MLB Free Agents 2012: One Big Risk All 30 Teams Are Taking This Offseason

Now that the 2012 MLB free-agency period is winding down, what is one risk that every team is taking?

Whether it was letting a player walk via free agency or trading away young, talented players, almost every team has made a move that comes with some risk.

Here's a list of every team's biggest risk during this free-agency period.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Risk: Did Arizona give up too much for Trevor Cahill?

I'm not going to say that trading for Cahill was a poor decision. Cahill is only 23 years old and has already made an All-Star team (2010). It was a smart decision because the Diamondbacks need pitching, and they got one of the best young starters on the market.

However, according to Baseball Instinct, they ended up trading away their No. 3 and No. 5 overall prospects in Jarrod Parker and Collin Cowgill, respectively. Both are expected to be plus players and could be on the A's opening-day roster in 2012.

Additionally, Cahill was hurt for the beginning of the 2010 season, and his numbers did drastically decline throughout the 2011 season. After starting the season 6-0 with a 1.72 ERA, he finished with a 12-14 record and a 4.16 ERA.

Either way you look at it, the Diamondbacks got what they needed this offseason. If it cost them three prospects, so be it.

If the riskiest move the Diamondbacks made this offseason was acquiring a 23-year-old starter who could be a legitimate No. 2 behind ace Ian Kennedy, I would say Arizona came out on top this offseason.

Atlanta Braves

Risk: Should the Braves have dipped into their rotation to acquire a bat?

The Atlanta Braves have a luxury that every MLB team would love to have: young starting pitching, and lots of it.

Tommy Hanson, the ace of the staff, is only 25 years old. Jair Jurrjens and Brandon Beachy are also only 25 years old. Randall Delgado, one of the Braves' top pitching prospects, had a cup of coffee last season, and he was only 21 years old. Don't forget about the ageless Tim Hudson either. Even though he's not as young as the rest of the staff, he's just as good.

So with an abundance of starting pitching, why not dangle some of it out there to improve the 22nd overall offense from 2011? Jurrjens' name has been mentioned in trade talks dating all the way back to last year's trade deadline.

With the pitching talent the Braves organization has flying up the farm system, maybe dealing Jurrjens wouldn't be a bad idea after all.

Baltimore Orioles

Risk: Are the Orioles content to finish in last place?

The Baltimore Orioles were quiet this offseason. They didn't make very many moves; hence they didn't take too many risks. They've made two signings this offseason—Endy Chavez and Tsuyoshi Wada—neither of which will entice fans to come to the park next year.

Baltimore is in a peculiar situation. It hasn't made it to the postseason in since 1997, and it plays in the best division in sports: the AL East. There is some talent on this roster, however. An offensive core of Brian Roberts, J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters is not a bad place to start. The Orioles have a young starting rotation consisting of Zach Britton (23), Jake Arrieta (25) and Brian Matusz (24).

If it wasn't for the AL East, one could venture to say that the Orioles were on the verge of legitimacy. One could also say that two years from now, after the starting rotation has blossomed and the club has made some splashes in free agency, the Orioles may be on the cusp of contention.

If the Orioles stay put the remainder and remain content with this being their everyday roster, it will be a shame to the Baltimore fanbase. They have arguably the best stadium in baseball, but no one really cares to show up to watch the team stink up the field.

Something, anything would've been a nice gesture to the Orioles fanbase. Other teams in the AL East are trying to return to legitimacy (Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays).

Why can't the Orioles join the party?

Boston Red Sox

Risk: Was letting Jonathan Papelbon walk the right move?

Papelbon hasn't been the same pitcher for the past couple of seasons. His ERA was 3.90 in 2010 and 2.94 in 2011. They were by far his worst seasons as a closer, so it wouldn't be out of the question to say that Papelbon is currently on the decline.

So why would letting go of a 31-year-old closer who's on the decline be a risky decision for the Red Sox? Because they currently have no one on the roster to replace him.

Daniel Bard certainly has closer's stuff, and he'll likely attain the job if the Red Sox don't acquire another closer before the start of the season. However, moving Bard would create a gaping hole in the eighth-inning role.

In order to assure that the Red Sox bullpen does not regress in 2012, they need to look for outside help at the closer position. Names like Andrew Bailey from Oakland and Francisco Cordero from Cincinnati have been tossed around. Either one of those would certainly fill the hole that Papelbon left.

