Every MLB Team's Biggest Steal of the 2015 Offseason
Every MLB team is looking to come out on top in every offseason deal they make, whether it is getting the better end of a trade or signing a free agent at a bargain price.
Now obviously, that does not always wind up being the case, as there is generally a loser in every trade. And for every bargain free-agent signing, there are probably two or three guys who are vastly overpaid.
Nonetheless, the offseason is about maximizing assets, both in the form of payroll room and player talent, and there will undoubtedly be some moves from the 2014 offseason that wind up looking like absolute steals in hindsight.
However, we don't have the benefit of hindsight at this point, so calling a deal a steal has to be based on market value.
In the case of free-agent signings, it's a matter of what a team spent on a player in relation to his projected production and the rest of the market at his position. Minor league free-agent signings and low-cost, one-year deals often have the best chance of being steals.
With trade acquisitions, it's obviously a case of how much talent was given up versus how much talent was acquired, and how the deal bettered the overall outlook of the roster.
So with all of that in mind, what follows is a look at every MLB team's biggest steal of the 2015 offseason.
Baltimore Orioles: SS J.J. Hardy
1 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a three-year, $40 million extension
Why He Was a Steal
This is technically cheating right out of the gates since J.J. Hardy actually signed his three-year, $40 million extension on Oct. 9, prior to the Baltimore Orioles kicking off their American League Championship Series matchup with the Kansas City Royals.
However, it's been a fairly quiet offseason for the Orioles since then, so we'll bend the rules a bit here to highlight what wound up being a shrewd move by the front office.
In a market where Jed Lowrie managed to land a three-year, $23 million deal, it's hard to imagine Hardy would not have been able to fetch more both in years and dollars had he tested the open market.
Even in a down offensive season where he managed just nine home runs, his 3.4 WAR was good for the eighth-highest mark among all shortstops. In fact, his 14.7 WAR since he joined the Orioles in 2011 ranks second at the position, trailing only Troy Tulowitzki (17.3).
Losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis hurts, but keeping Hardy around for three more years at well below market value was a great move for the franchise.
Boston Red Sox: RP Anthony Varvaro
2 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Atlanta Braves for RP Aaron Kurcz
Why He Was a Steal
The Boston Red Sox have made no shortage of high-profile moves this offseason, but one acquisition that could pay big dividends after going largely unnoticed is the addition of reliever Anthony Varvaro.
The 30-year-old right-hander didn't really establish himself in the big leagues until the 2013 season, but he has quietly been one of the Atlanta Braves' better relief options over the past two years.
In that time he has made 123 appearances and posted a 2.74 ERA and 1.188 WHIP while recording 19 holds and one save.
Varvaro has four more years of team control, so giving up a 24-year-old relief prospect in Aaron Kurcz (34 G, 2.14 ERA, 11.6 K/9 in Double-A) was a relatively small price to pay for a guy who could fill a key role in the bullpen for the foreseeable future.
New York Yankees: SP Nathan Eovaldi
3 of 30
Transaction: Acquired along with 1B Garrett Jones, SP Domingo German for 2B Martin Prado, RP David Phelps, cash
Why He Was a Steal
In a market where Brandon McCarthy gets a four-year, $48 million deal, Ervin Santana is worth $55 million over four years and even the injury-prone Brett Anderson lands a $10 million guarantee, the New York Yankees paid a relatively small price for Nathan Eovaldi.
The 24-year-old has yet to reach his full potential, but he still has three years of team control remaining, and the Yankees will be asking him to be nothing more than a middle-of-the-rotation arm.
Eovaldi went 6-14 with a 4.37 ERA and 1.332 WHIP in a career-high 199.2 innings last season, but a significantly improved 1.9 BB/9 mark and 3.37 FIP both suggest he could be in for a big step forward in 2015.
With an average fastball velocity over 95 miles per hour (95.7 per FanGraphs) and a power slider, the right-hander has potentially dominant stuff, but he still needs to further develop his curveball or changeup as a viable third pitch.
Also picking up Garrett Jones in the deal was icing on the cake, as he gives the team insurance at first base for Mark Teixeira and a left-handed designated hitter options with some pop.
