With the start of the season comes the end of the offseason. Every offseason, we see teams take different approaches as they look to prepare themselves for the upcoming season. The lockout this year’s offseason seemed a bit different than usual.
There were almost two different signing periods for teams – both before and after the lockout. However, that didn’t stop teams from making moves when they could. There are always big winners – and big losers – of every offseason and despite the unusualness of this one, select teams managed to come out on top as the biggest winners of the MLB offseason.
The Biggest Winners
Seattle Mariners
(Photo Credit: The Athletic)
After rebuilding for a few years now, this Seattle Mariners team looks to be one of the most exciting teams this season. With some of their top prospects like Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, and Matt Brash, starting the season in the majors, the future is now.
The Mariners were aware of that, and this forced them into being somewhat aggressive this past offseason. One of their first moves, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, was the signing of reigning Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to a five-year, $115 million deal.
Ray gives the Mariners an established ace at the front of the rotation and one to help mentor some of their younger pitchers like Logan Gilbert and Brash. The signing of Ray gives the Mariners a very young and dynamic pitching staff that should be great for years.
They didn’t stop there, as the Mariners made one of their yearly offseason trades. This time, acquiring outfielder Jesse Winker and third basemen Eugenio Suarez from the Cincinnati Reds for a package of three players including outfielder Jake Fraley, starting pitcher Justin Dunn, and prospect Brandon Williamson as reported by Jeff Passan and MLB Network Insider Mark Feinsand.
These moves speed up the rebuild a bit while allowing Seattle to keep some of their other top prospects like infielder Noelvi Marte and starting pitcher George Kirby. The Mariners should make noise this year with these acquisitions, and it seems like they may only get better as time goes on.
Texas Rangers
(Photo Credit: LA Times)
The Texas Rangers may have shocked everybody with the way they handled this offseason. Wanting to stack talent to build around via prospects, the Rangers went out and signed two of the biggest names on the market.
As reported by Jeff Passan, Texas went out and signed infielder Marcus Semien to a seven-year, $175 million deal. The move helped lock up the right side of the Rangers’ infield with Semien taking over the keystone.
The Rangers were not done there, as they then signed fellow free agent infielder Corey Seager to a 10-year, $325 million deal just a day later as per Jeff Passan. This offseason, the Rangers went out and spent a whopping $500 million to shore up their middle infield now giving them one of the best in baseball.
These two bats alone should help make the Rangers a competitive team once again after finishing last year 60-102.
Needing to fill some holes in the rotation, the Rangers made another splash in the market, signing former Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray. Gray netted a four-year, $56 million contract as per Jeff Passan.
While not an ace, Gray is a very solid pitcher and will give the Rangers someone to rely on at the front of their rotation. These moves helped put Texas back on the map in the AL West, and make them one of the winners of this past offseason.
Toronto Blue Jays
(Photo Credit: ESPN)
After missing the playoffs in 2021 despite going 91-71, the Blue Jays went into this offseason vowing to not let that happen again. In need of starting pitching after their dominant offense carried them last year, the Blue Jays went out and made some moves.
First, they extended Jose Berrios, their trade deadline acquisition from last year. Berrios netted a seven-year, $131 million extension, keeping him at the front of Toronto’s rotation for the foreseeable future, reported by Jeff Passan.
After locking up their own, Toronto went out and snagged two more starting pitchers on the free agent front. They locked up former San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kevin Gausman to a five-year, $110 million contract as well as former Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $36 million deal as reported by Jeff Passan and Jon Heyman, respectively.
Rumored to have been exploring a trade with the Cleveland Guardians for third basemen Jose Ramirez, the Blue Jays opted to look elsewhere after the asking price was too high. They moved on to Matt Chapman. Chapman, a third basemen for the rebuilding Oakland Athletics, had been readily available via trade all offseason. With that, the Blue Jays were able to fill their third base hole by acquiring Chapman from the A’s for four prospects including pitcher Gunnar Hoglund, shortstop Kevin Smith, and two left-handers – Zach Logue and Kirby Snead as reported by Jeff Passan.