Chicago Cubs

Risk: Would trading Matt Garza be a smart move?

It hasn't happened yet, but from the looks of it the Cubs are actively trying to trade starting pitcher Matt Garza.

Why would a team that is desperate for pitching want to part with its ace? It's a legitimate question, and I have no answer for you. Garza is still only 28 years old and has the stuff to be a legitimate No. 1 pitcher for the Cubs for many years down the road.

The Cubs re-signed Ryan Dempster, who, despite his down year, will be an important piece of the Cubs rotation. But even if the Cubs kept Garza, more would still need to be done in order to improve Cubs pitching, which ranked in the bottom five in ERA, WHIP and quality starts.

Chicago White Sox

Risk: Should the White Sox have traded John Danks instead of extending him?

Many thought the White Sox were going into a full-on rebuilding mode when they let Mark Buehrle walk and traded Sergio Santos for a prospect. Then before the White Sox fanbase could start complaining, they extended starting pitcher John Danks with a five-year, $65 million deal.

Danks was only one year away from free agency, so it would've made sense to trade him for prospects considering the direction the Sox are going at the moment.

The extension, however, was money well spent. Paying a durable lefty who's 26 years old $13 million a year could be considered a bargain. But when a team is apparently going into rebuilding mode, the goal is to trade those types of players for younger talent. The White Sox could've easily gotten a couple of top-notch prospects in return for Danks despite only having one year left on his contract.

It was a head-scratching decision by Kenny Williams. Now no one really knows where the White Sox think they stand going into 2012.

Cincinnati Reds

Risk: Was trading away three top prospects worth it for Mat Latos?

The Cincinnati Reds need pitching. It has been a recurring theme for the organization for years. When they traded prospects Yonder Alonso, Brad Boxberger and Yasmani Grandal, along with starter Edinson Volquez, to the San Diego Padres for Mat Latos, they got a 24-year-old ace who is four years away from free agency. 

Latos followed up his breakout 2010 season with somewhat of a disappointing 2011, but there is no denying that he has one of the best young arms in baseball.

But did Cincinnati give up too much for Latos?

According to Baseball America, Alonso was the Reds' fourth overall prospect, Grandal was sixth overall and Boxberger was 18th. Yes, the Reds did get Mat Latos, but it's hard to deny that they gave up a fortune.

Cleveland Indians

Risk: Do Indians really think they can contend with their current lineup?

The re-signing of Grady Sizemore to a one-year, $5 million contract made sense for both parties. The Indians needed offense, and Sizemore needed a spot in a lineup to prove that he can be a productive player and stay healthy.

But will a "healthy" Sizemore be enough for the Indians offense to compete in the AL Central? No one knows if Travis Hafner, the other Indians slugger, will be able to stay healthy.

The Indians made a statement last trade deadline when they traded for Ubaldo Jimenez: They are trying to win now. The rotation consisting of Jimenez, Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson, Josh Tomlin and Derek Lowe is set. The bullpen isn't too shabby either.

The offense, on the other hand, ranked in the bottom half of every major offensive category (runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage).

With a payroll of under $50 million at the start of 2011, the Indians should've had the money to spend in order to improve the offense.

Colorado Rockies

Risk: Should the Rockies have spent more money on pitching this offseason?

If you look at the offseason acquisitions the Rockies made this year, you'll notice that the Rockies spent money, but not necessarily to improve their weakness. They spent $31 million on Michael Cuddyer and $6.4 million on Ramon Hernandez.

They will be getting Jorge De La Rosa back from injury, and if Kevin Slowey stays healthy, he could be a nice addition to the rotation.

But will that be enough?

For a team that finished in the bottom seven of each major pitching category (ERA, WHIP, BAA and quality starts), one would think that acquiring pitching would be a top priority for the Rockies. This holds especially true after trading Ubaldo Jimenez last season.

Detroit Tigers

Risk: Are the Tigers set at the leadoff spot in the lineup?

Sure, they have Austin Jackson, who stole 22 bases last year. However, he is not a suitable leadoff hitter due to his inability to get on base. He batted only .249 and struck out 181 times. His OBP was a measly .317, which is inexcusable for a leadoff hitter. 

The Tigers currently have holes at second and third base, and they currently lack a legitimate leadoff hitter.

Do I hear Chone Figgins, anyone?

