MLB Offseason Moves 12/1-12/15 (American League)

The Winter Meetings have come and gone and brought significant change to baseball’s landscape. After an eventful two weeks, lets review what has happened in the American League.

AL East

Boston Red Sox:

1. The Red Sox acquired LHP Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks for RHP Rubby De La Rosa, RHP Allen Webster and INF Raymel Flores (Low A – Lowell). The Red Sox desperately needed to address their starting rotation and did so in one of three moves for starting pitchers. Miley is a durable and deliberate pitcher and gives the Red Sox a top end starter. For the Diamondbacks, they acquire two promising young pitchers with excellent raw stuff and a wildcard infielder in Flores.
2. The Red Sox signed RHP Justin Masterson to a one-year, $9.5 million deal. Masterson was great for the Cleveland Indians from 2011-2013 but injuries hampered him in 2014 and after being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, he is back with the Red Sox who drafted him. Masterson will likely be the fifth starter and is a classic buy low option. If he doesn’t work out as a starter, he could go to the bullpen and be replaced by the young Anthony Ranaudo.
3. The Red Sox acquired RHP Rick Porcello for OF Yoenis Cespedes, RP Alex Wilson and LHP Gabe Speier (GCL – Rookie League). The Red Sox added another pitcher coming off his best year of his career in Porcello; they also cleared up their outfield by trading Cespedes. Both Porcello and Cespedes are in the last year of their contract so young reliever Alex Wilson will get a chance to contribute to the weak Detroit bullpen.
4. The Red Sox acquired RHP Zeke Spruill from the Diamondbacks for RHP Myles Smith (Single A – Greenville). The move could give the Red Sox another young option in the bullpen for just a lower level prospect.

New York Yankees:

1. The Yankees signed RP Andrew Miller to a four-year, $36 million deal. The former Red Sox and Orioles reliever makes it his third AL East team in a year and gets paid doing it. Miller gets one of the biggest contracts for any reliever in history and will likely replace David Robertson as their closer, unless the job is give to another reliever in Dellin Betances.
2. The Yankees acquired SS Didi Gregorious from the Diamondbacks. They send RHP Shane Greene to the Detroit Tigers who sent RHP Robbie Ray and INF Domingo Leyba (Single A – West Michigan). Gregorious will have the massive task of replacing a legend in Derek Jeter. In order to get him, they had to deal one of their best young pitchers in Greene who will slot in the Tigers already impressive rotation. The Diamondbacks get another good pitching prospect in Ray and a wildcard in Leyba who has had some early success in his young career.
3. The Yankees re-signed 3B Chase Headley to a four-year, $52 million deal. Headley was acquired from the Padres last year at the deadline and drastically improved his stats. The move means Martin Prado will likely play second base and Alex Rodriguez will be the DH.

AL Central

Detroit Tigers:

1. The Tigers acquired RHP Alfredo Simon from the Cincinnati Reds for SS Eugenio Suarez and RHP Jonathon Crawford (Single A – West Michigan). The Tigers wanted to act quickly on replacing Rick Porcello and did so with the acquisition of Simon. Simon also has one year on his deal left. The Reds get a young SS in Suarez who batted .242 in 85 games in 2014 and appears to have more upside than incumbent Zack Cosart. Crawford is also intriguing because of his very high upside and youth to replenish a weak Cincinnati farm system.

Cleveland Indians

1. The Indians acquired 1B/OF Brandon Moss from the Oakland Athletics for 2B Joe Wendle (AA – Akron). The Athletics have a glut of 1B/DH/C and moving Brandon Moss’s salary was key for them. The Indians get a prolific offensive player at an ok price by only giving up Wendle. Moss will likely be the DH in Cleveland.

Chicago White Sox:

1. The White Sox acquired RHP Jeff Samardjiza and RP Michael Ynoa (High A – Stockton) from the Athletics for INF Marcus Semien, RHP Chris Bassitt, C Josh Phegley, and INF Rangel Ravelo (AA – Birmingham). The White Sox get much needed pitching help in Samardjiza who will instantly strengthen a suddenly impressive rotation. The Athletics meanwhile get help in multiple areas including their next SS in Semien.
2. The White Sox signed RP David Robertson to a four-year, $46 million deal. Robertson slides in as the new closer for the White Sox who have already added Zach Duke to a revamped bullpen. With improved offense and pitching, the White Sox have been very active as of late.
3. The White Sox signed OF Melky Cabrera to a three-year, $42 million deal. The addition, along with Adam LaRoche, adds some serious firepower to the offense and continues a dramatic rebuild for the White Sox. Cabrera stays on his preferred section of the country and the White Sox only have to give him three years to do it.

Minnesota Twins:

1. The Twins signed RHP Ervin Santana to a four-year, $55 million deal. Santana is a nice addition for a staff that’s only truly effective pitcher is Phil Hughes. Santana will be back in the American League after just one year in Atlanta.

Kansas City Royals:

1. The Royals signed DH Kendrys Morales to a two-year, $17 million deal. Morales replaced Billy Butler, who signed with the Athletics earlier for $13 million more. Morales split last year with the Twins and Mariners and could be looking for a bounce back year in Kansas City.
2. The Royals signed OF Alex Rios to a one-year, $11 million deal. The Royals had to replace Nori Aoki and found a relatively cheap option in the former All Star Rios. Rios batted .280 last year and will look to replicate the on base ability of Aoki.

AL West

Houston Astros:

1. The Astros signed RP Luke Gregerson to a three-year, $18.5 million deal. Gregerson and the newly signed Pat Neshek suddenly make the Astros one of the better bullpens in the American League.
2. The Astros signed RP Pat Neshek to a two-year, $12.5 million deal. Neshek came from relative obscurity but dominated in St. Louis and will really help the Astros close out tough AL West offenses.
3. The Astros signed INF Jed Lowrie to a three-year, $23 million deal. Lowrie will likely play SS in Houston and makes his return to the area after they traded him to Oakland.

Texas Rangers:

1. The Rangers signed RP Kyuji Fujikawa to a one-year, $1 million deal. Fujikawa will look to aid one of the worst teams bullpens against tough offenses like the Angels.
2. The Rangers acquired RHP Ross Detwiler from the Washington Nationals for INF Chris Bostick (High A – Myrtle Beach) and RP Abel De Los Santos (Independent League). Detwiler will be slotted into the rotation in Texas where they desperately need him. The Nationals only get minor prospects in return.