MLB Free Agency: Grading Each NL Team's Signings from Last Off-Season
As the winter meetings get under way and the hot stove starts to heat up, now seems like an appropriate time to look back at last year's free agent class and see how all of the off season signings panned out for each team.
So here is the first part of what will be a two part series, grading each team's free agent signings from last off season.
Grading was based on the assumption that a "C" indicated that the signings were neutral and then were based on the positive or negative impact of the player's performance or their contracts.
For each team, I named what I feel was their best move and their worst move.
We will start with the National League, be on the lookout for the American League version sometime later this week.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 16
SP Rodrigo Lopez—one year, $650,000
(7-16, 5.00 ERA, 116 Ks, 200 IP, 33 Starts)
RP Bob Howry—one year, $2.25 million
(1-0, 10.67 ERA, six Ks, 14.1 IP, 14 Games)
1B Adam LaRoche—one year, $6 million
(.261 BA, 25 HR, 100 RBI, 75 Runs)
2B Kelly Johnson—one year, $2.35 million
(.284 BA, 26 HR, 71 RBI, 93 Runs, 13 SB)
Best Move: Kelly Johnson
The Diamondbacks may have found an answer, at least for the next two or three seasons, to the second base situation, as Johnson broke out last season, setting career highs in nearly every offensive category.
Worst Move: Rodrigo Lopez
What the Diamondbacks hoped to get in Lopez was a veteran innings eater to help take some pressure off of their bullpen. What they got was perhaps the worst pitcher in the National League, as he led the league in losses, earned runs, and home runs allowed. He did eat innings, but did little else.
Grade: C
The Diamondbacks are in a rebuilding period, and Johnson and LaRoche served as viable stop gap options who out performed their salaries. Beyond that, this free agent class was nothing special.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 16
RP Takashi Saito—one year, $3.2 million
(2-3, one Save, 2.83 ERA, 69 Ks, 54 IP, 56 Games
CP Billy Wagner—one year, $7 million
(7-2, 37 Saves, 1.43 ERA, 104 Ks, 69.1 IP, 71 Games)—All-Star
1B Troy Glaus—one year, $1.75 million
(.240 BA, 16 HR, 71 RBI, 52 Runs)
OF Eric Hinske—one year, $1 million
(.256 BA, 11 HR, 51 RBI, 38 Runs)
Best Move: Billy Wagner
The Braves took a chance on Wagner, and he rewarded them with his best season in years, as he made it back to the All-Star game, and posted the best ERA of his career. Prospect Craig Kimbrel will assume the closer role in 2010, but Wagner was a big part of their playoff run.
Worst Move: None
The Braves were relatively quiet in the 2009 off season, but the moves they did make paid off. Troy Glaus was not the Troy Glaus of old, but he came relatively cheap, so it's hard to complain.
Grade: A
The Braves shored up their bullpen and helped add some depth to their offense, and they did it for a little over $12 million. With prospects Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman now ready to take over for Wagner and Glaus, they served as the perfect stop gap options.
Chicago Cubs
3 of 16
RP John Grabow—two years, $7.5 million
(1-3, 7.36 ERA, 20 Ks, 25.2 IP, 28 Games
1B Xavier Nady—one year, $3.3 million
(.256 BA, six HR, 33 RBI, 33 Runs)
CF Marlon Byrd—three years, $15 million
(.293 BA, 12 HR, 66 RBI, 84 Runs)—All-Star
Best Move: Marlon Byrd
Despite the fact that Byrd's power numbers were down from 20 HR and 89 RBI, he was a solid addition to the team. Not only did he play terrific defense, but his overall attitude in the locker room made him the anti-Milton Bradley. His three year deal does little to quell the crowded outfield issue, however.
Worst Move: John Grabow
Another in a line of Jim Hendry head-scratchers, Grabow performed well after coming over in a trade from Pittsburgh at the end of 2009, but it is hard to justify spending so much on a setup man, and he did little to help the situation with an ineffective, injury plagued season.
