Highlighting the Best and Worst 2014-2015 MLB Offseason Makeovers
Since the 2014 World Series wrapped up on October 29, we've been treated to one of the busiest MLB offseasons in recent memory.
From surprise free-agent signings to numerous blockbuster trades, it's been an exciting winter for baseball fans, and we're not finished, as there is still roughly a month before spring training kicks off.
Obviously some teams are more active than others this time of year, but with the adoption of the second wild-card spot and what appears to be a leveling playing field between the big-market teams and small-market teams, we've seen more teams than ever get in on the offseason fun.
With that in mind, what follows is a quick look at the five best and five worst roster makeovers of the 2014-15 MLB offseason.
Teams were ranked based on how their overall outlook has changed this offseason from the moves they have or, in some instances, have not made, as inactivity can make for the worst offseason makeover in the case of some teams.
Could Go Either Way
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Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox were aggressive in unloading veteran talent and freeing up payroll room at the trade deadline last year, and they did well to acquire both prospect depth and big league talent.
Then they struck early to sign two of the top offensive players on the market in Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, immediately giving their offense the potential to be one of the best in the league again in 2015.
However, then they missed out on re-signing Jon Lester to be the ace of their staff, and what looked like a solid offseason plan was somewhat derailed from there.
Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson were brought aboard to join Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly in the rotation, and as it currently stands, the organization seems happy to open the season with that.
There is still time for the Red Sox to land an ace, whether it's signing James Shields or pulling off a trade for someone like Cole Hamels or Jordan Zimmermann, but if they don't, it's hard to really get on board with their offseason plan.
Los Angeles Dodgers
New president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman wasted little time reshaping the Los Angeles Dodgers roster this offseason, and while they have the talent to be one of the best in the NL once again, there are also a number of significant question marks.
Chief among them is the back of the starting rotation, where Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson both have front-line stuff but have also had a hard time making it through an entire season during their careers.
Gone from the offense are Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Dee Gordon, and in their place are prospect Joc Pederson, Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick. Again, there's potential to be solid, but that could also represent a step back for the offense if Pederson can't pull his weight and Rollins starts to show more signs of age-related decline.
They'll be in the NL West mix—the top of their rotation is too good not to be—but at this point it's hard to say if they're better or worse off for the moves they've made this winter.
Oakland Athletics
Few can completely overhaul a roster and still field a competitive team the way Billy Beane does, but the latest wheelings and dealings out of Oakland were significantly more drastic than anything we've seen in the past.
Only 12 players remain from the 2014 Opening Day roster, and just 13 are still around from the roster for the AL Wild Card Round game; name tags will almost certainly need to be worn the first few days of spring training.
The offense swapped out the likes of Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, Derek Norris and John Jaso for Ben Zobrist, Brett Lawrie, Ike Davis and Billy Butler. There's potential there, and Zobrist will make any team better, but as a whole, their offense does not look nearly as good as it was at this time a year ago.
The rotation is strong at the top, and the A's added plenty of good, young depth via trade, but the trio of Jesse Chavez, Drew Pomeranz and Jesse Hahn is far from dominant behind Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir.
With the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros all improving heading into 2015, and the reigning AL West champion Los Angeles Angels arguably the most complete team in the AL, it's going to be a tough road ahead for the new-look Athletics.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired some terrific talent this offseason.
Adding Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin and Michael Saunders to an offense that already featured Jose Reyes, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion should make Toronto's lineup one of the most potent ones in baseball.
However, the Blue Jays' starting rotation is set to rely on an inexperienced arm in the No. 5 slot and the veteran duo of R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle once again at the top.
They've also made no significant additions to a bullpen that was one of the worst in baseball last year and is now without a proven closing option after Casey Janssen departed in free agency.
The second base position has still not been addressed, and they have an inexperienced center fielder in prospect Dalton Pompey, two issues that could be hidden by the rest of their offensive firepower but could also become exposed.
The AL East playing field leveled this offseason, with the Baltimore Orioles losing some quality talent and the Boston Red Sox and Blue Jays both improving, but did the Blue Jays improve enough to be legitimate title contenders?
No. 5 Worst Makeover: Colorado Rockies
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2014 Record: 66-96, fourth in NL West
Key Additions: C Nick Hundley, IF Daniel Descalso, RP Jairo Diaz, RP Jorge Rondon
Key Losses: OF Michael Cuddyer, SP Brett Anderson, 2B Josh Rutledge, RP Matt Belisle, RP Franklin Morales, RP Nick Masset
2015 Outlook
There were a handful of teams around the league that were in a position to stand pat this offseason and still contend in 2015.
