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Some of the biggest names in baseball signed with new teams in the offseason. Two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, superstar Juan Soto and Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes are just a few of the names who found new homes following the 2023 season. Who did your team add?
Baltimore Orioles — SP Corbin Burnes
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The Orioles did not rest on their laurels after winning the division in ’23. Stacked with one of the top farm systems in the Majors, Baltimore traded in some of their chips for one of the best arms in the game. Corbin Burnes is a former Cy Young winner who played six seasons with the Brewers. Burnes has a career 3.26 ERA, led the league in WHIP last year, and has finished no worse than eighth in Cy Young voting in each of the last four seasons. He’ll lead a pitching rotation that is greatly improved from this time last year. Burnes is a true ace and will shine on a playoff-bound team.
Boston Red Sox — OF Tyler O’Neill
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Taking a chance on a player like Tyler O’Neill was one of the best moves of the offseason for Boston. O’Neill fell out of favor in St. Louis after two down seasons. 2021 was a breakout campaign for the outfielder, as he mashed 34 HR, posted a .912 OPS, and won a Gold Glove. If the coaching staff can help O’Neill tap back into his power, they could have a steal on their hands. If he struggles at the plate, at least the Red Sox have a quality outfielder with excellent speed and arm strength.
New York Yankees — OF Juan Soto
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This offseason reminded everyone of the power of the big market teams. The Yankees made one of the big splashes of the Winter, trading for one of the league’s best bats in Juan Soto. Soto is an elite offensive player who is coming off a career-high 35 HR. He’s led the league in walks on three occasions. His career .945 OPS is third among active players and ranks 27th all-time. Powerful lefties have had plenty of success hitting at Yankee Stadium. Expect plenty of fireworks in the Bronx this year.
Toronto Blue Jays — DH/2B/3B Justin Turner
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Toronto’s offense took a major step back last year. After finishing fourth in runs scored two seasons ago, the Blue Jays fell back to 14th in ’23. The stars were uneven, and the rest of the lineup has been shuffled around after a disappointing season. Following a strong season with the Red Sox, Justin Turner is set to join the Blue Jays and provide a steady bat in the middle of the order. Since 2014, Turner has a .293 BA and a .857 OPS. A healthy year from Turner should equate to around 20 HR and 90 RBI with a good average. Adding that kind of player could be invaluable to Toronto’s lineup.
Tampa Bay Rays — SP Ryan Pepiot
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Mass changes across the Rays roster. Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot, and Luke Raley are gone. The pitching staff will look a whole lot different, as former Dodger Ryan Pepiot has a chance to star in the rotation. Pepiot is a former top prospect in LA’s system and performed well in spurts for the Major League club. He posted a 2.76 ERA across 78.1 innings in the Majors of the last two seasons. Pepiot may not fill the void left by Shane McClanahan (who is set to miss the entire season), but he could be another useful arm that will benefit from Tampa Bay’s system.
Chicago White Sox — OF Dominic Fletcher
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There hasn’t been a whole lot to cheer about if you’re a White Sox fan lately. The roster has been completely stripped down over the last couple of years. A rebuild is in the works as the Sox are unlikely to contend for an AL Central crown in 2024. However, there are still some players to watch on this roster. Dominic Fletcher is a name that some may not recognize, but he could end up being a major pickup for Chicago. The scrappy outfielder was a top hitter in the Minors and posted a .300 BA for the Diamondbacks last year in limited appearances. He has a great hit-tool and that could stand out on a White Sox team that doesn’t have a whole lot of guys who can hit for average.
Cleveland Guardians — OF Estevan Florial
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There are not many new additions to write home about for the Guardians. Former Royal Scott Barlow can be one of the staff’s top relievers. Catcher Austin Hedges is a great defender who swings a pool noodle at the plate. The Guardians acquired Estevan Florial from the Yankees in December and the speedy outfielder has a chance to be an everyday player for Cleveland. In ’23, Florial mashed 28 HR and had 25 SB in 101 games in Triple-A.
