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Best, worst and most puzzling moves of the MLB offseason
USA TODAY Sports

Best, worst and most puzzling moves of the MLB offseason

The MLB offseason has its own flavor, and that was no different in 2017-18. Now in the thick of spring training, here are the best, worst and most puzzling moves of the last offseason.

 
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BEST: Jay Bruce, New York Mets

BEST: Jay Bruce, New York Mets
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

Bruce returns to the Mets on a very reasonable contract, signing for three-years, $39 million in the offseason. He had his fifth season of 30-plus home runs last season and has the versatility to play first base if the Adrian Gonzalez/Dominic Smith plan falls through.

 
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BEST: Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs

BEST: Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs
Rick Scuteri / USA Today Sports Images

A three-year, $38 million contract looks expensive at first glance for a pitcher who posted a 4.69 ERA last season, but his career numbers away from Coors Field are outstanding. On the road, Chatwood has a career 3.75 ERA, and his extreme ground ball rate plays well with the Cubs infield defense. He's a perfect fit for the Cubs fifth starter spot.

 
BEST: Lucas Duda, Kansas City Royals
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

The Royals lost Eric Hosmer, but an argument can be made that they got a better hitter in Duda for only $3.5 million. Duda's OPS have been above .800 in three of the last four seasons, much like Hosmer, and his career OPS is actually 15 points higher than the departed Royal. Rather than shelling out $100 million or more that the organization couldn't afford, KC got Duda for scraps.

 
4 of 30

BEST: Todd Frazier, New York Mets

BEST: Todd Frazier, New York Mets
Jonathan Dyer / USA Today Sports Images

The market for Frazier's services was quiet this offseason, and that worked to the Mets advantage. He stayed in New York, moving from the Yankees to the Mets and signed for only two-years at $17 million. Frazier hit only .213 last season but had a career-best .344 on-base percentage and still has significant middle of the order power.

 
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BEST: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

BEST: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

The Red Sox and Martinez danced throughout the offseason before finally closing the deal in February. Martinez is a perfect fit for a team that lacked power last season, hitting 45 home runs in only 119 games last season and showing the right-handed pull power to take advantage of Fenway Park. His five-year, $110 million contract is reasonable with likely more DH at-bats to keep him healthy.

 
6 of 30

BEST: Mike Minor, Texas Rangers

BEST: Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

The Rangers took a big risk by signing Minor to a three-year deal in the offseason, but the upside is huge. The lefty was a dominant setup man for the Royals last season and will move back to the rotation, where he posted a 3.21 ERA in 32 starts in 2013 before his arm issues started. With his health back, Minor could be a huge steal for $28 million.

 
7 of 30

BEST: Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals

BEST: Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
Peter Aiken / USA Today Sports Images

The market for Moustakas seemed non-existent in the offseason, and the Royals seriously benefited by waiting it out. After setting the franchise record with 38 home runs last season, Moustakas is back for only $6.5 million. The Royals will try to compete early on, but could fetch a decent prospect or two via trade by midseason if they struggle.

 
BEST: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Rick Scuteri / USA Today Sports Images

The Angels got the benefit of circumstance by winning the Ohtani sweepstakes in the offseason, but the front office still gets credit for selling its vision. Ohtani will serve in a six-man starting rotation and also get bats at DH in his off days, helping the Angels put together a legitimate team on paper.

 
BEST: Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Piscotty was one of the best young outfielders in baseball before last season. He struggled in 2017 while going through some terrible off-field tribulations, as his mother was diagnosed with ALS. Kudos to the Cardinals for trading Piscotty back home to Oakland, so he can be closer to family and more comfortable on the field. He's hoping to get back to his 2016 level, when he hit .273-22-85 with an .800 OPS for the Cardinals.

 
10 of 30

BEST: Jason Vargas, New York Mets

BEST: Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

The Mets still have one of the most exciting and young, albeit injury prone, starting rotations in baseball, so adding a veteran to finish it out made sense. Vargas is the antithesis of the rest of the arms, throwing mid-80's fastball from the left side and surviving on pure pitchability. After posting a 4.16 ERA in 32 starts last season, he could be just what the team needed on a two-year deal.

