As we method the vacation season, the MLB offseason has had some massive moments via free-agent signings and trades so far. There stays quite a lot of nice choices for groups in want. Groups that may add a big game-changer to their employees or lineup can in the end change all the outlook for the season forward. That stated, allow us to take a gander at the place a few of these key items would match finest.
Pete Alonso – Seattle Mariners
It has been no secret that the Mariners have had their offensive struggles up to now couple of seasons. Regardless of having a dominant quintet of beginning pitchers, it has been their lack of offensive manufacturing that has saved them from the postseason. It seems as if Jerry Dipoto has recognized this himself, as there have been numerous rumors this offseason that the Mariners have been procuring their beginning pitching, particularly Luis Castillo, in change for a productive bat. Transferring Castillo makes sufficient sense, because the purpose could be to accumulate a bat via the commerce itself, whereas additionally clearing cap area to probably add one other via free company.
That is the place the Polar Bear enters the fray. Pete Alonso, whereas not a five-tool participant, is somebody you may at all times depend on to mash together with his bat. Even in a “down” season, Alonso nonetheless managed to hit 34 HRs with a .788 OPS. That HR complete would have tied him with Cal Raleigh on the Mariners final season and would have led the staff in OPS, as soon as once more talking to the anemic offense Seattle offered final season. If Alonso might bounce again to even half of his 2022 or 2023 kind, it will be an absolute godsend to this Mariners staff. As of now, Seattle has Luke Raley slated to play first base after Ty France was in the end waived final season. Whereas there undoubtedly could possibly be worse choices, having somebody like Alonso who has had constant reps there since he got here into the league, could be a significantly better match that might let Raley stick with a constant place within the outfield, and maybe assist focus extra on bettering offensively.
As previous historical past would inform us, Dipoto would doubtless stick with extra cost-efficient choices like Carlos Santana, Justin Turner, or Paul Goldschmidt. Nevertheless, this looks like the massive transfer that the Mariners must make with a view to jumpstart their offense right into a aggressive state this season. Because it feels just like the Houston Astros could lastly be taking a step again from their dominance, now could be the time to attempt to seize the AL West for the Mariners.
Corbin Burnes – San Francisco Giants
The Giants lastly made their massive transfer in buying their star within the type of shortstop Willy Adames. Whereas it will assist increase the thump of their lineup, Buster Posey shouldn’t be content material simply but. Their beginning rotation, whereas nonetheless promising with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray concerned, nonetheless has a Blake Snell-sized gap in it. Certain, Snell was not precisely his typical Cy Younger caliber self the entire season. The Giants, nonetheless, have been a way more harmful staff with him down the stretch. If the tea leaves converse the reality, it seems like San Francisco understands that as nicely, wanting to herald a former Cy Younger winner in Corbin Burnes.
Burnes has obtained a plethora of curiosity from a number of groups this offseason, together with the Giants, Purple Sox, Orioles, and Blue Jays. Many consider that Burnes becoming a member of the Giants is a assure contemplating he reigns from the West Coast. Nevertheless, there’s far more than simply the hometown issue that makes Burnes an ideal slot in San Fran. Ending fifth within the AL Cy Younger race final season marks his fifth consecutive season ending within the Prime 10 within the Cy Younger race, accompanied by 4 consecutive All-Star seasons as nicely. Whereas all these accolades have the marking of a typical ace, Burnes has the chance to function underneath the radar in entrance of the Giants’ already current ace in Logan Webb. This is able to enable them to regain the two-headed monster atop their rotation, and provides them extra flexibility of their rotation in the event that they attain the postseason. Burnes himself has additionally carried out nicely in Oracle Park, a predominantly pitcher-friendly ballpark. Though a smaller pattern measurement than most, Burnes has posted a 1.61 ERA and 1.030 WHIP in 22 innings in his begins in San Francisco. If these numbers might proceed to translate, Burnes might give his single-season ERA low (excluding 2020) of two.43 a run for its cash.