Grade: D+
The Cubs are tied up with a number of albatross contracts right now, and the $4.8 million that Grabow is due in 2011 is unfortunate. The Byrd signing looks to be a value move, but he is only blocking the path of guys some of the Cubs top young prospect for the next two seasons.
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Cincinnati Reds
4 of 16
RP Aroldis Chapman—six years, $30.25 million
(2-2, 2.03 ERA, 19 Ks, 13.1 IP, 15 Games)
SS Orlando Cabrera—one year, $3.02 million
(.263 BA, four HR, 42 RBI, 64 Runs)
UT Miguel Cairo—one year, $500,000
(.290 BA, four HR, 28 RBI, 30 Runs)
LF Johnny Gomes—one year, $800,000
(.266 BA, 18 HR, 86 RBI, 77 Runs)
Best Move: Aroldis Chapman
There is no denying the talent of Chapman, and he was moved to the bullpen last season to help with the playoff push, where he promptly broke the record for fastest pitch ever recorded in an MLB game. The sky is the limit for Chapman, and the Reds came out of nowhere to ink the young Cuban. Time will tell if he becomes a star.
Worst Move: None
You can point to Cabrera as a bit of a flop, but the team felt that Paul Janish was not ready for the starting shortstop job, and Cabrera was a relatively cheap stop gap option that provided some valuable veteran leadership
Grade: B+
Re-signing Gomes, despite his defensive struggles, gave the Reds another legitimate run producer, while Cairo and Cabrera provided some needed veteran influence. The wild card is Chapman, and whether he turns into the star everyone thinks he will. In time this could be an A+ but for now, this seems appropriate.
Colorado Rockies
5 of 16
RP Rafael Betancourt—two years, $7.55 million
(5-1, one Save, 3.61 ERA, 89 Ks, 62.1 IP, 72 Games)
RP Joe Beimel—one year, $850,000
(1-2, 3.40 ERA, 21 Ks, 45 IP, 71 Games)
C Miguel Olivo—one year, $2.5 million
(.269 BA, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 55 Runs)
1B Jason Giambi—one year, $1.75 million
(.244 BA, six HR, 35 RBI, 17 Runs)
3B Melvin Mora—one year, $1.275 million
(.285 BA, seven HR, 45 RBI, 39 Runs)
Best Move: Rafael Betancourt
While it is always risky to sign relievers to multi-year contracts, as they tend to be so inconsistent from season to season, Betancourt was terrific in his first season, and his track record shows that he should be no different next season, as he will again be the team's primary setup man.
Worst Move: Jason Giambi
Sure he's a fun big name to have on your bench, and sure he had a couple of big hits, but with Todd Helton aging, the Rockies would be much better off giving the backup first base at-bats to someone with a future. The same production could be had from a Class-AAA player for the league minimum.
Grade: B
The two relievers the Rockies picked up were terrific in extended action, and Olivo has grown into one of the better second tier catchers in the league, while Mora was a pleasant surprise. Nothing special, but the kind of moves than can push a good team over the top.
Florida Marlins
6 of 16
RP Clay Hensley—one year, $425,000
(3-4, seven Saves, 2.16 ERA, 77 Ks, 75 IP, 68 Games)
RP Jose Veras—one year, $550,000
(3-3, 3.75 ERA, 54 Ks, 48 IP, 48 Games)
1B Mike Lamb—one year, $500,000
(.184 BA, zero HR, four RBI, two Runs)
Best Move: Clay Hensley
There are not a whole lot of options as far as a "best move", but the Hensley signing gave the Marlins a very cheap, very effective reliever at the back end of the bullpen.
Worst Move: Mike Lamb
The Marlins hoped Lamb could regain the form that made him one of the better utility players in the game while he was with the Astros, but instead he was a major disappointment, and a waste of money for a team that has none to begin with.
Grade: D
So is the life of the smallest of small market teams. The Marlins did manage to get two low cost options to round out their bullpen, but did little else to help the team.
