|
Team
|
Key Signings
|
Key Losses
|
What It Means
|
|
Arizona Diamondbacks
|
LHP Matt
Reynolds (T)
IF Eric
Chavez (F)
RHP
Brandon McCarthy (F)
OF Cody
Ross (F)
|
IF Ryan
Wheeler
RHP Wade
Davis
|
With a few
key moves, the D-Backs have strengthened their bullpen, lineup, and farm
system.
|
|
Atlanta Braves
|
OF Jordan
Schafer (W)
OF BJ
Upton (F)
RHP Jordan
Walden (T)
|
3B Chipper
Jones
RHP Tommny
Hanson
RHP Jair
Jurrjens
|
The
addition of Upton strengthens the outfield, but the $75M price tag may not be
worth it.
|
|
Baltimore Orioles
|
OF Trayvon
Robinson (T)
|
IF Robert
Adino
IF Mark
Reynolds
|
The Orioles
have strengthened the depth of their outfield.
|
|
Boston Red Sox
|
DH David
Ortiz (R)
C David
Ross (F)
OF Jonny
Gomes (F)
OF Shane
Victarino (F)
RHP Ryan
Dempster (F)
RHP Joel Hanrahan
(T)
SS Stephen
Drew (F)
|
IF Mike Aviles
RHP Mark Melancon
|
After
trading their team to the Dodgers, the Red Sox have added some nice offenses
pieces and weapons to their problematic pitching.
|
|
Chicago Cubs
|
OF Nate
Schierholtz (F)
RHP Sandy
Rosario (W)
|
IF Ian
Stewart
|
A quiet
offseason for Theo Epstein who has improved the depth of the Cubs thus far.
|
|
Chicago White Sox
|
RHP Jake
Peavy (R)
OF Dewayne
Wise (R)
IF Jeff
Keppinger (F)
|
3B Kevin
Youkilis
RHP Brett Myers
OF Juan
Pierre
C A.J.
Pierzynski
|
The White
Sox took a step back, failing to resign a considerate part of last year’s
lineup.
|
|
Cleveland Indians
|
RHP Blake
Wood (F)
IF Mark
Reynolds (F)
|
DH Travis Hafner
LHP Rafael Perez
|
With a
couple nice additions, the Indians hope that they can put together two good
halves this year.
|
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
RP
Jonathan Broxton (F)
OF Ryan
Ludwick (R)
|
OF Denis
Phipps
|
The Reds
maintained their solid hitting and added some bullpen help to what was
already a great team.
|
|
Colorado Rockies
|
IF Ryan
Wheeler (T)
|
RHP Jeremy
Guthrie
LHP Matt
Reynolds
|
The Rockies
are getting younger and looking for upside this season.
|
|
Detroit Tigers
|
OF Torii
Hunter (F)
RHP Anibal
Sanchez (R)
|
RHP Daniel
Schlereth
|
The Tigers
added another dangerous hitter and this one can play the field.
|
|
Houston Astros
|
DH Carlos
Pena (F)
RHP Jose
Veras (F)
|
OF Jordan
Schafer
|
The Astros
have added a veteran DH to help them in their adjustment to the American
League.
|
|
Kansas City Royals
|
RHP Ervin
Santana (T)
RHP Jeremy
Guthrie (F)
RHP James Shields (T)
RHP Wade Davis (T)
|
RHP Joakim
Soria
|
The Royals
have picked up a lot of starting pitching and look to contend next year.
|
|
Los Angeles Angels
|
RP Ryan Madson (F)
RHP Tommy Hanson (T)
RHP Joe
Blanton (F)
LHP Sean
Burnett (F)
OF Josh
Hamilton (F)
LHP Jason
Vargas (T)
|
RHP Ervin
Santana
RHP Dan
Haren
OF Torii
Hunter
RHP Jordan Walden
DH Kendrys Morales
|
Losing
starting pitching, but upgrading the bullpen, the Angels may have the pieces
around newly acquired Josh Hamilton to make some noise in the World Series.
|
|
Los Angeles Dodgers
|
RHP
Brandon League (R)
RHP Zack
Greinke (F)
IF Skip Schumaker
(T)
|
OF Juan
Rivera
RP
Jonathan Broxton
|
The
Dodgers may have the best 1-2 punch in the business with Greinke and Kershaw.
