Ranking the Top 10 MLB Offseason Classes Based on Value Rating

It's not easy to find value on the MLB offseason market. 

Just take a look at the Toronto Blue Jays, who landed one of the best catchers in baseball but had to dish out a five-year, $82 million deal to bring Russell Martin to the Rogers Centre. Simply put, the top winter targets are almost always attached to exorbitant price tags. 

Still, teams around the league have managed to find good deals on both the free-agent and trade markets. What follows is the ranking of the top 10 MLB offseason classes based on value rating. 

The ranking criteria is simple. To crack the top 10, teams either had to find bargains on the trade block or the free-agent front. Some of the clubs that earned a spot did so by trading for big-name players who come with big injury risks. Others managed to sign impact free agents to club-friendly deals. 

The team that claims the top spot in the rankings didn't just improve its roster, but its coaching staff, too. 

10. New York Yankees

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The Class 

• 3B Chase Headley: Signed to a four-year, $44 million deal
• SP Chris Capuano: Signed to one-year, $5 million deal
• SP Nathan Eovaldi and 1B Garrett Jones: Acquired in exchange for INF Martin Prado, SP Domingo German and RP David Phelps in a trade with the Miami Marlins
• SS Didi Gregorius: Acquired in exchange for SP Shane Greene in a three-team trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers
• RP Andrew Miller: Signed to a four-year, $36 million deal
• RP Justin Wilson: Acquired in exchange for C Francisco Cervelli in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates

It's been an understated offseason in the Bronx.

There have been no blockbuster moves for the New York Yankees, but the club has quietly had a successful offseason. The re-signing of Chase Headley and the trade for Didi Gregorius have shored up the left side of the infield. 

However, it's in the bullpen where general manager Brian Cashman has done his most impressive work. The Yankees snagged lefty reliever Andrew Miller on a four-year, $36 million deal. There's no avoiding the fact that $9 million is a lot to pay a reliever, but then again there aren't a lot of relievers who can do what Miller does.

Last year, Miller posted a 2.02 ERA and racked up a 14.9 K/9 ratio. Between Miller and Dellin Betances, the Yankees now have a couple of arms who can dominate the late innings. As the Kansas City Royals demonstrated last season, that's an extremely valuable luxury to be able to call upon. 

9. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Class

• OF Yasmany Tomas: Signed to a six-year, $68.5 million deal
• SP Rubby De La Rosa, SP Allen Webster and SS Raymel Flores: Acquired in exchange for SP Wade Miley in a trade with the Boston Red Sox
• P Jeferson Mejia and RP Zack Godley: Acquired in exchange for C Miguel Montero in a trade with the Chicago Cubs
• 2B Domingo Leyba and SP Robbie Ray: Acquired in exchange for SS Didi Gregorius in a three-team trade with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees
• SP Jeremy Hellickson: Acquired in exchange for SS Andrew Velazquez and OF Justin Williams in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays

While the Arizona Diamondbacks have made an array of big-time trades this offseason, it's likely the signing of Yasmany Tomas that will be the club's most valuable deal of all. The D-backs inked the Cuban outfielder to a six-year, $68.5 million contract.

There's always risk in signing a player with zero big league experience to a multiyear deal, but Tomas has the power potential to make this a gamble worth making. Baseball America's Ben Badler told MLB Network that scouts think Tomas will be able to hit 25-30 home runs per season in the major leagues. In addition to his incredible pop, Tomas is also just 24 years old. 

8. Toronto Blue Jays

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The Class

• SP Marco Estrada: Acquired in exchange for 1B/DH Adam Lind in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers
• C Russell Martin: Signed to a five-year, $82 million deal
• 3B Josh Donaldson: Acquired in exchange for SP Sean Nolin, 3B Brett Lawrie, SP Kendall Graveman and SS Franklin Barreto
• 2B Devon Travis: Acquired in exchange for CF Anthony Gose
• OF Michael Saunders: Acquired in exchange for SP J.A. Happ in a trade with the Seattle Mariners

The Toronto Blue Jays have made some major upgrades to the roster this offseason. 

The American League East club brought in one of baseball's best third baseman in Josh Donaldson and one of the top catchers in Russell Martin. However, both of those additions came at serious costs. 

Martin will provide the Blue Jays with lots of production in 2015, but there's a ton of risk in signing a catcher, who will be 32 by the time Opening Day arrives, to a five-year, $82 million deal. 

The Donaldson acquisition doesn't come at a great financial cost. MLBTradeRumors.com projects that the right-handed hitter will make $4.5 million in 2014. However, all four players that the Blue Jays sent to Oakland could be valuable contributors at the big league level. 

Franklin Barreto might just be the best player of the four. Last year, the shortstop checked in with an .865 OPS and racked up 29 steals in Low-A. 