Houston Astros
7 of 16
SP Brett Myers—one year, $5.1 million
(14-8, 3.14 ERA, 123 ERA+, 180 Ks, 223.2 IP, 33 Starts)—10th in Cy Young Voting
RP Brandon Lyon—three years, $15 million
(6-6, 3.12 ERA, 54 Ks, 78 IP, 79 Games)
3B Pedro Feliz—one year, $4.5 million
(.243 BA, four HR, 31 RBI, 22 Runs)
OF Jason Michaels—one year, $800,000
(.253 BA, eight HR, 26 RBI, 23 Runs)
Best Move: Brett Myers
First off, this move was made better by the fact that Myers decided to stick around and signed an extension through 2013. Beyond that, he was had perhaps the best season of his career, emerging as the team's ace even before Roy Oswalt was dealt, and he will give the team an established front line starter moving forward.
Worst Move: Pedro Feliz
I can understand the Astros looking to Feliz as a stop gap option, and signing him for a season, but why pay him $4.5 million? Feliz is a career .250 hitter who has never hit more than 22 home runs in a season, while playing below average defense at third. The move just didn't make much sense.
Grade: C+
The Myers signings was perhaps the steal of the off season, but over paying for Feliz and Lyon hurt the Astros financially and bring down their grade here.
Los Angeles Dodgers
8 of 16
SP Vicente Padilla—one year, $5.025 million
(6-5, 4.07 ERA, 84 Ks, 95 IP, 16 Starts)
RP Jeff Weaver—one year, $800,000
(5-1, 6.09 ERA, 26 Ks, 44.1 IP, 43 Games)
UT Jamey Carroll—two years, $3.85 million
(.291 BA, zero HR, 23 RBI, 48 Runs,12 SB)
2B Ronnie Belliard—one year, $825,000
(.216 BA, two HR, 19 RBI, 24 Runs)
OF Reed Johnson—one year, $800,000
(.262 BA, two HR, 15 RBI, 24 Runs)
OF Garrett Anderson—one year, $550,000
(.181 BA, two HR, 12 RBI, eight Runs)
Best Move: Jamey Carroll
There are a number of busts among the above signings, but Carroll is not one of them, and he is easily one of the best utility players in all of baseball and he came for a very reasonable price. He brings speed and versatility to the Dodgers bench, and he will be back for the 2011 season.
Worst Move: Jeff Weaver
There is no question the team overpaid for almost everyone they signed, and Padilla may have been the biggest over spend, but Weaver was just awful and the fact that he made 43 appearances speaks to just how poor the Dodger bullpen was and shows that they needed Weaver to succeed.
Grade: F
The McCourt's can certainly be blamed for the team's lack of spending, but the Dodgers were a team that was perhaps two or three small parts away from competing, and they made some absolutely terrible signings.
Milwaukee Brewers
9 of 16
SP Randy Wolf—three years, $29.75 million
(13-12, 4.17 ERA, 142 Ks, 215.2 IP, 34 Starts)
SP Doug Davis—one year, $5.25 million
(1-4, 7.51 ERA, 34 Ks, 38.1 IP, 8 Starts)
RP LaTroy Hawkins—two years, $7.5 million
(0-3, 8.44 ERA, 18 Ks, 16 IP, 18 Games)
RP Claudio Vargas—one year, $900,000
(1-0, 7.32 ERA, 18 Ks, 19.2 IP, 17 Games)
C Greg Zaun—one year, $2.15 million
(.265 BA, two HR, 14 RBI, 11 Runs)
UT Craig Counsell—one year, $2.1 million
(.250 BA, two HR, 21 RBI, 16 Runs)
OF Jim Edmonds—one year, $850,000
(.286 BA, eight HR, 20 RBI, 38 Runs)
Best Move: Randy Wold
Although they overpaid for him, Wolf did post solid numbers across the board, and he was the innings eater that he has been throughout his career. He helped take some of the pressure off of Yovani Gallardo.
