2015-2016 MLB Offseason 'Recruiting' Updates for All 30 Teams
Let's pretend for a moment that each MLB team's offseason was evaluated in a way similar to that of a college football or basketball program. Free-agent signings and trade additions would be assigned a rating from 1-5 on the "star" scale, and the complete class of new additions would be graded from there.
Rather than assessing how well needs were filled, how much money was spent by each team or how much cumulative talent was added compared to who was lost in free agency and trades, the focus would solely be on how much overall talent was added to the roster.
First, we need to decide what constitutes a 5-star player, 4-star player and so on. Here is my take on who belongs in each category.
- 5-Star (10 points): A superstar-caliber position player, front-line starting pitcher or elite closer.
- 4-Star (7 points): An above-average everyday position player, middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher or plus late-inning reliever.
- 3-Star (3 points): A league-average everyday position player or reserve likely to see extended playing time, No. 5 starting pitcher/swingman or above-average reliever. High-upside bounce-back candidates can be found here.
- 2-Star (1 point): Solid organizational depth likely to be on the big league roster at some point, if not on Opening Day. Rule 5 draft picks can be found here.
- 1-Star (N/A): Everyone else. Players signed to minor league deals and unlikely to make any sort of impact at the big league level this coming season. Not included here; don't count toward a team's overall offseason rating.
From there, points were awarded to each recruit as listed above, and each team's total recruit point total was determined. Players were graded based solely on their expected contributions during the 2016 season, so prospects were evaluated on their expected big league contributions for the upcoming season and not their overall ceiling.
Teams were then ordered from worst to first based on the overall level of talent they've added so far this winter. The tiebreaker in the case of two teams having the same score was which team has added more high-star players.
For example, a team that added one 5-star player (10 points) ranks ahead of a team that added one 4-star player and one 3-star player (10 points).
As with college rosters, returning players are not considered recruits, so anyone re-signing with the team he played for last year was not considered for this. That means no Darren O'Day, Marco Estrada, Chris Young, Franklin Gutierrez, Tony Sipp and A.J. Pierzynski, among others.
The end goal here was simply to put a different and fun spin on evaluating what each MLB team has done so far this offseason. So take this for what it is, and enjoy.
30. Miami Marlins
1 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (0):
2-Star (1): OF Justin Maxwell
Total: 1 point
Offseason Overview
It's been a quiet offseason for the Miami Marlins so far, as the closest thing they have to a notable addition is journeyman outfielder Justin Maxwell.
Maxwell won a spot on the San Francisco Giants roster out of spring training last year and wound up posting a .616 OPS with eight doubles, seven home runs and 26 RBI in 249 at-bats.
He'll be in the mix for a fourth outfielder job once again.
29. Los Angeles Dodgers
2 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (0):
2-Star (3): 2B Micah Johnson, OF Trayce Thompson, SP Frankie Montas
Total: 3 points
Offseason Overview
The Los Angeles Dodgers have not had the offseason many expected, starting with losing Zack Greinke and failing to find another front-line starting pitcher to replace him so far this winter.
It looked like the team would add right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma to the mix after the two sides agreed to terms on a three-year, $45 million deal back on Dec. 7, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
However, issues arose during the 34-year-old's physical, and the Dodgers have now pulled that offer, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
That leaves their lone significant move of the offseason as what amounted to a prospect swap in the three-team deal that sent Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox.
Speedy second baseman Micah Johnson and outfielder Trayce Thompson both got their first taste of big league action last season, and Thompson turned some heads in hitting .295/.363/.533 with 16 extra-base hits over 122 at-bats. Both lack a clear path to playing time in 2016, though.
However, the big prize of the trade was right-hander Frankie Montas, who is one of the top pitching prospects in the game and has a chance to make a serious impact as a starter or a late-inning reliever.
The 22-year-old can touch triple digits with his fastball, and he posted a 2.97 ERA, 1.223 WHIP and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings in Double-A last season.
28. Cincinnati Reds
3 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (0):
2-Star (5): 2B Jose Peraza, OF Jake Cave, OF Scott Schebler, RP Chris O'Grady, RP Blake Wood
Total: 5 points
Offseason Overview
The big move of the offseason so far for the Cincinnati Reds came on Wednesday when they shipped Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox in a three-team deal.
That trade brought them infielder Jose Peraza, outfielder Scott Schebler and infielder Brandon Dixon, according to ESPN.com news services, and there's a chance both Peraza and Schebler could play a significant role for the rebuilding team in 2016.
Peraza could take over as the starting second baseman if Brandon Phillips is traded, while Schebler is probably the front-runner for the left field job as the roster currently stands.
They also selected outfielder Jake Cave and reliever Chris O'Grady in the Rule 5 draft, and both players should have a chance of sticking on the 25-man roster.
