MLB Free Agency: Grading Every MLB Team's Rotation Changes

There will be some new faces in new uniforms in 2012. We're already seeing the effects of such moves, as players like Yu Darvish are off to good starts in spring training.

The Angels and Yankees made the biggest changes to their rotations this winter, adding depth to rotations that were already backing solid playoff contenders. 

How do the moves grade out? Who passed with flying colors and who is going to be stuck relying on their offense all season long?

Read on to find out, but remember...I'm grading on each team's rotation changes, not their rotations alone.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The biggest change to Arizona's rotation is adding Trevor Cahill in a trade with the Oakland A's. Cahill has had his ups and downs, but he does have good stuff. I think he'll be well-suited in the third spot in that rotation, behind Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson.

As a whole, the rotation still worries me a little bit. Kennedy and Hudson have only had one good year, plus Cahill's inconsistency has to have Kirk Gibson somewhat nervous. 

But if last year was any indication, the D'Backs are a good rotation getting better with this move. So, assuming Cahill stays healthy all year, this grades out pretty favorably.

Grade: B+

Atlanta Braves

The biggest move the Braves made this winter was letting Derek Lowe walk. And can you blame them after the horrendous 2011 he had in Atlanta? I'm actually a big fan of Lowe, but his time was definitely over with the Braves.

I'm going to give Atlanta a grade that may surprise some people, so let me explain. While it's not a "change," per se, the Braves get major brownie points from me for not trading Jair Jurrjens. 

With Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson and Jurrjens, Atlanta has a potentially deadly top three. Not to mention the plethora of young arms they have ready to fill in at a moment's notice.

Overall, I like the staff in Atlanta. The one move they did make was necessary, while the one they refrained form making was very fortunate.

Grade: A

Baltimore Orioles

I'm really not sold on what the Orioles did with their rotation this offseason. I know Jeremy Guthrie had his troubles, but now he's thriving in spring training for the Rockies, and the O's are stuck with two unproven pitchers coming over from Japan. 

Tsuyoshi Wada and Wei-Yin Chen aren't exactly the next coming of Hideo Nomo or Daisuke Matsuzaka (pre-collapse). They had good numbers abroad but nothing to write home—er, trade Jeremy Guthrie about.

Baltimore won't be contending this year either way, so we'll have to see if one of these guys can step up. But for now, I'm just wondering what they are going to do. It seems a bad team only got worse.

Grade: D

Boston Red Sox

To be fair, the best move the Sox made this winter was in the bullpen. But Andrew Bailey doesn't count in this conversation. So, what to make of the healthy rotation in Boston?

Tim Wakefield's retirement is going to hurt a lot more than I think most people realize. He is a master of mop-up duty and can throw 1,000 effective innings if need be. That being said, Clay Buchholz returns and Sox fans everywhere must just be crossing their fingers he stays off the DL.

Other than that, moving Daniel Bard to the rotation will be an experiment that will be fun to watch no matter how well it plays out. I can essentially call the losing-Wakefield-gaining-Buchholz change for this rotation a slight win, and I'm giving them a grade that reflects just that.

Grade: B-

Chicago Cubs

For once, I actually like what the Cubs did with their rotation. Carlos Zambrano was one of those guys you love to have on your team, but he's just not worth the hassle. Now he's taken his talents to South Beach, and I'm sure Cubbie fans couldn't care less.

But the additions are what really catch my eye. Paul Maholm, Chris Volstad and Travis Wood aren't even household names for most people, but they all have tremendous upside with at least some background of major league success.

I think Maholm and Volstad will grow into solid starters for this team, and Wood should flourish in a new setting. In a few years, I wouldn't be surprised if this rotation is one of the better ones in the National League.

Grade: A-

Chicago White Sox

Ugh. What is Kenny Williams doing? Now I know where his son Kyle learned how to come through in the clutch...too soon?

Well the big news here is that the White Sox bid adieu to fan favorite Mark Buehrle, who also went down south to Miami.

But this time, Williams didn't bring anyone in to fill the void.

The simple fact that they let Buerhle go and added nothing makes this an easy one to grade.

Grade: F

Cincinnati Reds

As much as I wanted to hate on the Reds' acquisition of Mat Latos, I just can't. I have no reason to root against that guy other than the simple fact that I don't particularly like him. Being objective, they made a good deal.

Well, I don't agree with unloading half the farm system for him, but he's going to be an upgrade over Edinson Volquez. I think Travis Wood's time had run out in Cincy, so that's a smart move too.

