Once-Promising MLB Offseasons That Are Fading Fast
For many MLB teams, the offseason doesn't begin until the new year.
Clubs such as the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox have been aggressive from the beginning and have made drastic improvements to their rosters. Will they automatically be the winners when Opening Day of the 2015 season begins? There's still plenty of time, so we'll have to wait and see.
Take a look at the Baltimore Orioles last season. Their two biggest moves came in February, signing Ubaldo Jimenez and then Nelson Cruz in what turned out to be the best deal of the offseason.
With high-quality players such as Max Scherzer and James Shields on the free-agent market and Troy Tulowitzki and Cole Hamels potentially on the trade market, there are viable options out there for teams that haven't been successful early to make a late push.
For the clubs on this list, we're not quite at panic time yet, but after promising starts to the offseason, it's time for them to get their acts together.
San Francisco Giants
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After winning their third World Series championship in the last five years, the San Francisco Giants had about as great a start to the offseason as any team could have.
However, their success off the field has not gone as swimmingly.
The Giants lost Pablo Sandoval to the Red Sox, and despite offering the highest bid to Jon Lester, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the left-hander signed with the Cubs.
Per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, they pursued Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas, but he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Considering their best acquisition this offseason, Casey McGehee, was a guy who was playing in Japan as recently as 2013, it's safe to say they have some work to do.
While the Giants were able to re-sign reliever Sergio Romo, general manager Brian Sabean said they are not likely to get another big-ticket addition such as James Shields, despite ESPN's Jim Bowden saying San Francisco was most likely to land him.
Not only have the Giants failed to re-sign or acquire any high-profile free agents, but they also lost Michael Morse to the Marlins. Further, Marco Scutaro's career is in jeopardy following back surgery that will sideline him for four to six months.
The offseason is far from over, and there are still some top-notch options for the Giants to sign. However, after looking like they would re-sign Sandoval, then potentially landing Lester to come up virtually empty-handed, San Francisco won't be starting 2015 as well as it would have hoped.
Needs: Front-of-the-rotation starter
Baltimore Orioles
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Similar to the Giants, the Orioles were coming off a great 2014 season. Their roster had a few holes, but they were expected to re-sign their own free agents and head into 2015 ready to defend their AL East crown.
However, on Dec. 3, the Atlanta Braves signed homegrown outfielder Nick Markakis. The next day, the Seattle Mariners locked up reigning home run champion Nelson Cruz. Then, on Dec. 5, the division-rival New York Yankees signed reliever Andrew Miller.
MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli tweeted this after the departures, "Buck [Showalter] said one of his biggest challenges will be to keep clubhouse culture intact after losing Cruz and Markakis." So not only did Baltimore lose on-field production, but it lost it off the field as well.
Some teams wait until the new year to start making moves, so it's no time to panic. Had the Orioles simply re-signed their own players, it would have been deemed a successful offseason. However, when you play in the AL East and your biggest offseason move is re-signing Delmon Young to a one-year contract, it's time to get moving on some bigger deals.
Needs: Outfielder, late-inning bullpen arm
Cincinnati Reds
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What happened to the Cincinnati Reds?
This is a team that won 97 games and the NL Central in 2012, followed by a 90-win season in 2013 that earned it a spot in the Wild Card Game. Dealing with injuries to some top players last season, the Reds were limited to 76 wins, their lowest total since 2008.
They have made a flurry of moves this offseason, including trading away Mat Latos and All-Star Alfredo Simon, operating more like a rebuilding team as opposed to a contender.
This is a club that, when healthy, has plenty of All-Star talent in Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto. The Reds have up-and-coming stars in Devin Mesoraco and Homer Bailey to create a solid core of young talent to build around, so it's curious they're dealing away more parts than acquiring.
Despite these moves, GM Walt Jocketty told C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer that the team is still looking to add a left fielder, most likely via the trade market.
Earlier in the offseason, the club had been rumored to be discussing a deal with free-agent Nori Aoki, but it appears nothing will happen on that front.
The Reds used their farm system and savvy free-agent moves in the past to turn themselves into contenders. Unless they make more deals before the season begins, it will be one of the more disappointing offseasons for the franchise in some time.
Needs: Left fielder, late-inning bullpen arm
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Boston Red Sox
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Did the Boston Red Sox peak early?
Despite all the moves GM Ben Cherington made, for the Red Sox to contend in 2015 they are missing one big link: a front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.
After finishing 23rd in team ERA (4.01) last season, the Red Sox have upgraded their staff with the acquisitions of Tigers right-handed pitcher Rick Porcello, Diamondbacks lefty Wade Miley and the free-agent signing of former Cardinals righty Justin Masterson.
However, Cherington struck out (swinging) when he went after former Red Sox ace Jon Lester, and a big hole still exists. Despite recent history, which suggests not having an ace could work for Boston, we don't have to look past this postseason and what Madison Bumgarner did to show the importance of one.
Big-fish starters are still out there, both on the trade market in Cole Hamels and the free-agent field in James Shields and Max Scherzer, so perhaps Cherington is just waiting things out for the price to drop.
Boston has had a great offseason thus far considering all the talent the team has acquired. However, if the Red Sox want to contend in the AL East in 2015, it should not be considered a complete success if they start the season without a horse at the front of their rotation.
Needs: Front-of-the-rotation starter
To talk baseball or follow the latest rumors, check in with me on Twitter: @ZPetersel.
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