF Seiya Suzuki
3B Matt Chapman
DH Christopher Morel
C Yan Gomes
CF Michael A. Taylor
SP Justin Steele

Notes

-The Cubs have work to do upgrading the offense, especially if Cody Bellinger ends up signing elsewhere in free agency as we're predicting here. The team has already been linked to slugger Rhys Hoskins who would fill a void at first base, and making a splash to sign Matt Chapman would give the North Siders the best defensive left side of the infield in baseball.

-Expecting Mike Tauchman to be more than a fourth outfielder might be overly optimistic and top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts in his first big league action, so don't rule out an outside addition in center field. Michael A. Taylor is a Gold Glove defender and hit a career-high 21 home runs in 2023.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Andrew Benintendi
3B Yoán Moncada
CF Luis Robert Jr.
DH Eloy Jiménez
1B Andrew Vaughn
RF Oscar Colás
SS Paul DeJong
2B Nicky Lopez
C Korey Lee
SP Dylan Cease

Notes

-The new-look White Sox front office has indicated it is willing to listen offers for anyone and everyone this offseason, but the likelihood of a team meeting the asking price on Luis Robert Jr. makes him a safe bet to stick around until Opening Day.

-The need for middle infield help was addressed early with Nicky Lopez acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Braves and Paul DeJong signed to a one-year, $1.75 million contract. That could be the extent of the team's offseason activity if the trade market doesn't shape up as it hopes.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF TJ Friedl
2B Matt McLain
1B Spencer Steer
SS Elly De La Cruz
DH Christian Encarnacion-Strand
RF Jake Fraley
3B Noelvi Marte (R)
C Tyler Stephenson
LF Will Benson
SP Tyler Glasnow

Notes

-With ample trade chips and a willingness to add some payroll in the right circ*mstances, the Reds seem like a safe bet to land someone such as Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber or Dylan Cease on the trade market. This projection has them adding Glasnow in a deal that sends Jonathan India and prospects to the Tampa Bay Rays.

-Shortstop Jose Barrero and outfielder Stuart Fairchild are both out of minor league options, so it will be interesting to see if they can play their way onto the Opening Day roster in some capacity or if they will be lost to the waiver wire.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Steven Kwan
2B Andrés Giménez
3B José Ramírez
DH Josh Naylor
RF Ramón Laureano
C Bo Naylor
1B Kyle Manzardo (RD)
SS Brayan Rocchio (R)
CF Myles Straw
SP Tanner Bibee

Notes

-The Guardians have already made a pair of minor moves this offseason, acquiring reliever Scott Barlow in a trade with the San Diego Padres and claiming catcher Christian Bethancourt off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. That could be it from a notoriously tight-fisted front office.

-Kyle Manzardo hit .272/.340/.565 with seven doubles, six home runs and 19 RBI in 22 games in the Arizona Fall League, and that could be the stepping stone for him to win an Opening Day roster spot. The 23-year-old was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays this past summer in exchange for Aaron Civale.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Charlie Blackmon
DH Carlos Santana
LF Nolan Jones
1B Kris Bryant
3B Ryan McMahon
C Elias Diaz
2B Brendan Rodgers
SS Ezequiel Tovar
CF Brenton Doyle
SP Kyle Freeland

Notes

-The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Carlos Santana to a one-year deal last offseason and flipped him at the trade deadline, and the Colorado Rockies could take a similar approach with the veteran who produced a 103 OPS+ and 57 extra-base hits in 619 plate appearances in 2023.

-Charlie Blackmon will no doubt see at least semi-regular time at designated hitter, in which case Kris Bryant can shift back to the outfield and Santana can play first base. Elehuris Montero and Michael Toglia will also be candidates for at-bats at first base and designated hitter.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B Zach McKinstry
CF Riley Greene
1B Spencer Torkelson
DH Kerry Carpenter
RF Mark Canha
LF Eddie Rosario
SS Javier Báez
2B Kolten Wong
C Jake Rogers
SP Tarik Skubal

Notes

-The Tigers ranked near the bottom of the league in OPS (.687, 28th), home runs (165, 24th) and runs per game (4.08, 28th), so it won't be hard for them to find offensive upgrades in free agency.

-Eddie Rosario had a $9 million club option declined by the Atlanta Braves after posting a 100 OPS+ with 21 home runs and 74 RBI, and a similar salary on a one-year deal might get him signed. Kolten Wong was awful for most of 2023, but he hit .300/.353/.500 in 34 plate appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers in September and could be a great buy-low target to fill the void at second base.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Jose Altuve
3B Alex Bregman
DH Yordan Alvarez
1B José Abreu
RF Kyle Tucker
C Yainer Diaz
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
CF Chas McCormick
SS Jeremy Peña
SP Justin Verlander

Notes

-The only major question mark for the Houston Astros is whether they will bring back veteran Michael Brantley for another season, or if they are going to go a different direction with their left field/designated hitter. After seven seasons with his older brother on the roster, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. could be a nice addition to an already stacked lineup.

-Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman will both be free agents after the 2024 season, so extension talks with both homegrown stars could be a focal point this spring.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B Maikel Garcia
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
C Salvador Perez
1B Vinnie Pasquantino
RF Nelson Velázquez
DH MJ Melendez
CF Harrison Bader
2B Michael Massey
LF Kyle Isbel
SP Brady Singer

Notes

-The Royals have always valued defense dating back to their back-to-back World Series appearances, so they could be a great fit for standout defensive center fielder Harrison Bader as he looks to rebuild his value following an injury-plagued contract year.

-Nelson Velázquez posted a 134 OPS+ with 14 home runs and 28 RBI in 40 games after he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for reliever José Cuas at the trade deadline, and he could be a key run producer alongside a healthy Vinnie Pasquantino.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Nolan Schanuel
2B Luis Rengifo
CF Mike Trout
DH Brandon Drury
LF Taylor Ward
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Mickey Moniak
C Logan O'Hoppe
SS Zach Neto
SP Reid Detmers

Notes

-With healthy seasons from Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Logan O'Hoppe and Mickey Moniak, the Angels offense could make up a sizable chunk of Shohei Ohtani's production even without any outside additions.

-Nolan Schanuel made his MLB debut on Aug. 18 after going No. 11 overall in the 2023 draft, and he tallied more walks (20) than strikeouts (19) in 132 plate appearances. The 21-year-old has the on-base ability to serve as a table-setter atop the lineup while he works to tap into the power side of his offensive game.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Mookie Betts
1B Freddie Freeman
C Will Smith
3B Max Muncy
SS Willy Adames
DH Michael Brantley
CF James Outman
LF Jason Heyward
2B Gavin Lux
SP Corbin Burnes

Notes

-This projection reflects a proposed blockbuster deal to acquire Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for a package built around Michael Busch, Emmet Sheehan and several other top prospect pieces.

-The Dodgers struck gold on a one-year deal with J.D. Martinez last offseason, and there are several players who fit the professional hitter mold and can serve as the team's primary designated hitter in 2024. Michael Brantley missed the bulk of 2023, but he looked healthy in the postseason and could be a bargain on a one-year deal.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Luis Arraez
SS Tim Anderson
1B Josh Bell
DH Justin Turner
RF Teoscar Hernandez

3B Jake Burger
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr.
LF Bryan De La Cruz
C Nick Fortes
SP Jesús Luzardo

Notes

-Jake Burger (217 PA, 130 OPS+, 9 HR, 28 RBI) and Josh Bell (224 PA, 119 OPS+, 11 HR, 26 RBI) both made an impact offensively after they were acquired at the trade deadline, but more needs to be done to build a reliable offensive attack if the Marlins want to take the next step forward following a surprise wild-card berth.

-Cutting their losses and releasing Avisaíl García would open up the designated hitter spot for Justin Turner, who was linked to the team last offseason before he signed with the Boston Red Sox. A multi-year deal to add Teoscar Hernandez and a buy-low roll of the dice on Tim Anderson gives the lineup a ton of offensive upside if everything clicks.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Christian Yelich
LF Sal Frelick
C William Contreras
DH Tyrone Taylor
CF Garrett Mitchell
RF Joey Wiemer
3B Michael Busch
SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa
2B Brice Turang
SP Freddy Peralta

Notes

-With Brandon Woodruff now non-tendered and both Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames headed for free agency next offseason, the Brewers could be headed for a reset, and we've projected a blockbuster deal that sends Burnes and Adames together to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Michael Busch, Emmet Sheehan, Dalton Rushing, Kyle Hurt and multiple other prospect pieces.

-Plugging in Busch at third base and signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa as a stopgap at shortstop addresses their needs on the left side of the infield, while shifting Christian Yelich to first base opens up playing time for their abundance of young outfield talent.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Edouard Julien
2B Jorge Polanco
3B Royce Lewis
CF Byron Buxton
SS Carlos Correa
RF Max Kepler
LF Matt Wallner
1B Alex Kirilloff
C Ryan Jeffers
SP Pablo López

Notes

-Is Byron Buxton going to be limited to exclusively DH duties once again in 2024? We're assuming the former Platinum Glove winner returns to center field, but the team could also use 2023 breakout rookie Royce Lewis in center field and Edouard Julien at third base if Buxton is going to DH again.

-Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler remain potential trade candidates even after their respective club options were exercised, but they are penciled into the Opening Day lineup for now. Top prospect Brooks Lee could make a push for the starting second base job with a strong spring.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Brandon Nimmo
RF Starling Marte
SS Francisco Lindor
1B Pete Alonso
LF Jeff McNeil
DH Adam Duvall
C Francisco Álvarez
3B Brett Baty
2B Ronny Mauricio
SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Notes

-The Mets have a lot of work to do on the pitching side of things, so don't expect any splashy additions to the lineup. If the focus is on building toward future contention, it would make sense to roll with Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty in starting spots on the infield for the sake of their continued development.

-With Tommy Pham traded over the summer and Daniel Vogelbach non-tendered, there is a void to be filled in the designated hitter spot. Signing veteran slugger Adam Duvall would give the team another power bat while also allowing regular DH starts for Starling Marte to help keep him fresh.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B DJ LeMahieu
RF Aaron Judge
1B Anthony Rizzo
DH Giancarlo Stanton
CF Cody Bellinger
2B Gleyber Torres
SS Anthony Volpe
LF Jung Hoo Lee
C Kyle Higashioka
SP Gerrit Cole

Notes

-Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees looks like one of the most obvious fits of the offseason given the team's glaring need for both outfield help and more left-handed production in a predominantly right-handed lineup.

-It's an outside-the-box move to fill the other hole in the outfield with 2022 KBO MVP Jung Hoo Lee, who hit .340/.407/.491 with more walks (383) than strikeouts (304) over seven seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes. The 25-year-old is coming off season-ending ankle surgery, but he is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2024 season.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Ryan Noda
2B Zack Gelof
3B Gio Urshela
RF Brent Rooker
LF Seth Brown
C Shea Langeliers
DH Troy Johnston (R)

SS Nick Allen
CF Esteury Ruiz
SP JP Sears

Notes

-The Athletics' biggest moves last offseason were signing versatile infielders Aledmys Diaz and Jace Peterson to multi-year deals. Gio Urshela provides similar positional flexibility, and Oakland might be one of the few landing spots where he will be guaranteed regular playing time after serving in a utility role the last few years.

-Troy Johnston hit .307/.399/.549 with 36 doubles, 26 home runs, 116 RBI and 24 steals in 134 games between Double-A and Triple-A in the Miami organization last year. The 27-year-old was not added to the 40-man roster and could be a nice target for Oakland in this year's Rule 5 draft.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
1B Bryce Harper
RF Nick Castellanos
C J.T. Realmuto
3B Alec Bohm
2B Bryson Stott
LF Brandon Marsh
CF Johan Rojas
SP Zack Wheeler

Notes

-With Bryce Harper expected to make the full-time move to first base, the Phillies can now use Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas as everyday players in what should be a significantly improved defensive outfield.

-Unless the Phillies find a taker for Nick Castellanos, it looks like the starting lineup is more or less set for the 2024 season, and the same can be said for the starting rotation now that Aaron Nola has been re-signed. That should make shoring up the bullpen the club's top priority.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Oneil Cruz
LF Bryan Reynolds
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
DH Rowdy Tellez
CF Jack Suwinski
C Gary Sánchez
1B Jared Triolo
RF Henry Davis
2B Ji Hwan Bae
SP Mitch Keller

Notes

-The Pirates have done a nice job hunting for bargains in free agency the last few offseasons, most recently turning Carlos Santana, Ji-Man Choi and Rich Hill into trade chips this past summer after signing them to one-year deals. Expect a similar approach to fill out the roster this winter.

-Burly slugger Rowdy Tellez had a forgettable 2023 season, but he is just a year removed from posting a 113 OPS+ with 35 home runs and 89 RBI. The 28-year-old was non-tendered by the Milwaukee Brewers and could be a cheap source of power production. C.J. Cron is another player to keep an eye on as a potential target.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Ha-Seong Kim
RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
3B Manny Machado
SS Xander Bogaerts
1B Jake Cronenworth
DH C.J. Cron
C Luis Campusano
LF Aaron Hicks
CF Trent Grisham
SP Yu Darvish

Notes

-The San Diego Padres are cutting costs this winter, and superstar Juan Soto is all but certain to be moved before Opening Day. This projection has him going to the Seattle Mariners for one of their controllable young starting pitchers and a collection of prospects.

-Even with the team trimming payroll, there are still holes to be filled on the roster. Buying low on C.J. Cron a year removed from an All-Star season and targeting Aaron Hicks, who will only earn the league minimum from whoever signs him since the New York Yankees are still on the hook for his 2024 salary, would be a nice low-cost way to add some production.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
DH Shohei Ohtani
3B Wilmer Flores
LF Michael Conforto
RF Mitch Haniger
2B Thairo Estrada
CF Mike Yastrzemski
SS Marco Luciano (R)
C Patrick Bailey
SP Logan Webb

Notes

-The Giants have been searching for a new face of the franchise since Buster Posey hung up his spikes, and after failing to land any of the market's top-tier free agents last winter, they should be considered serious contenders to sign Shohei Ohtani this winter. The biggest hurdle might be convincing him to play in a more pitcher friendly park, but signing him and in turn blocking him from signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers would be a huge win.