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Tampa Bay Rays: 1B Allan Dykstra
4 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a minor league contract; invited to spring training
Why He Was a Steal
A former San Diego Padres first-round pick in the 2008 draft, Allan Dykstra has yet to make his major league debut, but the 27-year-old has the offensive tools to win himself a spot as a non-roster invitee for the Tampa Bay Rays this spring.
He reached Triple-A for the first time last season and proved more than up to the task at the plate, hitting .280/.426/.504 with 23 doubles and 16 home runs in 343 at-bats.
In 2,729 career minor league plate appearances, the big first baseman has a .406 on-base percentage and an .858 OPS.
His power may never be what some hoped it would when he was coming out of Wake Forest, but his terrific on-base skills and solid run-production skills should give him a real shot at winning a bench job.
Toronto Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis
5 of 30Transactions: Acquired from the Detroit Tigers for CF Anthony Gose
Why He Was a Steal
With the recent news that Japanese infielder and Toronto Blue Jays free-agent target Takashi Toritani has opted to stay with the Hanshin Tigers, per Patrick Newman of npbtracker.com, it looks like the second-base position will again be an unimpressive by-committee situation to open the season.
Holdovers Ryan Goins, Maicer Izturis and Steve Tolleson will all be in the running for the job this spring after they helped contribute to the position, posting a combined .247/.295/.340 line last season.
Things may look bleak at second base for now, but the team appears to have finally found its long-term answer at the keystone in Devon Travis.
The 23-year-old hit .298/.358/.460 with 37 extra-base hits and 16 steals in a full season at the Double-A level last year before the Detroit Tigers shipped him to Toronto for outfielder Anthony Gose.
Gose still has plenty of upside, but he was set to be passed on the organizational depth chart by top prospect Dalton Pompey, so potentially filling a problem position long-term with what had become an expendable piece makes this a steal for the Blue Jays.
Chicago White Sox: LF Melky Cabrera
6 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a three-year, $42 million deal
Why He Was a Steal
Last time he hit the free-agent market prior to the 2013 season, Melky Cabrera was coming off a 50-game performance-enhancing drug (PED) suspension, and there were legitimate questions about what kind of player he would be moving forward.
The Toronto Blue Jays took a chance on him with a two-year, $16 million deal, and after a sub-par first season with the team, he returned to All-Star form this past year and established himself as one of the top bats on the market this offseason.
The 30-year-old hit .301/.351/.458 with 35 doubles, 16 home runs and 73 RBI in 2014, and he has now posted an average over .300 and OPS over .800 in three of the past four years.
Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reported earlier this offseason that Cabrera was seeking something in the neighborhood of a five-year, $60 million in free agency, but when no one was willing to offer up beyond three years, he settled on a three-year, $42 million deal with the Chicago White Sox.
Given the shortage of offense league-wide, that $14 million annual salary looks like a steal for the White Sox if he continues to produce at the level he did last year.
Cleveland Indians: OF Destin Hood
7 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a minor league contract; invited to spring training
Why He Was a Steal
Destin Hood never really got a chance in a Washington Nationals organization crowded with outfield prospects, but he could wind up being a terrific under-the-radar pickup for the Cleveland Indians.
Matt Eddy of Baseball America touched on why Hood could find his way onto the Indians roster:
"Whatever his flaws, Hood wielded a powerful bat versus minor league southpaws in 2014, hitting .315 and slugging .556 in 117 plate appearances. For an Indians club featuring many left-handed hitting regulars, including an outfield of Michael Brantley, Michael Bourn and David Murphy, Hood might be an option to offer right-handed balance.
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The 24-year-old reached the Triple-A level for the first time last year, hitting a combined .298/.348/.460 with 26 doubles and 11 home runs over three minor league stops, and that could have him poised to make his major league debut in 2015.
With David Murphy and Ryan Raburn already on the roster as backup outfielders, Hood could have a hard time breaking through to open the season, but it would not be at all surprising to see him in the majors for an extended period of time at some point in 2015.
