Best & Worst AL Central Off-Season Moves

As we prepare for the start of the new season, teams across the country are looking to assemble their squads ready to handle the pressures of a full MLB campaign. Whether it’s Joe Maddon’s move to the Chicago Cubs or the decision by the Toronto Blue Jays to hand Russell Martin a monster new deal, there have been plenty of trades that look on the surface to be brilliant deals and those that could be classed as questionable bits of business.

Closer to home, the Cleveland Indians will be closely monitoring the work being done by their rivals during the off-season, especially their fellow American League Central teams. On the back of the Indians’ brief return to the playoffs in 2013, last season was a disappointing return to normality for Cleveland fans, finishing third in the AL Central behind the Kansas City Royals and a Detroit Lions team who won their fourth consecutive division title.

While the Tigers and Royals find themselves tipped by the likes of Betfair to finish ahead of the Indians again this season, the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins have also been busy in the offseason to make sure they are much stronger in 2015 than last year. So what have been the best and worst deals done by AL Central teams this winter and what can Indians fans expect from their division rivals in the new season.

Detroit Tigers

Best Deal: Signing Yoenis Cespedes

The Detroit Tigers looked good last season on their way to another divisional title and the franchise are taking no chances when it comes to making sure they retain their title with the signing of Yoenis Cespedes. The Tigers had to pull out all the stops in order to get their man; losing Rick Porcello to the Boston Red Sox in order to sign the Cuban left fielder. But while the loss of Porcello has been a blow to the Tigers, the franchise are now heading into the new season boasting a line-up including Cespedes, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.

Worst Deal: Signing Alfredo Simon

While the trade to bring Cespedes to Detroit was a deal that excited fans, losing Porcello as part of the deal has been a bitter pill to swallow for the Tigers supporters. The arrival of Alfredo Simon has hardly allayed those fears. The 33-year-old made the move from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for shortstop Eugenio Suarez and Jonathon Crawford. But Tigers fans are questioning whether the veteran is the right man to replace Porcello.

Kansas City Royals

Best Deal: Signing Edinson Volquez

While Edinson Volquez rarely made the headlines last season, the right hander proved just how important he was to the Pittsburgh Pirates by posting a record of 13-7 with an eye-catching 3.04 ERA. After making the move to the Royals on a two-year deal worth $20 million, the experienced pitcher will be hoping to carry on from where he left off last season when he gets his Kansas City career going. If he can reproduce his stats from 2014, the Royals could have produced a great bit of business.

   by  SD Dirk 

Worst Deal: Signing Kendrys Morales

In a move that has left almost all Royals fans scratching their heads, the decision to hand a two-year $17 million deal to a designated hitter coming off the back of a dismal season in which he hit .218 with a .612 OPS hasn’t gone down well with the majority of Kansas City fans. The 31-year old will be delighted to have been given this chance and that may be the catalyst Morales needs to return to form. But the Royals might not be as attractive proposition with Betfair fans as they were last season after a mixed offseason.

Chicago White Sox

Best Deal: Signing Melky Cabrera

The Chicago White Sox have taken no chances when it comes to making sure they are an entirely different beast from the one that has been absent from the post-season for so long. While the signing of Melky Cabrera has gained most attention, the arrivals of Jeff Samardzija and Adam LaRoche have been excellent bits of business by the White Sox this winter. But the arrival of Cabrera on a three-year $42 million deal has been met with most excitement, and the White Sox could be the team to watch in 2015.

Worst Deal: Signing David Robertson

While David Robertson has proven what he can do during a career in which he has been an All-Star, acquiring the reliever on a $46 million four-year contract has been a decision that might come back to haunt to White Sox in the future. The 29-year-old is a consistent and reliable member of the bullpen, but that’s a lot of money to spend on a reliever.

Minnesota Twins

Best Deal: Signing Ervin Santana

The Twins have long been looking to sign a starting pitcher capable of taking them to the next level, a need that was highlighted over the past two seasons when the team’s starters recorded the worst combined ERA in the MLB. While there is no guarantee the arrival of Ervin Santana on a four-year $55 million deal will solve the Twins’ problems, this team look a lot more dangerous with a pitcher who previously posted a 3.24 ERA for the Royals the last time he was in the AL Central.

Worst Deal: Signing Torii Hunter

Maybe not a deal Twins fans would call bad, the decision to bring Torii Hunter back to Minnesota this season has raised a few eyebrows this winter. At 39-years-old, Hunter may well have been signing for his mentoring skills rather than for what he can do out on the field – something the Twins are paying $10.5 million for.

And what about our Indians?

Best Deal: Signing Brandon Moss

It’s fair to say the signing of Brandon Moss has given Cleveland fans some real belief that 2015 could be a good year for the franchise. The left-hander helped himself to 25 home runs last season for the Oakland Athletics despite missing a large chunk of the season through injury. A fully-fit Moss could be just what this Indians team needs to be genuine contenders next season – and all it cost Cleveland was second baseman Joe Wendle.

Worst Deal: Signing Gavin Floyd

In what has been a relatively quiet winter for the Indians in terms of player recruitment, the deal to sign Gavin Floyd certainly stands out. While the 31-year-old may well prove himself to be a worthy addition to the roster, the fact the pitcher has made only 14 starts in two years due to an elbow injury that resulted in Tommy John surgery has caused some concern to Indians fans.