Houston Astros

Risk: Should the Astros continue to hold on to Wandy Rodriguez?

Let's face it: The Houston Astros are years away from contention due to the full-on rebuilding mode they are currently in.

Holding on to Carlos Lee is understandable because not too many teams are willing to take on his contract. Wandy Rodriguez, on the other hand, is a hot commodity in baseball. Since he wasn't dealt during last year's trade deadline, many thought he would inevitably be traded this offseason.

Well, for the moment, Rodriguez is still an Astro. It's possible that Houston is just being patient and letting the bidding war drive up the asking price.

But if the Astros hold on to Rodriguez for one reason or another, it'll be a huge mistake. The longer the Astros wait, the less value they will get in return since he only has two years remaining on his contract.

Kansas City Royals

Risk: Will the addition of Jonathan Sanchez be enough to bolster the starting pitching?

The trade between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals benefited both teams. The Royals were desperate for pitching, and the Giants needed an outfielder.

The Royals then proceeded to re-sign starter Bruce Chen to a two-year, $9 million deal. With Luke Hochevar, Sanchez and Chen in the rotation, the Royals have three serviceable starters atop the rotation. It certainly is no Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, but there are worse rotations in baseball.

Will it be enough to compete in the AL Central? The Royals have the offensive core to make some noise in 2012, but the season will hinge on the starting pitching.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Risk: Were the two big investments worth it long-term?

Signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to long-term contracts is the definition of risk.

I'll start off by saying that paying Pujols over $250 million isn't as risky as giving Wilson $77 million. The Angels are trying to overtake some of the market in Los Angeles and received the funds to spend this type of money from their new TV deal.

From a business standpoint, signing Pujols was an excellent decision. From a short-term baseball standpoint, signing Pujols was an excellent decision. But from a long-term business and baseball standpoint, giving Pujols a 10-year contract could come back and cripple this franchise eight or nine years down the road.

There is no doubting that Pujols is the best baseball player of this generation. But at age 32 when the 2012 season starts, he'll be 42 years old when his contract is up. In a day of age when steroids are "nonexistent," players' productivity tends to decline around age 35.

So when Pujols is 40 years old and has two years and $60 million remaining on his contract, no one will be willing to take on that type of contract. I'm not saying Pujols will be a bad player when he's 40 years old; there's no way one can make that assumption. I think it's a fair assessment to say, however, that Pujols will certainly not be worth the contract eight years in.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Risk: Should the Dodgers trade Andre Ethier?

The Dodgers technically control Ethier for one more year. At the end of the 2012 season, he's slated to become a free agent and might not return to the Dodgers.

Before the emergence of Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, Ethier was a fan favorite in Dodgertown. He finished fifth in the 2006 Rookie of the Year voting and was the walk-off king in 2009. But whether due to a financial issue or the Dodgers not thinking they can retain him at the end of the season, trading Ethier wouldn't be a bad idea.

He would bring back a ton of prospects in compensation. It would be a shame to see Ethier walk away at the end of the season and leave the Dodgers with nothing to show for it.

Miami Marlins

Risk: Was dishing out over $100 million to Jose Reyes smart?

Look, I get it.

The Miami Marlins are trying to make a statement. They have accepted mediocrity for the last six years and now are trying to return to legitimacy. They have a new stadium and ton of money to spend, so why not go after the second-best shortstop in baseball?

In today's age, the shortstop position is lacking in baseball. Besides Reyes and Troy Tulowitzki, there are no legitimate superstars at the position.

But you have to look at the overall picture. Reyes hasn't played an entire season since 2008. Since then, he's played an average of 98 games per season. Giving an injury-prone player a long-term contract worth a ton of money is always a risky decision.

On top of that, Reyes is a player who relies on his speed to play at a successful level. When his contract is up, he'll be 34 years old and likely half the player he used to be in his prime.

There is a lot of upside to this signing, though. It will put fans in the seats and revitalize this franchise. The downside of this signing, however, could end up outweighing the upside when it's all said and done.

Milwaukee Brewers

Risk: Is letting Prince Fielder walk the right decision?

The Brewers were so close. They had a potent lineup with Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder batting in the middle. They had a rock-solid rotation with Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum. The bullpen was stacked with John Axford, Francisco Rodriguez and LaTroy Hawkins.

They had all the pieces of the puzzle put together, but now they're going to let Prince Fielder, arguably the most important piece of them all, walk away.