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27. St. Louis Cardinals
4 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (1): IF Jedd Gyorko
2-Star (2): C Brayan Pena, RP Matt Bowman
Total: 5 points
Offseason Overview
It's been a quiet offseason for the St. Louis Cardinals, though not for a lack of trying, as they made a serious push to sign both David Price and Jason Heyward but came up short.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, general manager John Mozeliak does not expect the team to make a "dynamic signing" after missing out on those two, but that doesn't mean it'll just sit on its hands the rest of the winter.
That being said, Jedd Gyorko was a nice pickup in a trade that sent Jon Jay to the San Diego Padres.
His ability to play all four infield positions should allow the team to carry five outfielders, and he ended the 2015 season on a high note with a .739 OPS, 13 home runs and 34 RBI in the second half.
Brayan Pena should also be able to provide more in the way of production out of the backup catcher spot, and he's better suited to step into a starting role should Yadier Molina miss time.
26. Milwaukee Brewers
5 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (0):
2-Star (6): 3B Will Middlebrooks, UT Jonathan Villar, UT Garin Cecchini, UT Colin Walsh, OF Ramon Flores, RP Zach Jones
Total: 6 points
Offseason Overview
The Milwaukee Brewers have made a pair of notable trades this offseason with first baseman Adam Lind going to the Seattle Mariners and closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Detroit Tigers, but they have targeted lower-level prospects in those deals.
To this point, their most notable offseason addition has probably been third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who signed a minor league deal after being non-tendered by the San Diego Padres.
Still just 27, Middlebrooks posted an .835 OPS with 15 home runs and 54 RBI in 267 at-bats as a rookie in 2012, but since then, he's hit just .213/.258/.363 and been demoted to the minors on more than one occasion.
With a gaping hole at third base, he'll have every chance to secure an everyday job for a rebuilding Brewers team, and that low-pressure situation could be just what he needs to get his career back on track.
Utility man Colin Walsh and hard-throwing reliever Zach Jones will try to stick as Rule 5 selections.
25. Minnesota Twins
6 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (2): C John Ryan Murphy, DH Byung-ho Park
2-Star (0):
Total: 6 points
Offseason Overview
One could certainly make a case that the Minnesota Twins' biggest weakness last season was their pitching staff, and to this point, they have yet to make any significant additions on the pitching side of things.
However, they did find a potential upgrade over veteran Kurt Suzuki at the catcher position in the form of 24-year-old John Ryan Murphy, whom they acquired from the New York Yankees for outfielder Aaron Hicks.
Murphy hit .277/.327/.406 with nine doubles and three home runs in 155 at-bats last season, and he'll likely be the team's primary backstop.
The Twins also dipped into the international market to sign first baseman/designated hitter Byung-ho Park to a four-year, $12 million deal.
The 29-year-old hit .343/.436/.714 with 35 doubles, 53 home runs and 146 RBI in the hitter-friendly KBO last season, and he'll look to match the success that Jung-ho Kang enjoyed in 2015.
The need remains for a left-handed reliever and perhaps a few other bullpen arms, but they've added a couple of nice pieces to the lineup.
24. Texas Rangers
7 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (1): RP Tom Wilhelmsen
3-Star (0):
2-Star (2): 1B/3B Patrick Kivlehan, RP Tony Barnette
Total: 9 points
Offseason Overview
The Texas Rangers figure to add at least one starting pitcher and perhaps two before the offseason is over, but to this point, they've had a relatively quiet offseason.
They picked up a quality reliever in Tom Wilhelmsen when they sent Leonys Martin to the Seattle Mariners. The 32-year-old had a 3.19 ERA and 8.7 K/9 last season, and he has 67 saves and a 2.97 ERA for his career.
Patrick Kivlehan had a .766 OPS with 22 home runs and 73 RBI in Triple-A last season, and he'll be vying for a bench spot.
Reliever Tony Barnette is an interesting story, as he's spent the past six seasons in Japan after beginning his career in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system.
He nailed down 41 saves with a 1.29 ERA, 0.894 WHIP and 8.0 K/9 last season, and the Rangers brought him back stateside on a two-year, $3.5 million deal, per Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The deal also includes a $4 million option for a third year, according to another tweet from Wilson.
23. Kansas City Royals
8 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (1): RP Joakim Soria
3-Star (0):
2-Star (2): C Tony Cruz, RP Dillon Gee
Total: 9 points
Offseason Overview
In search of a replacement for the departed Ryan Madson in a setup role, the Kansas City Royals turned to a familiar face and signed Joakim Soria to a three-year, $25 million deal.
Soria spent the first five seasons of his career with the Royals, piling up 160 saves with a 2.40 ERA and making a pair of All-Star appearances.