Detroit Tigers: SP/RP Tom Gorzelanny
8 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a one-year, $1 million deal
Why He Was a Steal
The first significant addition the Detroit Tigers made to their bullpen this offseason was a good one, as they signed lefty Tom Gorzelanny to a one-year, $1 million deal.
After missing the first 68 games of the season last year while recovering from shoulder surgery, Gorzelanny returned to post a 0.86 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 23 appearances out of the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen.
With veteran Phil Coke departing in free agency, the Tigers had a clear need for a proven left-hander to pair with either Blaine Hardy or Ian Krol for the upcoming season, and they found one at a bargain price.
A starter for much of his career prior to last season, Gorzelanny has the added value of being a potential spot-start option should the injury bug hit the starting rotation.
Kansas City Royals: SP Brian Flynn
9 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Miami Marlins for RP Aaron Crow
Why He Was a Steal
With all of the key pieces of their dominant bullpen returning, including the injured Luke Hochevar, the Kansas City Royals could afford to trade former All-Star reliever Aaron Crow this offseason.
They wound up landing a solid, big league-ready arm from the Miami Marlins in return in the form of lefty Brian Flynn, and he could play a key role in 2015 as perhaps the next guy in line for a rotation spot if someone goes down.
The 24-year-old entered last season as the No. 6 prospect in the Marlins' system, according to Baseball America, and he went 8-10 with a 4.06 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 139.2 innings in Triple-A.
With a big 6'7" frame and a good three-pitch repertoire that includes a low-90s fastball, slider and changeup, there is legitimate big league-starter potential here, and all for the price of an expendable middle reliever.
Minnesota Twins: RP Tim Stauffer
10 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a one-year, $2.2 million deal
Why He Was a Steal
The Opening Day starter for the San Diego Padres back in 2011, a season where he went on to go 9-12 with a 3.73 ERA and 1.255 WHIP over 31 starts, Tim Stauffer has spent the bulk of the past two seasons pitching out of the bullpen.
Elbow surgery just one start into the 2012 season necessitated the move to the pen, and he has taken well to his new role, posting a 3.63 ERA, 1.261 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 in 87 appearances over the past two seasons.
Stauffer has often been used for multiple innings out of the bullpen, throwing a total of 134 innings over those 87 appearances, and for a Minnesota Twins team that has boasted the worst starter's ERA in baseball the past two years, an innings-eating reliever is a wise addition.
Worst-case scenario, the injury bug hits hard and the Twins are forced to return Stauffer to the rotation for a stretch. That versatility makes him that much more valuable, and he's a potential steal at $2.2 million.
Houston Astros: C Hank Conger
11 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for SP Nick Tropeano, C Carlos Perez
Why He Was a Steal
It appeared as though Jason Castro had finally broken through and established himself as the long-term catching solution for the Houston Astros after he posted an .835 OPS with 18 home runs and 56 RBI in 2013, earning an All-Star nod in the process.
However, his numbers plummeted across the board last season, as his OPS dipped to .651 and he went from 4.3 WAR in 2013 to just 1.7 WAR.
Enter former top prospect Hank Conger, who was acquired in an early offseason trade with the Los Angeles Angels.
His offense is still a work in progress, as he has hit .235/.301/.364 in 464 at-bats over the past two seasons, but he's a terrific defensive backstop who was among the leaders in pitch-framing last year, as outlined by StatCorner.
Giving up Nick Tropeano was tough after he went 9-5 with a 3.03 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 124.2 innings in a breakout season in Triple-A, but the Astros organization is loaded with pitching prospects, and Conger could wind up as the primary catcher before the year is over.
Los Angeles Angels: 3B Kyle Kubitza
12 of 30Transaction: Acquired from the Atlanta Braves for SP Ricardo Sanchez
Why He Was a Steal
Let me preface this by saying that Andrew Heaney has the chance to be an absolute steal after being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Howie Kendrick, especially considering Kendrick is entering the final year of his contract.
However, that was still a fairly steep price to pay in the short term considering what a key contributor Kendrick has been, and until Heaney reaches his potential, it's hard to call that trade a steal.
