MLB's Winter Meetings: Winners and Losers

Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings have officially come to a close.

What we saw this week was a lot of talking and very little action from most teams, but a few intrepid general managers forged headlong into the free agent market, essentially setting the bar for all free agent signings that will follow.

Additionally, we saw a handful of teams able to strike deals with the intent of improving their fortunes heading into next season.

As is often the case, much of the winter’s action will happen in the weeks between the Winter Meetings’ conclusion and the opening days of Spring Training.

Whatever happened or—in some cases—didn’t happen in Indianapolis figures to lay the framework for the rest of the offseason.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five biggest winners and losers of this year’s Winter Meetings.

LOSER: Chicago Cubs

The Cubs entered their first Winter Meetings under the new ownership of the Ricketts family with one goal in mind: trade Milton Bradley.

The club would do well to add a second baseman, some bullpen help, and a lefty power bat—preferably the kind that can play center or right field—but the primary intention this offseason is to rid the Cubs of the albatross that is Bradley.

With two years and $21 million remaining on his contract, he wouldn’t have been an easy sell coming off of a good year. Instead, he’s coming off an awful year and is practically impossible to move.

The Cubs already missed the boat on trading for All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson because of the Bradley issue and the club cannot afford to make any major moves until the entire situation is resolved.

The Tampa Bay Rays, supposedly the only real candidate to trade for Bradley, wants the Cubs to pay much of the freight on Bradley’s contract, like the Red Sox are reportedly doing with Mike Lowell.

The Cub, for their part, are currently holding firm and refusing to pay Bradley to play elsewhere.

Chicago figures to have a tumultuous offseason ahead and general manager Jim Hendry will be forced to put all other endeavors on the backburner until the Bradley situation is remedied.

WINNER: Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin flew into Indianapolis with one goal, acquire pitching.

The club was primarily looking to help bolster a rotation that finished 2009 ranked among the worst in all of baseball.

It was also on Melvin’s radar to improve the backend of the bullpen to form a more cohesive bridge to closer Trevor Hoffman.

As a result of Melvin’s lone objective, the Brewers were reportedly hot on the trail of every free agent pitcher on the market.

The two major targets were John Lackey and Randy Wolf, generally regarded as the top options on the market.

Lackey priced himself off of Milwaukee’s list early on with his intention of landing “AJ Burnett” money.

As such, the club pursued Randy Wolf with every intention of signing the cagey southpaw.

The club offered a three-year, $29.75MM deal, something no other club was willing to match, and added another solid starter in the process.

The club then acted quickly and within hours of reportedly beginning negations with reliever LaTroy Hawkins, the club had him signed to a two-year, $7.5 million deal to fortify the bullpen.

Melvin figures to be in the market for at least one more starter this winter, and was rumored to have made plenty of contact during the Winter Meetings.

The club acquired 23-year-old left-hander Chuck Lofgren from Cleveland in the Rule 5 Draft, giving the club a potential internal option to bolster the rotation next season.

LOSER: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers came into the Winter Meetings in midst of a tumultuous offseason.

The McCourts divorce proceedings have put a stranglehold on the club’s finances and, as such, general manager Ned Colleti is, for the most part, shackled to the club he currently has in place.

What makes the Dodgers real losers in this situation was the club’s decision not to offer arbitration to any of its free agents.

Second baseman Orlando Hudson and starter Randy Wolf were both Type A free agents and could have netted the club first-round draft picks if/when they signed elsewhere.

The worst-case scenario would have been that both players accepted arbitration and the club would have filled two holes—that currently need filling—at a moderate raise over last year’s costs.

Instead, the club let them both walk and has nothing to show for it, except glaring holes in the rotation and at second base.

The Dodgers would like to trade fourth-outfielder extraordinaire, Juan Pierre, but finding a taker for the two years and $18.5 million that remain on his contract.

The club has been linked to Roy Halladay, but presumably won’t give up Chad Billingsley in a deal.

As such, the club will need to get creative this offseason to round out the rotation and—much like last offseason—wait around to land free agents at bargain-basement prices.

The Dodgers did, however, acquire two pitchers in the Rule 5 Draft, although neither one has an overly impressive minor league dossier. Armando Zerpa, 22, is a left-handed reliever and Carlos Monasterios, 23, is a right-hander who has split his time between starting and relieving.

WINNER: Texas Rangers

The Rangers were a true underdog story at this year’s Winter Meetings.

The club is expected to be sold by month’s end and, as a result, it was largely expected that the Rangers and general manager Jon Daniels would be in a holding pattern in Indianapolis.