The team also took a chance on former New York Mets starter Dillon Gee on a minor league deal, though the contract includes an early March 2 opt-out if he's not added to the 40-man roster, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca.
Gee went 38-32 with a 4.01 ERA from 2011 to 2014 while serving mostly as a starter, but he'd likely assume the swingman role now that Chris Young appears to be ticketed for a full-time rotation spot.
Tony Cruz will compete with Drew Butera for the backup catcher job.
22. Cleveland Indians
9 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (2): 1B Mike Napoli, OF Rajai Davis
2-Star (4): OF Joey Butler, OF Collin Cowgill, RP Joba Chamberlain, RP Kirby Yates
Total: 10 points
Offseason Overview
The biggest move of the offseason to date for the Cleveland Indians came on Wednesday when they agreed to sign first baseman Mike Napoli to a one-year deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Napoli didn't have the best numbers in 2015, but he finished strong with a .908 OPS, five home runs and 10 RBI in 35 games with the Texas Rangers after being traded on Aug. 7.
It's a relatively low-risk move for an Indians team that needed to find some way to upgrade the offense, and he has a chance to provide some good value with a $7 million salary that includes another $3 million in incentives, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Shortly after agreeing to terms with Napoli on Wednesday, the team also signed outfielder Rajai Davis to a one-year, $5.25 million deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Davis is a career .296/.351/.448 hitter against left-handed pitching, and he ranks seventh among active players with 322 career steals.
As for smaller-scale moves, Joey Butler should have a chance to win a bench spot after being claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays last season. He hit .276/.326/.416 with 12 doubles and eight home runs in 257 at-bats as a 29-year-old rookie.
Joba Chamberlain and Kirby Yates will also have a chance to win bullpen spots in the spring.
21. Colorado Rockies
10 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (3): 1B/3B Mark Reynolds, RP Jason Motte, RP Chad Qualls
2-Star (1): RP Brian Schlitter
Total: 10 points
Offseason Overview
The Colorado Rockies ranked 30th in the majors last season with a 4.70 bullpen ERA, so there is little doubt their relief corps was in need of an overhaul.
While the team has not signed any of the market's elite arms, it did pick up a pair of quality veterans in Jason Motte and Chad Qualls, both of whom have closing experience.
It also picked up slugger Mark Reynolds, who will serve as a platoon partner for left-handed-hitting first baseman Ben Paulsen and provide some thump off the bench.
Brian Schlitter should also have a chance to win a bullpen spot on a minor league deal. He struggled this past season but had a 4.15 ERA over 61 appearances in 2014.
The big question now is whether the team will pull the trigger on moving one of its outfielders, or if it'll continue to bargain shop in its efforts to make modest improvements to the league's worst pitching staff.
20. New York Mets
11 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (1): 2B Neil Walker
3-Star (1): SS Asdrubal Cabrera
2-Star (0):
Total: 10 points
Offseason Overview
The New York Mets are still looking for a way to replace the impact bat of Yoenis Cespedes in the middle of their lineup, but they have brought in a new middle infield tandem for the upcoming season.
The Mets acquired Neil Walker from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for starter Jon Niese, and he'll be tasked with replacing postseason hero Daniel Murphy.
Walker, who is in his final year of arbitration, has hit .273/.338/.433 and averaged 16 home runs and 70 RBI per season since becoming an everyday player back in 2010. He's one of the best offensive producers in the league at the position and will be a welcome addition to the middle of the lineup.
Joining him up the middle is new shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who batted .265/.315/.430 with 28 doubles, 15 home runs and 58 RBI last year on a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.
While Walker and Cabrera are both average defenders at best, they'll provide some offensive consistency in the lineup.
Now they just need to find that impact run producer to round things out.
19. Houston Astros
12 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (1): RP Ken Giles
4-Star (0):
3-Star (0):
2-Star (0):
Total: 10 points
Offseason Overview
The Houston Astros have only made one significant move so far this offseason, but it was a big one.
Looking for a more traditional closer to anchor their bullpen and allow Luke Gregerson to return to a setup role, the Astros scoured the relief-pitching market before finally settling on a huge trade to acquire Ken Giles from the Philadelphia Phillies.
Giles, 25, has been nothing short of dominant in his first two big league seasons with a 1.56 ERA, 1.037 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 over 113 appearances.
His five remaining years of team control made him an incredibly valuable trade chip for the rebuilding Phillies, and they wound up landing an impressive prospect haul in the move.
The Astros shipped pitching prospects Vincent Velasquez, Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman and Harold Arauz out in the deal, along with 26-year-old left-hander Brett Oberholtzer.
Expect the team to add another starting pitcher before the offseason is over, but Giles figures to be the prize of the offseason for an Astros team that will look to build on last year's success.
