Predicting Every MLB Team's 2023 Opening Day Lineup, Version 1.0

Now that the dust has settled on a frenzy of activity at the 2022 winter meetings, it's time to take a step back and survey the MLB landscape.

There is still a lot of shuffling to do this offseason, but rosters are starting to take shape for the upcoming campaign, and predicting what each team's lineup might look like on Opening Day is no longer as abstract as it was a month ago.

Ahead, we've done just that, assigning all of the top remaining free agents to logical landing spots and even projecting a blockbuster trade before predicting each MLB team's Opening Day lineup for the 2023 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.

Let the debate begin.

Note: Names in bold indicate a projected acquisition.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Daulton Varsho
2B Ketel Marte
1B Christian Walker
DH J.D. Martinez
LF Jake McCarthy
C Sean Murphy
3B Josh Rojas
CF Corbin Carroll
SS Nick Ahmed
SP Zac Gallen

Notes

• The D-backs are reportedly among the teams showing interest in Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy, per the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro, and we've projected them to land the 2021 Gold Glove winner here for a package built around outfielder Alek Thomas.

• Veteran J.D. Martinez hit .302/.366/.741 with 29 home runs in 62 games with the D-backs as a trade-deadline rental in 2017 before he joined the Boston Red Sox in free agency. His days as an elite power threat are behind him, but he can still be an asset in the middle of a young lineup.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
2B Ozzie Albies
CF Michael Harris II
3B Austin Riley
1B Matt Olson
C Travis d'Arnaud
DH William Contreras
SS Elvis Andrus
LF Eddie Rosario
SP Max Fried

Notes

• A reunion with Dansby Swanson is still a real possibility, but if he signs elsewhere, veteran Elvis Andrus has been identified as a potential stopgap while Vaughn Grissom continues to develop, per MLB.com's Mark Bowman. The 34-year-old had a 116 OPS+ and 1.8 WAR in 43 games after joining the Chicago White Sox in mid-August.
• Since Atlanta has a combined $27 million committed to Marcell Ozuna and Eddie Rosario for the 2023 season, that duo will be given every opportunity to prove they can be the answer in left field.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Cedric Mullins
C Adley Rutschman
RF Anthony Santander
DH Trey Mancini
1B Ryan Mountcastle
3B Gunnar Henderson
2B Ramón Urías
LF Austin Hays
SS Jorge Mateo
SP Kyle Gibson

Notes

• If the new year comes and goes and Trey Mancini is still searching for a home, it would be surprising if the Orioles didn't get involved. Signing him to a one-year deal would do nothing to alter the team's long-term plans, and it would take some pressure off the young guys in the middle of the lineup.
• They might not be the sexiest tandem on paper, but the projected double-play combination of Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo combined for 7.0 WAR in 2022. Prospect Jordan Westburg could also factor in up the middle at some point during the 2023 season, though he'll likely start the year in the minors.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Masataka Yoshida
CF Enrique Hernández
3B Rafael Devers
SS Trevor Story
RF Alex Verdugo
1B Triston Casas
DH Eric Hosmer
C Omar Narváez
2B Christian Arroyo
SP Chris Sale

Notes

• The five-year, $90 million deal given to Japanese League standout Masataka Yoshida on Wednesday will likely wind up being the big splash of the offseason for the Boston Red Sox. The 29-year-old hit .336/.449/.559 with 28 doubles, 21 home runs, 89 RBI and almost twice as many walks (82) as strikeouts (42) in 2022.
• Catcher Omar Narváez was an All-Star in 2021, and he has a skill set similar to what Christian Vázquez provided during his time in Boston.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Nico Hoerner
SS Dansby Swanson
LF Ian Happ
1B Patrick Wisdom
RF Seiya Suzuki
3B Christopher Morel
CF Cody Bellinger
DH Matt Mervis
C Christian Vázquez
SP Marcus Stroman

Notes

• The Chicago Cubs have already bought low on Cody Bellinger and signed Jameson Taillon to a four-year, $68 million deal, but it's hard to look at the offseason as anything but a failure if they don't walk away with one of the market's top shortstops. It's down to Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson, and they are in on both guys, per Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports.
• Outside Chicago's pursuit of a shortstop, looking for a starter behind the plate has seemingly been the team's top priority. Per The Athletic's Katie Woo and Patrick Mooney, it has reportedly met with Christian Vázquez, who stands as the top available option after Willson Contreras signed.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Tim Anderson
2B Jean Segura
CF Luis Robert
LF Eloy Jiménez
1B Andrew Vaughn
RF Gavin Sheets
DH Gary Sánchez
3B Yoán Moncada
C Yasmani Grandal
SP Dylan Cease

