Shohei OhtaniDavid Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images
Key Additions: Eduardo Rodriguez, Eugenio Suárez, Joc Pederson, Randal Grichuk
Key Departures: Evan Longoria, Tommy Pham
The Snakes had one heck of an offseason.
Adding Rodriguez to an already strong rotation anchored by Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen was big. So was re-signing Lourdes Gurriel Jr. And replacing Longoria with Suárez. Getting Pederson and Grichuk for outfield depth was just icing on the cake.
It’s surprising they didn’t do anything about the bullpen, though. Kevin Ginkel was absurdly dominant in the postseason, but relief pitching was a concern all last year. It can’t just be Ginkel and Paul Sewald every night.
Key Additions: Cal Quantrill, Dakota Hudson
Key Departures: Brent Suter
It was a pretty quiet offseason in the mountains, but the Rockies did add a pair of starting pitchers in their eternal quest to find someone who can keep the ball from flying out of Coors Field.
It’s not much, but what else were they supposed to do in advance of what might be another 100-plus loss season? At least they didn’t saddle themselves with another $182 million as they try to figure out what’s next.
Key Additions: Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Teoscar Hernández, James Paxton
Key Departures: J.D. Martinez, Shelby Miller, Lance Lynn, Ryan Pepiot, Jonny DeLuca, Michael Busch
You’re sick of hearing about it. We’re sick of writing about it. But the Dodgers won the offseason. Full stop.
Save for Martinez, basically everyone of real importance is back, and they merely added to their already solid nucleus maybe the three best players who were available this offseason in Ohtani, Yamamoto and Glasnow.
Hernández was also a major pickup, and don’t forget they get Gavin Lux back after he missed all of last year with a torn ACL.
Key Additions: Dylan Cease, Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Jhony Brito, Enyel De Los Santos, Wandy Peralta, Yuki Matsui
Key Departures: Juan Soto, Blake Snell, Josh Hader, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Nick Martinez, Trent Grisham, Scott Barlow, Luis Garcia, Jairo Iriarte, Samuel Zavala, Steven Wilson
The Padres made it clear before the offseason began that their goal was to shed salary, and mission accomplished. They’re down about $90 million from where they finished last season.
And all they had to do was part with one of the best hitters, one of the best starters and one of the best closers in the majors.
Given all they gave up, though, they’re…kind of in great shape?
Even before the Wednesday trade to acquire Cease, it looked like they could be “someone emerges as a solid No. 3 starter” away from contending this season. And rather than pinning those hopes on one of the arm they got in the Soto deal, they went out and got another ace-level starter and now look legitimately formidable.
Still some serious question marks in the outside, but if rookie Jackson Merrill can adequately hold down the fort in left field, watch out for the Padres.
Key Additions: Matt Chapman, Jung-Hoo Lee, Jorge Soler, Jordan Hicks, Tom Murphy, Robbie Ray
Key Departures: Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, Joc Pederson, Alex Wood, Jake Junis, John Brebbia, J.D. Davis, Brandon Crawford, Mitch Haniger, Anthony DeSclafani
A little over a month ago, the Giants wouldn’t have gotten a great grade. But the late-in-the-offseason additions of Chapman and Soler have really changed the scope of what this team could be in 2024.
Between those two and the early signing of Lee, it seems they heard the complaints last season about the lack of star power in the lineup. If Marco Luciano pans out at shortstop, the G-Men should have one heck of a primary starting nine.
They sure did lose a lot of pitching, though. Trading for Ray should help in the second half of the year, but there’s a lot of pressure on Hicks to make a successful transition from closer to starter.
All along, this is where we’ve felt Blake Snell should sign. Maybe that could still happen.
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