In the short time between the end of the MLB season and the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, hasty roster moves were made before the imminent lockdown. Some teams shelled out massive money to attract big names to their city, but is it enough to make them World Series contenders?
Texas Rangers
-SS Corey Seager 10yr/325mil
-2B Marcus Semien 7yr/175mil
-P Jon Gray 4yr/56mil
-OF Kole Calhoun 1yr/5.2mil
The Rangers have been dwelling in the doldrums for the last few years. After back to back World Series losses in 2010-2011, they made the postseason three more times in five years but have sunk to 100-loss depths and no playoffs since 2016. Some feel the ten-year deal for Seager is too optimistic, and padding the infield with another massive contract for Semien is a lot of the future budget tied up in two players. Pitcher Jon Gray has had ups and downs in Colorado, but perhaps a change of scenery will help him regain control on his fastball. Calhoun has quietly excelled lately and adds a reasonably cheap bat to the Rangers lineup, but for all their spending Texas is still likely the third best team in the AL South.
Chicago White Sox
-P Kevin Graveman 3yr/24mil
Detroit Tigers
-SS Javier Baez 6yr/140mil
-P Eduardo Rodriguez 5yr/77mil
The Detroit Tigers made one of the riskier acquisitions of the shortened offseason by signing the animated shortstop Javier Baez. His defensive prowess is undeniable, yet his league-leading strikeout totals are cause for concern. Baez is a career .264 hitter with a bit of power in his bat, and at 29 years old this contract puts him at 35 when it's concluded. The Tigers are getting a much-needed boost to their infield, but also a bat to replace Avasail Garcia in the lineup.
Atlanta Braves
P Kirby Yates 2yr/8.25mil
C Manny Pina 2yr/8mil
After their World Series victory, the Braves stayed fairly quiet. The Atlanta bullpen was stellar in the postseason, and most of them are returning yet they still brought in the veteran Yates coming off his second Tommy John to add some depth. Yates is 35 and expectations are metered, especially considering his recovery period likely won't get him on the mound until June.
Los Angeles Dodgers
-IF/OF Chris Taylor 4yr/60mil
-P Andrew Heany 1yr/8.5mil
Los Angeles lost the 2021 World Series, much to the enjoyment of everyone not from LA or Mexico. They also lost star shortstop Corey Seager to the Texas Rangers in a blockbuster deal worth almost $400 million, leaving a hole both offensively and defensively not easily filled. Without much time to make moves, the Dodgers re-signed veteran utility player Chris Taylor to the roster. Taylor has been a consistent starter with LA since 2018, starting games at second, third, shortstop, and all three outfield positions. Taylor hit .254 in 2021 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs, and while that doesn't match the production of Seager, Taylor provides a piece that can play any position and cover for stars on rest days.
Chicago Cubs
-P Marcus Stroman 3yr/71mil
-C Yan Gomes 2yr/13mil
Comparatively, the Cubs are getting Stroman at a deal when looking at some other pitchers on this list. He didn't pitch in 2020 and took the Met's qualifying offer in 2021, making this his first real free agent contract. Robbie Ray and Kevin Guasman each received much larger offers, but with an opt-out after 2023 both sides are protected. If Stroman performs at a high level he can demand more money or a trade pretty quickly, and if things aren't going well on the mound Chicago can send him packing without taking too large a hit. Either way, Stroman's top-10 ERA (3.02) and top-20 WHIP (1.15) in 2021 are enough to warrant a flyer for the Cubs rotation, which features ace Kyle Hendricks coming off his worst season yet.
Veteran Yan Gomes joins Chicago on a 2 year deal to shore up their catcher rotation, as Cubs stalwart Wilson Contreras's contract situation is still up in the air for 2022 and no deal can be negotiated until the lockout is resolved.