7. Detroit Tigers

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The Class

• DH Victor Martinez: Signed to a four-year, $68 million deal
• CF Anthony Gose: Acquired in exchange for 2B Devon Travis in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays
• SP Shane Greene: Acquired in exchange for 2B Domingo Leyba and SP Robbie Ray in a three-team trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees
• OF Yoenis Cespedes: Acquired in exchange for SP Rick Porcello in a four-player trade with the Boston Red Sox
• SP Alfredo Simon: Acquired in exchange for SS Eugenio Suarez and SP Jonathan Crawford in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds

It's been a busy offseason for the Detroit Tigers. 

The team wasted no time inking designated hitter Victor Martinez to a four-year, $68 million contract extension. There's certainly some risk in dishing out a four-year deal to a 36-year-old, but then again it's nearly impossible to find an impact hitter like Martinez. Last year, the veteran checked in with a .974 OPS, which was the highest mark in baseball. 

The Tigers also added Yoenis Cespedes in a trade, which gives the already dangerous lineup even more pop. Detroit had to part with Rick Porcello to acquire the Cuban outfielder, but managed to pick up Alfredo Simon in a separate swap to take over Porcello's spot in the rotation.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

The Class

• 1B/OF Corey Hart: Signed to one-year, $2.5 million deal (plus $2.5 million in incentives)
• SP Francisco Liriano: Re-signed to a three-year, $39 million deal
• SP A.J. Burnett: Signed to a one-year, $8.5 million deal
• RP Antonio Bastardo: Acquired in exchange for SP Joely Rodriguez in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies
• C Francisco Cervelli: Acquired in exchange for RP Justin Wilson in a trade with the New York Yankees

It's quietly been an excellent offseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The NL Central club has picked up a couple of compelling low-risk investments by signing Corey Hart and trading for Francisco Cervelli. Hart's career has been derailed by knee injuries, but he clubbed 30 home runs as recently as 2012. Cervelli certainly won't match the production of Russell Martin, but the team's new backstop posted an .802 OPS in 49 games in 2014. 

The decision to re-sign Francisco Liriano to a three-year, $39 million deal was one of the shrewdest moves of the entire offseason. The 31-year-old was the best left-handed starter on the market aside from Jon Lester. Liriano was lights-out in the second half of 2014, posting a 6-3 record and a 2.20 ERA in his final 14 starts. 

5. Boston Red Sox

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

The Class

• C Ryan Hanigan: Acquired in exchange for Will Middlebrooks in a trade with the San Diego Padres
• SP Wade Miley: Acquired in exchange for SP Rubby De La Rosa, SP Allen Webster and SS Raymel Flores in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks
• SP Rick Porcello: Acquired in exchange for Yoenis Cespedes in a four-player trade with the Boston Red Sox
• SP Justin Masterson: Signed a one-year, $9.5 million deal
• 3B Pablo Sandoval: Signed a five-year, $95 million deal
• LF Hanley Ramirez: Signed a four-year, $88 million deal

There's been a ton of turnover at Fenway Park following a disastrous 2014 season. 

While the Red Sox are still lacking a No. 1 starter, the team has brought in three quality arms in Wade Miley, Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson. Plus, none of those starters has a particularly high price tag. Masterson will make $9.5 million in 2015, while MLBTradeRumors.com projects that Porcello and Miley will make $12.2 million and $4.3 million, respectively, via the arbitration process. 

The Red Sox have spent lots of cash on the team's lineup. Boston will pay Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval a combined $183 million. Spending big on impact hitters is definitely justified. By signing both Ramirez and Sandoval, the Red Sox snagged two of the best bats of the winter and left many of the team's rivals scrambling in a weak marketplace. 

4. Chicago White Sox

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

The Class

• OF Melky Cabrera: Signed to a three-year, $42 million deal
• 1B Adam LaRoche: Signed to a two-year, $25 million deal
• RP David Robertson: Signed to a four-year, $46 million deal
• SP Jeff Samardzija and RP Michael Ynoa: Acquired in exchange for SS Marcus Semien, SP Chris Bassitt, C Josh Phegley and 1B Rangel Ravelo in a trade with the Oakland Athletics 
• RP Dan Jennings: Acquired in exchange for SP Andre Rienzo in a trade with the Miami Marlins

The Chicago White Sox's front office has significantly improved the club's roster this offseason, and it's done so while finding great values on both the trade and free-agents fronts. 

The White Sox inked Melky Cabrera to a three-year, $42 million deal. That's a highly team-friendly contract considering that Cabrera, who posted an .808 OPS in 2014, is just 30 years old. Meanwhile, Nelson Cruz (34 years old) landed a four-year deal from the Seattle Mariners and Victor Martinez (36) earned a four-year deal from the Detroit Tigers.

On the trade block, the White Sox picked up Jeff Samardzija to help bolster the rotation. Along with Chris Sale, the addition of Samardzija offers Chicago a formidable one-two punch. 

