The baseball offseason has been packed with a ton of trades and signings. From the Yankees re-signing Chapman, to Chris Sale being traded to Boston, the baseball landscape has changed. We countdown the top offseason moves so far.
Top Baseball Offseason Moves
5 – Seattle adds starting depth
Doubtless to say, the Seattle Mariners have added to their starting rotation this offseason. Acquiring Yovani Gallarado on January 6th from Baltimore was only the beginning. All of five days later the M’s went and traded for Tampa’s lefty Drew Smyly. These two moves have made the Mariners’ rotation a little more well-rounded going into the 2017 season.
4 – Bautista returns to Toronto on one-year deal
When the Blue Jays officially announced the return of Jose Bautista it quickly became one of the biggest stories in Toronto sports. Bautista, who has led the majors in home runs from 2010-present stated in his news conference January 21st that he did indeed turn down more money to stay in Toronto. He is coming off an injury-plagued season where he spent two stints on the disabled list.
3 – Yankees Sign Aroldis Chapman
The New York Yankees acquired Chapman before the start of the 2016 season. During his half season with New York he continually addressed his desire to stay with the Yankees. After being traded to the Cubs for their World Series Championship run, he later re-signed with New York on December 8th to a record-setting deal among closers. Chapman signed a five-year $86 million deal. The deal broke the record signed by Giants’ new closer Mark Melancon just a few days earlier.
2 – Chris Sale traded to the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox starting rotation for 2017 looked just fine before December 6th, but since then it looks downright frightening. The Sox acquired White Sox ace Chris Sale in exchange for four high-level prospects—a pretty penny to pay for a starter they received in return. Sale joins a Red Sox rotation already featuring last offseason’s big acquisition David Price, and reigning Cy Young winner Rick Porcello. Sale went 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA last season with Chicago. The move also provides Boston with one of the most powerful rotations in all of baseball
1 – Edwin lands in Cleveland
The last thing the Blue Jays expected to hear from Edwin Encarnacion’s party when they offered him a four-year deal worth upwards of eighty million was a still “no”.
Toronto had reportedly caught the Encarnacion camp off-guard with their early offer, and the Blue Jays went elsewhere signing Kendrys Morales to a three-year $33 million dollar deal. Edwin and his parrot decided to fly down to Cleveland, ironically the same team that put out his Blue Jays in the ALCS in the postseason, on a three-year deal worth $60 million. The deal gives him an identical salary per year as the Jays’ original offer. Edwin provides Cleveland with a power bat in the middle of the lineup replacing still free agent Mike Napoli. Cleveland’s offense will receive a massive boost with the addition of Encarnacion, but also if Micheal Brantley returns healthy next season.
There are the top 5 moves of the MLB offseason so far. With just around 20 days until Pitchers and Catchers report for Spring Training there is reason to believe more moves are still to come.
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