Needless to say, the Colorado Rockies were not one of them.
For as long as they have been a franchise, they've consistently been a potent offensive team that struggles to piece together a viable pitching staff. Last season was no different, as they ranked last in the majors with a 4.84 ERA.
They desperately needed to shake things up this offseason, whether it was by trading one or both of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, moving other valuable pieces like Wilin Rosario, Justin Morneau or Charlie Blackmon or making a splash of some sort in free agency.
Instead, it looks like they'll again attempt to compensate for bad pitching with exceptional offense, a strategy that has rarely worked over the years.
The only way their current team structure works is if pitching prospects Eddie Butler and Jon Gray quickly emerge as front-of-the-rotation arms.
No. 5 Best Makeover: Seattle Mariners
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2014 Record: 87-75, third in AL West
Key Additions: DH Nelson Cruz, RF Seth Smith, RF Justin Ruggiano, SP J.A. Happ, RP David Rollins, RP Mike Kickham
Key Losses: SP Chris Young, RF Michael Saunders, RP Joe Beimel, RP Brandon Maurer, 1B Corey Hart, DH Kendrys Morales, OF Chris Denorfia
2015 Outlook
The Seattle Mariners have not been nearly as busy as the four teams ranked ahead of them for "best makeover" of the offseason, but they've done a great job filling their biggest roster holes nonetheless.
A right-handed power bat to protect Robinson Cano topped their offseason wish list, after the failed experiment that was signing bounce-back candidate Corey Hart last winter instead of Nelson Cruz.
Cruz went on to lead the league with 40 home runs on a one-year, $8 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, and when he hit free agency again this offseason, the Mariners jumped at the chance to rectify their mistake and signed him to a four-year, $57 million deal.
The team also flipped right fielder Michael Saunders, who had fallen out of favor in Seattle, to the Toronto Blue Jays for starter J.A. Happ, who will replace departed veteran Chris Young in the rotation.
Melky Cabrera was their top target to fill the right field hole, but when he signed with the Chicago White Sox, the Mariners opted to go the low-cost platoon route instead.
Seth Smith (.815 OPS vs. RHP) and Justin Ruggiano (.846 OPS vs. LHP) will make a combined $8.505 million this coming season, and if their 2014 platoon splits hold up, they could make for a very effective duo at that price.
Rule 5 pick David Rollins is the front-runner to replace Joe Beimel as the second lefty in the bullpen, and letting Beimel walk was probably a good move because a 4.18 FIP is an indication of some regression to come.
After coming one game away from reaching the postseason last year, the Mariners look to be in a great position to break the drought and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
No. 4 Worst Makeover: Atlanta Braves
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2014 Record: 79-83, second in NL East
Key Additions: SP Shelby Miller, RF Nick Markakis, 2B Alberto Callaspo, C A.J. Pierzynski, RP Jason Grilli, RP Jim Johnson, RP Arodys Vizcaino, RP Josh Outman, SP Mike Foltynewicz, SP Tyrell Jenkins, SP Manny Banuelos, OF Mallex Smith, IF Jace Peterson, 3B Dustin Peterson, SP Max Fried
Key Losses: LF Justin Upton, RF Jason Heyward, C/OF Evan Gattis, SP Ervin Santana, SP Aaron Harang, RP Jordan Walden, RP David Carpenter, RP Anthony Varvaro, RP Chasen Shreve, SP Kris Medlen, SP Brandon Beachy, SP Gavin Floyd, UT Emilio Bonifacio, C Ryan Doumit
2015 Outlook
Let me start by saying something needed to be done to shake up the Atlanta Braves roster this offseason.
They were coming off of a disastrous final month of the 2014 season in which they went 7-18, had a new front office in place and were set to lose both Jason Heyward and Justin Upton to free agency after the 2015 season.
Things started out well, as the team managed to land a solid young pitcher in Shelby Miller and a high-ceiling pitching prospect in Tyrell Jenkins from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Heyward, a move that appeared to benefit both sides.
It's what they've done the rest of the offseason that earns them a spot among the worst makeovers.
Insistent on getting more for Upton than they had for Heyward, they instead wound up taking a package from the San Diego Padres built around a prospect in Max Fried who is still a ways from being big league ready and just underwent Tommy John surgery and a low-level outfield prospect with some upside but limited offensive tools in Mallex Smith.