Instead, the Rangers went out and surprised everyone.

The club executed a brilliant trade of starter Kevin Millwood—and most of his $12 million salary for 2010—to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for reliever Chris Ray and Rule 5 pick, Benjamin Snyder.

The Rangers promptly turned around and used the money saved from the Millwood trade to sign right-handed starter Rich Harden to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with a mutual option for 2011.

In addition, the Rangers are reportedly on the verge of trading minor league catcher/first baseman Max Ramirez to the Boston Red Sox for third baseman Mike Lowell.

The Sox were so intent on ridding themselves of Lowell that they’re willing to pay $9 million of his $12 million salary for next season.

The Rangers figure to use Lowell mostly at first base and designated hitter, and sparingly at third base.

For a team that was expected to sit back and let the Winter Meetings roll on by, the Rangers made some major moves to stay competitive in the suddenly wide-open American League West.

LOSER: Minnesota Twins

The Twins have never been big movers and shakers and the Winter Meetings, but with a new stadium set to open and glaring holes in the starting rotation, infield, and bench, the club figured to get in on the action this year.

Instead, general manager Bill Smith’s biggest accomplishment was trading Boof Bonser to the Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.

Upon realizing that multi-year offers weren’t on the horizon, Carl Pavano did some of Smith’s work for him and accepted the club’s arbitration offer. This guaranteed the club will have at least one veteran arm in the rotation next season.

In the past two weeks the Twins have watched many rumored targets get signed or traded before they could make a move to improve the club.

These names include Rich Harden (signed with Texas), Placido Polanco (signed with Philadelphia), Mike Lowell ( expects to be traded to Texas), Pedro Feliz (signed with Houston), Chone Figgins (signed with Seattle), and Marco Scutaro (signed with Boston).

More of the Twins anticipated targets figure to fall in the coming weeks and there were no reports out of Indianapolis that Smith did anything to get the ball rolling with anyone.

Additionally, the club also doesn’t appear to have made any major headway regarding a contract extension for reigning American League MVP, Joe Mauer.

The club had hoped to get a deal done by Christmas, but that seems more unlikely with each passing day.

WINNER: Detroit Tigers

The outcome of the Winter Meetings for Tigers’ fans may not fall in the “winners” category, but from an outsider’s perspective, the team did everything right.

The Tigers came into the Winter Meetings with the intention of shedding some salary from a bloated payroll and many of the overpaid players on the roster such as Dontrelle Willis, Magglio Ordonez, and Nate Robertson are virtually untradeable.

As a result, the club was forced to deal more valuable—yet plenty expensive—commodities All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson and right-handed starter Edwin Jackson in a three-team blockbuster trade with the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Tigers gave up a lot, but gained some payroll flexibility and an inspiring quartet of high-ceiling prospects.

From Arizona the Tigers landed right-handed starter Max Scherzer, 25, who is essentially a younger, better version of Jackson and at a much cheaper price.

They also netted lefty Daniel Schlereth, 23, who is a power arm that projects as a future closer.

New York sent over Phil Coke, 27, and Austin Jackson, 22, in the deal.

Coke has been a solid late-innings weapon in his time with the Yankees, but there are rumors that the Tigers may attempt to use him as a starter.

Jackson is arguably the top prospect in the Yankees system. He plays tremendous defense and has solid speed.

He won’t make people forget about Granderson’s power, but he could make them forget about everything else.

The Tigers were also able to re-sign defensive whiz Adam Everett to play shortstop for another season. Everett signed a one-year, $1.55 million deal.

LOSER: Los Angeles Angels

The Angels came into this offseason in a rough situation.

The club’s third baseman, right fielder, designated hitter, and staff ace—among others—were all eligible for free agency.

Making matters worse is that the Angels’ biggest competition in the American League West, the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners were both only a few shrewd moves from claiming the division last season.

General manager Tony Reagins struck quickly and re-signed Bobby Abreu early in the offseason. Thus far, that has been his biggest accomplishment.

The club hoped to re-sign John Lackey or trade for Roy Halladay to lead the rotation. That didn’t happen.

The club hoped to add a big bat such as Jason Bay or Matt Holliday to bolster the offense. That didn’t happen.

The club hoped to retain third baseman, leadoff hitter, and all-around sparkplug, Chone Figgins. Not only did that not happen, but Figgins signed a four-year, $36 million deal to play with the rival Mariners.

Reagins has stated that he felt confident as he left Indianapolis, believing that he’d laid the groundwork for some future deals.

Whether or not that will prove to be the case remains a mystery, for now the Angels still have plenty of needs and are playing catch-up to both the Rangers and Mariners within the division.