Instead, we'll go with the team's recent acquisition of third-base prospect Kyle Kubitza from the Atlanta Braves.
The 24-year-old hit .295/.405/.470 with 31 doubles, eight home runs and 21 stolen bases in a full season in Double-A last year.
Here's his scouting report, per Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com's Prospect Watch:
"Kubitza has a smooth left-handed swing that produces good power to the gaps...(He) will need to improve his consistency at the plate to reach his potential, but his raw power and defensive skills give him a chance to contribute in the Major Leagues and make him the top third base prospect in the Angels system.
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So it appears as though he has already passed former top prospect Kaleb Cowart on the third-base depth chart, and with David Freese entering the final year of his contract, he could be a key contributor in the very near future.
Sanchez, 17, is a high-ceiling pitching prospect with plenty of potential, but he still has a ways to go in his development and is a wild-card at this point.
Oakland Athletics: 1B/OF Mark Canha
13 of 30
Transaction: Selected in the Rule 5 draft from the Miami Marlins (No. 2 overall)
Why He Was a Steal
Mark Canha has done nothing but hit since being taken in the seventh round of the 2010 draft by the Miami Marlins out of the University of California, and he is coming off his best all-around season to date in 2014.
The 25-year-old hit .303/.384/.505 with 28 doubles, 20 home runs and 82 RBI in a full season for Triple-A New Orleans, but the lack of a 40-man roster spot kept him from earning a late-season call-up.
It also made him available when the Rule 5 draft rolled around, and the Oakland Athletics scooped him up with the No. 2 pick, as they continue to look for creative ways to add offense.
Another former Rule 5 guy in Nate Freiman might be his biggest competition for a roster spot, but if Canha can win a job this spring, he could be a key contributor off the bench for a team with plenty of offensive slack to be picked up.
Seattle Mariners: RF Justin Ruggiano
14 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Chicago Cubs for RP Matt Brazis
Why He Was a Steal
It was tempting to put Nelson Cruz and the four-year, $57 million deal he signed as the pick for the Seattle Mariners, given the season he had last year and the clear need he fills on the roster. Instead, we'll go with another right-handed hitting outfielder.
Justin Ruggiano wound up being a steal last offseason when the Chicago Cubs acquired him from the Miami Marlins for fellow outfielder Brian Bogusevic, and the Mariners are hoping for more of the same.
After struggling to find at-bats early in the season, Ruggiano caught fire in July when he hit .338/.350/.486 with seven extra-base hits and 14 RBI in 74 at-bats.
His value is as a platoon player, and that's the role he'll be serving for the Mariners in right field alongside another offseason acquisition in Seth Smith.
With an .836 OPS against left-handed pitching for his career, and some tough lefties in the AL West with the likes of Derek Holland, Scott Kazmir and Dallas Keuchel, Ruggiano could be a cheap source of right-handed power in a time when that is in short supply league-wide.
Texas Rangers: 1B/OF Kyle Blanks
15 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a minor league contract; invited to spring training
Why He Was a Steal
Always an imposing figure at 6'6" and 265 pounds, Kyle Blanks looked like a star-in-the-making when he posted an .868 OPS with 10 home runs in just 148 at-bats as a rookie in 2009.
However, a number of injuries, including a pair of shoulder surgeries, have kept him from reaching his full potential. He has made a grand total of 690 plate appearances in the five years since his rookie season, hitting .230/.310/.381 with 28 doubles and 20 home runs.
The Texas Rangers have had a knack for finding diamonds in the rough in past years, and Blanks could wind up being the latest if he wins a bench job this spring.
A clean bill of health and a move to hitter-friendly Arlington certainly has him looking like one of the more intriguing non-roster players to watch this spring, and with a gaping hole in left field, it's not out of the question to think he could hit his way into a significant role.
Atlanta Braves: RP Arodys Vizcaino
16 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Chicago Cubs for 2B Tommy La Stella
Why He Was a Steal
A year-and-a-half after being traded to the Chicago Cubs at the deadline for Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson, hard-throwing Arodys Vizcaino is back with the Atlanta Braves.