Yes, he is going to command a hefty contract worth up to $150 million, but isn't someone who's going to hit .300, smack 30-plus home runs and drive in at least 120 runs worth that type of contract?

I absolutely love the signing of Aramis Ramirez. He was probably the best hitter in the market to fill the ginormous hole that Fielder left (no pun intended). But Ramirez is no Fielder, and that's not a knock on Aramis either.

It would be a huge financial risk to re-sign Fielder to that type of contract. But it is a bigger risk to let him walk and hope that you can still make some noise in the NL Central.

Minnesota Twins

Risk: Did the Minnesota Twins really not think Michael Cuddyer was worth three years, $31 million?

Michael Cuddyer was the most consistent player on the Twins in 2011. After injuries to Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer derailed the season early on, Cuddyer was the team's rock. He simply was the Twins offense last year.

He batted .284 with 20 home runs and 70 RBI. He went through stretches when everything he hit was square off his bat. He's a gap-to-gap hitter with some pop and can play a number of positions in the field.

So now with Cuddyer in Colorado, the Twins are left with the injury-prone Mauer and Morneau. When both are healthy, this could be one of the best one-two punches in baseball, but that happens once in a blue moon.

If Cuddyer was asking for a four- or five-year contract, then I would have said no thanks as well. But three years at $30 million is more than affordable for a player of Cuddyer's caliber.

New York Mets

Risk: Should the Mets wait until the deadline to trade David Wright?

Many are assuming that a David Wright trade is inevitable. The New York Mets are a below-.500 team with a payroll exceeding well over $130 million. That's not an appealing combination for a baseball organization.

After they let Jose Reyes walk, it's clear that the Mets are about to begin the early stages of the rebuilding process.

Step 1: Let your most prized possession walk in free agency.

Step 2: Cut dead weight from roster (Jason Bay, Johan Santana) any way you can.

Step 3: Trade away your second-most prized possession for anything you can get.

David Wright has only one year remaining on his contract and will likely bounce out of New York just like his ex-teammate Reyes did this offseason. If the Mets were smart, they would realize that they aren't going anywhere in 2012. So rather than waiting until the deadline to trade Wright, trade him now while his value is the highest it'll be all year.

It's a huge mess in New York right now, and the time to start cleaning it up is now.

New York Yankees

Risk: Should the Yankees have addressed the lack of starting pitching?

What a surprise! It's the MLB offseason, and we have barely heard the New York Yankees mentioned in any free-agency talk. As it turns out, they have spent their money internally by re-signing Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, Freddy Garcia and CC Sabathia.

It was all money well spent, especially the five-year, $122 million contract they gave Sabathia. While re-signing Sabathia was a must, it still wasn't enough to improve the Yankees pitching rotation that desperately needed an upgrade.

Ivan Nova is a nice pitcher, but he has no business being a No. 2 in the Yankees rotation. It's also a bit risky to rely on quality seasons from Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon, both of whom came out of nowhere last year. Plus, don't hold your breath waiting for A.J. Burnett to finally live up to his contract.

The Yankees rotation needed an upgrade, and they failed to do so this offseason.

Oakland Athletics

Risk: Did Billy Beane trade Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill too soon?

It's hard to blame Billy Beane for trading his two most sought-after trade assets this offseason. He took one look at the Rangers and Angels and realized that his team had no chance at competing in the AL West in 2012.

But why did Beane decide to part with both Gonzalez and Cahill now? Cahill still had three years of arbitration left, and Gonzalez had four. Even if the A's weren't going to win this year or the next, they would still have control of the two starters, who will have yet to enter their primes.

The A's had the making of a very solid rotation that would've be around for years to come: Gonzalez, Cahill and Brett Anderson. It's a shame to see this rotation dismantled before any of these pitchers tapped their full potential.

It's a vicious and never-ending cycle for A's fans. Once they have a player make a name for himself in the majors, he's instantly traded away for three prospects. Once those prospects prosper in the majors, they're traded away as well.

It must be tough being an A's fan. I hope that this potential move to San Jose works out for the best.

Philadelphia Phillies

Risk: Did the Phillies overspend for Jimmy Rollins?

The market for shortstops was thin this offseason. Jimmy Rollins, who is still considered a top-10 shortstop in baseball, has seen his numbers steadily decline since his MVP season in 2007.