Detroit Tigers — SP Kenta Maeda
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Entering his age-36 season, Kenta Maeda is still capable of getting it done. Maeda finished second in Cy Young voting in 2020 — his last, fully healthy season. The last three years have been mired by nagging injuries, but he held up for 104.1 IP last year. He’s been exceptional during Spring Training thus far. While he won’t blow anyone away with velocity, Maeda has always shown excellent control with a devastating splitter. He won’t exactly be facing off with the cream of the crop in the AL Central, either.
Kansas City Royals — OF Hunter Renfroe
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Casual fans should begin taking notice of the Kansas City Royals. Remember, this is a team that hasn’t posted a winning record since a 95-win campaign (which resulted in a World Series win) back in 2015. However, things are looking up for this group. Bobby Witt Jr. is a bonafide star and will be in Kansas City for the foreseeable future after inking an extension this Winter. Fellow youngsters Nick Pratto and MJ Melendez have been excellent in Spring Training. And, they added some veteran pop in the form of Hunter Renfroe. Renfroe is a lock for 30-plus HR (barring health) and is a quality fielder with a cannon of an arm. He’ll produce plenty of highlights at the dish and in the field.
Minnesota Twins — 1B/DH Carlos Santana
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A veteran presence in Minnesota’s lineup. Carlos Santana is one of the elder statesmen of the league. He’s bounced around the league for the last few years but will return to the AL Central after previously spending 10 seasons in Cleveland. The switch-hitting Santana has always had a great eye, and is among the league’s best at drawing walks and extending at-bats. While he doesn’t have the same pop he once did, Santana will be a reliable option at first base (or designated hitter) for a Twins team looking to repeat as division champions.
Los Angeles Angels — OF Aaron Hicks
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Aaron Hicks is no Shohei Ohtani. That much is very clear. The Angels saw one of the great players in baseball history bolt for their cross-town rivals. Of course, it was unlikely the Angels were going to recoup a player of Ohtani’s value elsewhere on the market. Hicks is a walking injury, but he’s been a solid hitter when healthy. He had a .806 OPS with the Orioles last season in 65 games. That’s a far cry from Ohtani’s numbers, but we’re trying to be optimistic here…
Oakland Athletics — IF Abraham Toro
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The soon-to-be Las Vegas Athletics had another quiet offseason. This sort of thing is expected when dealing with a team that shies away from spending cash. Two former Dodger hurlers were added to add experience to the rotation (Alex Wood and Ross Stripling). Any number of new additions could compete to be an everyday player for one of the worst lineups in baseball. Former Houston draft pick Abraham Toro could sneak into the middle of the lineup. The switch-hitting infielder looked good in limited action for the Brewers last season. At this point, the A’s will take anybody who can swing their weight at the dish.
Seattle Mariners — 2B Jorge Polanco
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Second base was the one spot Seattle sorely needed to address. And, they certainly did a great job of filling a need by trading for Twins infielder Jorge Polanco. Polanco is a career .270 hitter with pop. He posted a .295 BA during his All-Star campaign in 2019. Health has been a major concern for the switch hitter, as he missed 120 games over the last two years. However, this is a guy who hit 33 HR in his last healthy season. Batting behind Julio Rodríguez will generate plenty of run-scoring opportunities.
Texas Rangers — OF/DH Wyatt Langford
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The hits just keep on coming for the Rangers. Last season, 21-year-old Evan Carter was a late addition to the Major League roster and ended up being an integral piece to the championship puzzle. This year, the team will likely head into the season with top prospect Wyatt Langford in the fold. Langford absolutely dominated the minors last season, posting a .360 BA and 1.157 OPS over 44 games. He’s a major power-speed threat who will add another dynamic to one of the most potent offenses in the league.
Houston Astros — RP Josh Hader
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The perennial AL contenders are always trying to improve their World Series odds. Perhaps no move could have been better than bringing in one of the top closers in the game. Josh Hader is a five-time All-Star who has been dominant throughout his career for the Brewers and Padres. There’s a good chance the best bullpen in baseball resides in Houston. Hader joins two-time All-Star Ryan Pressley, Bryan Abreu (1.75 ERA last season), and Héctor Neris (1.71 ERA).