The 24-year-old missed all of the 2012 and 2013 seasons with a pair of elbow surgeries, but he returned strong this past year with a 3.51 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 41 innings of work over three minor league levels.
His days as a starter are probably over, but Vizcaino still has the power stuff to be a dominant late-inning reliever, and he could very well find his way into the eighth-inning role this coming year after the Braves dealt incumbent setup man Jordan Walden.
Tommy La Stella likely would have opened the season as the Braves' primary second baseman after hitting .251/.328/.317 over 319 at-bats as a rookie last year, but his days were numbered with the impending arrival of top prospect Jose Peraza.
Miami Marlins: SP Mat Latos
17 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds for SP Anthony DeSclafani, C Chad Wallach
Why He Was a Steal
For a team that already featured a starting rotation of Henderson Alvarez, Jarred Cosart, Tom Koehler and eventually Jose Fernandez—once he returns from Tommy John surgery—adding an arm like Mat Latos to the mix could give the Miami Marlins one of the best staffs in all of baseball.
The big right-hander dealt with some injuries last season and saw his fastball velocity down as a result (92.6 MPH in 2013; 90.7 MPH in 2014, per FanGraphs), but a return to health could again make him one of the better starters in the National League.
Still just 27 years old, Latos went 14-7 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.210 WHIP over 210.2 innings in 2013, serving as the ace of the Cincinnati Reds staff for much of the year with Johnny Cueto sidelined.
Anthony DeSclafani is a solid pitching prospect who should have a chance to break camp in the Reds rotation, but for a Marlins team clearly looking to win now and flush with young pitching, it was a small price to pay for someone like Latos.
New York Mets: RP Sean Gilmartin
18 of 30
Transaction: Selected in the Rule 5 draft from the Minnesota Twins (No. 14 overall)
Why He Was a Steal
The No. 28 pick in the 2011 draft and the No. 4 prospect in the Atlanta Braves' system heading into the 2013 season, according to Baseball America, Sean Gilmartin will now join his third team in three years as he looks to establish himself in a big league role.
The 24-year-old Gilmartin spent all of last season as a starter, posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.297 WHIP and 133 strikeouts in 145.2 innings of work between Double-A and Triple-A in the Minnesota Twins organization.
However, if he is going to stick with the New York Mets after they snagged him with the No. 14 pick in the Rule 5 draft, it will be as a reliever.
The team has a handful of lefties vying for bullpen spots, with Josh Edgin the only real safe bet to break camp with a job. Gilmartin will need to beat out Dario Alvarez, Jack Leathersich and whoever else the team adds between now and the start of camp.
If he can do that, he could be yet another quality young arm for a Mets team that is absolutely loaded on pitching heading into the 2015 season.
Philadelphia Phillies: SP Aaron Harang
19 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a one-year, $5 million deal
Why He Was a Steal
Originally in camp with the Cleveland Indians last spring as a minor league free agent, Aaron Harang was released in late March and immediately scooped up by an Atlanta Braves team that had been hit hard by injuries to their starting rotation.
Pitching on a one-year, $1 million deal, the veteran wound up being one of the biggest steals of 2014, as he went 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA in 204.1 innings. That marked the first time Harang reached the 200-inning mark since the 2007 season.
While one might be inclined to believe such an out-of-nowhere performance is not repeatable for a 36-year-old pitcher, his 3.57 FIP was actually identical to his ERA. So, as long as he can continue to pitch around his high H/9 rate like he has his entire career, he should still be productive.
For a Philadelphia Phillies team that has finally begun the process of rebuilding, Harang gives them a cheap source of innings and a potentially valuable trade chip come July.
Washington Nationals: SS Trea Turner
20 of 30Transaction: Acquired with SP Joe Ross from the San Diego Padres for OF Steven Souza and SP Travis Ott
Why He Was a Steal
Much like the Seattle Mariners did at the trade deadline when they swooped into the David Price deal and wound up flipping Nick Franklin for Austin Jackson in what was a clear win, the Washington Nationals walked away as unlikely winners in the Wil Myers-to-San Diego trade.
