MLB Predictions 2011: Power Ranking Most Underrated Moves of the Offseason
We've all heard about Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford signing with the Red Sox.
We've all heard about Zack Greinke being traded to the Brewers.
We've all yawned about Derek Jeter re-signing with the Yankees.
We all weren't surprised when the Braves went after a top second baseman in Dan Uggla.
But this list commemorates the moves that have been made so far this offseason that largely went unnoticed or didn't reap the round of applause they so deserved.
These players aren't superstars, but they will help their teams a lot more than most people think.
Here are the 10 most underrated moves of MLB's offseason so far.
Honorable Mention: Hiroki Kuroda Signs With the Dodgers
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Hiroki Kuroda may be 36 years old, but he can still pitch.
In fact, he pitched better last season than he ever had before, posting a 3.39 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 196-and-one-third innings.
He's a key part of a Dodgers rotation that figures to be better this year.
He's also a key part of the Dodgers contending in the NL West.
10. Orioles Sign Justin Duchscherer
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Ever since the Baltimore Orioles organization signed manager Buck Showalter last season, they've been doing the right thing.
For those of you who don't know Justin Duchscherer, he's that guy who posted a 2.54 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 22 starts with the Oakland Athletics in 2009.
He's also that guy who's had injuries problems the last two years.
But if he can stay healthy, he could be a great signing for a team trying to emerge from the depths.
9. A's Trade For David DeJesus
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David DeJesus is a leadoff hitter any team wouldn't mind having.
He's been a bit hidden from the general public while playing for the Kansas City Royals the last eight seasons, but he's a career .289 hitter who hit .318 last season.
He's also a very good outfielder and he's hit for a little more pop the last few years, hitting 12 and 13 home runs in 2008 and 2009 respectively, before having an injury-shortened 2010.
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8. Brewers Trade For Shaun Marcum
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The Milwaukee Brewers were 26th in the majors in team ERA last season, giving up 4.58 runs per nine innings.
When they traded for former Toronto Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum, they added a solid piece to a rotation that figures to be much better in 2011.
Last year, Marcum posted a 3.64 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 31 starts, going 13-8.
The year before, he posted a 3.39 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 25 starts, going 9-7.
Either way, you're getting a dependable No. 2 or No. 3 starter on a team desperate for better pitching.
7. Dodgers Sign Juan Uribe
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Second baseman Juan Uribe may have hit at a .248 clip last season, but he came through time and time again when it mattered for the World Series champion San Francisco Giants and played a solid shortstop for the team when Edgar Renteria went down with an injury earlier in the year.
Believe me, I know this. I'm a Giants fan.
So, being a Giants fan, I obviously noticed when Uribe wasn't re-signed and instead made his way over to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason for a ludicrous amount of money.
I'm just hoping Uribe doesn't come back to haunt the Giants in the thick of a playoff race.
He very well could.
6. Orioles Trade For Mark Reynolds
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Former Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds may have hit at a .198 clip last season, he may have struck out 211 times, he may be an average-at-best fielder, but boy can he hit the long ball.
Reynolds has never had trouble jacking the ball out of the yard since coming into the league in 2007, hitting 121 homers in not even four full seasons.
Reynolds hit 32 home runs last season despite his average and strikeout percentage.
If he can get his average to around the .260 clip he hit two seasons back, he's one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.
5. Padres Trade For Cameron Maybin
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You look at outfielder Cameron Maybin's stats last season and they're not very impressive.
A .234 average, eight home runs and nine stolen bases.
But it's the potential of the 23-year-old that's so intriguing.
He's a dynamic center fielder already and the former 10th pick of the 2005 draft wasn't selected that highly for nothing.
The Padres desperately needed a leadoff hitter this offseason, and Maybin may be just the player they needed to rise again in the NL West.
4. Marlins Sign John Buck
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Former Blue Jays catcher John Buck may have been in the league for a while, but he seems to have finally figured out this whole hitting thing pretty well.
Buck hit .281 with 20 homers and 66 RBI in 118 games last season, proving to be one of better hitting catchers in the game.
Having a catcher that can swing the bat is always a plus. Just ask the San Francisco Giants.
3. Giants Re-Sign Cody Ross
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There's no denying that without Cody Ross the Giants probably wouldn't have made it to the World Series, the 30-year-old outfielder hitting .294 with five home runs in the postseason, including two bombs against Roy Halladay.
This despite hitting .269 with 14 home runs the entire regular season.
Ross rose to the occasion at the end of the year and became a pivotal part of a scrappy Giants team.
2. Orioles Sign Vladimir Guerrero
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Vladimir Guerrero may be 36 years old now, but he can still hit.
Guerrero hit .300 last season with 29 homers, 115 RBI and 83 runs.
He's not as fast as he used to be, he can't field worth a lick, and he is declining, but he's still a hitter anyone wouldn't mind in their lineup and he'll be the DH for the Orioles so his fielding ability won't matter.
A solid veteran presence for an up-and-coming young team is exactly what the Orioles needed to acquire this offseason.
1. Giants Re-Sign Aubrey Huff
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Aubrey Huff was picked up off the scrap pile during the offseason, no one but the Giants apparently wanting him.
He quickly grew into one of their best and most consistent hitters throughout the season, hitting .290 with 26 home runs, a team-best 86 RBI and 100 runs.
Not only that, he was the heart and soul of the team, his oddball personality keeping the Giants loose in the dugout.
Losing Juan Uribe was a bit rough, but if the Giants had lost Huff, it would have been blasted as a colossal failure by the front office.
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