New York Mets
-P Max Scherzer 3yr/130mil
-OF Starling Marte 4yr/78mil
-OF Mark Cahna 2yr/26mil
-IF Eduardo Escobar 2yr/20mil
Mets fans have to be pleased after the organization brought in future Hall-of-Famer Max Scherzer to join Jacob deGrom as the best 1-2 pitching rotation in the league. Scherzer is 38 years old, and his $43.3 million/year blows the previous yearly salary record (Gerrit Cole's $36 million/year deal with the Yankees) out of the water. With Scherzer's age, there is some risk involved but up to this point the ace has shown no signs of faltering in any of the physical categories that usually begin to eat at a pitcher's effectiveness around this age.
In addition to the All-Star deGrom, the Mets acquired Francisco Lindor last season and have power hitting first baseman Pete Alonso rostered. Outfielder Mark Cahna and utility guy Eduardo Escobar were brought in for depth, and showing money is no object New York gave almost $80 million to veteran Starling Marte, coming off a season where he hit above .300 for the first time since he was an All-Star in 2016. Marte is joining his fourth team in three years after playing the better part of a decade in Pittsburgh.
St Louis Cardinals
-P Steven Matz 4yr/44mil
Los Angeles Angels
-RP Raisel Iglesias 4yr/50mil
-P Aaron Loup 2yr/17mil
-P Noah Syndergaard 1yr/21mil
Seattle Mariners
-P Robbie Ray 5yr/115mil
-OF Adam Frazier (trade w/ Padres)
Seattle hasn't really had an "ace" on the roster since...Jason Vargas? That era is over and the Robbie Ray experience has begun, with the Mariners signing him to a deal that keeps him in the Pacific Northwest for half a decade. Seattle is taking a little bit of a gamble, as Ray had a truly atrocious 2020 yet rebounded to pitch almost 200 innings and lead the league in strikeouts in 2021. Both sides can opt out after 2023 depending on if it's the 2020 Robbie or the 2021 Robbie that shows up on Opening Day.
Houston Astros
-RP Hector Neris 2yr/17mil
-P Justin Verlander 2yr/50mil
Arizona
P Mark Melancon 2yr/12mil
Mark Melancon is still in the league? Yes, and he led the league in saves last year. A $6 million/year deal isn't risking too much on either side and Melancon provides a little stability in a bullpen developing some young guys.
Boston
P Rich Hill 1yr/5mil
P Michael Wacha 1yr/7mil
P James Paxton 1yr/10mil
OF Jackie Bradley (trade w/Milwaukee for OF Hunter Renfroe)
The Red Sox made some moves, but none jump out as championship-level signings. Wacha and Paxton have had their moments in the league, but also have been carved up as of late, meaning these are prove-it type deals where performance will be rewarded with future paydays and failure doesn't strap Boston financially.
Interesting fact: this is the seventh time the 41-year-old Rich Hill has signed a major or minor league contract with his hometown Red Sox. Seven times.
Former Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley is back in Boston in a swap sending Hunter Renfroe to Milwaukee. Bradley is the better fielder, but Renfroe a much better hitter, so the swap has some wondering what idea behind the move was.
San Diego
P Nick Martinez 4yr/20mil
C Jorge Alfaro (trade w/ Rays TBA)
Miami Marlins
OF Avisail Garcia 4yr/53mil
C Jacob Stallings (trade w/ Pirates)
IF Joey Wendle (trade w/Rays for prospect)
San Francisco Giants
P Alex Cobb 2yr/20mil
P Anthony DeScalifani 3yr/36mil
Toronto Blue Jays
P Kevin Gausman 5yr/110mil
P Yimi Garcia 2yr/11mil
P José Berríos 7yr/131mil (extension)
After extending José Berríos, the Rays let Robbie Ray walk and instead gave that money to Kevin Guasman, who had an amazing year on the mound for San Francisco in 2021. Gausman took awhile to realize his 4th-overall draft potential, but after a huge 2020 and 2021 he's on the move to help compliment Berríos and breakout star Alex Monoah up in Toronto. Guasman's hot start last season (1.73 ERA through the All-Star break) is what the Blue Jays are hoping to see, rather than the 4.42 ERA he sported down the stretch.
Tampa Bay Rays
P Corey Kluber 1yr/8mil
P Brooks Raley 2yr/10mil
Comments