The MLB offseason can be divided into three distinct categories:
1. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and then traded for Tyler Glasnow and gave him a big extension. The total future outlay: More than $1 billion, which if you stacked it up in $1 bills would reach
2. The New York Yankees traded for Juan Soto — and they’re still looking to do more.
3. And then there’s most other teams, who appear to be looking for reasons not to spend money.
It’s been a slow burn of an offseason, with a lot of moves still on the way. More than half of Kiley McDaniel’s original top 50 free agents remain unsigned, plus we could still have a couple of significant trades. As we wait for all the dominoes to fall, however, let’s do mid-offseason grades for each team — and one thing each still needs to do.
We’re grading on a curve here, basing our scores on expectations heading into the offseason. (We expected the Dodgers to be big spenders; we did not expect the Colorado Rockies to do anything — and they haven’t.)
Los Angeles Dodgers: A++
Remarkably, despite signing the two top free agents and trading for a starter with No. 1 potential in Glasnow, some are still calling for the Dodgers to do even more, like trading for Dylan Cease, because why not.
One thing to do: I think the Dodgers are fine in the rotation: Yamamoto, Glasnow, Bobby Miller, Walker Buehler and a slew of youngsters. They can still reunite with Clayton Kershaw in August. I was going to suggest adding another outfielder, but the Dodgers solved that depth issue with the Teoscar Hernandez signing on Sunday night. He adds a much-needed right-handed bat to the mix, pushing Chris Taylor into more of a utility role. I think the Dodgers are set. Right?
Arizona Diamondbacks: A-
They signed Eduardo Rodriguez to a four-year contract, re-signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and traded for Eugenio Suarez to fill a hole at third base. They’ve improved a team that, while reaching the World Series, was still outscored during the regular season, so credit the front office for knowing they had to get better.
One thing to do: The obvious hole is DH, and the Diamondbacks have indicated they intend to fill that. The right-handed J.D. Martinez is a nice fit. Sign him and it’s an “A” of an offseason.