Atlanta Braves — OF Jarred Kelenic
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A former top prospect, Kelenic could benefit greatly from being a part of Atlanta’s lineup. Acquired in the offseason in exchange for Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar — both of whom are now hurt — Kelenic is coming off his best year as a pro. While he cooled down following a great start to the year, Kelenic posted career highs in BA (.253), OBP (.327), and SLG (.419). Due to the depth of Atlanta’s lineup, Kelenic will be saddled with less pressure to produce like a star. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the young outfielder make a big jump in 2024.
Washington Nationals — 1B/OF/DH Joey Gallo
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At this point of his career, everyone knows what to expect from Joey Gallo — a low batting average, a ton of strikeouts, and a good amount of home runs. The two-time All-Star has hit 38 or more HR three times in his career. However, he has only slugged a total of 40 HR in the past two seasons in 237 games. Gallo’s BA since 2020 is a miserable .181. Washington isn’t expecting to compete this year but Gallo could at least provide some entertainment to the fans if he taps into his power.
New York Mets — OF Harrison Bader
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A year after making a ton of noise in the offseason, the Mets opted to take a more reserved approach this year. As a result, Harrison Bader is arguably the most notable player to join the club for 2024 — Luis Severino would be our next choice. Bader will never be confused for a star, but he is a serviceable player. His speed contributes to his ability to play Gold Glove defense in the outfield — and it is also an advantage on the basepaths. Last year, Bader stole a career-high 20 bases. If nothing else, Bader will improve New York’s defense this season.
Philadelphia Phillies — UTL Whit Merrifield
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The Phillies may not have splurged for a top free-agent player as they did in 2022, but they made a very good addition by signing Whit Merrifield. A three-time All-Star, Merrifield has been a solid contributor throughout his career. He is durable — he has played at least 139 games every season since 2017 — a good hitter and can cause havoc on the basepaths. While he is not as quick as he once was (he led baseball in SB three times), Merrifield stole 26 bases in ’23 and will give Philadelphia another speed threat alongside Trea Turner. A career .284 hitter, Merrifield should produce a lot of runs for the team given the talent around him.
Miami Marlins — SS Tim Anderson
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Anderson can’t play any worse this year than he did in 2023. From 2019-2022, Anderson was an absolute star for the Chicago White Sox. Anderson hit .335 in ’19 and won the Batting Title. A 7th-place finish for the American League MVP in ’20 was followed by back-to-back All-Star appearances the next two seasons. Over those four seasons, Anderson hit .318. Last year, Anderson appeared in 123 games and was rather bad. His BA dropped to .245. He hit one home run and both his OBP and SLG fell below .300 for the year. Anderson may not hit .300 this year, but we would expect a much better performance from the former star.
Milwaukee Brewers — 1B Rhys Hoskins
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Milwaukee’s most exciting newcomer in 2024 is top prospect Jackson Chourio. For this exercise, however, we will look at the top free agent addition — Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins didn’t play in 2023 after tearing his ACL during Spring Training. Hoskins should provide Milwaukee with some much-needed power. While with the Phillies Hoskins hit between 27 and 34 home runs in each 162-game season dating back to 2018. It may take him a little bit to get up to speed after missing all of ’23, but Hoskins could be an All-Star for the Brew Crew this year.
Chicago Cubs — RP Shota Imanaga
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Turning 31 in September, Shota Imanaga will make his Major League debut with the Cubs this season. While Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the center of attention this past offseason after receiving the largest pitching contract in MLB history, Imanaga shouldn’t be overlooked. In eight seasons playing in the NPB, the Japanese pitcher posted an impressive 3.18 ERA and won 64 games. Since 2019, Imanaga has posted four sub-3.00 ERA seasons — highlighted by a 2.04 performance in ’22. He will begin the year as Chicago’s No. 3 pitcher.
