JORDAN PURVIS
Special to The Leader
Unless you live under a rock, you probably have been inundated with news of all the blockbuster trades and contract signings over the past several months. With Super Bowl LII finally out the way, we can now focus on MLB spring training and the newest editions to each team. Here are the five most interesting deals of the MLB offseason.
- Mets making a World Series run
The Mets are trying to get back to where they were in 2015 at the World Series. First on their agenda was signing five time All-Star Adrian Gonzalez. Second was signing former Home Run Derby champion Todd Frazier and, lastly, they brought back Jay Bruce after trading him last season to the Cleveland Indians. If the Mets want to be contenders this year, it will be based on the health of their players. If Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey can all stay healthy this season, then there should be no doubt they’ll be a threat in the National League.
- Goodbye Kansas City, hello San Diego
Eric Hosmer inked an eight year, $144 million deal with the San Diego Padres after winning a championship and playing seven years with the Kansas City Royals. In 2017, Hosmer hit 25 home runs, 94 RBIs and had a .318 batting average. The signing of 28-year-old Hosmer certainly doesn’t mean the Padres will reach the playoffs, but hopefully they’ll rebuild around him with younger players in the next several years. Ever since the Padres were founded in 1969, they have never won a World Series title.
- Giants add Longoria and McCutchen
With the Los Angeles Dodgers dominating the National League West last year and reaching the World Series, it’s very unlikely that the San Francisco Giants will win the division even with their newest acquisitions. The Giants went to work this offseason by acquiring third base veteran Evan Longoria in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. A couple of weeks after signing Longoria, the Giants traded for a long time Pittsburgh Pirate, Andrew McCutchen. The Giants are looking to rebound from a 64-98 season.
- Los Angeles Angels sign Shohei Ohtani
The Los Angeles Angels came up big this offseason when Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani decided to sign with their organization. Ohtani is just 23 years old, and in just five seasons playing in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, he went 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA. Additionally, Ohtani hasn’t proven he’s just a great pitcher, he is also a great hitter. With over 403 games played in the past five years in Japan, Ohtani hit 48 home runs, 166 RBIs and has a batting average of .286. With newcomers such as Ohtani, as well as Ian Kinsler, Justin Upton and Zach Cozart, they are the team to look out for this year.
- Yankees acquire Giancarlo Stanton from Marlins
The most notable trade this past offseason was definitely the Yankees landing National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton. The trade involved Miami acquiring Starlin Castro, Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers. Last season, Stanton recorded 52 home runs and 132 RBIs in 159 games. Stanton will join a strong offensive lineup that includes Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius. Just imagine how many home runs Stanton and Judge alone will be hitting. Will this be the year the Yankees bring home World Series Championship 28?
The 2018 season begins Thursday, March 29, with 15 different games playing on opening day.