Overall, they got rid of two guys that had to go anyway and acquired a guy who could potentially be the type of ace that offensively loaded team has needed. All around, a good offseason for the Reds and their pitching staff.

Grade: B+

Cleveland Indians

I'm undecided on this rotation. I like where it's headed, and whereas Atlanta had to dump Derek Lowe because he was so awful for them, I actually like Cleveland's pickup.

It's a completely different situation for the Indians, who needed a good veteran presence in the rotation, and a guy who still has the potential (there's that word again) for a solid season. I'm not sure if Lowe is the right guy for the job, but they could have done a lot worse.

The best thing the Indians did was keeping the young guys there and showing faith in Ubaldo Jimenez. I have a feeling it's going to be a very up-and-down season for this staff, but success wouldn't surprise me.

Grade: C+

Colorado Rockies

Well, the Rockies certainly took the hot stove out for a spin this winter. Let's just break it down here real quick: They added Jeremy Guthrie, Tyler Chatwood, Josh Outman and Guillermo Moscoso to the rotation, and watched Aaron Cook, Jason Hammel and Kevin Millwood walk.

OK. I love the addition of Guthrie; I think he'll be a great addition. I have a lot of faith in Outman and Moscoso to grow into their repertoires and be solid starters. While they did lose one of their better pitchers of late in Cook, I don't think they really did any damage to themselves.

It will be hard to gauge until the new guys pitch at Coors Field, but overall it was definitely a good offseason for a team that is always hurting for pitching.

Grade: A

Detroit Tigers

Shouldn't I just give the rotation that boasts the former AL Cy Young and MVP winner Justin Verlander an automatic A and move on? Yeah, you're right—that would be a cop out. 

Well, I really like Verlander, Rick Porcello and a full season with Doug Fister in that rotation. What I don't like is that those three guys aren't on my team.

All the Tigers really did over the course of the winter was lose Brad Penny, who I honestly forgot was still playing baseball. Detroit is going to be just fine with the rotation it has, especially in that division.

Grade: A by default

Houston Astros

Adding Livan Hernandez does not make a rotation solid. Far from it, in fact. But what can the 'Stros really do? They do have Wandy Rodriguez, who has shown flashes of brilliance but lacks consistency.

Hernandez is going to bring some veteran stability to the staff, but it's really not going to make much of a difference in the long run.

Houston didn't do anything to necessarily improve its rotation but it didn't do much to hurt it either. The Astros are just still plain below average.

Grade: D+

Kansas City Royals

I can finally freely admit to being a Jonathan Sanchez fan. And that goes perfectly with my new dark-horse team in Kansas City. I really, really like what the Royals are doing over there, and it won't be long until they are challenging for a playoff spot.

Sanchez is going to bring them a really good lefty presence in the rotation, and if he can harness the occasional control problems that have plagued him, he'll turn into a Gio Gonzalez-type success.

As we've seen, Sanchez can be literally unhittable at times, and then blow up one start later. But his stuff is dirty enough that the Royals may have just hit the jackpot with this trade. Losing Jeff Francis is absolutely not going to hurt them, by the way.

Grade: B+

Los Angeles Angels

I'm barricading myself in this room before I write this one. I'm sure hordes of angry Angels fans will be running at me with rally monkeys and pitchforks. I just simply don't think C.J. Wilson is a huge change for this rotation.

They already had a solid three in Dan Haren, Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana. Adding Wilson definitely gives them a scary four, but they didn't sign Wilson to help get them to the playoffs. This team was already a contender.

Los Angeles signed Wilson to help them bring home a championship. Unfortunately, he's not that great in the postseason. In fact, for the money, he might even hurt them more in the playoffs than help! Overall, it's nothing to be super excited about as far as change goes.

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Dodgers

What the Dodgers essentially did this offseason was dump Jon Garland, let Hiroki Kuroda walk and brought in the exact same production with Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano.

I feel much more comfortable as a fan with Garland in my rotation than either of the new guys, but Kuroda is the one who hurts. He was a solid No. 2 starter and will thrive in New York.

I can't be too excited about the new staff when they added a No. 4 and 5 in exchange for a No. 2 and 5. Since they added Harang and Capuano at the same price it would have taken just to retain Kuroda, and the Dodgers are so strapped for cash, it stings a little less.

Grade: C-

Miami Marlins

The Marlins were making moves all winter long, and one of the biggest fish they caught was Mark Buehrle. He's still a productive starter who will eat innings, keep a pretty decent ERA and be a mentor to the young pitchers in the rotation.