Cincinnati Reds — SP Frankie Montas
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Which version of Frankie Montas will the Reds get in 2024? Montas threw 1.1 innings in ’23 before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. At times, Montas has pitched like a true No. 1 arm. While with Oakland in ’19, Montas went 9-2 with a 2.63 ERA. Two years later, he made a league-high 32 starts and finished sixth for the American League Cy Young. His ’22 season was a mixed bag — with Oakland, Montas had a 3.18 ERA across 19 starts. Following a trade to the Yankees, he posted a 6.35 ERA in eight starts. Cincinnati has playoff aspirations this season — and Montas could be the difference between winning the NL Central and falling short for the 12th year in a row.
Pittsburgh Pirates — CP Aroldis Chapman
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A few months after winning his second World Series, Chapman opted to join the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chapman has been one of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball since his debut in 2010. The flamethrower has gone on to make seven All-Star teams and over 300 saves to his name. While he is not at his best at this point of his career, the 36-year-old should make a positive impact for the Pirates. With David Bednar entrenched as the closer, Chapman will likely occupy the role of setup man for the time being while making occasional appearances as the closer.
St. Louis Cardinals — SP Sonny Gray
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Last year, Gray finished second for the American League Cy Young on the strength of a 2.79 ERA. Aside from a few outlier seasons, Gray has been a consistent performer for the better part of a decade. Although he is currently dealing with a hamstring strain, Gray is undeniably St. Louis’ ace entering the season. At his best, Gray is a difference-maker on the mound. The Cardinals put a lot into their staff in the offseason and Gray is the most important piece of the puzzle.
Los Angeles Dodgers — DH Shohei Ohtani
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This is a no-brainer. In the offseason, Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history. The $700 million deal was shocking in the moment but the Dodgers did what they had to do to secure the game’s greatest player. In 2024, Ohtani will be limited to hitting as he recovers from elbow surgery. In six years with the Angels, Ohtani displayed immense ability at the plate and he is a probable MVP candidate thanks to his hitting skill alone. In 135 games last season, Ohtani hit a career-high .304 with 44 HR. Not only will he provide the Dodgers a ton of power but he is a plus runner, as well. Ohtani stole 20 bases in ’23 — six off his career-high.
San Diego Padres — SP Michael King
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The prize of the Juan Soto trade with the Yankees, King figures to be an important part of San Diego’s rotation in 2024. While with New York, King worked primarily as a bullpen arm for the past three seasons. Over 105 appearances, King posted a 2.88 ERA and struck out 255 batters in 219.0 IP. He made a career-high nine starts in 2023 and performed rather well. All nine starts came in the second half of the season and King fanned 76 batters in 56.0 IP with a 2.73 ERA. At worst, King should be San Diego’s No. 3 pitcher this season.
San Francisco Giants — DH/OF Jorge Soler
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The Giants have not had a player hit 30 home runs in a season since 2004 — Barry Bonds hit 45 that year. Soler has topped 30 HR twice — he hit a league-leading 48 HR in 1019 and he launched 36 last year. San Francisco added a few notable players to its roster — including Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee — but Soler could provide the biggest boost to the lineup. While hitting the ball out of the park in San Francisco is tough, Soler has more than enough power to do so.
Colorado Rockies — SP Cal Quantrill
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Colorado did next to nothing in the offseason. Its only notable move was acquiring Cal Quantrill from Cleveland in exchange for a prospect. Quantrill is coming off a down year with the Guardians. Across 19 starts, he posted a 5.24 ERA and a 1.465 WHIP — both career-highs. However, he was pretty good in the three previous seasons. From 2020-2022, Quantrill posted a 3.08 ERA and won 25 games while splitting time between the starting rotation and bullpen. He will be given an opportunity to start for the Rockies, but it remains to be seen how he will adjust to pitching in a new league (and at Coors Field).
Arizona Diamondbacks — 3B Eugenio Suárez
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Last year’s National League champions had a busy offseason. Arizona brought in a handful of established veterans including Eduardo Rodriguez, Joc Pederson and Eugenio Suarez. Suarez joins the club following two years in Seattle. While he is prone to striking out — he has led the league in whiffs three times — he is also a power threat. Suarez has hit 30+ HR four times (2018, ’19, ’21, ’22) and he consistently takes the field, as well. Since 2016, the third baseman has appeared in at least 143 games every year — and he only missed three games during the 60-game season.