Last year, he hit a moderate .268 with 16 home runs and 30 stolen bases. That's not a bad season at all, especially for a shortstop. But do those types of numbers warrant a three-year, $38 million contract?

Due to his position, he was inevitably going to be overpaid in this market. Heck, if Clint Barmes is getting paid $5.25 million a year, you know the market for shortstops is as thin as ever.

But at the end of the day, the Phillies have the money, and they're going to spend it in order to retain fan favorites like Rollins. I just think that Rollins is worth nowhere near $12.5 million a year.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Risk: Was a quiet offseason the right move?

It was the first time in almost 20 years that the Pirates had any legitimacy in baseball. They were 51-44 on July 19, and word of the Pirates was finally starting to circulate around Pittsburgh for the first time since Barry Bonds wore a Pirates jersey.

Two weeks later, they only won three games in 19 days, which included a miserable 10-game losing streak. It all started on July 26 in the 19th inning, when a home plate umpire made one of the worst calls ever seen. Jerry Meals called Julio Lugo safe on a play at the plate when video replay clearly showed that he was out by a long shot.

It was just the beginning of the end for the Pirates in 2011, a season in which they finished below .500 for the 19th straight season.

But when the Pirates were hot in 2011, the fans did show up. The fanbase showed how badly they want a baseball team to root for without having their hearts broken year after year.

The front office made moves in 2011 at the deadline. It acquired bats like Ryan Ludwick and Derrek Lee in order to bolster the lineup. It also could've been a message to the fans saying that management is trying to field a winning team.

But yet another offseason has come and gone, and the Pirates' main acquisition was Rod Barajas. Clint Barmes and Erik Bedard were nice pickups, but it won't nearly be enough to keep up with the Reds and the Cardinals in the NL Central.

San Diego Padres

Risk: *Should the Padres have traded Heath Bell last season?

When a team's only two free-agent signings are outfielders Mark Kotsay and Jeremy Hermida, they didn't make too many risky decisions to analyze. They did trade away Mat Latos, but it was a great deal for both sides.

They did let Heath Bell walk this offseason, so it makes you wonder why he was not traded during the deadline last season. They opted to trade Mike Adams to the Texas Rangers instead, and it netted them far inferior prospects than what Bell would've landed.

Heath Bell loved it in San Diego and made every indication that he wanted to return to the Padres. It makes you wonder, then, if the Padres just weren't willing to pony up enough money to bring him back.

This is something that the front office should've known going into the offseason. If they weren't planning on spending the money to bring Bell back, they should've traded him last season and at least got something in return while they still could.

*This was not a risk the Padres made this offseason, but rather at the 2011 trade deadline.

San Francisco Giants

Risk: Should the Giants have put the payroll ceiling at $130 million?

The Giants have made it clear that their payroll ceiling will be $130 million for 2012. It will be one of the higher payrolls of 2012 and will likely put them in the top six. It isn't quite Yankees or Red Sox territory yet, but it's getting close.

It's unlikely, however, that this $130 million figure is a hard cap. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, the two faces of the San Francisco Giants, are eligible for free agency in the coming years. Lincecum has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, and Cain will be a free agent at the end of the year.

It's no secret that the Giants' top priority is to lock both of these pitchers up for the long term. This team is built around pitching; it was the recipe for success when it won the World Series in 2010.

This is why the Giants will do everything in their power to re-sign both Lincecum and Cain to long-term contracts. But in order to do that, the payroll might have to eclipse $150 million.

However, Barry Zito's $20 million per year salary will be coming off the books in 2013. Aaron Rowand and Aubrey Huff's contracts will be up at the end of 2012, and that will free up around $23 million.

The Giants can wait for either Rowand's and Huff's contracts to finish up before they re-sign Cain and Lincecum, but the risk would be getting involved in a bidding war for Cain's services.

It's time for the Giants to bite the bullet financially and lock up Lincecum and Cain for the foreseeable future.

Seattle Mariners

Risk: Did the Mariners miss out on Prince Fielder?

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like Fielder belongs in Seattle? It just makes sense on so many levels. I can easily picture him in a Mariners jersey.

On the surface, the Mariners need hitting. They already have a first baseman in Justin Smoak, but he's probably better suited at the DH position. Below the surface, Fielder would be the center of attention in Seattle, a fanbase that is dying for another fan favorite.

