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

Professor Gambino Back To Grade

It’s been about a month since the last edition of grading the Free Agency moves, so let’s dive back in.

Jordan Hicks, San Francisco Giants | 4yrs $44M
Grade: B-

• The Giants plan to test him as a starter, but if that doesn’t pan out, he will help bolster the bullpen.

Marcus Stroman, New York Yankees | 2yrs $37M
Grade: C

• The Yankees will need Stroman to stay healthy. arguably. This would suggest they are done adding to the rotation, so we will really need Rodon to bounce back as well as this to pan out.

Teoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers | 1yr $23.5M
Grade: B-

• The Dodgers seem to have more money than most small countries. This will help bolster the lineup, but ultimately the Dodgers are going to have to win in October for any of these signings to matter.

Atlanta Braves receive Chris Sale (Grade: A-)
Boston Red Sox trade for Vaughn Grissom (Grade: B)

• Braves add another great arm and the Red Sox fill their second base hole.

Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs | 4yrs $53M w/ option for 5yrs
Grade: B

• A remarkable strikeout ability coupled with a high homer run rate. This will be an interesting one to watch unfold, but from what I’ve seen/read, he’s got some strong stuff.

Jung Hoo Lee, San Francisco Giants | 6yrs $113M
Grade: B+

• I wrote a longer write up a few weeks back if you want to dive in, but ultimately I like this signing, but the Giants need to continue doing more.

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers | 10yrs $700M
Grade: A+

• 😑 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers | 12yrs $325M
Grade: A

• Dodgers are going all in with this bold move shelling out $325M to a pitcher yet to throw a Major League pitch.

Los Angeles Dodgers receive Tyler Glasnow & Manuel Margot (Grade: A-)
Tampa Bay Rays trade for Ryan Pepiot & Jonny Deluca (Grade: B)

• Rays trim their already low payroll, while the Dodgers get one of the best arms in the game. The Dodgers ink Glasnow to a $135M extension immediately, but this will all depend on Glasnow’s health.

I didn’t want to make this too long, but let me know if there’s anything specific I missed so I can cover it next time!

I’m a fan of bat flips, I think they make the game more fun. That said, be careful who you’re bat flipping on and when you’re doing it cause you better be ready for the repercussions afterward if you take it too far. Now let’s watch some of the best bat flips we’ve seen in Baseball.

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