Along with picking up a quality pitching prospect in Joe Ross, the team also received shortstop prospect Trea Turner in exchange for outfielder Steven Souza and lefty Travis Ott.
Turner, the No. 13 pick in the draft this past June, hit .323/.406/.448 with 16 doubles, two triples and five home runs in 279 at-bats between Low-A and Single-A in his pro debut after signing last year.
With the Washington Nationals facing some uncertainty surrounding upcoming free-agent shortstop Ian Desmond, acquiring Turner gives them a long-term answer at a premium position, and if he continues at his current trajectory, he should arrive sooner rather than later.
Souza was essentially a spare part with no clear spot for him in the outfield, and Ross looks like a better pitching prospect than Ott at this point in their respective careers, so it's hard not to think this move is an absolute slam dunk for the Nationals.
Chicago Cubs: C Miguel Montero
21 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for SP Jeferson Mejia and RP Zack Godley
Why He Was a Steal
For most teams, it would be hard to call picking up a catcher with $40 million left on his contract over the next three years a steal, but for a Chicago Cubs team with a ton of money to spend and a clear need to upgrade behind the plate, Miguel Montero looks like just that.
An All-Star for the second time last year, Montero actually had a down season offensively by his standards, hitting .243/.329/.370 with 23 doubles, 13 home runs and 72 RBI. Still solid production from the catcher's spot.
However, he's an upgrade over incumbent Welington Castillo in pitch-framing. Montero led all catchers with a 24.0 runs-above-average mark, while Castillo was among the worst with a minus-24.3 RAA, according to StatCorner.
At any rate, the Cubs didn't give up much to acquire one of the better all-around catchers in the league. Jeferson Mejia has plenty of upside, and Zack Godley has the potential to turn into a useful bullpen arm, but both guys are still a ways away from contributing at the big league level.
Cincinnati Reds: SS Eugenio Suarez/SP Jonathon Crawford
22 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Detroit Tigers for SP Alfredo Simon
Why He Was a Steal
The Cincinnati Reds may have sold low on Mat Latos in the trade that sent him to the Miami Marlins, but there is little doubt they got maximum value out of Alfredo Simon.
Thrust into a starting role with the aforementioned Latos on the shelf, Simon went 12-3 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in the first half to earn a spot on the NL All-Star team, but his smoke-and-mirrors performance caught up to him in the second half.
He was just 3-7 with a 4.52 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 14 starts after the break, and his 4.33 FIP on the year is a good indication that the real Simon is probably closer to what we saw in the second half.
That didn't stop the Detroit Tigers from dealing a pair of solid young players in Jonathon Crawford and Eugenio Suarez to acquire him during the winter meetings, though.
Crawford, 23, went 8-3 with a 2.85 ERA and 1.163 WHIP in Single-A last year after being taken with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2013 draft. He has solid upside and a very high floor, as he should develop into a solid back-end starter.
Suarez, 23, was forced into big league action last year when Jose Iglesias was lost for the season, and he held his own with a .242/.316/.336 line over 244 at-bats. A plus fielder with offensive upside, he could push Zack Cozart for time at shortstop if he continues to struggle this year.
A future big league starter with upside and a potential replacement at shortstop for perhaps the biggest regression candidate in baseball? Chalk that up as a steal for the Reds.
Milwaukee Brewers: 1B Adam Lind
23 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for SP/RP Marco Estrada
Why He Was a Steal
The Milwaukee Brewers went with a platoon of Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay at first base last season after signing both players to minor league deals, and the results were as good as anyone could have expected given the circumstances.
The first-base position produced a .207/.287/.356 line with 19 home runs and 61 RBI, decent numbers considering the money they had invested, but well below league-average production from a premium offensive position.
So it came as no surprise that the team moved quickly to plug that hole this offseason, acquiring Adam Lind from the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 1 for Marco Estrada.
While Lind was limited to just 96 games last season while battling a foot injury, he still hit .321/.381/.479 and has proved to be a legitimate 25-30 home run threat when healthy.
Considering Estrada had been ousted from the rotation in favor of Mike Fiers, it looks like a clear win for the Brewers.