18. Pittsburgh Pirates
13 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (1): SP Jon Niese
3-Star (0):
2-Star (4): 1B/OF Jake Goebbert, SP Allen Webster, RP Juan Nicasio, RP Jorge Rondon
Total: 11 points
Offseason Overview
In need of a starting pitcher to replace the departed J.A. Happ and retired A.J. Burnett, the Pittsburgh Pirates turned to the trade market, where they acquired left-hander Jon Niese from the New York Mets in exchange for second baseman Neil Walker.
The 29-year-old Niese went 9-10 with a 4.13 ERA and 1.398 WHIP in 176.2 innings of work last season for the Mets. He has a $9 million salary this season with a $10 million option for 2017 and an $11 million option for 2018.
Aside from that trade, the team has only made a few minor deals, but keep an eye on former top prospect Allen Webster.
The Pirates acquired the 25-year-old Webster for cash after the Arizona Diamondbacks designated him for assignment, and he could be the latest pitcher to thrive under the tutelage of pitching guru Ray Searage.
Webster was ranked as the No. 49 prospect in all of baseball heading into the 2013 season, one of three times he cracked the top 100, according to Baseball America.
17. Toronto Blue Jays
14 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (1): SP J.A. Happ
3-Star (1): SP/RP Jesse Chavez
2-Star (1): RP Joe Biagini
Total: 11 points
Offseason Overview
It was clear early in the offseason that the Toronto Blue Jays had no intention of making a serious effort to re-sign David Price, and they moved quickly to address the starting rotation with some lower-tier moves.
The Blue Jays re-signed Marco Estrada on the eve of his qualifying offer decision, while they also added J.A. Happ in free agency and acquired swingman Jesse Chavez from the Oakland Athletics for reliever Liam Hendriks.
Happ went 7-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts down the stretch after joining the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline, and he turned that strong finish into a surprising three-year, $36 million contract.
Happ spent parts of three seasons with the Blue Jays prior to joining the Seattle Mariners, going 19-20 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.371 WHIP in 50 starts and eight relief appearances.
Chavez has been equally successful as a starter and reliever the past two years in Oakland, and unless the team adds another starter or decides to return Aaron Sanchez to the rotation, he appears to be on track to be the team's No. 5 starter.
The Blue Jays selected right-hander Joe Biagini in the Rule 5 draft after he went 10-7 with a 2.42 ERA and 1.120 WHIP in 130.1 innings for the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants in 2015.
16. Baltimore Orioles
15 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (3): 1B Mark Trumbo, LF Hyun-Soo Kim, SP/RP Vance Worley
2-Star (3): OF L.J. Hoes, OF Joey Rickard, RP C.J. Riefenhauser
Total: 12 points
Offseason Overview
The Baltimore Orioles still have a lot of work to do if they're going to have any shot at contending in the AL East this coming season.
Re-signing setup man Darren O'Day has been their biggest move to this point, but he'll do nothing to offset the loss of slugger Chris Davis in the middle of the lineup if he winds up signing elsewhere.
The Orioles acquired Mark Trumbo as a contingency plan of sorts, and while he did hit 23 doubles and 22 home runs last season, he did it with a .262/.310/.449 line and a 36-132 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
As far as replacing free-agent starter Wei-Yin Chen, the big addition on the pitching side has been Vance Worley, whom the team claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He was 8-4 with a 2.85 ERA over 110.2 innings as a Pittsburgh reclamation project in 2014 and followed that up by going 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 71.2 innings this past season. He should get a shot at the No. 5 starter job.
The latest addition came Wednesday night when Baltimore signed Korean outfielder Hyun-Soo Kim to a two-year, $7 million deal, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
The 27-year-old is coming off the best season of his career with the Doosan Bears, as he hit .326/.438/.541 with 26 doubles, 28 home runs and 121 RBI.
Outfielder Joey Rickard will try to catch on as a Rule 5 pick after hitting .321/.427/.447 with 38 extra-base hits and 23 stolen bases over three minor league levels in the Tampa Bay Rays organization last year.
15. Tampa Bay Rays
16 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (4): C Hank Conger, SS Brad Miller, DH Logan Morrison, RP Danny Farquhar
2-Star (0):
Total: 12 points
Offseason Overview
The Tampa Bay Rays began their offseason with a six-player trade that sent Nate Karns and others to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Logan Morrison, Brad Miller and Danny Farquhar.
Those three all figure to be significant contributors this coming season, and considering the impressive starting-pitching depth the team possesses, it's a trade that made sense from a roster-makeup standpoint.
The other big move of the offseason has been acquiring catcher Hank Conger from the Houston Astros.
The team opted to tender a contract to Rene Rivera and also has pre-arbitration Curt Casali in the mix, but don't be surprised if Conger plays his way into being the team's primary backstop.