Buehrle will be a balance of sorts for the insanity that Carlos Zambrano brings. But you have to like a rotation that now boasts a healthy Josh Johnson at the top, with the likes of Anibal Sanchez and the new arrivals.

Time will tell if losing Chris Volstad will hurt, but for the immediate future, the Fish seem to have a nice-looking rotation. If Johnson stays healthy, it could be a really dominant postseason rotation as well.

Grade: B+

Milwaukee Brewers

I know we're grading rotation changes here, but the Brewers stood pat on that front. I'll just grade them on the guys who are back for 2012.

You have to love Yovani Gallardo at the top, but I'm not completely sold on Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke. I think both have had some great years and have ace potential—but they were wholly inconsistent at points last year.

Milwaukee still has one of the better top threes in baseball right now. I fully expect Gallardo, Marcum and Greinke to pull in at least 45 wins combined, which is fantastic. But the inconsistency and back end of the staff could spell trouble down the stretch.

Grade: B

Minnesota Twins

The Twins basically swapped Kevin Slowey for Jason Marquis this winter. That's not a particularly overwhelming trade, but Marquis has shown he can handle the pressure of a No. 1 starter, and he's put up good numbers before.

I don't think any change in the pitching staff this winter would have made Minnesota a contender in 2012, what with how strong other AL teams got, but the change in itself isn't much to write home about.

If Marquis can put up a 15-win season, the grade will change significantly. Also, the Twins' biggest need was hardly pitching. For now, it's a wash.

Grade: C

New York Mets

I'll say it outright: The Mets are getting a C. The only guy they really lost was Chris Capuano, who is a decent southpaw but not a loss to cry over. Luckily, the Mets counter by getting Johan Santana back in 2012.

So, what does that mean? Does that mean Cy Young-style Santana, or injury-prone, ineffective Santana? I believe Santana will have a pretty good season if he stays healthy, but it's hard to grade based off pure speculation.

Overall, I think the Mets lost a little, gained a little and potentially gained a lot if Santana returns to form. But for now, the grade is just as close to "undecided" as you can be.

Grade: C

New York Yankees

Just for dumping A.J. Burnett and Bartolo Colon, the Yankees should get an A. But the reason they score high this winter for rotation change is for the two guys they added to complement C.C. Sabathia and Ivan Nova.

As mentioned earlier, Hiroki Kuroda is a very good starter. He'll be a good No. 2 or 3 and has been underrated for years. Since the Yanks could easily afford to trade Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda, they won out in that deal.

Anyone who watched Pineda pitch last year knows this guy might be the next coming of Felix Hernandez. I love what the Yankees did to improve their biggest weakness from 2011, and I fully expect this well-rounded team to be the favorite come October.

Grade: A

Oakland Athletics

Look, I like the A's. But I can't like what they did—again. I understand the need to cut costs and bring in more young talent, but I can't grade a team favorably for dismantling a good, young rotation in order to get a couple years younger and a couple million cheaper.

The A's shipped off Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez, and are also down Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman. Those are four very promising, or already established, young pitchers.

Sure, they get some really solid young prospects back, who could even see some time at the end of 2012. But Oakland basically assured a last-place finish by allowing the four other pitchers to move on.

Grade: F

Philadelphia Phillies

What can I say? Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels should make opposing offenses run for the clubhouse. But the "Big Three" were already there, and we're talking about change.

Roy Oswalt is gone, but he wasn't very effective in Philly last season. Any team could do worse at the fourth and fifth spots than Vance Worley and Joe Blanton, too. Overall, this Phillies rotation is deep and talented, and I'm not sure if any other team boasts three legitimate Cy Young candidates in their pitching staff.

I hate to default again, but Philly made very little change and still sits with one of the best staffs (if not the best) in baseball.

Grade: A by default

Pittsburgh Pirates

I don't like going out to get A.J. Burnett, but I understand why they did it. I think adding Erik Bedard is a fine risk to take, and losing Paul Maholm may hurt them in the long run.

Unfortunately for the Buccos, their big acquisition in Burnett is going to miss time after bunting a pitch off his face. Yeah, you read that right. I bet they wish they had asked if Burnett knew how to bunt before trading for him.

Overall, the Pirates are on their way up. If Bedard bounces back and Burnett has a somewhat decent season, we could see Pittsburgh challenging that .500 mark this season.

Overall: B-

San Diego Padres

I think the Friars really screwed the pooch this offseason. I won't even talk about how they lost Anthony Rizzo, because he's no pitcher. But when all you get back in the rotation is Edinson Volquez and you've lost Mat Latos, Wade LeBlanc and Aaron Harang, that's trouble.

