MLB's Biggest Offseason Shakeups of the Past Decade
Winning is hard in MLB. Only one team can win the World Series each year, so most well-intended builds fall short of a championship.
Eventually, a front office may determine the current roster is unsustainable. That often leads to a round of massive changes.
This could be from a current group of executives or the product of a new regime. It might be a teardown or a bunch of additions to hopefully alter the team's course.
No matter the context, the franchise's leadership can focus on reshaping the roster through trades, signings and a flurry of forward-thinking moves.
Just as those hopeful championship years, a roster retooling might not work out. Once in a while, though—as the Atlanta Braves demonstrated in 2021—the sweeping changes can later produce a ring.
Note: Only offseason changes are considered, removing other options like the 2018 Kansas City Royals and 2022 Chicago Cubs.
2013 Boston Red Sox
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Although rare, a busy winter can work out perfectly. Such was the case for the Boston Red Sox in 2013.
Our focus is specifically on the offseason. However, it's impossible to discuss the Red Sox's changes without highlighting their 2012 midseason trade in which they sent Adrián González, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers. That deal freed up a ton of money that Boston late used on free agents.
Also, on a manager.
Boston sent shortstop Mike Aviles to the Blue Jays as compensation for hiring John Farrell. He replaced Bobby Valentine after the manager's tumultuous one-year stint.
On the free-agent market, the Sox pulled in starter Ryan Dempster, closer Koji Uehara, catcher David Ross, first baseman Mike Napoli, shortstop Stephen Drew and outfielders Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes. Plus, they snagged utilityman Mike Carp in a trade to bolster the roster around David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester.
The new-look Red Sox soared from 69-93 to 97-65, leaning on those eight additions as regular contributors. Boston capped the season with its third championship in a 10-year run.
2013 Miami Marlins
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When the Miami Marlins opened their new park in 2012, they attempted to fill the roster with big names. Miami signed José Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell in hopes of kickstarting a postseason surge.
Ultimately, the plan failed miserably. And the Fish gave up immediately, embarking on what has basically become a sad, frustrating tradition about every half-decade or so.
The moves began at the deadline with Hanley Ramírez, Omar Infante, Aníbal Sánchez and Gaby Sánchez all leaving town. The fire sale only intensified in the offseason.
Miami dumped Bell's contract on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Days later, the Marlins fired manager Ozzie Guillen after only one season. Within a month, Miami executed one of the largest salary-dumps in MLB history.
One trade accounted for the loss of five regular starters; Reyes, Buehrle, longtime starter Josh Johnson, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck all went to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The next season, the Marlins introduced Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna to an outfield led by Giancarlo Stanton. We call this foreshadowing.
2014 New York Yankees
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In the aftermath of the rival Boston Red Sox winning the World Series in 2013, the New York Yankees embarked on a changing of the guard.
Many familiar names and former stars left the roster. Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera retired, and Álex Rodríguez faced a 162-game suspension. Robinson Canó, Curtis Granderson, Lyle Overbay, Travis Hafner, Jayson Nix, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Boone Logan left in free agency. Among other changes, the Yankees also traded Chris Stewart and released Vernon Wells.
Put simply, New York basically turned over half of its roster.
Most notably, the cash-flush Yankees landed big names Masahiro Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltrán and standout reliver Matt Thornton in free agency.
Unfortunately, the overhaul didn't lead to the success that the Yankees hoped to find. They finished 84-78 in 2014 but missed the playoffs.
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2015 Atlanta Braves
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For a little over two decades, Atlanta was a postseason mainstay. But by 2014, the Braves' front office had realized the team probably wouldn't be a real World Series contender.
Atlanta signed Freddie Freeman to an eight-year extension before the season. After it ended, though, the teardown began.
In short: The Braves nailed it.
Justin Upton headed to the San Diego Padres in a trade that netted future ace Max Fried. Jason Heyward went to the St. Louis Cardinals for Shelby Miller, who later netted the Braves an All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson in a trade with the Diamondbacks.
The literal day before the 2015 season began, the Braves sent Craig Kimbrel and B.J. Upton's albatross contract to the Padres. In return, Atlanta received a few players and a draft pick that it turned into All-Star third baseman Austin Riley.
Also of note, the Braves sent Evan Gattis to the Houston Astros for a package that included future All-Star pitcher Mike Foltynewicz. They absorbed half of Trevor Cahill's salary and used the accompanying draft pick on now-standout reliever A.J. Minter.
Fried, Swanson, Riley and Minter all played key roles in Atlanta winning the 2021 World Series.
2018 Miami Marlins
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On Opening Day in 2017, the Marlins had Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna in the outfield with Dee Strange-Gordon at second base.
On Opening Day in 2018, they were playing for the Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Seattle Mariners, respectively.
Those trades resulted in Starlin Castro and a ton of prospects. But the disappointing reality is the Marlins whiffed badly. While the book isn't closed on some players, basically only ace Sandy Alcantara, starter Daniel Castano and—via a later Zac Gallen trade—All-Star infielder Jazz Chisolm Jr. have become meaningful players for Miami.
If there's a bright side, several of the prospects—such as Lewis Brinson, Magneuris Sierra, Monte Harrison, Isan Díaz and Jordan Yamamoto—at least made appearances for the Marlins during their run to the postseason in 2020's shortened 60-game campaign. They haven't stuck, though.
Of note, Miami's teardown didn't actually stop with the quartet. Within the next year, the Marlins also traded All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, first baseman Justin Bour and top reliever Kyle Barraclough.
2022 Oakland Athletics
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From 2018 to 2020, the Oakland Athletics reached the playoffs each year. But after missing the postseason despite an 86-78 record in 2021, the franchise decided on a teardown.
Oakland agreed to four roster-shaking trades. All-Star infielders Matt Olson and Matt Chapman headed to the Braves and Blue Jays, respectively. Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt went to the New York Mets, and the Padres added starter Sean Manaea in the fourth major trade.
And the changes didn't end there.
Oakland hired Mark Kotsay to replace Bob Melvin, who left to manage San Diego. Starling Marte and Mark Canha bolted for the Mets in free agency. Veteran players Mitch Moreland, Josh Harrison, Jake Diekman, Yusmeiro Petit and Sergio Romo weren't brought back, either.
Within the trades and roster overhaul, the penny-pinching A's significantly improved their farm system. The intent is cost-conscious competitiveness, but it's certainly not guaranteed to work out—just look at the Marlins.
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