A further look at the contracts signed by guys such as Adam LaRoche, Billy Butler and Kendrys Morales this offseason makes it the $15.5 million still owed to Lind an absolute steal.
Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Francisco Liriano
24 of 30
Transaction: Re-signed to a three-year, $39 million deal
Why He Was a Steal
While the Pittsburgh Pirates were unable to re-sign catcher Russell Martin this offseason, they did manage to bring back ace Francisco Liriano on a three-year, $39 million deal during the winter meetings.
The team wisely agreed to terms on a new deal with the 31-year-old prior to Jon Lester signing with the Chicago Cubs, as the free-agent pitching market exploded from there.
Had the Pirates waited until after guys such as Ervin Santana (four-year, $55 million) and Brandon McCarthy (four-year, $48 million) signed their new contracts, they may have had a hard time convincing Liriano to sign the deal that he did.
But then again, the Pirates first took a chance on Liriano two years ago, signing him to a one-year, $1 million deal that included an $8 million option for a second year.
The left-hander has since enjoyed a career renaissance, going 23-18 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.262 WHIP and 338 strikeouts in 323.1 innings of work in his two years in Pittsburgh.
Re-signing Liriano should help take some pressure off emerging ace Gerrit Cole, as those two will again front a rotation that is slated to also include Vance Worley, A.J. Burnett, Jeff Locke and eventually Charlie Morton once he returns from hip surgery.
St. Louis Cardinals: 1B/3B Mark Reynolds
25 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a one-year, $2 million deal
Why He Was a Steal
He's going to strike out a ton, and he might struggle to hit .200, but in a time when right-handed power is at a premium, it's hard not to view $2 million for Mark Reynolds as an absolute steal for the St. Louis Cardinals.
To put that salary into perspective, the Cardinals handed a one-year, $5.25 million deal to veteran infielder Mark Ellis last offseason. Ellis went on to post a .466 OPS in 178 at-bats, and he was eventually left off the postseason roster.
Reynolds can earn an extra $800,000 in incentives, with $200,000 bonuses at 250, 350, 450 and 550 plate appearances, but if he winds up seeing that much playing time, he's probably going to be worth every penny.
Reynolds has had at least 20 home runs in each of the past seven seasons, including 22 in 378 at-bats last season. It's his .809 career OPS against left-handed pitching that makes him a great fit for the Cardinals, as he can help spell left-handed hitting ace Matt Adams at first base and provide some pop off the bench.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 3B/OF Yasmany Tomas
26 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a six-year, $68.5 million deal
Why He Was a Steal
The Chicago White Sox took a chance on Jose Abreu with a six-year, $68 million deal last offseason, and that wound up being one of the biggest steals in recent memory.
Now the Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping for similar results out of Yasmany Tomas at about the same price.
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a seven-year, $105 million deal for the 24-year-old at the beginning of the offseason, noting the cost to sign Tomas would almost certainly fall in the $80 million-$110 million range.
That type of market never materialized for the 24-year-old, though, and the Diamondbacks ended up walking away with what, by all accounts, looks like a terrific bargain.
Tomas certainly has the tools to make an immediate impact, with Ben Badler of Baseball America providing a quick scouting report.
"A right-handed-hitting corner outfielder, Tomas can hit towering home runs, thanks to the strength from his thickly built 6'1", 230-pound frame. Tomas has 70 raw power on the 20-80 scale," he wrote.
Slotting alongside Paul Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo in the middle of the Diamondbacks lineup, there could be an awful lot of balls flying out of Chase Field this summer.
Colorado Rockies: RP Jairo Diaz
27 of 30
Transaction: Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for 2B Josh Rutledge
Why He Was a Steal
It's been a fairly uneventful offseason for the Colorado Rockies, though a recent report from Jon Morosi of Fox Sports has them pursuing free-agent starter Ryan Vogelsong for what could wind up being a nice, low-cost deal.
For the time being, the closest thing the team has to a "steal" this offseason looks like the acquisition of reliever Jairo Diaz from the Los Angeles Angels for second baseman Josh Rutledge.