In fact, that is all dependent if the Giants are capable of afford such a luxurious. With the record-breaking signing of Juan Soto happening, yesterday’s costs for all of the gamers aren’t as we speak’s costs. If Buster Posey can pony up the funds to revive this Giants rotation, it definitely takes them up a notch from their earlier expectations. Whereas it doesn’t seem the division will likely be in any hazard with the Dodgers round for the subsequent decade, the purpose for the Giants must be the postseason, and Corbin Burnes would tremendously enhance their possibilities to get there.
Alex Bregman – New York Yankees
What a flip of occasions this one could be, huh? After being mortal enemies of the Yankees fanbase (and practically each different one within the course of), Brian Cashman could need to chunk the bullet to assist his ballpark attempt to get again to the World Collection. After letting Juan Soto slip from their grasp from their crosstown rival Mets, the Yankees have carried out nicely with Plan B, as buying Max Fried, Devin Williams, and Cody Bellinger won’t ever make your staff worse. Nevertheless, these 3 aren’t practically sufficient to fill the offense void Soto has left in that lineup.
Surprisingly, the acquisition of Alex Bregman might enhance one thing on the staff that Soto by no means might, on and off the Yankees, and that’s the gap at third base. Throughout their World Collection run, the new nook was largely coated by Jazz Chisholm Jr., who deserves credit score for dealing with a place he had by no means performed earlier than in addition to he did. Nevertheless, it notably got here again to chunk them in that nightmarish, error-filled fifth inning in Recreation 5. Maybe if they’d a extra skilled possibility at the moment, that collection, or on the very least that recreation, it might have turned out otherwise for them. Bregman would stop them from this difficulty sooner or later. In his 9 seasons within the main leagues, he has 995 video games at third base underneath his belt. This is able to show him as a considerably extra reliable possibility than Chisholm, and even Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza for that matter. Bregman’s offense would pack a punch in that Yankee lineup as nicely. Whereas he’s removed from his glory days in 2018 and 2019, you may pencil Bregman in for at the least 20 HRs, 75 RBIs, and a .760 OPS, together with a Gold Glove-caliber effort each time he hits the sphere. Whereas it will not match the bat of Juan Soto solely, including Bregman would assist soften the blow on the very least.
As we stand right here as we speak, Bregman is supposedly on the lookout for a $200M+ contract from a staff to signal, and with the Astros themselves not keen to fork it over, this could be the proper time for the Yankees to money in and attempt to retake a stranglehold on the AL East. Nevertheless, they’d higher do it shortly. Latest studies say the Mets are fascinated about Bregman’s companies as nicely, and one can solely think about the carnage from the Bronx trustworthy in the event that they have been outbid by Steve Cohen twice in a single offseason.
Tanner Scott – Toronto Blue Jays
Coming from a Blue Jays fan’s perspective, this staff is presently at a crossroads. They’re seemingly not adequate to make the postseason, however they don’t have the long run prospects to have the fanbase excited. They’ve swung and missed on two top-tier free brokers in Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, and have now left themselves able the place their two most marketable and profitable gamers in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette might stroll for nothing as nicely. To show to not solely the free brokers however their very own gamers as nicely that it is a aggressive product going ahead, the checkbooks have to be opened and used subsequently to deal with quite a lot of points.
