By: Marvin A. Azrak
It’s been another wild MLB offseason, with record contracts, surprise signings, and almost $3 billion already spent on free agents. Over the next two weeks, we’ll examine how each team has fared thus far, with today’s installation being the Senior Circuit in the National League. Next week, we’ll dive into the American League.
NL EAST:
NEW YORK METS
The Mets kept the bullpen intact by re-signing the league’s best closer, Edwin Díaz, and with everything they’ve done since then, that feels like years ago, right?
They pivoted from Jacob deGrom spurring them and signing with the Rangers, landing Justin Verlander.
They acquired left-hander José Quintana to replace the loss of Chris Bassist and then signed Japanese star Kodi Senga to fill the void Tajuan Walker left behind when he bolted for Philadelphia.
David Robertson provides much-needed setup relief depth to get to Díaz. As the owner, Steve Cohen, said, “My team is good but not much better than last year.”
The loss to the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round, combined with their regular season collapse that allowed the Braves to take the division, should only fuel the Amazon’s fire this regular season. Although they’ve gone past the luxury tax, Cohen doesn’t care. “I’ve been dealing with big numbers for so long; they don’t scare me anymore,” he said.
The Mets are my current favorites in the NL, especially with how wide open it was after the 116-win Dodgers, who’ve lost some pieces this Winter, lost in the NLDS to San Diego.
ATLANTA BRAVES:
The reigning NL East champions may not have been as flashy as the Mets this offseason, but they didn’t have to be. Jake Odorizzi to the Rangers in a salary dump made sense, as he had a 5.24 ERA down the stretch out of the pen after being acquired by Atlanta from the eventual championed Astros at the trade deadline. They also took a flyer on Nick Andreson, who, if he stays healthy, will become a steal and recover from the loss of closer Kenley Jansen with Joe Jimenez. The head-scratcher, though, is the trade they made with Oakland and Milwaukee, which saw them deplete their farm system and see catcher Wilson Contreas go to Milwaukee for Sean Murphy from Oakland.
Murphy is an excellent glove-caliber defender and has a solid bat, as well as three years of club control. Still, in the Braves sense, it’s a swap of backup catchers because you have veteran starter Travis Darnu’d don’t think you needed to head to a length of that caliber to do so. Then again, who knows? We’ll have to wait and see how this turns out.
MIAMI MARLINS:
The Marlins have made it clear their offseason goals are to add multiple bats, including the two-way center fielder they’ve been looking for the past several years, and still haven’t got one. I’ll give them this, though, Skip Schumaker is now the manager instead of Don Mattingly, which goes a long way towards the growth of this team, for he has experience with getting the best out of his coalition as he did with the aging Cardinals this year leading them to a division title. No, Miami has a while to get there, but Schumaker seems like the right guy that’ll lead them there because he’s a 42-year-old that is learning new things just like his peers.
PHILADELPHIA
PHILLIES:
To improve the rotation, Taijuan Walker was brought aboard, and the acquisition of Matt Strahm gives them a second left-hander in the bullpen after setup man José Alvarado, which they lacked throughout their playoff run last year. It’ll be interesting to see how this team will do during the regular season and if they can carry over the momentum they sustained from the playoffs last season as the NL’s sixth seed through the gauntlet that is 162 games.
WASHINGTON
NATIONALS:
Free agents: 3B Jeimer Candelario, one year/$5 million; RHP Trevor Williams, two years/$13 million; OF Stone Garrett, one-year contract.
I see a bunch of trade-deadline chips as the Nationals build for the future.
NL CENTRAL:
ST LOUIS CARDINALS:
Free agents: C Willson Contreras, five years/$87.5 million; RHP Guillermo Zuniga, one-year contract.
The organization quickly moved on from the retirement of the legendary Yadier Molina and got the top free-agent catcher on the market in Willson Contreras, signing him away from the rival Cubs. I honestly thought that was the last place he would go. Over parts of seven MLB seasons, Contreas has a .256/.349/.459 line. While he’s never topped 25 home runs, he’s eclipsed the 20-homer mark on four occasions. His defense is top-notch, and his energy is infectious.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS:
The Brewers realized what everyone was thinking after their late-season collapse, which saw them miss the playoffs by a single game, so there’s no need to blow it up. They still have Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes anchoring the rotation, so they went small and found outfield help in Abraham Toro and Jesse Winker while also luring in a possible franchise catcher in William Contreas.
