With the Super Bowl behind us and spring training starting next month, I thought it was time to look at the winners of MLB free agency. Last off-season, the New York Yankees spent $423 million to sign just three players: C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett. Those signings worked out well for the Yankees as they won their 27th World Series championship this past October.
But not all free agent acquisitions work out that well. Just ask the Chicago Cubs who wasted $30 million on outfielder Milton Bradley before they suspended him in September for bad mouthing the general manager that signed him to his outrageous contract.
With that being said, here is my list of this winter’s best signings:
5. Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
It’s been years since Cincinnati has done anything this bold, giving a 22-year-old pitcher -who can reportedly throw 100 MPH – $30 million before he’s ever played an inning in the Majors. I like this move because it shows the Reds are actually trying to improve. They had to do something after losing nine straight seasons.
4. Chone Figgins, Seattle Mariners
The 5-foot-8 Figgins isn’t your typical power hitting third baseman, but he doesn’t need to be. What he lacks in size and power, he more than makes up for with quickness and a good glove. Combined with lead off hitter Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle now has two of the game’s best table setters at the top of their batting line-up. Now the Mariners just have to find someone that can knock those two in.
3. Jason Bay, New York Mets
The Mets were in desperate need of a power hitting left fielder and that’s exactly what they get with 31-year-old Bay. I don’t expect him to match the 36 home runs he smashed last year when he played half of his games at the hitter-friendly Fenway Park, but he should be able to surpass 100 RBI for the fifth time in his career and is without a doubt an upgrade over Gary Sheffield.
2. Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals
It was critical for the Cardinals to re-sign Holliday if they wanted to repeat as National League Central Champions and for $120 million, they did just that. Holliday, along with first baseman Albert Pujols, will be one of the new decade’s most feared hitting tandems.
1. John Lackey, Boston Red Sox
Lackey, a 19-game winner in 2007, comes to Boston playoff proven (he won game seven of the 2002 World Series) and makes an already good Red Sox rotation a great one. If pitching wins championships, then I like Boston’s chances.