Evan Gattis was also moved, and while the team picked up a power arm in Mike Foltynewicz, he's likely headed for the bullpen. Giving up Gattis, who has four more years of team control, hurts.
On top of all of that, the front office was unable to package Chris Johnson or B.J. Upton alongside one of its more attractive chips, something that looked to be a goal early on.
What's left is a team that could very well be headed for a last-place finish in 2015, and for all of the talent it gave up this offseason, its long-term outlook is not nearly as good as it should be.
No. 4 Best Makeover: Miami Marlins
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2014 Record: 77-85, fourth in NL East
Key Additions: SP Mat Latos, 2B Dee Gordon, 3B Martin Prado, 1B Michael Morse, RP Aaron Crow, RP David Phelps, SP Dan Haren, IF Miguel Rojas, SP Andre Rienzo, SP Kendry Flores, RP Andrew McKirahan, RP Preston Claiborne
Key Losses: 3B Casey McGehee, SP Nathan Eovaldi, SP Andrew Heaney, SP Anthony DeSclafani, RP Chris Hatcher, C Austin Barnes, C Chad Wallach, OF Reed Johnson
2015 Outlook
The Miami Marlins made it clear in November that they meant business this offseason, shelling out a record $325 million extension to 25-year-old slugger Giancarlo Stanton. They set to work improving the rest of the roster from there.
The new-look infield of Michael Morse, Dee Gordon and Martin Prado, alongside incumbent shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, should be improved offensively, and Gordon provides them the legitimate leadoff threat they were lacking last year.
Adding Mat Latos to the mix gives them a rotation that could be one of the best in baseball once Jose Fernandez returns from Tommy John surgery, as those two will join Henderson Alvarez, Jarred Cosart and Tom Koehler.
Giving up prospects Andrew Heaney and Anthony DeSclafani was by no means easy, but Miami has the potential to take a big step forward in 2015, and the ownership making a play to win now finally shows some legitimacy on its part.
With arguably the best outfield in baseball, an improved infield, a deep rotation and a quality bullpen anchored by underrated closer Steve Cishek, all the pieces appear to be in place for Miami to at the very least make a run at a wild-card berth.
No. 3 Worst Makeover: Tampa Bay Rays
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2014 Record: 77-85, fourth in AL East
Key Additions: LF Steven Souza, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, C Rene Rivera, C John Jaso, RP Kevin Jepsen, RP Ernesto Frieri, SP Burch Smith, RP Jose Dominguez, SS Daniel Robertson, SS Andrew Velazquez, OF Justin Williams, 1B Jake Bauers, OF Boog Powell, SP Travis Ott
Key Losses: 2B Ben Zobrist, SS Yunel Escobar, RF Wil Myers, OF Matt Joyce, SP Jeremy Hellickson, RP Joel Peralta, RP Cesar Ramos, UT Sean Rodriguez, C Ryan Hanigan, C Jose Molina
2015 Outlook
Even after trading David Price at the deadline last year, the Tampa Bay Rays boasted one of the best starting rotations in baseball.
It's the offense that was an issue, but a healthy season from Wil Myers and a low-cost signing to provide some power at the DH spot seemed like it might be enough for them to crawl back into contention for an AL wild-card spot on the back of their terrific young pitching staff.
Instead, the team made the surprising decision to trade Myers this offseason, for the less-than-spectacular return of outfielder Steven Souza and some low-level minor leaguers.
The next to go was outfielder Matt Joyce, who was shipped to the Los Angeles Angels for setup man Kevin Jepsen, a solid arm but a questionable move for an offensively starved team.
Finally, the team pulled the trigger on dealing Ben Zobrist, who was entering the final year of his contract.
That move made more sense than anything else the Rays have done this winter, and they landed a terrific prospect in Daniel Robertson, but it was the icing on the cake of what appears to be the team throwing in the towel on 2015.
The Rays work under some strict financial constraints, so it's hard to fault them when they unload their veteran talent for prospects, but they had a legitimate chance to contend before blowing things up.
Instead, it looks like it will be a long season for Evan Longoria, as he has virtually no protection in a lineup that could wind up being the worst in baseball.