3. San Diego Padres

The Class

• OF Wil Myers, C Ryan Hanigan, P Jose Castillo and P Gerardo Reyes: Acquired in an 11-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals
• 3B Will Middlebrooks: Acquired in exchange for C Ryan Hanigan in a trade with the Boston Red Sox
• P Brandon Morrow: Signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal
• OF Justin Upton and SP Aaron Northcraft: Acquired in a six-player trade with the Atlanta Braves
• OF Matt Kemp and C Tim Federowicz: Acquired in a five-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers
• C Derek Norris and SP Seth Streich: Acquired in exchange for SP Jesse Hahn and RP R.J. Alvarez in a trade with the Oakland Athletics 
• SS Clint Barmes: Signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal
• SP Josh Johnson: Signed a one-year, $1 million deal (plus $6.25 million in incentives)

After scoring the fewest runs in baseball in 2014, the San Diego Padres needed to overhaul the lineup this offseason and that's exactly what the team has done. 

The most notable aspect of the Padres' rebuild has been that the team has managed to add a ton of right-handed power, which is one of the most elusive assets in the big leagues. San Diego has acquired both Matt Kemp and Justin Upton in trades this winter. Those outfielders combined to club 54 home runs a season ago. 

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

The Class

• SP Brett Anderson: Signed to a one-year, $10 million deal (plus $4 million in incentives)
• SP Brandon McCarthy: Signed to a four-year, $48 million deal 
• C Yasmani Grandal, SP Joe Wieland and SP Zach Eflin: Acquired in exchange for OF Matt Kemp and C Tim Federowicz in a trade with the San Diego Padres
• SS Jimmy Rollins: Acquired in exchange for SP Tom Windle and SP Zach Eflin in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies
• SP Andrew Heaney, C Austin Barnes, RP Chris Hatcher and 2B Enrique Hernandez: Acquired in exchange for 2B Dee Gordon, SP Dan Haren and SS Miguel Rojas in a trade with the Miami Marlins
• 2B Howie Kendrick: Acquired in exchange for SP Andrew Heaney in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels
• RP Joel Peralta and RP Adam Liberatore: Acquired in exchange for SP Greg Harris and RP Jose Dominguez in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays

Andrew Friedman has made an absurd number of trades since taking over as the Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations. 

The executive has also made some intriguing moves on the free-agent front. By signing Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson, the club has brought in two starters with all sorts of talent but also all sorts of past injury problems. McCarthy and Anderson have both managed to make 30 starters on just one occasion during their respective careers. 

Last year, Anderson pitched in just eight games for the Rockies, but posted a 2.91 ERA. McCarthy stayed on the mound all season, and was especially successful in the second half of the season. Following a July trade to the New York Yankees, McCarthy put up a 2.89 ERA. 

1. Chicago Cubs

M. Spencer Green/Associated Press

The Class

• SP Jon Lester: Signed to a six-year, $155 million deal
• C David Ross: Signed to a two-year, $5 million deal
• RP Jason Motte: Signed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal
• SP Jason Hammel: Signed to a two-year, $20 million deal
• C Miguel Montero: Acquired in exchange for P Jeferson Mejia and RP Zack Godley in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks
• 2B Tommy La Stella: Acquired in exchange for RP Arodys Vizcaino in a trade with the Atlanta Braves
• RP Matt Brazis: Acquired in exchange for OF Justin Ruggiano in a trade with the Seattle Mariners
• M Joe Maddon: Signed to a five-year, $25 million deal

The Chicago Cubs have made some significant improvements to the starting staff, which was by the far the team's most glaring weakness in 2014. 

First, Chicago handed out a six-year, $155 million megadeal to sign Jon Lester. The team also made a shrewd follow-up move to ensure that it gets the maximum return on its $155 million investment. The Cubs signed veteran backstop David Ross to a two-year, $5 million contract.

As Ross explained via Rob Bradford of WEEI, it was an easy decision to make: "Kind of the deciding factor with Chicago was that I have some friends there."

One of those friends is Lester. Ross and the lefty ace enjoyed a ton of success while working together with the Boston Red Sox. In 18 starts with Ross behind the dish, Lester recorded a 2.02 ERA, as Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago notes.

The Cubs also upgraded the club's starting staff by bringing back Jason Hammel on a two-year, $20 million deal. The right-hander endured lots of struggles following a midseason to the Oakland Athletics. However, in 18 starts with the Cubs, he posted an 8-5 record with a 2.98 ERA. 

The most significant move that the Cubs made this offseason was the decision to sign Joe Maddon to be the team's new manager on a five-year, $25 million deal. Having won at least 90 games in five of his final seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Maddon is the perfect skipper to guide the Cubs back into contention. 

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All videos courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

If you want to to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.