Hot Stove Update: Assessing the MLB Offseason’s Best Deals and Surprises
The MLB offseason has been filled with surprises, and it’s hard to ignore the excitement of the recent signings of Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, and Max Fried. In this roundtable discussion, Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner discuss the best deals of the offseason, the American League contenders’ moves, and the potential moves of Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman.
Best Deals of the Offseason
When it comes to the trio of Burnes, Snell, and Fried, Deesha Thosar favors the Arizona Diamondbacks’ deal with Corbin Burnes. She believes the team smartly capitalized on their opportunity to sign the top free agent pitcher, citing the strong rotation and potential for the D-backs to be a viable contender in the NL West.
Rowan Kavner, on the other hand, prefers the Dodgers’ deal with Blake Snell. He notes that Snell was always expected to earn at least $35 million per year on a long-term deal, and the Dodgers’ five-year, $182 million contract meets that expectation. Kavner also praises the team’s use of deferrals in Snell’s contract to lower his average annual value.
Best AL Contender: Yankees or Astros?
When it comes to the American League contenders, Deesha and Rowan have differing opinions. Rowan believes the Yankees have had the better offseason, citing their strong response to losing Juan Soto, including the acquisitions of Max Fried, Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt. He notes that while neither team is guaranteed to be better, the Yankees’ moves at least provide a clearer path to improvement.
Deesha disagrees, arguing that the Astros’ inability to re-sign Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman makes their offseason less impressive. She believes the Yankees’ moves are more promising, but notes that the teams are still weakened by the loss of their respective star players.
Favorite Short-Term Deal: Gleyber Torres
Deesha Thosar likes the Tigers’ one-year, $15 million deal with Gleyber Torres. She sees the contract as a low-risk, high-reward move for both parties, allowing Torres to prove himself in a new environment and the Tigers to gauge his value for a potential long-term deal.
Rowan Kavner also favors the Torres deal, citing the 28-year-old’s league-average production and the potential for him to re-establish his value in a lower-pressure environment.
Predicting Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso’s Moves
Rowan Kavner predicts that Alex Bregman will sign a seven-year, $196 million deal with the Blue Jays, citing their recent disappointment in missing the playoffs and the team’s need for a star like Bregman.
Deesha Thosar believes Bregman will return to his original team, the Astros, but notes that the odds are against it. She thinks the Mets may be the most likely destination, with a five-year, $165 million deal.
As for Pete Alonso, Deesha expects him to return to the Mets, citing the team’s emotional tie to the slugger and the potential for a creative contract. Rowan agrees, predicting a six-year, $156 million deal with the Mets.
Would Sasaki Complete a Perfect Offseason for the Dodgers?
Deesha Thosar believes that signing Róki Sasaki would make for an ideal offseason for the Dodgers, citing the team’s ability to attract top talent and their strong moves in the outfield. Rowan Kavner agrees, noting that the Dodgers have already addressed their biggest concerns and would only need to add depth to the back end of their bullpen to be considered a favorite to repeat their 2024 World Series win.
In the end, both Deesha and Rowan believe that the Dodgers’ moves this offseason have positioned them to be a dominant force in the league, with the potential addition of Sasaki making them nearly unstoppable.