January 3: Another grizzled vet is on the move as Philly dealt C JT Realmuto to Cleveland for a pair of prospects.
January 4: Tyler O'Neill, who started last season with Boston before being traded to Seattle at the deadline, returned to the Red Sox on a 4/85 deal. O'Neill homered 36 times last season between the two clubs.
January 8: The Phillies parted with another of their vets, sending Kyle Schwarber to the Giants for a SS prospect.
January 10: The Orioles offered us Austin Hays for Jose Siri, thanks but no thanks. Meanwhile the Yankees signed veteran OF Max Kepler to a 2/20 deal.
January 11: We didn't trade them Siri but our talks over the deal led to this one being made, our second of the winter with our division rivals:
Despite being rated a 50 at 3B, Westburg won the AL Gold Glove last season at the position and hit 264/343/444 with 18 HR and 65 RBI. We really don't have a place for him as we have Paredes at 3B and Caminero at 2B but I couldn't turn this down given that the three prospects we're sending aren't anyone we can live without.
And we weren't done wheeling and dealing. To make room for Westburg on the 40-man I shopped Austin Shenton and was able to pry a good-hitting catcher loose from Houston in Yainer Diaz, who hit 305/351/478 in 272 AB with the Astros. He's a bit suspect defensively, rated at 45, but if he can hit like that we don't care:
I have to concur with Neander who thinks it's a steal while Misner got the deal over the top and opened up a second 40-man spot for Diaz. This gives us three MLB catchers as we already had Pinto and Campusano, and suddenly it's a position of strength as we still haven't done enough to upgrade the bullpen.
January 13: St. Louis acquires LaMonte Wade Jr. from the Giants for a prospect.
January 14: It was quiet for a couple of weeks but the Great Blue Jay Fire Sale is still on as they dealt starter Kevin Gausman to Texas for an 18-year-old power prospect. Vlad Guerrero Jr. and his $26M arbitration contract are on the trade block as well. Meanwhile 37-year-old DH JD Martinez signed for one year and $8M with the White Sox.
January 15: We finally made a move to help the bullpen:
There's something about all our slap-hitting infielders ending up in Miami as Basabe follows the same trail as Joey Wendle, Vidal Brujan and Xavier Edwards over the last few years. With the Westburg pickup Basabe was surplus to requirements and in return we get Maldonado, rated 65/50/50 and who saved 31 games for the Marlins last season. He'll compete with
Jason Adam for the primary setup role.
January 21: It's international amateur free agent signing time again and we nabbed a potentially good one in 2B
David Guerra. The 16-year-old has potential 80 power, 60 contact and a 65 eye. I guess we'll find out in 5 years or so if he'll approach that.
January 22: After not signing until the last minute the previous winter and getting a one-year deal, former Rays ace Blake Snell got his payday as he joined Boston for 6/183. Also former Yankee closer Clay Holmes is headed to the White Sox for 2/20.
January 23: The Hall of Fame voting is in:
Congrats to Helton, who had to wait, and Ichiro, who didn't. First-timers Beltre and Sabathia came very close and should get in during the next year or two. Heartbreak for Billy Wagner though, who drops off the ballot.
January 25: We continue to haul in some impressive IFAs as 16-year-old Japanese C
Ryuemon Naki signed. He has potential 60 power and 75 contact, so he could become the Japanese Mike Piazza. Or not.
Meanwhile starter Walker Buehler inked a 2/49 pact with Washington as they look to accelerate their rebuild.
January 28: The Yankees solved their 3B problem by signing veteran Matt Chapman to a 2/37 deal.
February 23: Some well-known names had to settle for minor league deals as the free agent market has cooled considerably: Michael Conforto (Toronto), Alex Bregman (Toronto), Josh Bell (Washington), Yoan Moncada (Seattle), CJ Cron (Minnesota). Amed Rosario, who took a modest 1-year deal with us last year, has done likewise with the rebuilding Jays, signing for $1.2M.
March 6: We got in on the minor league deal action by signing
Teoscar Hernandez, fresh off a 33-homer season with the Dodgers last year. We need a RH power bat in the OF and he'll only cost us $1.7M if he makes the club. He also remains solid defensively as he had a +3.8 ZR with LA last season and he didn't waste any time, homering and doubling in his first preseason action with us.