General managers like to make splashes in the MLB offseason. Signing that expensive ace and giving in to an extra year or two to a slugger towards the end of his career are on the top of their lists.
Many top names in baseball entered free agency with big dollar signs on their mind. However, with a big contract comes great responsibility.
These MLB stars will have the greatest impact on their new teams.
Jason Heyward, Chicago Cubs
Leaving your old team for its arch rival is one of the most dreaded aspects of free agency, and Jason Heyward did just that. After spending the majority of his career with the Atlanta Braves, the former first-round draft pick was shipped off to the St. Louis Cardinals.
In his one season with the Cards, Heyward led the club to the playoffs before losing in the NLDS to his current team, the Chicago Cubs. In 2015, he batted a career high .293 while driving in 60 runs.
As an outfielder, Heyward primarily played in right but did play some games in center, proving his versatility. This proved valuable, as he might be the Cubs everyday center fielder depending on where Dexter Fowler plays.
Chicago won 97 games in 2015 and is one of the favorites to make a World Series run. They made some key offseason moves like signing Heyward, pitcher John Lackey and infielder Ben Zobrist.
A Chicago outfield of Heyward, Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber will be one of the deadliest offensive trios in the NL. Heyward will have his work cut out for him from a defensive standpoint as Soler and Schwarber are not the strongest defenders.
Look for Heyward to have a solid year at the plate but an even stronger year leading the outfield in defensive assists.
Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arguably the most sought after pitching free agent, Greinke is coming off a career year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He notched 19 wins and an MLB low 1.66 ERA leading LA to a third consecutive NL West title.
While many baseball pundits predicted top market organizations to dish out the dough to the three-time All Star, Arizona came out of the woodwork committing to six years and $206 million in Arizona.
Statistically speaking, it will be tough for Greinke to have a better season in 2016. However, as the ace of the relatively young staff he still has his best years ahead of him, as do the Diamondbacks.
Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tony La Russa spoke very highly of Greinke’s work ethic and pitching arsenal.
“Zack showed up in January for a couple of days and worked out — he threw a bullpen with our new pitching coach Mike Butcher and our manager,” La Russa said, via Arizona Sports. “The ball was just talking to you. I’m going left, right, down.”
Arizona’s lineup is loaded with young, homegrown talent. By adding Greinke as their ace and also trading for starting pitcher Shelby Miller, the D-Backs are set up as contenders in the NL West for many years to come.
David Price, Boston Red Sox
The $217 million man has a lot to prove in Beantown. One of the most sought after starting pitching free agents this offseason, Price catches a lot of flak for his continued poor playoff performances, posting an overall postseason record of 2-7.
In David Ortiz’s last season, the Red Sox are in serious “win now” mode, and adding Price certainly makes them one of the favorites to win the AL East.
After an underachieving 2015 campaign where Boston finished in last place in the AL East, they are ready to prove to its dedicated fan base that 2015 was a fluke. As long as Price can stay healthy and pitches like a true ace, Boston should have no problem advancing to the playoffs.
Johnny Cueto, San Francisco Giants
The 2015 World Series champion departed Kansas City for the California sun and is one member of a deadly starting rotation. Madison Bumgarner, Cueto and Jeff Samardzija will prove to be the top pitching rotation in the entire National League, and Cueto will be the real key to the consistent success.
Signing a six-year, $130 million contract this offseason, Cueto has a lot to prove. After being acquired by the Royals at the 2015 trade deadline, the righty went 4-7 posting a staggering 4.76 ERA.
However, many baseball pundits credit his lackluster second half success due to his transition from the National League to the America League. Now, he finds himself back in the National League where he’s had significant success, and he’s bringing fresh postseason success to a team primed for a World Series title.
Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
The former Division III player signed one of the most lucrative deals this offseason with the Detroit Tigers — a five year, $110 million contract. Zimmermann joins a Detroit team that finished in dead last in the AL Central and is eager to return to the top of the baseball elite.
The righty started a career high 33 games and logged 201 innings in Washington. He joins the formative Justin Verlander, who is primed to have a breakout season after suffering an injury in 2015.
The AL Central is surprisingly wide open at the start of Spring Training. Last year’s World Series champs will still be the favorite to win the division, but with the addition of Zimmermann Detroit will be battling for a postseason bid come October.
Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
This was perhaps one of the most underrated moves of the offseason. The Royals added a solid veteran starter to their young rotation. After losing two major keys from their World Series team in Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist, Kansas City has their work cut out if it wants to play in the fall classic for the third year in a row.
Kennedy signed a significant five-year, $70 million deal in January and is slated to be the number three starter in the rotation (behind flame throwers Edison Volquez and Yordano Ventura).
However, Kennedy is coming off one of his worst years since being in the MLB posting a 9-15 record and 4.28 ERA with the San Diego Padres. The 31 year-old did possess a dominating 8.7 K per 9 innings proving that he still has what it takes to make hitters swing and miss.
As long as Kennedy can stay healthy, he will provide steady leadership to a relatively young pitching staff in Kansas City.
Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals
The former New York Met put on one of the most historic postseason runs in 2015 by belting an impressive seven home runs (half of his regular season total) and a .328 batting average. After going unsigned for a majority of the offseason, the former 13th-round pick made the trip down route 95 to play in the nation’s capitol.
There’s no denying how much the Nationals underachieved in 2015 after being predicted as potential World Series champions. But with the addition of legendary manager Dusty Baker and now Daniel Murphy, Washington should give the Mets a run for the NL East crown.
Joe Blanton, Los Angeles Dodgers
After almost being out of professional baseball completely, Joe Blanton redesigned his game and has become one of the most dominating arms out of the bullpen. He spent the 2015 campaign between the MLB and Triple A with the Kansas City Royals organization, but was designated for assignment after just four major league starts.
Picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates late in the season, Blanton was sent right to the bullpen for relief duty, a role in which he flourished. After picking up five wins — all in relief appearances — and posting a 1.57 ERA, Blanton re-established himself as a bullpen stalwart.
Offering a fastball consistently at 90-91 MPH, Blanton has found success by maxing out for one to two innings per night rather than trying to stretch five or six innings.
Look for Blanton to eat up some key innings for LA in 2016 and to be a possible All-Star candidate come July.
Justin Upton, Detroit Tigers
Justin Upton is the second member of the Detroit Tigers on this list, and he could have the biggest impact on the outcome of this team. Upton spent the majority of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves, but he spent the 2015 season with the San Diego Padres where he had a career low .251 batting average in 150 games.
The three-time All Star signed a six-year, $132 million deal this offseason and is now part of a deadly middle lineup with Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.
First-year general manager Al Avila really wanted to make a difference and compete for the AL Central title immediately. By signing Upton to a long-term deal, he proved just how serious the Tigers are to returning to the top of the baseball echelon.
Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs
Ben Zobrist joined one of the best teams in all of baseball, and he has a legitimate shot at winning a World Series for the second consecutive year. Instead of being a bench player, he will be the starting second baseman for the North Siders.
Zobrist spent the 2015 regular season with the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals where he posted a .284 batting average and .816 OPS. He rejoins his former manager Joe Maddon, who he played with as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
His tough style of baseball will play well in Chicago and he will easily be one of the fan favorites, especially given his Illinois roots.