Here's the One Big Move the Cubs, Red Sox, Cardinals and Dodgers Should've Made This Offseason

While it's insane to think every big market team should be making significant splashes every offseason, this year felt a bit different. Teams on the cusp of World Series contention, such as the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers, pretty much did nothing over the winter.

Here's what they've spent so far, with Spring Training about six weeks away:

Cardinals: $13 million

Dodgers: $10 million

Red Sox: $9 million

Cubs: $0

Sadly, that last figure is real. Not only did the Cubs spend nothing, but they've also done nothing to improve their roster aside from hire a new manager in David Ross, which we're not even sure will work out. Theo Epstein and Co. have made no significant trades and will seemingly enter the season with the same roster that let them down the last two seasons.

So what could have these teams done to avoid the negative offseason spotlight? All it would've taken was one move for each of these teams...

4. Cardinals: Trade Matt Carpenter

I know it's easier said than done, but you're telling me an AL team wouldn't have taken a flyer on Carpenter as a potential DH? Sure, you might have to eat some of the $39 million owed to him, but that's worth freeing up some money to go after another cost-effective starter or bullpen arm -- both of which are areas of need for the Redbirds. Carpenter is slowly being phased out with the emergence of Tommy Edman, and this team already has another DH-like player in Jose Martinez.

3. Dodgers: Sign Madison Bumgarner

This didn't seem too hard. The Dodgers love to throw around money and all they needed to do was give Madison Bumgarner a $100 million deal to offset the taxes (he ultimately accepted an $85 million deal with the D-Backs because of Arizona's tax situation). LA needs a clutch postseason pitcher, and poaching MadBum from the rival Giants and using him to make a World Series run would've been the ultimate move. Instead, they're going to roll with the same roster (sans Hyun-Jin Ryu) and choke out of the playoffs yet again.

2. Red Sox: Trade for Edwin Diaz

We're not even going to sit here and pretend like the Red Sox need to trade one of Mookie Betts, JD Martinez or Jackie Bradley Jr. This exact team minus Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly won the World Series in 2018. All they need is an anchor in the bullpen and making a move for Edwin Diaz could've been exactly what they needed. Do we know if the Mets were open to trading him? Not at all, but we know Brodie Van Wagenen considers all options, so discussing a deal that perhaps landed the Mets JBJ and a prospect could've gotten the ball rolling.

1. Cubs: Sign Kris Bryant to an Extension

The drama surrounding Bryant in Chicago is arguably the most unneeded in all of the MLB. From his service-time manipulation controversy to the Cubs' unwillingness to tab him as the face of the franchise, it's all baffling. We know Bryant is a Boras client, but there's no reason the Cubs shouldn't have already blown him away with a massive offer. This is someone who's been in the MLB for five seasons and has a Rookie of the Year, MVP and three All-Star Game appearances to his name. He's slashing .284/.385/.521 with 486 runs scored, 138 home runs and 403 RBI in 706 career games and has battled through injuries the last two years. Why are the Cubs hesitating?