Ichiro has fallen from stardom due to his decline in productivity, and Felix Hernandez only makes an appearance on the field every five days. Prince Fielder would be worshiped in Seattle, a city with a very underrated fanbase. With well over $20 million coming off the books this year, the Mariners should be able to afford the contract that Fielder is demanding.

Plus, he could DH once his weight inevitably prevents him from playing adequate defense.

St. Louis Cardinals

Risk: Should the Cardinals have let Albert Pujols walk?

You saw this one coming. Pujols was the face of the Cardinals franchise. He is also the face of MLB. St. Louis has a loyal fanbase that will likely continue to come to the ballpark no matter the team's record.

However, how much will Pujols' absence hurt the Cardinals both financially and statistically? Carlos Beltran has some big shoes to fill. No player, especially Beltran, can come close to alleviating the loss of Pujols offensively, defensively and in the locker room.

Tampa Bay Rays

Risk: Should Rays have traded James Shields for a bat?

Tampa Bay is absolutely flooded with young, talented arms. David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson and Wade Davis are currently the top four pitchers in the rotation, and the young phenom Matt Moore is slated to be the fifth.

The Rays came out and said that they weren't interested in parting with their ace before last season's trade deadline, but other teams are certainly interested in Shields' services.

The Rays struggled offensively in 2011. They ranked 15th in runs scored, which is a respectable ranking, but they ranked 25th in team batting average (.244). With the offense needing another bat and teams willing to part with one in order to acquire Shields, why wouldn't the Rays be willing to trade Shields?

He will be a free agent at the end of next season. Considering the Rays' current payroll, they won't likely have the funds to sign Shields to a long-term contract.

Texas Rangers

Risk: Would Yu Darvish be worth the investment?

Yu Darvish is this year's most intriguing international free agent. The Texas Rangers won the sweepstakes and were awarded permission to talk to the Japanese starting pitcher and try to strike a deal.

Darvish is considered the best pitcher in the Japanese leagues, but the total expenditures to acquire his talents will likely eclipse the $100 million mark. Needless to say, that's a lot of money to spend on an international player.

You saw what happened to Daisuke Matsuzaka, who drew roughly the same amount of money that Darvish is expected to cost. "Dice-K" had solid seasons in his first two years in MLB but hasn't been the same pitcher since. He's won a total of 16 games the last three seasons and hasn't posted an ERA lower than 4.50.

Darvish isn't even considered as good of a prospect as Matsuzaka. Even if the two sides aren't able to agree to a deal, spending $50 million just to be able to negotiate is a risky move.

Toronto Blue Jays

Risk: Is standing pat on the rotation a wise decision?

I'm not jumping on the bandwagon—since I am not one to do such a thing—but I'll be rooting for the Blue Jays in 2012. They have the makings of a team that is on the verge of contending in the AL East.

They have young, talented offensive players like Jose Bautista, Colby Rasmus, Brett Lawrie, Kelly Johnson, Adam Lind and J.P. Arencibia. They have a couple of talented pitchers in Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow.

This team was close to becoming serious contenders in the American League and desperately needed to improve its rotation in order to make that next step.

However, the Jays decided to stay put and throw two mediocre and unproven pitchers in the bottom two slots of the rotation. It could be that they just didn't have the money to spend, but I would have loved to see Mark Buehrle in a Blue Jays uniform.

Washington Nationals

Risk: N/A

Don't be surprised to see the Washington Nationals make some noise in 2012. They were riddled with injuries last season—Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Chien-Ming Wang—so having these players healthy will certainly make a difference. Plus, the addition of Gio Gonzalez is one of my favorite moves of this offseason.

Washington didn't take too many risks this offseason. It gave up some talented prospects for Gonzalez, but it'll have control of him for at least four years.

If you haven't taken a look at the Nationals' depth chart going into next year, take a look. Not only is the lineup stacked, but that rotation, if it remains healthy, will be one of the surprises of the year.

Jordan Zimmermann was one of the most underrated pitchers in 2011. He'll be an excellent pitcher to have in the middle of the rotation. The electric arms of Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen also form one of the best back ends of a bullpen in baseball.

Maybe giving Chien-Ming Wang $4 million was a bit of a risk, but it was only a one-year contract. I literally could not find one risky move the Nationals made this offseason.

All of a sudden, look out for the team playing in D.C. this upcoming season.