No. 3 Best Makeover: Chicago Cubs
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2014 Record: 73-89, fifth in NL Central
Key Additions: SP Jon Lester, C Miguel Montero, CF Dexter Fowler, SP Jason Hammel, RP Jason Motte, OF Chris Denorfia, C David Ross, RP Matt Brazis
Key Losses: 3B Luis Valbuena, RF Justin Ruggiano, SP Dan Straily, RP Wesley Wright, SP Jeferson Mejia, RP Zack Godley, C John Baker
2015 Outlook
The offseason didn't start out well for the Chicago Cubs, as they made a serious run at signing catcher Russell Martin but lost out when he inked a five-year, $82 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
They got their guy at the winter meetings, though, beating out the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants to sign ace Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million deal.
Not only is Lester one of the best pitchers in the game and the ace the Cubs badly needed to front their staff, but his signing also immediately brings legitimacy to the team's rebuilding plans and push toward contention in 2015.
Jason Hammel was also brought back on a very reasonable two-year, $20 million deal, and those two will join Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and Travis Wood in a starting rotation with the potential to be one of the best in the National League.
Miguel Montero was acquired as a Plan B behind the plate, and he should provide both an offensive and defensive boost over incumbent Welington Castillo. Montero is a solid run producer and one of the best pitch-framers in the game.
What will likely be the final big move of the winter came on Monday, when on-base machine Dexter Fowler was acquired from the Houston Astros, and he'll give the Cubs' young lineup a legitimate leadoff threat.
The Cubs have managed to fill out their roster this offseason without giving up any of their high-end position-player talent, and while there will undoubtedly be growing pains as their young hitters adjust to life in the big leagues, it's hard not to be optimistic about this team in 2015 and beyond.
No. 2 Worst Makeover: Baltimore Orioles
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2014 Record: 96-66, first in AL East
Key Additions: RP Wesley Wright, OF Alex Hassan, RP Logan Verrett, RP Jason Garcia
Key Losses: DH Nelson Cruz, RF Nick Markakis, RP Andrew Miller, C Nick Hundley, IF Kelly Johnson, IF Alexi Casilla
2015 Outlook
After running away with the AL East title last season by a whopping 12 games over the second-placed New York Yankees, the Baltimore Orioles have lost significantly more talent than they've added this winter.
There appeared to be mutual interest in extending slugger Nelson Cruz, after he proved to be an absolute steal on a one-year, $8 million deal in 2014. The two sides were unable to come to terms, though, and he bolted for Seattle.
Next to go was the team's longest-tenured player in Nick Markakis, who looked like a shoo-in to re-sign at the beginning of the offseason but wound up in Atlanta when the two sides were unable to agree on the length of a new deal.
So who has the team added to replace those two key cogs from last year's offense?
No one.
Instead, the O's seem to be banking on a return to form from Chris Davis, a similar season from out-of-nowhere contributor Steve Pearce and the returns of Manny Machado and Matt Wieters to offset the production they have lost.
The AL East looks to have improved significantly with the Red Sox and Blue Jays both busy this offseason. Meanwhile, the Orioles' biggest move has been signing lefty reliever Wesley Wright, a significant downgrade from the pitcher he's replacing, Andrew Miller.
They still have a deep pitching staff, and the returns of Machado and Wieters should not be understated, but resting on your laurels in the AL East is a risky proposition.
No. 2 Best Makeover: San Diego Padres
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2014 Record: 77-85, third in NL West
Key Additions: LF Justin Upton, RF Matt Kemp, CF Wil Myers, C Derek Norris, SP Brandon Morrow, RP Shawn Kelley, RP Brandon Maurer, C Tim Federowicz, SS Clint Barmes, 3B Will Middlebrooks
Key Losses: RF Seth Smith, C Yasmani Grandal, C Rene Rivera, SP Jesse Hahn, SP Max Fried, SP Zach Eflin, SP Joe Ross, SP Joe Wieland, SP Burch Smith, OF Mallex Smith
2015 Outlook
How does a team with the fourth-best ERA in baseball (3.27) win just 77 games?
Easy, just pair it with one of the worst offensive attacks in recent memory. And there you have the story of the 2014 San Diego Padres.
After hitting a disastrous .226/.292/.342 and averaging 3.30 runs per game, it was clear a complete offensive overhaul was in order this offseason, and new general manager A.J. Preller was just the man for the job.
A trio of blockbuster trades landed the team a new-look outfield of Justin Upton, Wil Myers and Matt Kemp, and he also picked up an All-Star catcher in Derek Norris and two of the more intriguing bounce-back candidates on the market in Will Middlebrooks and Brandon Morrow.
The Padres gave up some quality talent to land those players, including six young pitchers that all have the potential to be significant contributors at the big league level, but somehow their top-end talent is still intact.
