The hot stove has reached its boiling point. No surprise, this week’s MLB Winter Meetings ignited a flurry of activity – most of which will stand out as the headline moments of the entire offseason. But no major trade or free agent signing can go without immediate judgement, and we’re no different.
10. Mets trade Jon Niese for Neil Walker
The Mets came up short in their attempt to land Ben Zobrist, but their ‘Plan B’ was nearly as good. Daniel Murphy likely isn’t returning. Prospect Dilson Herrera isn’t big league-ready. Walker fits the bill at second base and keeps the New York infield respectable. In exchange, the Pirates get a starting pitcher that was not expected to be in the Mets rotation for 2016. Grade: B+
9. Shelby Miller to Diamondbacks
The hard-luck pitcher of 2015 should have a chance of a bit more run support with the likes of Goldschmidt and Pollock in the batting order. Out of the tomb of Atlanta and into the promise that is Arizona, Miller has a good chance of being closer to the 15-game winner he was with St. Louis just two years back. This trade, of course, pales in comparison to the signing the D-Backs made last week. Still, it adds much-needed depth to a once-depleted staff. Grade: B
8. Cubs ship Starlin Castro to Yankees
Castro was quickly squeezed out of Chicago’s plans once the club inked one of the top free agent position players available. Ben Zobrist’s coming to the North Side meant Starlin’s departure. The Cubs didn’t waste time in finding him a new home, a place that may be to his liking. The Yankees, looking to add a second basemen, were impressed with how quickly Castro adapted to that position beginning in August. His bat also heated up, hitting .353 over the season’s final seven weeks. Grade: B
7. San Francisco signs Jeff Samardzija
It really pays to be a starting pitcher. There have been many examples presented to us in the recent weeks. Samardzija is proof that even those who struggle can still rake in the big bucks. The Giants were willing to overlook the 11-15 record and the 4.96 earned run average he compiled with the White Sox in 2015 and sign him at a rate of $18 million over the next five years. It’s a good thing they still have Madison Bumgarner to alleviate the eventual pain. Grade: C-
6. Angels land Andrelton Simmons in swap with Braves
In mid-November, the Angels made the first significant move of the offseason – taking advantage of the Atlanta fire sale and scooping up the top defensive shortstop in baseball (who’s still only 26). By giving up Erick Aybar and two pitching prospects, it was at a fair price. Despite the Simmons trade being an upgrade for the Halos, that alone won’t sit well with a fan base which has seen its team underachieve in recent seasons. Grade: C+
5. Craig Kimbrel to the Red Sox
Prior to getting its ace starter, Boston had already secured a top-notch closer. Kimbrel’s stay in San Diego was brief – not before notching 39 saves with a 2.58 ERA for an underwhelming club. What the Padres received in exchange are some acclaimed pieces from the Red Sox farm system. However, those players are in positions already occupied in the big leagues by long-term talent. Nevertheless, the Sox gave up too much for Kimbrel. Yet, as we later found out, that was just the beginning. Grade: B-
4. Tigers land Jordan Zimmermann Paying any pitcher $110 million over five years comes with a great deal of risk. But relative to the other signings that would follow to arms at or above the age of 30, the Tigers may have gotten a bargain. Zimmerman, a 29-year-old Wisconsin native, wasn’t as stellar in 2015 (13-10, 3.88 ERA) as he was in the previous two seasons with Washington. That said, he’s a starter who’s durable – something that can no longer be said about Justin Verlander. Grade: B
3. Ben Zobrist chooses the Cubs After helping stop the Royals’ 30-year World Series title wait, he’ll join a club seeking to end a much longer championship drought. The 34-year-old utility player agreed to a four-year, $56 million contract with Chicago, joining his former manager in Tampa and bringing veteran presence to a club with many talented young hitters. Grade: A
Ben Zobrist is exactly what Cubs need: on-base skills, low Ks, versatility. Four years is hefty for a 34-year-old, but $14M/year palatable. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2015
2. D-Backs break bank for Greinke
There’s always the one team during the winter that “wins” the offseason. Last year, it was the San Diego Padres (to very poor results). This time, it goes to another club hoping to shake up the NL West. Zack Greinke’s numbers in 2015 were more than good enough for a Cy Young – and, thus, his value was as high as ever. It’s doubtful Greinke will ever equal that performance. It’s also unlikely the Diamondbacks would have a chance of taking a step forward if they didn’t do this. Now, Arizona is in the playoff discussion. Grade: B-
1. Red Sox go seven years and $217 million for David Price
Yes, the team with the second-worst ERA in the American League in 2015 badly needed an upgrade in the pitching department. It’s not that getting the runner-up for the AL Cy Young is unwise. It’s the price the Red Sox paid for David that’s startling, not to mention irrational. Not many, if any, long-term and high priced contracts wind up being anything but an albatross to the clubs that made them. It’s hard to believe this deal for the 30-year-old left-hander won’t be any different. Grade: D