Going into the season, the Blue Jays will have a rotation featuring Alek Manoah, Hyun Jin Ryu, Berrios, Gausman, and Kikuchi. Those arms, along with their formidable offense, makes the Blue Jays instant World Series favorites.
Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo Credit: LA Times)
Consistent World Series contenders, it seems as though the Dodgers are always winners of the offseason. Dedicated to winning, the Dodgers followed that plan with a flurry of moves.
With some of their own talent free agents, the Dodgers had some decisions to make on who to bring back. With Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, Clayton Kershaw, and Kenley Jansen no longer under contract, some decisions needed to be made.
And that they were – one of the Dodgers’ earliest offseason moves was locking up utility man Chris Taylor to a four-year, $60 million deal as reported by MLB on FOX’s Ken Rosenthal. Taylor gives the Dodgers some extra utility around the diamond and has really come into his own as a valuable player over the last few years. He set a career high with 73 RBI last year and reached the 20 home run mark for just the second time in his career.
With the signing of Taylor over bringing back Seager, the Dodgers had another choice to make – bring back the former Cy Young Winner in Kershaw or a valuable bullpen piece in Jansen? The Dodgers opted to go with Kershaw, as they inked him to a one-year, $17 million deal as reported by Ken Rosenthal.
The addition of Kershaw adds some depth to an already deep rotation and gives him one more chance at a second ring before he ultimately may decide to hang it up.
Being the Dodgers, they could not go long without a large splash on the market, and they did just that by bringing in former NL MVP and World Series Winner Freddie Freeman. Freeman was the most coveted free agent available, and after months of going unsigned, the Dodgers and Freeman finally agreed on a six-year, $162 million deal as reported by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
Still looking to fill the hole of Jansen in their bullpen, the Dodgers made one last move. They acquired Craig Kimbrel from the Chicago White Sox in return for veteran outfielder AJ Pollock, first reported by Mark Feinsand.
Despite losing a few of their own, the Dodgers managed to get arguably stronger on both sides of the ball, setting them up as World Series favorites once again.
Atlanta Braves
(Photo Credit: The Athletic)
What’s the best way to follow up winning the World Series? How about having an amazing offseason? Arguably the best offseason, the Braves perfectly executed every move they made.
Despite raising some eyebrows when deciding to not re-sign lifelong Atlanta Brave Freddie Freeman, the Braves still managed to have an incredible offseason.
The Braves never seemed fully committed to re-signing Freeman this offseason, and they confirmed that when they went out and acquired first baseman Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics.
The Athletics continued their rebuilding ways of the offseason and sent Olson to Atlanta for four prospects. Oakland acquired catcher Shea Langeliers, outfielder Cristian Pache, and two pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes as per Jeff Passan.
Right after the move, the Braves made it an effort to lock up Olson for the foreseeable future. Atlanta signed Olson to an eight-year, $168 million deal also reported by Jeff Passan. The Braves managed to replace Freeman with someone as good and younger than him while paying less money for a longer contract.
The Braves were not done there, as they brought back veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario on a two-year, $18 million deal. The contract includes a club option for 2024 as reported by Braves Beat Reporter Justin Toscano.
The move added depth to the Braves outfield and makes their lineup deeper than before, especially once stud outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr comes builds his way back from injury.
Looking for some revenge on the Dodgers and their signing of Freeman, the Braves went after former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. Jansen signed a one-year, $16 million deal as mentioned by Jeff Passan. The deal gives the Braves a legitimate closer and makes their bullpen one of the deadliest in the league.
After watching their starting cast battle injury all year last year despite winning it all, the Braves decided to stack both sides of the ball to account for unforeseen circumstances. As a result, the Braves are one of the deepest teams in baseball and look poised to make a run at another World Series Championship for the second consecutive year.