Prospects Austin Hedges, Hunter Renfroe, Matt Wisler and Rymer Liriano are all still with the team, as are big league starters Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy.
Outside of Jesse Hahn, Eric Stults and Tim Stauffer, the pitching staff that was one of the best in baseball last year is in place. Only now it's backed by a significantly improved offense.
There are still some holes, notably first base and shortstop offensively and the back of the rotation if Morrow doesn't rebound, but at the very least, this team should be in the running for a wild-card spot.
No. 1 Worst Makeover: Detroit Tigers
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2014 Record: 90-72, first in AL Central
Key Additions: LF Yoenis Cespedes, SP Alfredo Simon, SP Shane Greene, CF Anthony Gose, RP Tom Gorzelanny, RP Alex Wilson
Key Losses: SP Max Scherzer, SP Rick Porcello, RF Torii Hunter, RP Joba Chamberlain, RP Phil Coke, 2B Devon Travis, SP Jonathon Crawford, SP Robbie Ray, SS Eugenio Suarez, IF Domingo Leyba
2015 Outlook
It's hard not to think the Detroit Tigers have gotten worse this offseason, and while they are probably still the favorite in the AL Central, the gap between them and the rest of the division has closed considerably.
Gone from the starting rotation are Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, and in their place are Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene.
Simon went 12-3 with a 2.70 ERA in the first half last season, but he crashed back to Earth with a 4.52 ERA after the All-Star break. His 4.33 FIP is a good indication he's probably closer to the pitcher we saw in the second half. He might be better suited returning to the bullpen.
Instead, the team gave up a pair of solid young players in Jonathon Crawford and Eugenio Suarez with the intention of slotting him as the No. 4 starter. That's the worst move of the offseason, in my opinion.
Greene has some solid potential, going 5-4 with a 3.78 ERA (3.73 FIP) over 78.2 innings last season as a 25-year-old. However, the team gave up prospect Robbie Ray to acquire him, and long term, Ray probably had the higher ceiling.
Yoenis Cespedes gives the team another potent bat in the middle of the lineup, but he's always going to be a below-average on-base threat, and his only real positive contributions are his power and cannon arm. Detroit might have been better off holding onto Porcello and signing someone like Nori Aoki or Colby Rasmus to play left field.
Finally, there's the bullpen, where the only significant additions to what was a disastrous group last year have been Tom Gorzelanny and Alex Wilson. It appears the team is banking on a full year of Joakim Soria and a healthy Bruce Rondon to turn around what was the team's biggest weakness a year ago.
There is still a ton of talent on the Tigers, and they have a real shot at making it five straight division titles, but they have not improved this offseason by any stretch of the imagination.
No. 1 Best Makeover: Chicago White Sox
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2014 Record: 73-89, fourth in AL Central
Key Additions: SP Jeff Samardzija, LF Melky Cabrera, RP David Robertson, 1B Adam LaRoche, UT Emilio Bonifacio, RP Zach Duke, RP Dan Jennings
Key Losses: IF Marcus Semien, C Josh Phegley, SP Chris Bassitt, 1B Rangel Ravelo, SP Andre Rienzo, 1B Paul Konerko, RP Matt Lindstrom, OF Jordan Danks
2015 Outlook
The talent the Chicago White Sox have added this offseason, compared to what they gave up to get it, makes them an easy selection for the "best offseason makeover" and a legitimate contender in the AL Central.
Melky Cabrera, David Robertson, Adam LaRoche, Emilio Bonifacio and Zach Duke were all signed as free agents, with the team shelling out a combined $132 million, a far cry from the half billion the New York Yankees threw down on their failed roster overhaul last winter.
Cabrera might be the steal of the offseason on a three-year, $42 million deal, and he represents a huge upgrade over Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo. LaRoche was also a bargain at $25 million over two years, and he'll provide a left-handed power bat to protect Jose Abreu.
The bullpen should be at least league average with the additions of Robertson, Duke and Dan Jennings, and that would be a significant improvement over last season, when it ranked 28th in the league with a 4.38 ERA while converting just 36 of 57 save chances.
Then there was the big trade to land Jeff Samardzija.
The White Sox shipped four talented young players to the Oakland A's in the deal, but none of them were among their top prospects. Samardzija gives them the perfect front-line right-hander to slot between lefties Chris Sale and Jose Quintana.
There are still questions at catcher, second base and at the back of the rotation, but the White Sox have done well to build around what was already a solid core of young talent, and they look like legitimate contenders in 2015.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