|
|
Miami Marlins
|
OF Juan Pierre (F)
3B Placido Polanco (F)
|
SS Jose Reyes
LHP Mark Buehrle
C John Buck
OF Emilio
Bonifacio
IF Yunel
Escobar (T)
LHP Randy
Choate
|
The
Marlins have cleared salary, as well as likely the stands.
|
|
Milwaukee Brewers
|
LHP Tom
Gorzelanny
|
RP Jose
Veras
OF Nyjer
Morgan
|
The
Brewers added a quality left-hander to their bullpen.
|
|
Minnesota Twins
|
RHP Vance
Worely
|
OF Denard
Span
OF Ben
Revere
|
The Twins
outfield is weakened, but they did manage to get an underrated pitcher in
Worely.
|
|
New York Mets
|
OF Andres
Torres (F)
RHP Mike
Pelfrey (F)
3B David
Wright (R)
C John
Buck (T)
|
OF Jason
Bay
RHP R.A. Dickey
|
The Mets
look to rebuild around Wright’s 8 year contract and the talent from the
Dickey trade.
|
|
New York Yankees
|
RHP Hiroki Kuroda (R)
LHP Andy Petite (R)
RHP
Mariano Rivera (R)
OF Brett
Gardner (R)
3B Kevin
Youkilis (F)
Ichiro
Suzuki (R)
|
RHP Rafael Soriano
C Russell Martin
|
The
Yankees maintained most of their great lineup who uncharacteristically
disappeared in last year’s playoffs.
|
|
Oakland Athletics
|
RHP Bartolo Colon (R)
RP Pat Neshek (R)
SS Hiroyuki
Nakajima (F)
|
RHP Dallas
Braden
OF Jonny
Gomes
|
Billy
Beane spends a decent chunk of change on a foreign player that he believes is
low risk and will help the A’s defend the pennant.
|
|
Philadelphia Phillies
|
OF Ben
Revere (T)
IF Michael
Young (F)
LHP John
Lannan (F)
|
OF Ty
Wigginton
3B Placido
Polanco
RP Ryan
Madson
RHP Vance
Worely
RHP Josh
Lindblom
|
The
Phillies are rebuilding offensively and have made some solid but underrated
additions in Revere and Young.
|
|
Pittsburg Pirates
|
C Russell Martin (F)
RHP Mark Melancon (F)
|
RHP Joel
Hanrahan
|
The
Pirates traded their lights out closer for some help in the future, but their
fans want to win now.
|
|
San Diego Padres
|
RHP Jason
Marquis (F)
|
RHP Cory
Burns
|
With a
quiet offseason, the Padres added a decent pitcher to a pitcher friendly
ballpark.
|
|
San Francisco Giants
|
LHP Jeremy Affeldt (R)
2B Marco Suctaro (R)
OF Angel
Pagan (R)
OF Andres
Torres (F)
RHP
Santiago Casilla (R)
|
OF Aubrey
Huff
OF Melky
Cabrera
RHP Brian
Wilson
|
The Giants
resigned as many as they could, but chose to let go of Huff, PED user
Cabrera, and the best beard in the league.
|
|
Seattle Mariners
|
SP Hisashi Iwakuma (R)
RP Oliver Perez (R)
IF Robert
Adino (T)
RHP Josh
Kinney (F)
OF Jason
Bay (F)
DH Kendrys
Morales (T)
OF Raul
Ibanez (F)
|
OF Trayvon
Robinson
OF Chone
Figgins
LHP Jason
Vargas
|
The
Mariners are always overlooked but have been busy improving their team with a
lot of great moves that will certainly please the King.
|
|
St. Louis Cardinals
|
LHP Randy
Choate (F)
IF Ty
Wigginton (F)
|
IF Skip
Schumaker
|
The
Cardinals stay true to their MO and focus on keeping their bullpen strong.
|
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
RHP Joel
Peralta (R)
3B Evan
Longoria (R)
IF Yunel
Escobar (T)
|
DH Luke
Scott
OF BJ
Upton
OF Ben
Francisco
RHP James
Shields
DH Carlos
Pena
|
The Rays
have let go of a lot of talent but signed Longoria to a 10 year deal and got
some young talent.
|
|
Texas Rangers
|
C Geovany
Soto (R)
RHP Joakim
Soria (F)
RHP Josh
Lindblom (T)
C A.J.