San Diego desperately needed some pop on the offensive side, and they got that. But what are they going to do now with three of their better pitchers gone? Pitching and defense wins championships; just ask the 2010 Giants.

Overall, I'm pretty disappointed with the effort made to field a competitive rotation. The Padres weren't going to contend in 2012 anyway, but it seems as if they've given up a lot of pitching for not much in return.

Grade: D-

San Francisco Giants

Similar to Philadelphia, the Giants have three very good starters at the top of their rotation. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner will make them a contender with their arms alone.

But I'm not sold on one good year from Ryan Vogelsong, and Barry Zito is just garbage at the end of the rotation. I think losing Jonathan Sanchez may come back to hurt them, though gaining some offense was of the utmost priority for San Francisco this winter, so it makes sense.

By default again, this rotation is extremely solid. I do think Sanchez was a bigger part to the staff than many realized, but if Vogelsong has another good year, no harm, no foul.

Grade: B

Seattle Mariners

Seattle was part of one of the most intriguing moves off the offseason when it acquired Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda. I'm of the belief that the trade makes sense. However, I don't think the Mariners got the best end of the deal, because I'm a huge fan of what Pineda could potentially become.

To cover for that move, they acquired longtime veteran Kevin Millwood, who will either get rocked or have a solid season. There's really no in between for Millwood at this point in his career.

The M's also acquired Hisashi Iwakuma and Hector Noesi, who have a chance to do some good things. But as it stands now, I think the M's gave away a lot in Pineda and just got half of their return with these three signings.

Grade: C-

St. Louis Cardinals

I don't think anyone in St. Louis really cares about what did or did not happen in the rotation. They are all still either fuming or devastated about Albert Pujols moving on. But since we are talking pitching here, let's see what the Cards did this winter.

The big news is that Adam Wainwright will be returning to the rotation, which is a huge boost. Wainwright and Chris Carpenter make for a deadly one-two at the top of the rotation. The Cards lost Edwin Jackson, but if you want to talk about an awesome trade, this is it.

I'll take Wainwright coming off an injury over Jackson's erratic, yet talented arm any day. I think the Cards receive high marks simply for getting one of their aces back.

Grade: A

Tampa Bay Rays

Can't we just give them an A and move on? The Rays didn't do anything with their pitching staff this winter because they didn't have to. They already boast one of the deepest, most talented groups in baseball, so change was unnecessary.

Tampa did shop Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis around a little bit, but settled for keeping them both. That alone was a good move, though I would have liked to see one of them moved for a big bat.

I think overall, standing pat is the best option for the Rays. Their combo at the top of James Shields and David Price will gel nicely with the four young arms behind them.

Grade: A

Texas Rangers

The Rangers more than made up for the loss of C.J. Wilson by signing the best Japanese pitching import to jump to America thus far in Yu Darvish. If Darvish's start in spring training is any indication, the Rangers are certainly getting their money's worth.

As I stated on the Angels slide, I don't think Wilson is a huge gain for Los Angeles. Similarly, I don't think it's a huge loss for Texas. The biggest change they might have made, though, is getting Neftali Feliz a spot in the starting rotation.

If he can transition to that spot, the Rangers are looking at Darvish, Feliz, Alexi Ogando, Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis, Scott Feldman and Derek Holland. A slightly unknown, but very deep plethora of starters to create a solid five-man rotation.

Grade: A-

Toronto Blue Jays

I like that the Jays kept their young, very talented rotation intact this offseason. They were able to upgrade the team as a whole without mortgaging any assets in the rotation.

That being said, it makes them another "default" team. I have to grade them based on what they already have and factor in that nothing changed. That being said, I like the top of their rotation a lot with Ricky Romero getting better every season.

I still don't think the pitching staff is quite ready to make this team a contender, but they aren't far off. Toronto should be in the hunt, largely thanks to the young pitching, until at least September.

Grade: B+

Washington Nationals

The Nats made themselves an easy dark-horse pick for the playoffs this year when they added Gio Gonzalez to a rotation that already included Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg.

Washington might still be a year away, but you have to like adding a guy who won 15 and 16 games the last two seasons on an offensively challenged Oakland team. I think Gonzalez will be huge for the Nationals in 2012.

Adding Edwin Jackson as a fourth starter is fantastic. He's always at risk to go wild and lose a few starts in an ugly fashion at certain points. But he's been a reliable starter who has good stuff and could eat a lot of innings for this team.

Grade: A-