Notes

• Veteran Jean Segura is the perfect low-risk answer to the Chicago White Sox's second base question, and the longer he goes without signing, the more likely it is he'll be available on a one-year deal.
• Could a DH-only role for Gary Sanchez help maximize his value? The 30-year-old has averaged 37 home runs and 98 RBI per 162 games during his career, but his defensive shortcomings have often undercut his value and seemingly his confidence.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF TJ Friedl
2B Jonathan India
1B Joey Votto
C Tyler Stephenson
LF Adam Duvall
3B Mike Moustakas
DH Jake Fraley
SS Kevin Newman
CF Nick Senzel
SP Nick Lodolo

Notes

• The Cincinnati Reds cleaned up the scraps of the free-agent market last offseason, and they wound up finding a diamond in the rough in Brandon Drury. Bringing back Adam Duvall on a one-year deal could bear similar fruit if he can return to his pre-2022 form.
• Trade pickup Kevin Newman is merely a placeholder at shortstop until one of the team's young middle infielders is ready to push for the job. A strong spring from former top prospect Jose Barrero could land him the starting job, with Newman shifting into a utility role.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Steven Kwan
SS Amed Rosario
3B José Ramírez
DH Josh Bell
2B Andrés Giménez
1B Josh Naylor
RF Oscar Gonzalez
C Bo Naylor
CF Myles Straw
SP Shane Bieber

Notes

• The generally tight-fisted Cleveland front office made one of the largest free-agent signings in club history with the two-year, $33 million deal given to Josh Bell, so don't expect any other flashy moves this winter.
• Will Bo Naylor win the starting catcher job outright this spring? It might not be the worst idea to bring back the defensive-minded Austin Hedges as a mentor and stopgap while Naylor settles in at the MLB level.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Charlie Blackmon
LF Kris Bryant
3B Ryan McMahon
1B C.J. Cron
2B Brendan Rodgers
RF Randal Grichuk
SS Ezequiel Tovar
C Elias Díaz
CF Yonathan Daza
SP Kyle Freeland

Notes

• The Colorado Rockies were linked to Brandon Nimmo early in the offseason, but now that he has re-signed with the New York Mets it will be interesting to see if they have any other high-profile targets in mind.
• Bringing back José Iglesias as a stopgap at shortstop makes sense, but they could also simply turn things over to top prospect Ezequiel Tovar after he got his feet wet in the big leagues as a September call-up. The success of Jeremy Peña in Houston could make teams more willing to give an unproven shortstop a chance.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Akil Baddoo
CF Riley Greene
RF Austin Meadows
SS Javier Báez
C Eric Haase
1B Spencer Torkelson
3B Brian Anderson
DH Miguel Cabrera
2B Jonathan Schoop
SP Eduardo Rodriguez

Notes

• The Detroit Tigers had already spent $217 million on Javier Báez and Eduardo Rodriguez by this time last offseason, so the new front office is already taking a more cautious approach to the offseason by making no major moves outside bringing back Matthew Boyd on a one-year deal.
• After non-tendering Jeimer Candelario, the Tigers could look to buy low on another non-tendered player in former Miami Marlins standout Brian Anderson. The 29-year-old was a 3-WAR player in 2018 and 2019, and he can handle third base and both corner outfield spots.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Jose Altuve
SS Jeremy Peña
DH Yordan Alvarez
1B José Abreu
3B Alex Bregman
RF Kyle Tucker
LF Michael Brantley
CF Chas McCormick
C Martín Maldonado
SP Framber Valdez

Notes

• With José Abreu added as an upgrade at first base, the only remaining hole on the Houston Astros roster is in the outfield, where Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers are both projected for starting roles. A reunion with veteran Michael Brantley makes sense for both sides, and he could again split time between left field and designated hitter with Yordan Alvarez.
• If no other additions are made to the outfield picture, keep an eye on prospect Justin Dirden, who hit .302/.384/.558 with 40 doubles, 24 home runs and 101 RBI in 124 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH MJ Melendez
3B Bobby Witt Jr.
C Salvador Perez
1B Vinnie Pasquantino
RF Edward Olivares
LF Drew Waters
CF Michael A. Taylor
2B Nicky Lopez
SS Adalberto Mondesi
SP Brady Singer