With the emergence of Gold Glove winner DJ LeMahieu at second base, Rutledge was an expendable piece, and the team appears to have gotten a quality arm in Diaz to add to its bullpen.
The 23-year-old saved 15 games and posted a 3.48 ERA and 1.253 WHIP with 85 strikeouts in 64.2 innings between High-A and Double-A last year before making five late-season appearances out of the Angels bullpen.
He's a two-pitch guy with a fastball in the high-90s (97.2 average, per FanGraphs) and a slider, and that's the kind of power repertoire that generally profiles well in the late innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Brett Anderson
28 of 30
Transaction: Signed to a one-year, $10 million deal that includes $4 million in incentives
Why He Was (or at Least Could Be) a Steal
Every significant move the Los Angeles Dodgers have made this offseason has come at a price, as new president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has been wheeling and dealing since taking the reins.
However, if anyone has a chance to be an absolute steal, it's Brett Anderson.
His $10 million price tag would be steep for most teams, but for the deep-pocketed Dodgers, it's a minimal investment that could wind up paying off in a big way.
Anderson has spent more time on the disabled list than he has on the field since going 11-11 with a 4.06 ERA over 30 starts as a 21-year-old rookie back in 2009.
He's made a grand total of 30 appearances (19 starts) over the past three years while spending time on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John surgery, a stress fracture in his foot, a fracture finger and back surgery, among other things.
All that said, he's still shown front-line potential when he has managed to take the mound, and he had a 2.91 ERA (2.99 FIP) in eight starts with the Colorado Rockies last season.
If by some chance he can manage to stay healthy, the 26-year-old could wind up being one of the biggest steals of the winter and yet another significant weapon in the Dodgers' starting rotation.
San Diego Padres: 3B Will Middlebrooks
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Transaction: Acquired from the Boston Red Sox for C Ryan Hanigan
Why He Was a Steal
Will Middlebrooks looked like a star in the making when he burst onto the scene in 2012 and unseated Kevin Youkilis at third base for the Boston Red Sox.
He went on to hit .288/.325/.509 with 14 doubles and 15 home runs in just 267 at-bats as a rookie, and he was viewed by many as a breakout star heading into the 2013 season.
Instead, he has struggled mightily at the plate and found himself demoted to the minors on more than one occasion over the past two seasons, hitting a combined .213/.265/.364 in 563 at-bats.
With the addition of Pablo Sandoval this offseason, it was clear Middlebrooks was no longer a part of the Red Sox's long-term plans, and they shipped him to the San Diego Padres in exchange for recently acquired veteran backstop Ryan Hanigan.
The light-hitting Hanigan was expendable, as the Padres will go with Derek Norris and Tim Federowicz behind the plate for the upcoming season, and a change of scenery for Middlebrooks could put him back on the path to stardom.
Yangervis Solarte is currently penciled in as the Padres' starting third baseman, so Middlebrooks will have to play his way into the job, but the terrific power potential is still there for him to be an absolute steal.
San Francisco Giants: RP Sergio Romo
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Transaction: Re-signed to a two-year, $15 million deal
Why He Was a Steal
Despite being bumped from the closer's role in favor of Santiago Casilla this past season, Sergio Romo was still happy to re-sign with the only team he's ever played for.
"Being a closer, that title doesn’t really matter to me…that third year would have meant a lot to me, but you’ve got to go to a place where you’re happy and excited to go to work every day," he told reporters (via Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors). "The Giants gave me an opportunity to be somebody. I enjoy going to work and I’m really glad that I was wanted back."
That third year he was referring to is one he likely would have been able to receive on the open market, had he opted to sign elsewhere.
Despite losing the ninth-inning job with some midseason struggles, Romo finished the year very strong, posting a 0.93 ERA and 10.7 K/9 over his final 23 appearances over the season pitching in a setup role.
Links predicted a three-year, $21 million deal at the beginning of the offseason, and that's in line with what the Houston Astros gave Luke Gregerson (three-year, $18.5 million) to pitch the eighth inning, but in the end, it looks like Romo gave the Giants a hometown discount by only going two years.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
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