The 27-year-old hit .229/.311/.448 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 33 RBI backing up Jason Castro in Houston last season, and he's never topped 250 at-bats in a season.
Trading another starter for offensive help is still a very real possibility before the offseason is over, but for now, the Rays have quietly added four solid pieces to the puzzle.
14. New York Yankees
17 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (1): 2B Starlin Castro
3-Star (1): OF Aaron Hicks
2-Star (2): IF Pete Kozma, SP Luis Cessa
Total: 12 points
Offseason Overview
As much as some of the fanbase would love the New York Yankees to go back to their free-spending ways, that's just not going to happen.
Instead, the team has focused on building up the farm system as it continues to push toward the end of some of the megadeals that have limited it from a payroll standpoint.
That doesn't mean the team hasn't been active, though, as the Yankees kicked off their offseason by flipping backup catcher John Ryan Murphy to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Aaron Hicks.
A former top prospect, Hicks showed some flashes of coming into his own last season when he posted a .721 OPS with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 13 steals in 352 at-bats. He gives the team a fourth outfielder capable of stepping in as a starter should someone get hurt.
The other significant move to date saw the Yankees pick up Starlin Castro from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-hander Adam Warren and infielder Brendan Ryan.
Castro dealt with some adversity in 2015, but he finished on fire with a .369/.400/.655 line in September. He'll join Didi Gregorius to form a young middle infield tandem that should provide a long-term answer.
13. San Diego Padres
18 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (1): RP Drew Pomeranz
3-Star (1): OF Jon Jay
2-Star (6): C Christian Bethancourt, IF Jose Pirela, OF Jabari Blash, RP Josh Martin, SP Luis Perdomo, RP Blake Smith
Total: 16 points
Offseason Overview
Suffice to say it's been a significantly less eventful offseason so far for the San Diego Padres compared to a year ago when they were wheeling and dealing in an effort to build a winner.
A pair of one-for-one trades brought them left-hander Drew Pomeranz and outfielder Jon Jay in exchange for first baseman Yonder Alonso and infielder Jedd Gyorko.
Trading Alonso means Wil Myers will be moving to first base, which should improve the team defensively after he was miscast in center field a year ago.
The team was also incredibly busy in the Rule 5 draft, selecting right-handers Josh Martin and Blake Smith with its picks and also trading for outfielder Jabari Blash and right-hander Luis Perdomo.
Perdomo represented the St. Louis Cardinals in the Futures Game last season, while Blash posted a .946 OPS with 24 doubles and 32 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
Don't be surprised if Blash plays his way into significant at-bats in left field, and all four have a legitimate chance of earning a spot on the roster.
12. Washington Nationals
19 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (1): RP Shawn Kelley
3-Star (3): RP Oliver Perez, RP Trevor Gott, RP Yusmeiro Petit
2-Star (0):
Total: 16 points
Offseason Overview
The Washington Nationals ranked 10th in the league with a 3.46 bullpen ERA last season, but overhauling the relief corps has nonetheless been the focus of their offseason to this point.
They signed Oliver Perez to replace Matt Thornton as the veteran left-hander, while Yusmeiro Petit will take over in the swingman role now that Tanner Roark is ticketed for a regular spot in the rotation.
The team acquired Trevor Gott from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Yunel Escobar, and he has a chance to be a long-term piece of the relief corps.
The 23-year-old posted a 3.02 ERA and 1.238 WHIP with 14 holds as a rookie this past season, and while his 5.1 K/9 didn't jump off the page, he showed strikeout stuff in the minors with a 9.5 K/9 rate.
However, the biggest addition has been right-hander Shawn Kelley, who signed a three-year, $15 million contract.
Over the past three seasons, Kelley has a 3.80 ERA, 1.222 WHIP and an 11.6 K/9 mark that ranks 13th among all relievers with at least 150 appearances during that span.
The 2015 season was the best of his career, as he joined the San Diego Padres and posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.091 WHIP and 11.0 K/9 with seven holds.
11. San Francisco Giants
20 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (1): SP Johnny Cueto
4-Star (1): SP Jeff Samardzija
3-Star (0):
2-Star (1): 1B/OF Kyle Blanks
Total: 18 points
Offseason Overview
The San Francisco Giants were not able to land Zack Greinke, but that hasn't stopped them from significantly improving their starting rotation.
Shortly after Greinke decided to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team added Jeff Samardzija on a five-year, $90 million deal.
While his numbers weren't great last season, Samardzija is a horse and was a legitimate front-line starter in 2014. His time spent as a reliever should also allow him to age well, so the five-year deal is not as big a risk as it would be for some.
The Giants didn't stop there, though, as they also brought Johnny Cueto aboard with a six-year, $130 million contract.
Those two will join Madison Bumgarner, Jake Peavy and either Matt Cain or Chris Heston to once again make the rotation a strength of the team.