Pierzynski (F)
|
C Mike
Napoli
IF Brandon
Sydner
IF Michael
Young
OF Josh
Hamilton
|
The
Rangers swung and missed on a lot of their pursuits but did manage to improve
their bullpen and catching situation.
|
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
IF Mike
Aviles (F)
OF Melky
Cabrera (F)
SS Jose
Reyes (T)
LHP Mark
Buehrle (T)
OF Emilio
Bonifacio (T)
RHP R.A.
Dickey (T)
|
IF Yunel
Escobar
C Bobby
Wilson
C John
Buck
|
The Jays
have pulled off massive trades catapulting them to the forefront of World
Series discussions.
|
|
Washington Nationals
|
OF Denard
Span (T)
RHP Dan
Haren (F)
|
LHP Sean
Burnett
1B Adam LaRoche
C Jesus
Flores
LHP Tom
Gorzelanny
|
The
Nationals replaced talent lost by LaRoche’s likely and Jackson’s certain
departure, but lost some valuable lefties.
|
R –
Re-Signed | T – Trade | F – Free Agent | W - Waivers
Winners
The Los Angeles Angels won this year’s coveted prize: Josh Hamilton. Combined
with the offseason prize of last year – Albert Pujols – and the Rookie of the
Year – Mike Trout – Hamilton will lead a
power packed Angels offense that will give opposing pitchers headaches. What is
probably more important than this addition are the acquisitions of relief
pitchers Ryan Madson, Sean Burnett, and Jason Vargas. The Angels had the 8th
worst bullpen in the league, but these pitchers will definitely help improve
that ranking.
Pulling off two big
trades with the Mets and Marlins, the Toronto
Blue Jays have become a force to reckon with this year in the AL. They
added Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey and picked up the Marlins’ cap by trading for
Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and Emilio Bonifacio. They also added Melky Cabrera
who will not be nearly as prolific without using PEDs, but is still a good
pick-up for the team. The Blue Jays now have the pieces to compete with the
rest of the competition in the AL East. Their time may have come.
The Los Angeles Dodgers only made one notable signing this offseason,
but it was a biggy. They got the WAR crushing Zack Greinke to partner with
Clayton Kershaw for a devastating pitching duo. This combined with the
additions they got from the Red Sox at the tail end of last season, namely
players like Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett will lead to success next season.
They have been eclipsed by the LA spotlight of the Angels, Lakers, and
Clippers, but the Dodgers could be serious contenders next year.
Losers
The Texas Rangers missed on every target they had this year. They
whiffed on Greinke and failed to resign their own Josh Hamilton. The Texans
lost the pennant to A’s last year on the last day of the regular season, and now
they have to deal with a reloaded Angels team as well. Texas could be in
trouble.
The real losers this
offseason were Marlins Fans. Their
owner flipped them the bird and said that he could care less about the money
and effort the fans and tax payers have given to the new stadium and the
promises he made to sport a competitive team. He has dumped salary left and
right and soon Marlins Fans will be rooting for a Double A ball club.
The defending champion San Francisco Giants have not had a
good offseason either. They paid too much for Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro,
the price to be paid for players getting World Series rings. They lost Melky
Cabrera and an underrated Aubrey Huff. And the fans will no longer be able to
see Brian “The Beard” Wilson be the freak he is.
Dark Horse
The Kansas City Royals clearly came into the offseason with one thing
in mind: starting pitching. They have added four new starters in James Shields,
Wade Davis, Ervin Santana, and Jeremy Guthrie. Shields was a candidate for Cy
Young as was Davis for ROY. Santana was undervalued coming off a season where
he suffered getting zero run support. And Guthrie has been consistent across
his career, but had a bad year in a hitter’s ball park up in the thin Colorado
air. The Royals are rarely talked about,
but these moves could make them contenders.
It’s odd to think of the Boston Red Sox as ever flying under the
radar, but that is exactly what they have done. After trading away the bulk of
their team, many people have started to write of the Sox, but they shouldn’t.
They got a good piece in Shane Victarino and have helped what has long been a
problem – pitching – by adding Ryan Dempster and Joel Hanrahan. Dempster had a
great year starting in Chicago and Hanrahan a great year closing in Pittsburg.
The Sox may not have enough to best the Yanks, Os, and Jays, but never count
Boston out.
The Seattle Mariners are always under the radar. I don’t think that
they will make a run this year, but they do have the pieces to improve and make
some happy fans in the Seattle area. They’ve improved the infield, outfield,
bullpen, and starting pitching. Some people may say that that was not hard to
do with the team they had last year, but when you have King Felix every move
you make brings you closer to contention.
No comments:
Post a Comment