Worst Move: Doug Davis, Claudio Vargas, LaTroy Hawkins
It was too hard to pick just one, as these three made a grand total of $9.4 million and combined to appear in just 43 games and post and ERA well over seven. Yikes.
Grade: F-
It doesn't get much worse than this, and the Brewers are a team that can't afford to throw away money like this, as they are not exactly a large market team. Not much else you can say...just bad.
New York Mets
10 of 16
SP R.A. Dickey - one year, $600,000
(11-9, 2.84 ERA, 104 Ks, 174.1 IP, 26 Starts)
RP Elmer Dessens—one year, $600,000
(4-2, 2.30 ERA, 16 Ks, 47 IP, 53 Games)
RP Hisanori Takahashi—one year, $1 million
(10-6, 3.61 ERA, 114 Ks, 122 IP, 53 Games, 12 Starts)
RP Ryota Igarashi—two years, $3 million
(1-1, 7.12 ERA, 25 Ks, 30.1 IP, 34 Games)
C Rod Barajas—one year, $500,000
(.225 BA, 12 HR, 34 RBI, 30 Runs)
C Henry Blanco—one year, $750,000
(.215 BA, two HR, eight RBI, 10 Runs)
2B Alex Cora—one year, $2 million
(.207 BA, zero HR, 20 RBI, 14 Runs)
LF Jason Bay—four years, $66 million
(.259 BA, six HR, 57 RBI, 48 Runs, 10 SB)
Best Move: R.A. Dickey
Signed to a minor league contract, and not originally with the team to start the season, Dickey became the team's best starter by season's end, and he posted the same record and a better ERA than Johan Santana at a fraction of the cost. One of the steals of the season.
Worst Move: Jason Bay
It is easy to say last season was a down year for Bay, as he battled injuries and inconsistency, but the fact of the matter is he has always been a solid player and the Mets paid him like a superstar. His contract will prove to be a burden down the road for the Mets.
Grade: C
The Mets made a splash by signing Bay, but he proved to be one of the biggest busts of the season. However, Dickey and Takahashi were two of the more underrated signings of the off season, so in the end the Mets came out about even with their signings last off season.
Philadelphia Phillies
11 of 16
RP Danys Baez—two years, $5.25 million
(3-4, 5.48 ERA, 28 Ks, 47.2 IP, 51 Games)
RP Jose Contreras—one year, $1.5 million
(6-4, 3.34 ERA, 57 Ks, 56.2 IP, 67 Games)
C Brian Schneider—two years, $2.75 million
(.240 BA, four HR, 15 RBI, 17 Runs)
3B Placido Polanco—three years, $18 million
(.298 BA, six HR, 52 RBI, 76 Runs)
UT Ross Gload—two years, $2.6 million
(.281 BA, six HR, 22 RBI, 18 Runs)
UT Wilson Valdez—one year, $600,000
(.258 BA, four HR, 35 RBI, 38 Runs)
Best Move: Placido Polanco
While the Contreras signing proved to be a more than pleasant surprise, picking up Polanco shored up perhaps the biggest hole the team had in third base. After muddling through with the likes of David Bell and Pedro Feliz the past few seasons, Polanco gives them a proven veteran and a professional hitter.
Worst Move: Danys Baez
The bargain that Contreras turned out to be off sets this terrible move a bit, but shelling out $5.25 million over two seasons for a reliever that did more harm than good is hard to swallow, even if the team does have the money to get away with a signing like that.
Grade: B+
The signings of Polanco and Contreras were terrific, as they addressed two of the team's biggest off season needs. Valdez also turned into a key contributor when Jimmy Rollins missed significant time. All in all a solid off season for a team that didn't need to make a whole lot of moves to be in the running.
