MLB Offseason Losers

Last week we covered baseball’s five winners from this offseason. Of course it’s only fitting to look at the teams that didn’t fare well.

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels went into this offseason with their chests out and ended it with their tail between their legs. The Angels whiffed on Carl Crawford, Adrian Beltre and Rafael Soriano.

Instead, the Angels brought in two middle relievers and then made one of the more asinine trades in recent memory.

The Angels helped out the Toronto Blue Jays big time by acquiring Vernon Wells and picking up the $86 million remaining on his contract.

Low-balling Crawford and then taking on $86 million makes no sense to me.

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees went into this offseason with one priority and that was to sign LHP Cliff Lee.

For the first time since Greg Maddux was a free agent back in 1992, the Yankees failed to land their No. 1 target.

Not only did Lee spurn the Yankees, but Andy Pettitte retired as well. Now the Yankees have two major holes in their rotation.

The Yankees did bring in old timers Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon and Mark Prior in the hope that maybe one of them can fill a hole in their rotation.

On the plus side for the Yankees, they did bring in Rafael Soriano and Pedro Feliciano to strengthen their bullpen.

3. Texas Rangers

I was torn on this one, but I believe that losing out on Lee was a bigger blow for the Rangers than it was for the Yankees.

While their current rotation and offense should be good enough to win the AL West, without a No. 1 starter, I don’t think they are a World Series team in 2011.

I also thought the Rangers overpaid for Adrian Beltre, who only seems to have monster years when he is a free agent, and the whole Michael Young situation wasn’t handled in the best way.

4. Washington Nationals

I really have no idea what the Nationals game plan is.

It started off with non-tendering Joel Peralta a contract.

The Nationals’ bullpen is terrible and they go ahead and non-tender a guy who had a 2.02 ERA and K’d nine batters per nine innings in 49 innings of work.

Then they go ahead and give Jayson Werth $126 million over seven years. Terrible contract. Werth is a very good player, but not a great player worthy of such a contract.

After they signed Werth for $126 million, they wouldn’t spend the $5 million to keep Josh Willingham around. If you are going to go all in, then go all in.

The Nationals seemed to do a lot this offseason, but nothing they improved their starting rotation, bullpen or defense.

5. St. Louis Cardinals

In a weeks span, Jim Edmonds retired, they failed to come to a contract with Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright was lost for the season when it was determined he needed Tommy John surgery. That’s beyond a kick in the yam bags.

Earlier in the offseason, the Cardinals spent $8 million on Lance Berkman to play right field. That is a major risk.

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