CHICAGO CUBS:
Trades: Acquired INF/OF Miles Mastrobuoni from Rays for RHP Alfredo Zarraga.
Free agents: CF Cody Bellinger, one year/$17.5 million; RHP Jameson Taillon, four years/$68 million. SS Dansby Swanson 7 years $177 million
The Cubs signed quality starter Jameson Taillon to a reasonable market contract and then took a flyer on former MVP Cody Bellinger, who should enjoy himself playing in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. The loss of Wilson Contreas to the rival Cardinals stings, so it’ll be interesting to see what the Cubs do at the catcher position. They’ll be better next year, but I can’t see them making it past 83 wins.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES:
Trades: Acquired 1B/DH Ji-Man Choi from Rays for RHP Jack Hartman; acquired RHP Dauri Moreta from Reds for SS Kevin Newman; traded IF/OF Hoy Park to Red Sox for LHP Inner Lobo.
Free agents: 1B/DH Carlos Santana, one year/$6.725 million; LHP Jarlin García, one year/$2.5 million; RHP Vince Velasquez, one year/$3.15 million.
They have some veterans to complement the youngsters and many other journeymen looking to prove themselves.
CINCINNATI REDS:
We’re looking at an obvious rebuild here, as you can see with these short tee deals. But trading Kyle Farmer to the Twins is a bit puzzling because of the veteran presence he entails. Still, Kevin Neuman should be serviceable and help you with his versatility skills.
NL WEST:
LOS ANGELES DODGERS:
Tax-strapped, the Dodgers are looking more internally than going for external talent.
They are looking to reset and stay under the luxury tax threshold.
They said goodbye to free agents Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, and Tyler Anderson. The pressure will be on the kids in SS Gavin Lux at shortstop and 3B Miguel Vargas, as well as pitchers Ryan Pepiot, Michael Grove, and Bobby Miller, to fill those voids.
So far, the Dodgers have ensured that future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw will return for a 16th season as he signed another one-year contract. They also agreed to a one-year $10 million deal with OF/DH JD Martinez.
SAN DIEGO PADRES:
Free agents: SS Xander Bogaerts, 11 years/$280 million; RHP Robert Suarez, five years/$46 million; RHP Nick Martinez, three years/$26 million.
These guys aren’t only relentless on the field but off it too. After whiffing, but being the highest bidders for free agents Aaron Judge(9 years, $360 million with the Yankees, Padres offered him ten years, $400 million), and Trea Turner (11 years, $300 million with Phillies, Padres offered 11 years $342 million) they finally netted a big fish in SS Xander Bogarts on an 11 year $280 million pact.
Adding him next to third baseman Manny Machado and to a lineup that includes Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Machado makes the Padres’ trip to the NLCS this past year seem like a prelude to bigger and better things.
San Diego also kept two key pitchers, Robert Suarez(5 years $46 million) and Nick Martinez(3 years $26 million) , who were dominant out of the bullpen down the stretch and into the playoffs.
SAN FRANCISCO
GIANTS:
After striking out on Aaron Judge despite offering him the same money the Yankees did, the Giants finally landed their man in Carlos Correa on a 13 year $350 million deal. Let’s see how it transpires on the field as they’re coming off a disappointing 81-81 season following a 107-win 2021 campaign that included a division title.
ARIZONA
DIAMONDBACKS:
Trades: Acquired OF Kyle Lewis from Mariners for OF/C Cooper Hummel.
Free agents: RHP Miguel Castro, one year/$ 3.5 million.
Kyle Lewis, the 2020 American League Rookie of the Year, has tremendous upside and will fit nicely in the dessert if he stays healthy.
COLORADO ROCKIES:
Trades: Acquired 3B Nolan Jones from Guardians for INF Juan Brito; traded RHP Chad Smith to A’s for RHP Jeff Criswell; traded OF Sam Hilliard to Braves for RHP Dylan Spain.
Free agents: RHP José Ureña, one year/$3.5 million.
They are still building and trying to add arms which never do well in high altitudes out there at Coors.