Pittsburgh Pirates
12 of 16
RP Javier Lopez—one year, $775,000
(2-2, 2.79 ERA, 22 Ks, 38.2 IP, 50 Games)
RP D.J. Carrasco—one year, $950,000
(2-2, 3.88 ERA, 45 Ks, 55.2 IP, 45 Games)
RP Brendan Donnelly—one year, $1.35 million
(3-1, 5.58 ERA, 26 Ks, 30.2 IP, 28 Games)
CP Octavio Dotel—one year, $3.5 million
(2-2, 21 Saves, 4.28 ERA, 48 Ks, 40 IP, 41 Games)
SS Bobby Crosby—one year, $1 million
(.224 BA, one HR, 11 RBI, nine Runs)
OF Ryan Church—one year, $1.5 million
(.182 BA, three HR, 18 RBI, 16 Runs)
Best Move/Worst Move: None
The fact of the matter is, none of the above players made it until the end of the season with the Pirates, as Church, Crosby and Carrasco were shipped to the Diamondbacks for Chris Snyder and cash, Dotel was traded to the Dodgers for Jason McDonald, and Javier Lopez was traded to the Giants for a pair of players. Donnelly was released on July 29th.
Grade: F
Nothing good came of any of these signings, although Dotel did get the team a potential starter in Jason McDonald. In the end, it was another failed off season by a small market team, as they had little money to spend and spent it in all the wrong places. The Pirates have a good core of homegrown players, and would be wise to focus on them as opposed to signing washed up veterans.
St. Louis Cardinals
13 of 16
SP Brad Penny—one year, $7.5 million
(3-4, 3.23 ERA, 35 Ks, 55.2 IP, nine Starts)
C Jason LaRue—one year, $950,000
(.196 BA, two HR, five RBI, three Runs)
UT Felipe Lopez—one year, $1 million
(.231 BA, seven HR, 36 RBI, 50 Runs)
OF Matt Holliday—seven years, $120 million
(.312 BA, 28 HR, 103 RBI, 95 Runs)—All-Star
Best Move: Matt Holliday
The Cardinals landed the jewel of the 2009 free agent class when the managed to re-sign Holliday to a long-term deal. He got a huge contract, but he backed it up in his first season, and the protection he provides to Albert Pujols in the middle of the Cardinals lineup only makes the team that much better. Whether or not he produces for the full length of the contract remains to be seen, but for now the signing looks like a great one.
Worst Move: Brad Penny
After a strong showing with the Giants at the end of the 2009 season, Penny was among the more intriguing arms on the market, and the Cardinals took a chance on him. With Dave Duncan as pitching coach, it seemed like Penny was poised for a big year, but injuries took a toll and Penny only managed nine starts. The Cardinals were wise to sign him for only one season, but it was more or less a wasted season.
Grade: A
The Cardinals had one main goal last off season, and that was to re-sign Matt Holliday, and they accomplished it. Lopez filled in adequately when third baseman David Freese went down with an injury as well, but had really all they needed was to lock up Holliday for the off season to be a success.
San Diego Padres
14 of 16
SP Jon Garland—one year, $5.3 million
(14-12, 3.47 ERA, 136 Ks, 200 IP, 33 Starts)
C Yorvit Torrealba—one year, $1.25 million
(.271 BA, seven HR, 37 RBI, 31 Runs)
UT Jerry Hairston—one year, $2.15 million
(.244 BA, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 53 Runs)
OF Matt Stairs—one year, $700,000
(.232 BA, six HR, 16 RBI, 14 Runs)
Best Move: Jon Garland
The Padres were clearly in need of a starting pitcher after losing Jake Peavy at the end of the 2009 season in a trade to the White Sox. However, they were patient and ended up nabbing veteran Jon Garland for what turned out to be a steal at $5.3 million for one season. He gave the team an established arm to go along with emerging youngsters Mat Latos and Clayton Richard.
Worst Move: Yorvit Torrealba
Nothing against Torrealba, as he had a solid season and came at a low price. However, in him receiving the bulk of the time at catcher, he only hindered the progress of Nick Hundley who looks to be in line to start behind the plate for the Padres this coming season. Hundley would have only benefitted from extended playing time in 2010 and Torrealba was in the way.
