While the MLB season officially begins in early April in sold-out ballparks around the country, true baseball fans know that the start of a new campaign really occurs in small towns around Florida and Arizona in mid-February. Now that pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training, it seems appropriate to begin gearing up for the 2012 season.
This offseason was one of the more exciting in recent memory, as many premier players ended up switching teams during free agency, dramatically shifting the balance of power in baseball. Here are this offseason's top three winners and losers:
Winners
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels were winners this offseason mainly because they signed nine-time All-Star and three-time MVP Albert Pujols. It's hard to lose when you nab the best player in baseball and stick him smack in the middle of an offense that previously lacked the power to compete with league heavyweights such as the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers.
In addition to adding Pujols, the Angels also signed former Rangers ace C.J. Wilson, who finished in the top 10 in the American League last season in ERA, wins and strikeouts and will likely be the Angels' No. 3 starter behind co-aces Jered Weaver and Dan Haren.
With these signings, the Angels have clearly vaulted themselves into the top tier of the American League. They should challenge Texas for the AL West pennant, and they may even compete with New York, Boston and Detroit for the American League pennant.
Washington Nationals
It once seemed like the Nats were always in the mix for top-class players but never ended up landing them. That changed last winter when they nabbed outfielder Jayson Werth. This offseason, general manager Mike Rizzo added former Oakland ace Gio Gonzalez to their starting rotation via trade. Previously acquired by the Athletics in a trade that sent Nick Swisher to the White Sox, Gonzalez has blossomed of late and was named to the 2011 All-Star Game.
Washington further improved its rotation by re-signing John Lannan and adding free agent Edwin Jackson, who was an All-Star in 2009 and signed just a one-year contract, making him an essentially risk-free pickup. Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg are also promising youngsters that should factor into the rotation this season.
Detroit Tigers
While it remains to be seen whether Detroit overpaid when it gave former Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder a nine-year, $214 million contract to take his talents to the Motor City, one thing is for sure: Detroit now has a powerful offense to go along with an improving starting pitching staff.
Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, who will be hitting together in the middle of the Detroit lineup, have a combined 495 home runs over the last eight seasons, and both are repeat All-Star selections.
The Tigers also grabbed relievers OctavioDotel and Collin Balester to shore up an already stellar bullpen that includes closer Jose Valverde, who converted all 49 of his save opportunities last season and recorded a 2.24 ERA.
Losers
New York Mets
In arguably the most improved division in baseball, nobody is quite sure what the Mets were thinking this offseason. With the seventh-highest payroll in baseball last season, it sure seems like the Mets could have made a run at a few top free agents.
New York's biggest signings were back-end relievers Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch and outfielder Andres Torres, but the Mets hardly did anything else of note.
In addition, the Mets lost arguably their best player in shortstop Jose Reyes. The 2011 NL batting champion elected to head south and play for the Miami Marlins, which may mean that the Mets will find themselves in the cellar come September.
Even worse, the Mets failed to move overpriced stars Johan Santana, Jason Bay or David Wright for financial wiggle room and a stable of prospects to begin what could be years of rebuilding.
Houston Astros
The Astros were the worst team in baseball in 2011, and they did little to improve this offseason. Houston's biggest acquisitions were Red Sox utility infielder Jed Lowrie and 25-year-old pitcher Kyle Weiland, who posted a 7.66 ERA last season and has yet to prove that he can stick at the major league level.
Houston also failed to move average players with big contracts, including starting pitcher Wandy Rodriquez and first baseman Carlos Lee. Rodriquez was just 11-11 last season with a 3.49 ERA, while Lee — who is entering his sixth year in Houston — has seen a sharp decline in home runs and batting average over the last three seasons.
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore hasn't had a winning record since 1997, and it looks like that isn't going to change this season. The Orioles failed to improve on a 2011 squad that won just 69 games.
Since the beginning of their 15-year slide, the Orioles have gone through seven managers and six general managers. Owner Peter Angelos, who has been the one constant throughout the losing years, pegged former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette as the latest hire this offseason, even though he had been out of major league baseball for nine seasons.
Duquette failed to make a splash during his first free agent signing period with the Orioles, as Baltimore — despite reportedly making runs at Prince Fielder and Manny Ramirez — failed to sign anybody of note and lost arguably its best starting pitcher in Jeremy Guthrie, who was traded to the Rockies for below-average veterans Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom.