The Giants could still use an upgrade in left field, and perhaps a bullpen arm or two after losing Yusmeiro Petit and Jeremy Affeldt, but even if they stand pat the rest of the way, they'll be able to make some noise in the NL West.
10. Chicago White Sox
21 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (1): 3B Todd Frazier
4-Star (0):
3-Star (3): C Alex Avila, C Dioner Navarro, 2B/3B Brett Lawrie
2-Star (1): RP Tommy Kahnle
Total: 20 points
Offseason Overview
Third base was a huge weakness for the Chicago White Sox last season, as the position produced a combined .226/.277/.345 line with 13 home runs and 50 RBI.
Chicago addressed that hole with a blockbuster deal on Wednesday, though, as the team acquired Todd Frazier from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a trio of prospects.
Frazier posted an .806 OPS with 43 doubles, 35 home runs and 89 RBI this past season while making the All-Star team for the second consecutive year. He also has two years of team control remaining, so he's more than just a rental.
That move means fellow trade acquisition Brett Lawrie will be sliding over to second base, and while he has yet to live up to his tremendous potential, there's still time for the 25-year-old to emerge as an impact player.
The White Sox also overhauled the catcher position, as Tyler Flowers was non-tendered and Geovany Soto walked in free agency.
Replacing them are veterans Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro, who both signed one-year deals for a combined $6.5 million.
9. Philadelphia Phillies
22 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (0):
3-Star (5): SP Jeremy Hellickson, SP Charlie Morton, SP Brett Oberholtzer, SP Vincent Velasquez, RP David Hernandez
2-Star (6): C J.P. Arencibia, OF Peter Bourjos, OF Tyler Goeddel, SP Mark Appel, RP James Russell, RP Daniel Stumpf
Total: 21 points
Offseason Overview
The Philadelphia Phillies have begun what figures to be a lengthy rebuilding process, so chances are they won't be in a position to spend big in free agency for a few years.
However, they have been targeting buy-low candidates on the pitching side of things, as Jeremy Hellickson, Charlie Morton and David Hernandez all have a chance to become attractive trade chips if they rebuild some value.
At the same time, they also picked up some useful building blocks in the blockbuster deal that sent closer Ken Giles to the Houston Astros, including a pair of high-ceiling starting pitchers in Vincent Velasquez and Mark Appel.
The team selected Tyler Goeddel No. 1 overall in the Rule 5 draft, and he could see significant at-bats in the outfield after hitting .279/.350/.433 with 17 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs, 72 RBI and 28 stolen bases in Double-A last season.
While the Phillies haven't made an addition that ranks above a 3-star, they've added a number of players who have a chance to be significant contributors in a rebuilding year.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
23 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (2): SP Zack Greinke, SP Shelby Miller
4-Star (0):
3-Star (0):
2-Star (1): C/OF Chris Herrmann
Total: 21 points
Offseason Overview
With a terrific offensive core already in place headlined by Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and David Peralta, the Arizona Diamondbacks entered the offseason in need of front-line starting pitching if they hoped to have a serious shot at contending.
They added the first big arm when they swooped in and signed Zack Greinke away from the division rival Dodgers and Giants with a massive six-year, $206.5 million deal.
They weren't finished there, though, as they also pulled off a huge trade to acquire Shelby Miller from the Atlanta Braves.
It cost a king's ransom to land the 25-year-old and his three remaining years of team control, sending outfielder Ender Inciarte, pitching prospect Aaron Blair and 2015 No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson to Atlanta.
Those two will join Patrick Corbin to give the Diamondbacks a solid trio atop the rotation and could be enough for them to push their way into the playoff picture.
The team also acquired catcher/outfielder Chris Herrmann in a trade with the Minnesota Twins to fill out the bench.
7. Los Angeles Angels
24 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (1): SS Andrelton Simmons
4-Star (1): 3B Yunel Escobar
3-Star (0):
2-Star (7): C Geovany Soto, 1B Ji-Man Choi, IF Cliff Pennington, OF Todd Cunningham, OF Craig Gentry, OF Daniel Nava, RP Deolis Guerra
Total: 24 points
Offseason Overview
The Los Angeles Angels began their offseason with a huge trade, as they shipped incumbent shortstop Erick Aybar and two of their best prospects in Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis to the Atlanta Braves for Andrelton Simmons.
For a team that struggled offensively last season, selling the farm for a career .256/.304/.362 hitter may seem like a head-scratching move, but Simmons is arguably the best defensive player in the game and will make the Angels' entire pitching staff better.
Even with his mediocre offensive skills, he's been a 17.2 WAR player in his four big league seasons, and he comes under contract for a reasonable $53 million over the next five years.