-With Casey Schmitt as a fallback plan and Thairo Estrada also capable of shifting over to shortstop, the Giants look poised to be the latest team to hand starting shortstop duties over to a largely untested rookie. It's worked out pretty well with guys like Jeremy Peña, Anthony Volpe and Ezequiel Tovar in recent years.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS J.P. Crawford
CF Julio Rodríguez
LF Juan Soto
C Cal Raleigh
DH J.D. Martinez
1B Ty France
RF Jarred Kelenic
3B Luis Urías
2B Josh Rojas
SP Luis Castillo

Notes

-Would a package built around controllable young starting pitcher Bryce Miller and prospects be enough to pry Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres? The Mariners have a clear need to bolster the offense around Julio Rodríguez, and that's even more true now that Eugenio Suarez has been traded and Teoscar Hernandez is a free agent.

-Reeling in Soto and then rounding out the offensive revamp by signing J.D. Martinez to a short-term deal would give the Mariners some serious firepower and make it easier to roll with Josh Rojas and Luis Urías in starting roles on the infield. Power-hitting prospect Tyler Locklear could be a factor at third base by midseason.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Brendan Donovan
1B Paul Goldschmidt
CF Lars Nootbaar
3B Nolan Arenado
C Willson Contreras
2B Nolan Gorman
DH Jordan Walker
RF Tyler O'Neill
SS Tommy Edman
SP Sonny Gray

Notes

-The Cardinals have been busy restocking their starting rotation with the additions of Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson in free agency, and that would seem to make it less likely they would trade one of their controllable bats for a young starter.

-Finding a way to limit Jordan Walker's time in the outfield is a must after he ranked among the worst defensive players in baseball during the 2023 season. Using him as the primary designated hitter before shifting him to first base in 2025 when Paul Goldschmidt is a free agent might be the best approach.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Yandy Díaz
2B Brandon Lowe
LF Randy Arozarena
DH Isaac Paredes
RF Josh Lowe
3B Jonathan India
CF José Siri
SS Junior Caminero (R)
C René Pinto
SP Zach Eflin

Notes

-Here is the other end of a proposed deal that sends Tyler Glasnow to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a package built around 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India. He could return to his natural spot at third base while also serving as an insurance plan at second base if Brandon Lowe misses time again.

-Luke Raley split his time between first base, designated hitter and the three outfield spots, and while he is not part of the projected Opening Day lineup, he can still be a valuable piece of the puzzle in a similar utility role. The same goes for infielder Taylor Walls.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Marcus Semien
SS Corey Seager
LF Evan Carter
RF Adolis García
3B Josh Jung
DH Jorge Soler
1B Nathaniel Lowe
C Jonah Heim
CF Leody Taveras
SP Nathan Eovaldi

Notes

-The only real hole the Texas Rangers need to address is the potential departure of designated hitter Mitch Garver in free agency. Former top prospect Sam Huff can fill his role as backup catcher, but finding a more proven option to slot into the DH role would round out a stacked lineup, and Soler is coming off a 36-homer season and an All-Star selection.

-Has there been a more obvious Rookie of the Year front-runner than Evan Carter at any time in recent memory?

Projected Starting Lineup

RF George Springer
2B Amed Rosario
SS Bo Bichette
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
LF Daulton Varsho
C Alejandro Kirk
DH Joey Votto
CF Kevin Kiermaier
3B Davis Schneider
SP Kevin Gausman

Notes

-First and foremost, the Blue Jays should push to re-sign Kevin Kiermaier after he made good on a one-year, $9 million deal with a 3.9-WAR season and his fourth career Gold Glove Award in center field. The 33-year-old also had one of his better offensive seasons with a 104 OPS+ and 35 extra-base hits.

-Signing Amed Rosario to play second base would shore up the middle infield and give the team a better contingency plan at shortstop than it had a year ago when Bo Bichette went down with an injury. Meanwhile, Toronto native Joey Votto, 40, fills the role Brandon Belt did a year ago while putting the finishing touches on a potential Hall of Fame career.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS CJ Abrams
RF Lane Thomas
3B Jeimer Candelario
1B Joey Meneses
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Tommy Pham
2B Luis Garcia
LF Stone Garrett
CF Victor Robles
SP Josiah Gray

Notes

-The Nationals have some nice pieces to build around in CJ Abrams, Lane Thomas, Keibert Ruiz and Joey Meneses, and they will again be hunting for bargains in free agency after giving out one-year deals to Jeimer Candelario and Dominic Smith last offseason.

-There is reportedly interest in a reunion with Candelario who played his way into being a valuable trade chip last summer. Bringing him back and adding 20/20 threat Tommy Pham would provide some much-needed run production in a young lineup.