Notes

• The return of Adalberto Mondesi after an injury-plagued 2022 season should mean Bobby Witt Jr. settles in as the everyday third baseman. The rookie standout split his time between shortstop and third base last year, but his ugly defensive metrics at shortstop (-18 DRS, -8.4 UZR/150, per FanGraphs) should make the hot corner his long-term home.
• If the Royals make an outside addition, the corner outfield spots seem like the most obvious area to upgrade. Drew Waters and Edward Olivares both showed intriguing upside last year, but shoring up one of those spots with a proven bat could go a long way in stabilizing the offense.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Luis Rengifo
CF Mike Trout
SP Shohei Ohtani
LF Taylor Ward
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Hunter Renfroe
1B Jared Walsh
C Logan O'Hoppe
SS David Fletcher

Notes

• Newcomer Gio Urshela is expected to fill a super-utility role, playing every day while splitting his time between first base, third base and shortstop, where light-hitting David Fletcher remains the starter for now.
• Deadline pickup Logan O'Hoppe has little left to prove in the minors, so he'll be given every opportunity to win the starting catcher job over Max Stassi during spring training. It could wind up being an even platoon between the established veteran and the team's top prospect.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Mookie Betts
LF Andrew Benintendi
1B Freddie Freeman
C Will Smith
3B Max Muncy
CF Trayce Thompson
DH Andrew McCutchen
SS Gavin Lux
2B Chris Taylor
SP Julio Urías

Notes

• The Los Angeles Dodgers have been uncharacteristically quiet this offseason, and they still need to add at least two everyday players to the starting lineup, unless they're ready to trust some combination of Michael Busch (2B), Miguel Vargas (3B) and James Outman (OF) with an everyday role.
• ESPN's Buster Olney has linked veteran Andrew McCutchen to the Dodgers, and if the team is ready to cut ties with free-agent Justin Turner, he could slot in as the everyday designated hitter with Max Muncy handling third base duties.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
3B Joey Wendle
DH Justin Turner
LF Jorge Soler
1B Garrett Cooper
RF Avisaíl García
CF Bryan De La Cruz
SS Miguel Rojas
C Jacob Stallings
SP Sandy Alcantara

Notes

• Per the Miami Herald's Craig Mish, the Miami Marlins have shown interest in veteran Justin Turner, who hit .319/.386/.503 after the All-Star break before having his club option declined by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He could see time at third base when Joey Wendle is playing elsewhere on the infield.
• It's still possible the Marlins trade one of their controllable starters not named Sandy Alcantara before the offseason ends, and if they do, it will almost certainly be for an offensive upgrade who can help immediately.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Christian Yelich
SS Willy Adames
1B Rowdy Tellez
2B Luis Urías
DH Jesse Winker
3B Evan Longoria
CF Garrett Mitchell
C Mike Zunino
RF Tyrone Taylor
SP Corbin Burnes

Notes

• The Milwaukee Brewers signed veteran Andrew McCutchen to a one-year, $8.5 million deal last offseason, and a similar pact with Evan Longoria could round out the infield, with Luis Urías shifting to second base to replace Kolten Wong.
• Buying low on Mike Zunino could be a great move for a Brewers team in need of more offensive firepower. The 31-year-old is just a year removed from a 33-homer, 3.8-WAR season in 2021, though injury limited him to 36 games this past year.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Luis Arraez
2B Jorge Polanco
CF Byron Buxton
3B Jose Miranda
RF Max Kepler
DH Alex Kirilloff
LF Trevor Larnach
C Ryan Jeffers
SS José Iglesias
SP Sonny Gray

Notes

• This roster would require Jorge Polanco to shift back to shortstop, where he has ugly career defensive metrics (-42 DRS, -10.9 UZR/150, per FanGraphs). Assuming Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson land elsewhere, veteran José Iglesias would be a nice fallback.
• Nick Gordon posted a 113 OPS+ with 41 extra-base hits in 136 games while seeing time at second base, shortstop, center field and left field. The 27-year-old is not penciled into the projected Opening Day lineup, but he should see regular time in a super-utility role.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Brandon Nimmo
RF Starling Marte
SS Francisco Lindor
1B Pete Alonso
DH Dan Vogelbach
2B Jeff McNeil
LF Mark Canha
3B Eduardo Escobar
C James McCann
SP Justin Verlander

