After the conclusion of the 2016 MLB World Series between the Cleveland Indians, and the Chicago Cubs, much news, as usual, was made of potential offseason moves clubs would make to bolster their respective rosters. A flurry of sprinkles and a scattering of thunderous snowstorms have taken this offseason by storm, with a variety of small and large market moves having taken place.
Former Toronto Blue Jays, and current Cleveland Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, signed a 3-year $60MM deal with a club option for a fourth year just towards the middle of the winter. Encarnacion, who by many, was pegged to land with the Boston Red Sox as the successor all-time great David Ortiz, was even endorsed by Ortiz himself, but still apparently did not receive an enticing offer from Dave Dombrowski and John Henry's Red Sox.
Less heralded and offensively inferior Dextor Fowler, who to be fair offers an extremely different skill set that potentially suits may teams more than Encarnacions power abilities, found himself a new home by inking a five-year $82.5MM contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Armed with former silver slugger Matt Carpenter, breakout rookie Aledmys Diaz, and young standouts Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk, Fowler has an impressive core of offensive potential around him to help to continue producing 80+ runs scored and a .340+ OBP in his new Cardinal red uniform.
Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen, and Justin Turner all returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers after testing the free agent market for a few months, and finding a barren landscape of attractive offers, only to be lured back to the Dodgers. Hill, 36, proved not to be a one-year wonder, and replicated his 2015 results to the tune of a 2.12 ERA, while only surrendering 77 hits in just over 110 innings pitched. Jansen, a former minor league catcher, currently possesses a mid-high 90's fastball, paired with a devastating sinker that helped him to land a 5-year $80MM deal as an all-star closer testing the open market. Jansen had perhaps his finest season yet in the senior circuit, registering a 1.83 ERA, 47 saves, a 13.63 K/9, an an eye-popping 0.67 WHIP. Lastly, starting third basemen Justin Turner, on the heels of a 27 HR/90 RBI campaign, aided by his highest WAR (5.0) in his career, was re-signed to a 4-year $64MM deal as well, and finished President of Baseball Operations Christmas shopping of bringing back the three integral members of the Dodgers 2016 playoff run.
Perhaps the icing on the cake of the hot stove season, ace left-hander Chris Sale was traded to the Boston Red Sox for a quartet of exciting prospects, headlined by one of the finest and highest ceiling prospects in minor league baseball, Yoan Moncada. Not to be forgotten, flamethrower Michael Kopech, as well as Luis Alexander Basabe were booked tickets to Chicago alongside Moncada as new members of the Chicago White Sox organization, shedding their red pair of socks, for a darker black pair. Sale brings his usual mid 90's fastball, and sweeping curveball to Boston to face stiffer competition, in a potent Toronto Blue Jays lineup at Roger's Centre, and an always fearsome, long ball oriented Baltimore Orioles lineup, anchored by Chris Davis and Manny Machado. While the move was questionable on many accounts due to Boston's gluttony of quality starting pitchers, it would appear the time is now to go fetch a World Series for the Boston sports franchise that last won the fall baseball classic in 2013 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
With the market for relief pitchers as hot and high as ever, demand all across the game has increased, and as a result, the price tag on players, even bench bats, has hit an all time high. While many teams prioritize swapping salaries for fresh faces and changes of scenery, the better answer may lay wide in the open in the free agent market, where right fielder Jose Bautista has remained stationary all winter long. Most certainly predicted to land with an American League club due to the designated hitter option, Bautista may be looking at the Rangers or Rays as the most likely landing spots to rebuild his offensive profile to better lineup for a longer-term contract next offseason. At the ripe age of 36, age is not on Bautista's side, but with as keen an eye as anyone in the game, and power always an alluring and eye-catching facet of baseball, Bautista may not be nostalgically sitting on the free agent market for much longer.
With pitchers and catchers looking to report towards the tail end of February, baseball is quickly approaching, and is at the time of year when fans start to toss and turn in excitement over baseballs whizzing through the air soon. While the offseason is a fun time to follow and catchup on rosters and team statistics, the real baseball is approaching quickly, and is just as anxious as you and me to get here mightily quick.
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