Breaking Down the Big League Moves: Grades on MLB Offseason Signings

It’s Been A Snoozer This Week So Let’s Grade The Biggest Free Agent Moves So Far

Atlanta Braves trade for Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales & Evan White
Seattle Mariners receive Cole Phillips & Jackson Kowar
Grade: A | C (respectively)

• For the Braves: Acquiring Kelenic and Gonzales, the Braves bolster their lineup and pitching, taking a low-risk, high-reward approach with players who have significant upside in their system.

• For the Mariners: Focused on reducing strikeouts and clearing payroll, this trade is more about who they're letting go, including high-potential but struggling Jarred Kelenic, rather than who they're acquiring. The M’s seem to be potentially opening salary space for someone, but who? 🤔

Luis Severino, New York Mets, 1yr $13M
Grade: B-

• The move from the Yankees to the Mets represents a value play for the Mets and a comeback chance for Severino, who struggled last season but has potential upside despite his recent performance issues.

Sonny Gray, St. Louis Cardinals, 3yr $75M
Grade: A-

• This is a shift in the usual approach for the Cardinals and greatly enhances their rotation, especially following the less impactful signings of Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson.

Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals, 1yr $10M
Grade: C+

• The best-case scenario is Lynn can hold down the fifth rotation spot for the Cardinals all season. Playing in Busch Stadium should help keep the ball in the park for Lynn.

Kenta Maeda, Detroit Tigers, 2yr $24M
Grade: C

• Pretty reasonable contract terms but I don’t expect Maeda to fill the shoes of Eduardo Rodriguez by any means.

Reynaldo Lopez, Atlanta Braves, 3yr $30M
Grade: C+

• The Braves add a solid arm to the bullpen with the potential to be a back-of-the-rotation fill-in starter.

Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies, 7yr $172M
Grade: B+

• The Phillies lock up their guy for the foreseeable future and he should continue to make a large impact for them.

Arizona Diamondbacks trade for Eugenio Suarez
Seattle Mariners receive Carlos Vargas & Seby Zavala
Grade: B | C (respectively)

• For the Diamondbacks: Arizona's acquisition of Suarez provides a short-term solution for their third base issue, offering an upgrade with his power and durability, despite a high strikeout rate, without significant resource expenditure.

• For the Mariners: The Mariners' offloading of Suarez is a strategic move to reduce strikeouts, with the potential of newcomer Vargas' powerful arm and salary savings hinting at further significant moves in the offseason.

Trivia Question: Who is the only player in MLB history to hit a walk-off-inside-the-park grand slam? 🔽 

Celebrate One of the Few Hitters That’s Moved Places This Winter

Let’s watch a mic’d up Eugino Suárez blast a walk-off tater

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Trivia Answer: Roberto Clemente on July 25th, 1956 against the Chicago Cubs