Notes

• With news breaking Thursday night that Brandon Nimmo reportedly agreed to an eight-year, $162 million deal, the New York Mets will return all the key pieces from an offense that ranked fifth in the majors in runs in 2022.
• Will we see top prospect Francisco Álvarez on the Opening Day roster? The 21-year-old made his MLB debut Sept. 30 and found his way onto the postseason roster as a bat off the bench, but he still has work to do to hone his defensive game.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B DJ LeMahieu
RF Aaron Judge
1B Anthony Rizzo
DH Giancarlo Stanton
2B Gleyber Torres
LF Michael Conforto
CF Harrison Bader
SS Oswald Peraza
C Jose Trevino
SP Gerrit Cole

Notes

• The biggest remaining area of need for the New York Yankees, outside of further upgrading the rotation, is finding another corner outfielder. A reunion with Andrew Benintendi remains a possibility, but the best bang-for-their-buck move could be a one-year deal with bounce-back candidate Michael Conforto, who missed all of 2022 while recovering from shoulder surgery.

• For what it's worth, I'm also predicting left-hander Carlos Rodón will land with the Yankees, slotting in as their No. 2 starter behind Gerrit Cole. His market could take time to unfold now that he's the only top-tier starter left in free agency.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Tony Kemp
2B Aledmys Díaz
LF Ramón Laureano
1B Seth Brown
3B Jace Peterson
C Shea Langeliers
RF Connor Capel
CF Alek Thomas
SS Nick Allen
SP Paul Blackburn

Notes

The A's appear destined to trade catcher Sean Murphy at some point this offseason. Sending him to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a package built around MLB-ready outfielder Alek Thomas and prospects would address a more glaring area of need.

After shelling out two-year deals on versatile veterans Jace Peterson and Aledmys Díaz, it bears watching whether the Oakland front office has any more moves up its sleeve before the offseason comes to a close.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Kyle Schwarber
1B Rhys Hoskins
SS Trea Turner
C J.T. Realmuto
3B Alec Bohm
RF Nick Castellanos
DH Darick Hall
CF Brandon Marsh
2B Bryson Stott
SP Aaron Nola

Notes

• Rookie Darick Hall posted a 121 OPS+ with eight doubles and nine home runs in 142 plate appearances while filling in for Bryce Harper when he was injured last season. He's the leading in-house candidate to DH once again while Harper recovers from Tommy John surgery.

• Trea Turner split his time between hitting first (105 PA), second (348 PA) and third (255 PA) in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup last year. It bears watching where he slots into the loaded Philadelphia lineup.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Carlos Santana
CF Bryan Reynolds
SS Oneil Cruz
1B Ji-Man Choi
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
LF Miguel Andújar
RF Jack Suwinski
2B Rodolfo Castro
C Tucker Barnhart
SP Mitch Keller

Notes

• Will Bryan Reynolds be wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform on Opening Day? The 27-year-old is controllable through the 2025 season, so there's no rush to deal him, but he'll continue to be a popular name on the rumor mill until he signs a long-term extension.

• Top prospect Endy Rodriguez is currently the only catcher on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster, and he has played only 37 games above the High-A level, so expect the Pirates to make an outside addition of some sort. Two-time Gold Glove winner Tucker Barnhart would be a great option to anchor a young staff.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Jurickson Profar
RF Juan Soto
3B Manny Machado
SS Xander Bogaerts
1B Jake Cronenworth
2B Ha-Seong Kim
DH Brandon Dixon
C Austin Nola
CF Trent Grisham
SP Yu Darvish

Notes

• The addition of Xander Bogaerts increases the chances that Fernando Tatis Jr. will head to the outfield once he returns from his PED suspension. In the meantime, the Padres need to do something to address left field. A reunion with Jurickson Profar with a slight raise over the $7.5 million player option he declined makes sense.

• Brandon Dixon hit .374/.442/.823 with 16 doubles, 23 home runs and 74 RBI in 51 games in the upper levels of the minors last year. He looks like the front-runner to handle DH duties among in-house options.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Thairo Estrada
SS Carlos Correa
CF Mike Yastrzemski
RF Mitch Haniger
LF Joc Pederson
DH J.D. Davis
1B Wilmer Flores
3B Brandon Crawford
C Joey Bart
SP Logan Webb

Notes

• After missing out on Aaron Judge, the San Francisco Giants could go all-in on shortstop Carlos Correa as they look to make a leap into contention. Signing him would likely mean shifting Brandon Crawford to third base for the final season of his two-year, $32 million deal.

