I‘m focusing on major moves. The newest moves are on top. In a very risky move, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto for 12 years/$325 million. They either signed an ace or way overpaid. Arizona extended LF...
I‘m focusing on major moves. The newest moves are on top.
In a very risky move, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto for 12 years/$325 million. They either signed an ace or way overpaid.
Arizona extended LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for 3 years/$42 million, with an opt-out after 2025 and a $14 million team option for 2027. This is a silly overpay.
Kansas City signed RF Hunter Renfroe for 2 years/$13 million, with an opt-out after the first year. This deal could go either way. They also signed SP Michael Wacha for 2 years/$32 million with an opt-out after year one. San Diego badly needs rotation help as Kansas City suddenly look as division contenders
The Tampa Bay Rays proved to be unreliable and untrustworthy when it comes to extending players, as they traded SP Tyler Glasnow, OF Manuel Margot and $4 million to the Los Angeles Dodgers for SP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny DeLuca. Pepiot replaces Glasnow in a short-term downgrade, but a long-term benefit (as they were set to lose Glasnow to free agency after the upcoming season. DeLuca should be an upgrade over Margot. LA got a massive rotation upgrade is Glasnow and won’t miss Pepiot. The deal was contingent on LA getting an extension with Glasnow, and they did at a reasonable 5 years/$135 million (including a $30 million team option). They won’t miss DeLuca either, and Margot will help them from the bench. Good trade for both sides.
The Detroit Tigers overpaid by signing SP Jack Flaherty for 1 year/$14 million.
The Texas Rangers signed SP Tyler Mahle for 2 years/$22 million, with $5 million in incentives. Solid deal but their rotation gets worse, as Jordan Montgomery is almost certainly gone now.
In a risky overpay, the San Francisco Giants signed OF Jung Hoo Lee for 6 years/$113 million.
The Kansas City Royals signed SP Seth Lugo for 3 years/$45 million. This is a good move for them if Lugo‘s 2023 performance isn’t a fluke. They have an outside shot at their weak division now.
The inept Los Angeles Angels of course lost SP/DH Shohei Ohtani to free agency, when they could’ve traded him before that. The Los Angeles Dodgerss improved, but well overpaid by giving him 10 years/$700 million.
St. Louis smartly traded OF Tyler O’Neill (who is entering his contract season), to Boston for Minor League right-handed pitchers Nick Robertson and Victor Santos. O’Neill is replacing Alex Verdugo in Boston’s OF. He is a risky acquisition, and probably won’t really change their outlook as a bottom team in the division. Solid trade for both teams.
In a bizarre move, the Cincinnati Reds signed 3B Jeimer Candelario, who is overrated and doesn’t feel a need. The Chicago Cubs badly need a 3B now.
The New York Yankees acquired LF Juan Soto and CF Trent Grisham, from the San Diego Padres for Minor League pitchers Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez, SP Michael King and backup C Kyle Higashioka. Wow.
San Diego smartly parted with Soto early, though take a big hit in 2024. They were never have been able to afford extending him. They do now need a LF however and a CF too. King enters their rotations and gives them upside. However their rotation still declined barring returns or additions. Vasquez and Brito will likely compete for spots as well. Higashioka will likely be their backup catcher.
New York traded a lot of pitching depth and their farm declined as well. They need another SP too. Higashioka lost his spot to Austin Wells. It was worth it though to bring in new LF Juan Soto. Grisham will also help with defense and injuries off the bench. Extending Soto or at least winning a pennant, will turn it into a definite win for New York. Soto is a New York native.
Arizona signed SP Eduardo Rodriguez for 4 years/$80 million, with an option that can take it to 5 years/$99 million. They overpaid for a mid-rotation starter at best.
The Baltimore Orioles signed RP Craig Kimbrel for 1 year/$13 million with a club option for 2025. Philly won’t miss him, but need another RP for the late innings. Baltimore will regret it, if they plan on him closing games.
The Boston Red Sox traded RF Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees for RP Greg Weissert and prospects Richard Fitts and Nicholas Judice. Boston moved on from Verdugo early as they were unlikely to re-sign him next off-season. He isn’t a big loss for them and they add bullpen help and some depth for the farm. They will need to add a RF now. The Bronx Bombers traded unimportant prospects and a depth bullpen piece for a very useful OF bat. Verdugo might move to LF now.
Philly extended Manager Rob Thomson through the 2025 season in a good move. Detroit did the same with their Manager A.J. Hinch, but for an undisclosed length.
Another bad trade for Seattle as they helped the Atlanta Braves fill their LF vacancy with Jarred Kelenic. They also gave them starting pitching depth with Marco Gonzales and only got rid of Evan White. Atlanta sent them right-handed pitchers Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips who weren’t important for Atlanta, and won’t do much for Seattle.
The Milwaukee Brewers extended OF prospect Jackson Chourio for 8 years/$80 million with 2 team options. This is a very risky deal.
The New York Mets signed SP Luis Severino for 1 year/$13 million, with $2 million in bonuses. Solid buy-low move and the New York Yankees were right to move on.
St. Louis overpaid SP Sonny Gray with a 3 year/$75 million contract, with a team option. Minnesota took a big hit, but I don’t see St. Louis being much better.
The Detroit Tigers took away a rival team’s starting pitcher, by replacing Eduardo Rodriguez with Kenta Maeda for 2 years/$24 million. Detroit still need their young players to step up as this is a wash. Minnesota will be fine without Maeda.
Seattle continues to weaken the lineup. They traded 3B Eugenio Suarez to the Arizona Diamondbacks for C Seby Zavala and RHP Carlos Vargas. Good trade for Arizona that improves their lineup.
The San Diego Padres hired Mike Shildt as their manager. I’m not too optimistic for them.
The St. Louis Cardinals signed SP Lance Lynn for 1 year/$10 million with an option for $11 million for 2025, with a $1 million buyout. He’s a solid back of the rotation arm, but they need aces. The Los Angeles Dodgers won’t miss him.
The Philadelphia Phillies extended SP Aaron Nola for 7 years/$172 million in a solid deal.
The Milwaukee Brewers hired Pat Murphy as their manager. I expect a retooling season for them next season.
The Los Angeles Angels signed Ron Washington as their manager for two years. We’ll see how it goes. The Houston Astros promoted Joe Espada to be their manager. We’ll see how it goes.
The Seattle Mariners stupidly didn’t offer RF Teoscar Hernandez a QO. The Miami Marlins should’ve likely offered one to DH Jorge Soler as well.
Cleveland Guardians hired Stephen Vogt as their new manager. Meanwhile, the New York Mets hired Carlos Mendoza and the Chicago Cubs hired Craig Counsell from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Arizona Diamondbacks extended manager Torey Lovullo through 2026. We’ll see how these moves work out.
Peter Bendix has been hired as the new PBO of the Miami Marlins. He was the GM of the Tampa Bay Rays, so I really like this move for The Fish.
Los Angeles Dodgers extended 3B Max Muncy for 2 years/$24 million with a $10 million club option, in a great move for the team. He could’ve got more on the open market, and the option is very team-friendly.