While that trade did not necessarily address a need, the one to acquire Yunel Escobar certainly did, as he'll replace the departed David Freese at third base.
Escobar was a pleasant surprise last season for the Nationals, hitting .314/.375/.415 with nine home runs, 56 RBI and 75 runs scored.
There is still a hole to fill in left field, though the team did recently sign a potential platoon pairing in Craig Gentry and Daniel Nava, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
They were also active in the Rule 5 draft, grabbing first baseman Ji-Man Choi and reliever Deolis Guerra.
6. Atlanta Braves
25 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (2): SS Erick Aybar, CF Ender Inciarte
3-Star (3): C Tyler Flowers, SP Bud Norris, RP Jim Johnson
2-Star (4): IF Gordon Beckham, UT Emilio Bonifacio, RP Ian Krol, RP Evan Rutckyj
Total: 27 points
Offseason Overview
The Atlanta Braves are the perfect example of how this is not an exercise in grading talent acquired versus talent lost but instead simply a rundown of newcomers.
Otherwise, it would need to be taken into account that the team traded away a pair of 5-star players in shortstop Andrelton Simmons and right-hander Shelby Miller.
Those two trades brought mostly prospect talent, but shortstop Erick Aybar and outfielder Ender Inciarte are the exception, and they'll likely occupy the top two spots in the bating order this coming season.
While Aybar is just a placeholder set to hit free agency next year, the 25-year-old Inciarte is under team control through 2020 and coming off a terrific season where he hit .303/.338/.408 and had a 5.3 WAR, so he could be a long-term piece.
Tyler Flowers, Bud Norris and Jim Johnson all represent nice buy-low options who could prove to be good value and potential trade chips come July, while the versatility that Gordon Beckham and Emilio Bonifacio provide will allow the team to deal with any injuries in-house.
Left-hander Evan Rutckyj was the team's Rule 5 pick after he posted a 2.63 ERA, 1.265 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 61.2 innings over 36 appearances between High-A and Double-A.
5. Oakland Athletics
26 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (2): RP Liam Hendriks, RP Ryan Madson
3-Star (5): 1B Yonder Alonso, 2B Jed Lowrie, SP Rich Hill, RP John Axford, RP Marc Rzepczynski
2-Star (0):
Total: 29 points
Offseason Overview
There's been no blockbuster trade or splash free-agent signing for the Oakland Athletics so far this offseason, but they've quietly done a nice job filling out the roster.
The bullpen played a major role in the team's struggles last season, as it ranked 28th in the league with a 4.63 ERA, and the team went 19-35 in one-run games as a result.
Oakland signed Ryan Madson and John Axford as free agents, while it acquired both Liam Hendriks and Marc Rzepczynski via trade. They'll join a healthy Sean Doolittle for what should be an improved bullpen.
The team took a chance on Rich Hill with a one-year, $6 million contract after the 35-year-old went 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA, 0.655 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 29 innings in four starts with the Boston Red Sox down the stretch.
Oakland also revamped the right side of the infield by non-tendering Ike Davis and acquiring Yonder Alonso to play first base and Jed Lowrie to man second base. That allows fan favorite Eric Sogard to move into a utility infield role where he's better suited.
Finding another starting pitcher remains a need, but it's quietly been a productive offseason for the small-market Athletics.
4. Chicago Cubs
27 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (1): OF Jason Heyward
4-Star (3): 2B Ben Zobrist, SP John Lackey, RP Adam Warren
3-Star (0):
2-Star (2): IF Brendan Ryan, RP Rex Brothers
Total: 33 points
Offseason Overview
The Chicago Cubs arrived last season a year ahead of schedule in most people's minds, and they've put the pedal to the metal this offseason in their efforts to put a World Series contender on the field in 2016.
Chicago signed John Lackey to give it a reliable third starter, and while a two-year, $32 million contract for a 37-year-old is a risky proposition, his postseason track record (127.1 IP, 3.11 ERA) speaks for itself.
Then in a pair of connected moves, the team signed second baseman Ben Zobrist and shipped Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees for Adam Warren and Brendan Ryan.
Zobrist, a favorite of manager Joe Maddon, gives the team something it desperately needed as a low-strikeout, high-on-base threat who can serve as a table-setter for the big bats in the middle of the lineup.
Warren may wind up being the most underrated pickup of the winter, as he is capable of excelling as both a starter and reliever. He proved that last season, when he posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.165 WHIP over 131.1 innings that included 17 starts and 26 relief appearances.
The 28-year-old also has three years of team control remaining.
Of course, the move everyone will be talking about heading into the season is the signing of outfielder Jason Heyward to a massive eight-year, $184 million deal.
Like Zobrist, he gives the team an on-base threat at the top of the lineup and also significantly improves its outfield defense, regardless of whether he's playing center field or right field.
