With the off-season nearly over, free agency has come and gone save for a few stragglers. We now have a great picture of who will be where, and what teams are set up for good and bad seasons. With that in mind, here are some players who will be big additions, and some who will be subtractions.
Help: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
This is the most obvious pick on the list. Ohtani is the reigning MVP, the man can absolutely rake, and the Dodgers could use a left-handed power bat to complete the lineup. Ohtani will make a massive mark as a hitter this season, and then once he can return from his Tommy John surgery, he will continue to dominate on the mound as well. We’re curious to see if he ends up as a starter again, or comes out of the bullpen as a closer or super-middle reliever. Either way, Ohtani is the best player in the sport, and he will be a huge boon for the Dodger.
Hurt: James Paxton, Los Angeles Dodgers
Surprisingly, the Dodgers are here again, this time with a player that will hurt them. Paxton was once one of the best lefties in the sport, but in the last few years he’s completely fallen off, and injuries haven’t helped. Since 2019 James Paxton has a 4.29 ERA and a 1.304 WHIP. He will be at the back of the Dodgers’ rotation, but if injuries come into play for the front-line pitchers and Paxton becomes relied on to deliver quality innings, things could get hairy.
Help: Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs
Bellinger was the best player on the Cubs last year. They’re lucky to have gotten him back, even just for three years. It appears he’s released himself from whatever funk kept him down to a .642 OPS from 2020-2022. Bellinger delivers power and speed in the middle of a lineup that sorely needs both. He’s also a strong center fielder. I don’t think anyone would be too surprised if he pushed for another MVP this year.
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Hurt: Jack Flaherty, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers were in need of a pitching reload after Eduardo Rodriguez left town. However, we’re not sure Jack Flaherty was the answer. Flaherty started his career strong with the Cardinals, over 61 starts in 2018 and 2019 he posted a 3.01 ERA good for a 135 ERA+ (where the league average is 100). In 2019 he even led the NL in WHIP. However, things have gone south for Jack. Since 2020 his ERA has shot up to 4.42 in that span, and it’s even worse since 2022, at 4.84. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see success coming from Flaherty at this point.
Help: Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks
Speaking of Eduardo Rodriguez, he’s our next entry on this list. Rodriguez has had a fairly uneven career, but he’s posted a 115 ERA+ or better in three of his last five seasons. Last year he seemed to fully come into his own with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.153 WHIP in 26 starts. The Diamondbacks are looking to make a run in the playoffs again, and adding Rodriguez gives some serious rotation depth, as he won’t be relied on as an ace or even a number two in Phoenix.
Hurt: Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
We’re unsure what Matt Carpenter is still doing in the Major Leagues. Sure, he had that miracle 2022 with the Yankees where he posted a .727 SLG and 1.138 OPS, but that was in 154 plate appearances, not exactly a big sample size. The Padres found that out the hard way when he posted a .641 OPS for them, lower than just his SLG the year previous. The Cardinals should know better too, in his final three years as a Cardinal he posted a .671 OPS good for an 82 OPS+ (where the league average is 100). And those were his age 33-35 seasons, now Carpenter is 38. He probably won’t get everyday appearances, but we’d be stunned if he’s still on the team at the end of the year.
Help: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers
It’s a pretty bizarre thing that the guy who gets the biggest pitching contract in the history of the sport is not the biggest free agent of the off-season. Even weirder when he’s not the biggest Japanese free agent of the off-season. Weirder still when he’s not the biggest Japanese pitching free agent. Regardless, Yamamoto is poised to be a phenomenon. American fans got a taste of what Japanese fans have seen for the last few years in the World Baseball Classic, where Yamamoto dominated in his two appearances. The Dodgers need an ace, and he’s the guy. There may be some jitters to start, but by the end of the year, he’s going to tear the league apart.
Hurt: Sean Manaea, New York Mets
Sean Manaea is simply not a reliable player. He has a career 100 ERA+ which is exactly bone average. However, he has a 91 ERA+ since 2020. Last year he struggled to stay in the starting rotation with the Giants last year, starting only 10 of his 37 appearances. Counting on him to start thirty games is an absolute flier for the Mets, one that is poised to blow up in their face.
Help: Marcus Stroman, New York Yankees
The Yankees needed pitching depth, and Stroman will provide that. Stroman, in contrast to Manaea, is eminently reliable, he has thrown 25 or more starts in six of the last seven seasons and has been good for a 116 ERA+ in that span. For a mid-rotation guy, he is absolutely perfect for the Yankees’ needs. Stroman is originally from New York too, and if his Mets tenure is any indication, that gives him a little extra juice on the mound.
Hurt: Garrett Hampson, Kansas City Royals
Hampson is a journeyman utility player. Sure he’s a good defender, but he has a career OPS of .676, and the Royals plan on starting him every day. He will be an absolute hole in the lineup for a team that is rebuilding, but also sneakily trying to compete based on some of their other off-season moves. Hampton will be tough to watch over 600 plate appearances this year.
As the season approaches, we wish all these players the best of luck! We’re looking forward to another great MLB season.