The primary difficulty must be fixing up a bullpen that was completely putrid final season. In 2024, the Blue Jays bullpen produced a -3.0 WAR, thirtieth within the league, and three.0 WAR away from the Rockies in twenty ninth. To make issues worse, administration determined to non-tender acclaimed nearer Jordan Romano as nicely because of their lack of religion in his elbow in 2025. Whereas maybe this determination could be understood from a cash-saving perspective, the actual fact of the matter is that there isn’t a set nearer in Toronto. Due to this fact, these financial savings had higher result in not solely a brand new nearer however an improved bullpen normally. Tanner Scott would remedy each of these issues. Scott was a lockdown nearer in Miami, racking up 18 saves to the tune of a 1.18 ERA and 1.007 WHIP in 45.2 IP. As soon as he was dealt to the Padres, he was used extra within the set-up function however nonetheless managed a 2.73 ERA and a couple of.33 FIP in 26.1 IP. An additional accolade is that Scott appeared to be Shohei Ohtani’s kryptonite, as he made the NL MVP look foolish within the NLCS. Including that form of firepower within the Blue Jays bullpen could be an ideal begin in that reclamation mission. Instantly, a reliable bridge from the sixth to the ninth could possibly be shaped in Chad Inexperienced, Erik Swanson, Yimi Garcia, and Tanner Scott.
The query mark in the end turns into, can the Blue Jays in the end put up the correct funds to safe such a lockdown nearer? In years previous, a less expensive various could be the reply from this entrance workplace, and certain nonetheless is within the type of a Kirby Yates, David Robertson, or perhaps a Carlos Estevez. Nevertheless, if the Jays have been keen to go to $700M+ in sizzling pursuit of Juan Soto, maybe Tanner Scott in Toronto wouldn’t be essentially the most far-fetched concept.
Teoscar Hernandez – Boston Purple Sox
The Boston Purple Sox are an interesting staff at this level within the offseason. Their massive transfer has come within the type of a blockbuster deal for younger ace Garrett Crochet. Whereas that is nothing however a constructive for the group, it’s wanting as if they’re trending to a extra frugal path in free company. Juan Soto apart, it has seemed as if John Henry has tried to stray away from spending massive on high-profile free brokers for the previous couple of offseasons now. Nevertheless, in the event that they want to seize maintain of an AL East ripe for the taking, some costly funds could have to be made to push this staff again to the postseason. Whereas pitching must be their predominant precedence, it by no means hurts to enhance on a energy of their offense.
Teoscar Hernandez has felt like an ideal match for the Purple Sox for fairly some time and now looks like pretty much as good a time as ever to deliver him into Boston. Hernandez had a monster season in 2024, slugging 33 HRs and 99 RBIs to a .272 AVG, .840 OPS, and a career-high (for a full season) 137 OPS+, 16 factors increased than his profession common. Frankly, he would match nicely on any staff. What makes Boston such an ideal one is how left-handed their lineup is. Their first three batters, Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, and Triston Casas, all bat from the left facet. From there, there are nonetheless Masataka Yoshida, Wilyer Abreu, and David Hamilton, who all mission to be within the beginning lineup constantly within the 2025 season. Throwing Hernandez into the fold would offer a much-needed hole within the Purple Sox’s high hitters, making it harder to pitch to for left-handed pitchers. As well as, it might enable the chance for Boston to cope with a type of lefty hitters for beginning pitching assist. There have already been rumors of Casas being shopped round for a Seattle starter, so clearly the thought is intriguing to the entrance workplace as nicely. The addition of Teoscar Hernandez might make that call a lot simpler to make if it involves fruition. On high of these elements, Hernandez likes to play at Fenway. In 45 profession video games performed there, he possesses a .282/.344/.606(!) slashline, for a .950 OPS. Hernandez has 14 HRs and 44 RBIs in Fenway as nicely, proving to be an elite offensive menace every time he involves Boston.
Final season, Hernandez opted for a 1-year cope with the Dodgers, and that led him to a World Collection ring. Nevertheless, the Purple Sox have been sizzling on their heels, simply unwilling to drag the set off on some further years on the contract. One 12 months later, the identical difficulty has seemingly popped up. With the Yankees making an attempt their finest to recuperate from the lack of Soto, and the Orioles seemingly chopping again spending as nicely, Teoscar might very nicely be the piece that helps make the remainder of the AL East grouchy on the success of the Purple Sox.