3. Boston Red Sox
28 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (2): SP David Price, RP Craig Kimbrel
4-Star (1): RP Carson Smith
3-Star (2): OF Chris Young, SP Roenis Elias
2-Star (0):
Total: 33 points
Offseason Overview
The Boston Red Sox entered the offseason in need of a bona fide ace to front their starting rotation, and they got their guy when David Price agreed to a seven-year, $217 million deal.
That signing came after the team sent four prospects, including the highly regarded duo of Manuel Margot and Javier Guerra, to the San Diego Padres for All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel.
With Koji Uehara battling injuries last year and now entering his age-41 season, finding a reliable closer was a must, and the Red Sox got one of the best in the business.
Those two moves will capture the bulk of the headlines, but it's the trade they pulled off at the winter meetings that could wind up being their best move of the offseason.
The Price signing left the team with an abundance of starting pitchers, so the Red Sox flipped left-hander Wade Miley to the Seattle Mariners for reliever Carson Smith and swingman Roenis Elias.
Smith, 26, has electric stuff, and it was on full display as a rookie when he posted a 2.31 ERA, 1.014 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 70 innings while saving 13 games.
Meanwhile, Elias has a 3.97 ERA and 1.308 WHIP in 279 innings of work over the past two seasons while serving mostly as a starter. He has five years of team control left and, if nothing else, gives the team a qualify left-hander arm capable of stepping into the rotation if need be.
2. Detroit Tigers
29 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (2): SP Jordan Zimmermann, RP Francisco Rodriguez
4-Star (2): RP Mark Lowe, RP Justin Wilson
3-Star (2): OF Cameron Maybin, SP Mike Pelfrey
2-Star (1): C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Total: 41 points
Offseason Overview
The Detroit Tigers entered the offseason in need of two starting pitchers, a proven closer and a few other proven relief arms to round out a bullpen that had been a problem area for years.
Check. Check. Check.
Jordan Zimmermann was the big addition on a five-year, $110 million deal, as he'll join Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez atop the rotation.
The Tigers aimed lower with their other starting pitcher signing, agreeing to a two-year, $12 million deal with Mike Pelfrey. The 31-year-old is by no means a front-line arm, but he's more than capable of being a quality No. 4 starter.
As for the bullpen, Detroit acquired Francisco Rodriguez in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers to give the team the proven ninth-inning arm it has been lacking.
Ahead of him will be the newly acquired setup duo of right-hander Mark Lowe and left-hander Justin Wilson.
Aside from filling those needs, the team also acquired Cameron Maybin from the Atlanta Braves to give it some options on how to align the outfield and signed Jarrod Saltalamacchia to replace Alex Avila as the backup catcher.
For a team that is coming off a disappointing last-place finish in the AL Central and sold aggressively at the trade deadline, the Tigers again look poised to contend for a playoff spot.
1. Seattle Mariners
30 of 30
"Recruit" Breakdown
5-Star (0):
4-Star (4): 1B Adam Lind, SP Nate Karns, SP Wade Miley, RP Joaquin Benoit
3-Star (5): C Chris Iannetta, OF Nori Aoki, OF Leonys Martin, RP Steve Cishek, RP Evan Scribner
2-Star (3): C Steve Clevenger, RP Anthony Bass, RP Justin De Fratus
Total: 46 points
Offseason Overview
While they have yet to make a 5-star addition this offseason, no team has added more overall talent to the roster than the Seattle Mariners under the hand of new GM Jerry Dipoto.
As things currently stand, there could be as many as 12 newcomers on the 25-man roster to begin the season, with five of them coming in a bullpen that desperately needed to be overhauled.
Veterans Joaquin Benoit and Steve Cishek will handle late-inning duties, while the trio of Evan Scribner, Anthony Bass and Justin De Fratus all look to have a good chance of winning a roster spot.
Chris Iannetta and Steve Clevenger will make up the team's new catching tandem, which should allow Mike Zunino to begin the season in the minors as he tries to get his career back on track.
The team acquired Adam Lind from the Milwaukee Brewers after a terrific season last year, and he'll platoon with Jesus Montero at first base for what should be a very productive position.
The Mariners added Nori Aoki and defensive whiz Leonys Martin to the outfield mix, as they join Franklin Gutierrez, Seth Smith and Nelson Cruz to give the team some options on how to set the lineup.
The team failed to re-sign veteran Hisashi Iwakuma but countered by acquiring Nate Karns in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Wade Miley in a deal with the Boston Red Sox.
Those two join Felix Hernandez, Taijuan Walker, James Paxton and Mike Montgomery to give the team some quality starting pitching depth.
One could make a case for the team still needing to add one more big bat or front-line arm before the offseason is over, but as it stands, the Mariners look like a significantly better team than the one that fell well short of expectations a year ago.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
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