WINNER: Seattle Mariners

The Mariners and second-year general manager Jack Zduriencik are in an enviable position this offseason.

In a time when many clubs are looking to pinch pennies, the Mariners have more than $50 million to spend thanks to a plethora of Bill Bavasi era signings finally coming off the books.

As a result, Zduriencik has hit the ground running this offseason.

Even before the Winter Meetings, the Mariners had locked up shortstop Jack Wilson and designated hitter Ken Griffey Jr. for 2010.

Late last week, Zduriencik fired his first salvo within the division when the club reached an agreement with free agent third baseman Chone Figgins on a four-year, $36 million deal. The deal was finalized at the Winter Meetings.

In one fell swoop, Zduriencik improved his club immensely and took a big swipe at the division-rival Los Angeles Angels.

Zduriencik was rumored to be going hard and heavy and numerous free agents including Jason Bay, Mike Cameron, John Lackey, Rich Harden, Darren Oliver, and a host of others.

If nothing else, Zduriencik laid a lot of groundwork for the coming weeks at the Winter Meetings and seemed to show interest in nearly every name on the market.

Additionally, the club reportedly began talks with ace Felix Hernandez regarding a contract extension.

Although nothing significant came out of the talks, the footholds of a potential deal were put in place.

The club also bolstered the bench depth by signing outfielder Corey Patterson to a minor league deal.

Patterson has largely been a disappointment at the plate throughout his career, but his solid defense figures to play well at Safeco.

In the Rule 5 Draft, the club selected right-handed reliever Kanekoa Texeira from the Yankees.

The 23-year-old has an impressive minor league dossier having served mostly as a closer.

LOSER: New York Mets

The Mets are an interesting bunch.

The club has already made some intriguing moves this offseason.

Alex Cora was re-signed and will serve as the club’s aging, overpaid utility fielder.

Backup catchers Henry Blanco and Chris Coste were both inked to deals.

Former Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky was brought in to serve as a special assistant for general manager Omar Minaya.

Unfortunately for the Mets, that’s where the real wheelin’ and dealin’ stops.

The club has major holes to fill this offseason and is in dire need of a first baseman, left fielder, starting catcher, starting pitching, and bullpen help.

Oh, and the club would like to shed Luis Castillo’s remaining two-years and $12 million so they can upgrade at the keystone corner.

With that many problems in the lineup, everyone expected the Mets to come into Indianapolis with their guns a-blazin’ and start throwing down money on the big-time free agents.

Instead, by Meeting’s end the Mets had spent most of their time going back and forth on contract details with prospective catcher, Bengie Molina. The club reportedly made an offer to Jason Bay on the last day of the Winter Meetings, but it all seems like too little, too late.

It was rumored that the Mets showed interest in Randy Wolf, but refused to give him more than a two-year deal.

Given the amount of work that needs to be done to the roster for the Mets to be a contender next season, it was unfortunate that the club’s biggest move of the Winter Meetings was signing 32-year-old minor league first baseman Mike Hessman.

WINNER: New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have to be considered (by a huge margin) the biggest winners at this year’s Winter Meetings.

The club came in with few (if any) glaring needs this offseason. Honestly, how many World Series-winning ball clubs require a major overhaul?

The major goals were to sign at least one outfielder, be it Johnny Damon or someone else, look into re-signing Andy Pettitte for another season in the sun, and kick the tires on all of the major free agents and trade targets.

That’s it, a pretty modest to-do list for a general manager of Brian Cashman’s caliber, so one could have expected a pretty quiet couple of days in Indianapolis from the New York contingent, right?

Well, not so much.

What the Yankees did was acquire Curtis Granderson, one of baseball’s best center fielders and leadoff hitters, in the aforementioned blockbuster three-way deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers.

The deal cost the Yankees their top outfield prospect Austin Jackson and right-handed starter Ian Kennedy.

In making the move, the Yankees have given themselves plenty of leverage in contract negations with Damon and any other outfielder on the market as there is now no urgency for the club to add another bat.

The Yankees could conceivably go into Spring Training with an outfield rotation of Granderson, Nick Swisher, Melky Cabrera, and Brett Gardner.

The club also brought Pettitte back on another one-year deal, this time for a guaranteed payday of $11.75 million.

The club also traded reliever Brian Bruney to the Washington Nationals in exchange for the first-pick in the Rule 5 Draft.

They used the pick to select Jamie Hoffmann, 25, an outfielder from the Dodgers’ farm system who possesses modest power, impressive speed, and a penchant for getting on base.