 
WORST: Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Joe Nicholson / USA Today Sports Images

Baltimore waited out the free agent market, as they often do, but it didn't work out well for them this year. Cashner joined them on a two-year, $16 million deal, but he was available so late into the offseason in part because of his inability to miss bats last season (4.6 K/9). Baltimore has to like the extreme ground ball rate in Camden Yards, but this move has disaster written all over it if Cashner's strikeouts don't bounce back.

 
12 of 30

WORST: Corey Dickerson, (traded by Tampa Bay Rays)

WORST: Corey Dickerson, (traded by Tampa Bay Rays)
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

The Rays made a puzzling late offseason move, designating Dickerson for assignment after acquiring C.J. Cron from the Angels. It was a cost-cutting move, eventually trading him to the Pirates for Daniel Hudson and company, but the Rays also gave up 27 home runs from last year's roster after losing Logan Morrison and Evan Longoria.

 
13 of 30

WORST: Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals

WORST: Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals
Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images

For a rebuilding team, bringing back Escobar makes little sense when his heir (Adalberto Mondesi) was ready. Considering Escobar produced a sub-.650 OPS for the third straight season last year, the move makes even less sense.

 
WORST: Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers
Joe Camporeale / USA Today Sports Images

No team knows Gallardo better than the Brewers, the organization that raised him, so maybe they know something we don't when they gave him a major league deal. Gallardo simply isn't the same pitcher he was early in his career, posting an ERA above 5.00 in each of the last two seasons. It seems somewhat unlikely he had desirable offers elsewhere.

 
15 of 30

WORST: Evan Longoria, (acquired by San Francisco Giants)

WORST: Evan Longoria, (acquired by San Francisco Giants)
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

The Giants didn't give up a big haul to acquire Longoria from the Rays in the offseason, but they certainly took on a lot of money. The third baseman is due $81 million over the next five seasons, and while the Rays will kick in some of that, Longoria's offense hasn't been worthy recently. He has a sub-.800 OPS in three of the last four seasons, with a mediocre .737 OPS last year at age 31.

 
16 of 30

WORST: Matt Moore, (acquired by Texas Rangers)

WORST: Matt Moore, (acquired by Texas Rangers)
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

Moore has lost significant velocity since returning from Tommy John surgery and was truly awful for the Giants last season, posting a 5.52 ERA and a league-high 15 losses in 174.1 innings. He hasn't been able to keep the ball in the park, and it's difficult to see that changing with the move to the American League and Arlington.

 
17 of 30

WORST: Marcell Ozuna, (traded by Miami Marlins)

WORST: Marcell Ozuna, (traded by Miami Marlins)
Scott Rovak / USA Today Sports Images

Ozuna was part of Miami's offseason purge, moved to the Cardinals for a group of prospects. Coming off a career year, one would think the Marlins would be selling high, but the prospect package they received from St. Louis was lacking. Outfielder Magneuris Sierra is far from a sure starter, Sandy Alcantara is likely destined for relief and the pair of starters in Zac Gallen and Daniel Castano don't profile better than fifth starters.

 
18 of 30

WORST: Fernando Rodney, Minnesota Twins

WORST: Fernando Rodney, Minnesota Twins
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

Minnesota is taking a risk by signing the soon-to-be 41-year-old Rodney as their closer. A one-year, $4.5 million deal seems reasonable given his experience, but Rodney had a 4.23 ERA with a poor 4.2 BB/9 in Arizona last season. Fortunately, the Twins did sign Addison Reed as insurance.

 
WORST: Carlos Santana, Philadelphia Phillies
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Santana has been a consistent on-base machine during his career with a .365 on-base percentage, and he's a regular 20-plus home run hitter. However, he's far from an asset defensively anywhere, and is likely stuck at first base despite his willingness to play other positions. That weakens the defense because the Phils have to push Rhys Hoskins to the outfield, and the Phils are stuck with this situation for the next three years.

 
20 of 30

WORST: Giancarlo Stanton, (traded by Miami Marlins)

WORST: Giancarlo Stanton, (traded by Miami Marlins)
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Yes, it was an enormous salary dump by the Marlins, but they got almost nothing in return when they traded Stanton to the Yankees. After winning NL MVP last season, the Marlins were only able to get Starlin Castro and two low level prospects.