• Despite not being listed in the projected starting lineup, outfielder Austin Slater and versatile veterans LaMonte Wade Jr. and Tommy La Stella could all see regular action. Outfielder Luis González is also worth a mention after showing flashes as a rookie.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Julio Rodríguez
2B Kolten Wong
1B Ty France
DH Teoscar Hernández
3B Eugenio Suárez
C Cal Raleigh
RF Sam Haggerty
LF Jarred Kelenic
SS J.P. Crawford
SP Luis Castillo

Notes

• Who starts at the corner outfield spots on either side of Julio Rodríguez? The above projected lineup has Teoscar Hernández in the DH role to open up a starting spot for Sam Haggerty, but Taylor Trammell and Dylan Moore are also options to find their way into the starting lineup.

• Flipping Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Kolten Wong filled the need for a left-handed-hitting second baseman. However, he is still just a short-term solution in the final season of a three-year, $26 million deal.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Lars Nootbaar
2B Brendan Donovan
1B Paul Goldschmidt
3B Nolan Arenado
C Willson Contreras
LF Tyler O'Neill
CF Dylan Carlson
DH Nolan Gorman
SS Tommy Edman
SP Adam Wainwright

Notes

• The versatility of Brendan Donovan gives the St. Louis Cardinals a ton of flexibility when filling out their lineup. Nolan Gorman (2B), Paul DeJong (SS), Juan Yepez (OF/DH) and Alec Burleson (OF/DH) could all fit into the starting lineup based on where the Cardinals deploy him defensively.

• The Willson Contreras signing plugged the biggest hole on the Cardinals' roster. But they could benefit just as much from healthy seasons from Tyler O'Neill and Jack Flaherty, both of whom are impact players when everything is clicking.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B Yandy Díaz
SS Wander Franco
LF Randy Arozarena
2B Brandon Lowe
RF Manuel Margot
DH Harold Ramirez
1B Isaac Paredes
C Christian Bethancourt
CF José Siri
SP Shane McClanahan

Notes

• With a healthy Brandon Lowe back as the everyday second baseman, the Tampa Bay Rays have a good problem on their hands trying to find playing time for all of their infielders. The above projected lineup does not include rookie Jonathan Aranda, defensive standout Taylor Walls and former top prospect Vidal Bruján.

• Top prospect Curtis Mead hit .298/.390/.532 with 40 extra-base hits in 76 games between Double-A and Triple-A. He has the potential to be an impact player for the Rays this season once he gets his first taste of the big leagues.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Marcus Semien
SS Corey Seager
1B Nathaniel Lowe
RF Adolis García
LF Joey Gallo
DH Mitch Garver
C Jonah Heim
3B Josh Jung
CF Leody Taveras
SP Jacob deGrom

Notes

• The last time Joey Gallo was wearing a Texas Rangers uniform, he had a 138 OPS+ and 4.2 WAR in 95 games to start the 2021 season before he was traded to the New York Yankees at the deadline. The 29-year-old is a prime candidate for a one-year, incentive-laden deal, and that's worth a roll of the dice for the fast-rising Rangers.

• A fully healthy Josh Jung has the potential to be a homegrown star for the Rangers. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 draft finally made his MLB debut on Sept. 9 after injury-plagued seasons in 2021 and 2022, and he should be among the early AL Rookie of the Year front-runners entering the 2023 season.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF George Springer
SS Bo Bichette
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
C Alejandro Kirk
3B Matt Chapman
DH Brandon Belt
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
2B Whit Merrifield
CF Kevin Kiermaier
SP Alek Manoah

Notes

• After the Blue Jays non-tendered Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer, the only established left-handed hitter on the Toronto roster is versatile infielder Cavan Biggio. Veteran Brandon Belt had a career-high 160 OPS+ in 2021 and looks like a great buy-low target to fill the designated hitter role.

• The Blue Jays used a defensive-minded center fielder in Kevin Pillar for several seasons, so they could have some interest in Kevin Kiermaier. He would give the lineup another left-handed bat, and shifting George Springer to right field could help keep him healthy going forward.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Lane Thomas
SS CJ Abrams
1B Joey Meneses
LF Wil Myers
DH Jeimer Candelario
C Keibert Ruiz
3B Carter Kieboom
2B Luis García
CF Victor Robles
SP Josiah Gray

Notes

• The Nationals have already bought low on one player trying to rebuild his stock when they signed Jeimer Candelario to a one-year, $5 million deal. They have the roster flexibility to make a few more similar signings. Slugger Wil Myers could fit in nicely into the middle of the lineup as a much-needed run producer.

• Infielders Luis García, CJ Abrams and Carter Kieboom all have top-prospect pedigrees, and they will be given every chance to succeed here at the ground floor of a rebuild. Outfielder Robert Hassell III—the prospect centerpiece of the Juan Soto blockbuster—could also debut in 2023.

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.