The free-agent bonanza is mostly over. The big names are off the board and only a few marginal players with a chance to contribute in 2007 are still available. Which team did the most to help itself in 2007?

1) The Cubs, who signed the big prize of the winter, Alfonso Soriano, added Mark DeRosa, Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis, as well as re-upped with third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Soriano may play in center, where he won't be an asset defensively, and DeRosa becomes an Opening Day regular for the first time -- at second base -- after a big season at age 31 in 2006. At the very least, the Cubs will get innings from Lilly and Marquis, after depending on rookie hurlers last summer when Kerry Wood and Mark Prior combined for just 62.1 innings because of injuries.

2) The Dodgers lost Greg Maddux to free agency, but replaced him with an ace, Jason Schmidt. They also added Juan Pierre to play center and Luis Gonzalez to start in left. Los Angeles has two leadoff hitters -- Rafael Furcal and Pierre -- giving the club an abundance of speed at the top of the lineup. There may not be much payoff in Gonzalez, who is clearly in decline and moving from a homer-friendly park in Arizona to pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers may have landed an offseason bargain, signing left-hander Randy Wolf to a one-year, $8 million deal with an option after returning from Tommy John surgery in late July.

3) The Red Sox added Julio Lugo to take over at short and J.D. Drew to man right field. Drew's history of poor health is a concern, typified by the delay in the veteran passing a physical, but Boston also signed arguably the best pitcher on the free-agent market -- Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka. He may generate more of a payoff than Schmidt, Barry Zito or anyone else. The Red Sox also strengthened their bullpen by adding Brendan Donnelly from the Angels, but they haven't signed a closer despite moving Jon Papelbon into their rotation.

4) The Brewers expected more in 2006 after finishing at .500 a year earlier, marking Milwaukee's first non-losing season since 1992. The pitching had overachieved under the guidance of pitching coach Mike Maddux, and the Brewers made it an offseason priority to sign a big-name pitcher. They added Jeff Suppan, who has averaged 203 IP and 12 wins a year over the last eight seasons. Milwaukee also acquired a good-hitting catcher in Johnny Estrada, who was picked up in a trade with Arizona. The Brewers weren't all that busy, but they added key pieces to a young and up-and-coming club.

5) The Indians picked up second baseman Josh Barfield in a trade with San Diego and signed Dave Dellucci to a free-agent deal to play left field. Cleveland also countered a key weakness from 2006 -- its bullpen -- by adding Roberto Hernandez, Joe Borowski and Aaron Fultz. Those relievers may not inspire, but Hernandez and Borowski were solid contributors last season. There's enough young talent on the club that the new additions could make the Indians another force in the tough American League Central.

6) The Tigers, who didn't do all that much this winter. That's a credit to GM Dave Dombrowski, who didn't overreact to Detroit's poor performance in the World Series. The one key move by the Tigers was acquiring slugger Gary Sheffield from the Yankees. The 38-year-old veteran is likely to get most of his at-bats as the team's DH, a good move in light of his recent injury history. Sheffield played for manager Jim Leyland during Florida's championship run in 1997, so he may prove to be a good fit in Detroit. He provides a potent bat to a team already established as a 2007 contender with its terrific young pitching.

Which team did the most to improve its chances of playing October baseball? Something to ponder with spring training less than six weeks away.