 
21 of 30

PUZZLING: Matt Adams, Washington Nationals

PUZZLING: Matt Adams, Washington Nationals
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

Last season Adam Lind did a terrific job backing up Ryan Zimmerman, playing some outfield, and pinch hitting. They could have brought him back cheap but instead opted for Adam on a one-year, $4 million deal. In Matt Adams, the Nats got a player who has been far less versatile, looking awful in his move to left field last year and has a career .315 on-base percentage. The Nats had a need, but why not wait for a better option?

 
22 of 30

PUZZLING: Yonder Alonso, Cleveland Indians

PUZZLING: Yonder Alonso, Cleveland Indians
Joe Camporeale / USA Today Sports Images

Unable to afford Carlos Santana, the Indians signed Alonso to a two-year, $16 million contract to replace him. Alonso rebuilt his swing last offseason and had a career year, producing an .866 OPS and 28 home runs, but it remains to be seen if the team made the right decision when they could have signed Logan Morrison or Lucas Duda for much cheaper.

 
23 of 30

PUZZLING: Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs

PUZZLING: Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

The need for an ace was clear when the Cubs let Jake Arrieta walk in free agency. It still remains to be seen if the team made an upgrade with Darvish, especially after he struggled during the World Series for the Dodgers. A six-year, $126 million contract is a massive risk after those struggles, though the team thinks he was tipping his pitches.

 
24 of 30

PUZZLING: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

PUZZLING: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
Russell Lansford / USA Today Sports Images

What in the world are the Rockies doing? Colorado was set with their outfield depth in spring training, even with Gerardo Parra nursing an injury, as David Dahl and Raimel Tapia have looked good this spring. Despite the depth, they couldn't resist bringing CarGo back on a one-year, $8 million contract last week. It's unlikely his market was robust after hitting just .262-14-57 with a .762 OPS last season despite the aid of Coors Field.

 
25 of 30

PUZZLING: Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres

PUZZLING: Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres
Rick Scuteri / USA Today Sports Images

San Diego apparently feels they are close to competing after signing Hosmer to an eight-year, $144 million contract. He's just entering his prime seasons and coming off a career year in which he produced an .882 OPS, but that's a hefty sum for a player who hasn't produced huge power for the position.

 
26 of 30

PUZZLING: Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies

PUZZLING: Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies
Rick Scuteri / USA Today Sports Images

Iannetta had a very good 2017 season in Arizona, and now he comes back to the team that produced him. Iannetta was waning offensively before last season, however, and the Rockies have power-hitting youngster Tom Murphy ready to help at catcher. Now with Iannetta back, Murphy's path could be blocked.

 
27 of 30

PUZZLING: Cameron Maybin, Miami Marlins

PUZZLING: Cameron Maybin, Miami Marlins
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

The Marlins are going through a youth movement, but they still signed Maybin late in the offseason. The speedy Maybin provides veteran leadership, base stealing ability, and defense, but he also takes playing time away from a young player. The best case is that Maybin rebounds at the plate after hitting .228 last season and nets the Marlins a prospect at midseason.

 
28 of 30

PUZZLING: Mitch Moreland, Boston Red Sox

PUZZLING: Mitch Moreland, Boston Red Sox
Shanna Lockwood / USA Today Sports Images

Moreland returned to the Red Sox on a two-year, $13 million contract after hitting 22 home runs and playing solid defense last year. However, the Red Sox later signed J.D. Martinez, which should seriously limit Moreland's playing time with Hanley Ramirez also needing at-bats. He will be a fine late-game defensive replacement, but that's a lot of money to spend for that role.

 
29 of 30

PUZZLING: Brandon Morrow, Chicago Cubs

PUZZLING: Brandon Morrow, Chicago Cubs
Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today Sports Images

The Cubs would like to win another World Series, but letting Wade Davis walk in favor of Morrow was a major risk. Morrow was dominant for the Dodgers last season, but he has a long history of arm injuries and somewhat limited closing experience. With a barren farm system, the Cubs might not be able to afford an elite closer via trade if this experiment doesn't workout.

 
30 of 30

PUZZLING: Tony Watson, San Francisco Giants

PUZZLING: Tony Watson, San Francisco Giants
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

A closer briefly during his time in Pittsburgh, Watson gives the Giants more insurance with Mark Melancon returning from surgery. Still, Watson has struggled to miss bats over the last three seasons, so a three-year contract seems unnecessary for his services.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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