Grade: B-
The Padres didn't have the money to make a big time move, but they were wise in waiting back and letting Garland fall in their lap, and he played a big part in their run at the NL West crown. The Torrealba signing is still a head-scratcher though.
San Francisco Giants
15 of 16
SP Todd Wellemeyer—one year, $1 million
(3-5, 5.68 ERA, 41 Ks, 58.2 IP, 13 Games, 11 Starts)
RP Santiago Casilla—one year, $600,000
(7-2, 2 Saves, 1.95 ERA, 56 Ks, 55.1 IP, 52 Games)
RP Guillermo Mota—one year, $750,000
(1-3, 1 Save, 4.33 ERA, 38 Ks, 54 IP, 56 Games)
C Bengie Molina—one year, $4.5 million—re-signed
(.257 BA, three HR, 17 RBI, 17 Runs)
1B Aubrey Huff—one year, $3 million
(.290 BA, 26 HR, 86 RBI, 100 Runs)
SS Juan Uribe—one year, $3.25 million
(.248 BA, 24 HR, 85 RBI, 64 Runs)
LF Mark DeRosa—two years, $12 million
(.194 BA, one HR, 10 RBI, nine Runs)
Best Move: Aubrey Huff, Juan Uribe, Santiago Casilla
All three of the above players were key to the Giants postseason run, and they came for just under $7 million combined. Huff became the team's veteran leader, and Uribe easily outperformed his contract, while Casilla became the team's most trusted setup man.
Worst Move: Mark DeRosa
One of the hotter commodities of the free agent class, the Giants jumped at the chance to get the versatile DeRosa in to their lineup. However, he was largely ineffective early in the season before injury struck and ended his season. He could still make this a good signing if he performs in 2011, but the fact that he cost almost as much as the three guys listed above makes him a poor pickup at this point.
Grade: A
While the DeRosa deal did not quite work out, the fact is without the signings of Huff, Uribe, and Casilla the Giants do not win the World Series, and may not even make the playoffs. That is exactly what you look for from players you sign.
Washington Nationals
16 of 16
SP Jason Marquis—two years, $15 million
(2-9, 6.60 ERA, 31 Ks, 58.2 IP, 13 Starts)
SP Livan Hernandez—one year, $900,000
(10-12, 3.66 ERA, 114 Ks, 211.2 IP, 33 Starts)
SP Scott Olsen—one year, $1 million
(4-8, 5.56 ERA, 53 Ks, 81 IP, 17 Games, 15 Starts)
RP Miguel Batista—one year, $1 million
(1-2, 2 Saves, 3.70 ERA, 55 Ks, 82.2 IP, 58 Games, one Start)
RP Tyler Walker—one year, $650,000
(1-0, 3.57 ERA, 30 Ks, 35.1 IP, 24 Games)
CP Matt Capps—one year, $3.5 million
(3-3, 26 Saves, 2.74 ERA, 38 Ks, 46 IP, 47 Games)—All-Star
C Ivan Rodriguez—two years, $6 million
(.266 BA, four HR, 49 RBI, 32 Runs)
2B Adam Kennedy—one year, $1.75 million
(.249 BA, three HR, 31 RBI, 43 Runs, 14 SB)
Best Move: Matt Capps
This has less to do with what he accomplished for the Nationals, although he was and All-Star, and more to do with what the Nationals were able to acquire for him at the trade deadline, when they dealt him to the Twins for top catching prospect Wilson Ramos. He should be the heir to Rodriguez once his contract is up at the end of next season. The Hernandez deal also deserves mention, as he continues to eat innings and win games.
Worst Move: Jason Marquis
After a standout season in Colorado, Marquis cashed in at the expense of the Nationals. Hoping for a veteran arm to carry the load at the top of their rotation, the Nats instead got one of the worst starters in the National League who was then injured.
Grade: D+
The Nationals signed a lot of aging piece to fill out their roster, as they continue to rebuild. Nothing exciting here, just another get by season for a team that has one of the more promising farm systems in all of baseball.
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