The 2011-12 offseason was one for the ages, with five $100MM+ commitments and plenty of big trades. Please vote below on the biggest surprise of the offseason.
Headlines
Navigation
MLBTR INFO
Connect
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
hide arrows scroll to top
One of the choices should have been
Braves do nothing!
Not too surprising!
Always around for a zinger.
Cubs acquire Theo Epstein.
Definitely a good one, should’ve included it.
But it wasn’t that big of a surprise was it?? I mean the writing was on the wall…
I thought it was a huge surprise…in, say, August, no one thought Theo would be in the Cubs’ front office in 2012.
Jim Hendry might Have 😉
I agree. Especially since he had time left on his contract. I thought the Cubs were going to target Friedman.
it absolutely was somewhat of a shock that Theo was leaving at all let alone to go to the Cubs, especially with 1 year still left on his deal with the Sox.
Honestly, the fact that Madson only got a one year deal and it wasn’t with the Phillies shocked the hell out of me.
Nothing on Jesus Montero…
Nothing on Jesus Montero…
Consider the Pineda choice to be the Montero one. But Montero himself being traded didn’t qualify as a big surprise for me.
How is it that the Marlins, who never do ANYTHING in free agency, much less make three huge splashes and were in on the Albert Pujols sweepstakes, only got 5% of the vote so far?
A lot of people knew they were getting a new stadium and the owner said he was willing to buy a lot in free agency. It was surprising, but just not AS surprising as some of the other moves.
Would Ryan Braun’s suspension being overturned count as an offseason surprise?
I’d say Pirates finally lock up a good player for once.
I wouldn’t have worded it that the Marlins acquired Zambrano, but more along the lines that The Cubs were able to trade Zambrano
Maybe I read “most surprising” as “most shocking” — I voted “Manny to Oakland.” Oh well… 😉
Maybe I read “most surprising” as “most shocking” — I voted “Manny to Oakland.” Oh well… 😉
What about Ozzie going to the Marlins or Robin Ventura replacing him?
Funny memories of Ventura.. Always remember him for charging the mound and the 40+ year old Nolan Ryan, Ryan putting him in a head lock and smacking him in the old bean-O numerous times… It was hilarious.
his Grand Slam single in the NLCS was better
Oh wow.. My memory is bad.. What did he do?? Pass the runner at 1b during a congratulations or something??
If that is the case.. lemme tell ya something odd.. Tony “C” (Conigliaro)For Boston in… 65? 66? Hit a HR, wrenched his back so bad he couldn’t run the bases, so they had to get a pinch runner to run the bases and that runner got credit for the homer!! I cannot recal who it was.. Too long ago, but don’t recall it happening again…
I believe it involved a celebration on the field. All the base runners scored, and he was mobbed between 1st and 2nd.
I am thinking Tim McCarver had that happen with the Phillies at one time also.. generally the runner on 1b passes the batter during the celebration and they call it a 3 run single..
Might be wrong on McCarver with the Phillies.. He may have been with St. louis at the time even.. Not exactly sure.. For some reason after you posted that, mcCarver came to mind as a victim of that odd occurrence though.
’99 NLCS Game 5, Mets down by 1 run in the 15th inning, he hit a walk-off Grand Slam. When he rounded 1st he was mobbed by teammates and never made it around to score, so he was given a 2RBI single instead.
How about the Royals lock up Salvador Perez? Of all the players that you expected to be extended, he was not even on the list. He wasn’t even one of the top 10 Royals that I expected to get an extension this offseason.
When I voted for the Angles with Pujols and CJ Wilson, I meant that only for Albert. CJ and Albert do not belong in the same sentence
Albert signing with the Angels to me was the biggest shock. I knew Prince was heading to the AL – sort of surprised it was the Tigers but with Albert you have a man who was possibly the best Cardinal player , a man who most expected to remain a Cardinal, and arguably the best player in baseball suddenly winds up with the Angels.
Who cares about CJ Wilson – he is overrated – thats why the Yankees, who needed pitching at that time didnt really go after him
I think the Buehrle, 4/58m deal may actually be the better of the worst deals for SP between the 2. Agreed that the Wilson 5/78m deal was a lot for a guy who has yet to prove he can withstand over the LT the rigors of a SP and also has the age factor against him. It carries huge risk.
The marlins at least know Buehrle will eat innings, or has a history of it. Anaheim got a pitcher with really no track record and a huge monetary gamble.
Don’t forget the fact that Albert went to a pitcher’s park in a pitcher’s division (save Texas). The best hitter in baseball should go to a hitter’s park if anywhere. Not a pitcher paradise!
Only if he wished to pad stats or make money on the market. Hewent there to win.
“(save Texas)” … really??
In 2011, the Rangers ranked 5th in the AL in ERA, and 2nd in WHIP.
In 2010, the Rangers finished 4th in ERA, and 5th in WHIP.
In 2009, the Rangers finished 8th in ERA, and 5th in WHIP.
A far cry from 2008, when they finished dead last in ERA AND WHIP.
These are NOT your dad’s or uncle’s Senators/Rangers… these are your Nolan Ryan approved Texas Rangers. While the Ballpark is definitely a hitter’s park, this team is (despite how unnatural it feels coming off the tongue) a pitching minded team.
“(save Texas)” … really??
In 2011, the Rangers ranked 5th in the AL in ERA, and 2nd in WHIP.
In 2010, the Rangers finished 4th in ERA, and 5th in WHIP.
In 2009, the Rangers finished 8th in ERA, and 5th in WHIP.
A far cry from 2008, when they finished dead last in ERA AND WHIP.
These are NOT your dad’s or uncle’s Senators/Rangers… these are your Nolan Ryan approved Texas Rangers. While the Ballpark is definitely a hitter’s park, this team is (despite how unnatural it feels coming off the tongue) a pitching minded team.
You seem to ignore the fact that Pujols signing with the Angels isn’t a surprise at all… Also, CJ Wilson signing with the Angels isn’t a surprise… HOWEVER, for the Angels to sign BOTH Pujols AND Wilson ON THE SAME DAY, WITH all the $$ they’re already spending on their roster… THAT all COMBINED is surprising. That is why they are listed together. Without the combination, hands down Prince Fielder getting $200M+ is the biggest surprise, especially with several columnists suggesting that he would settle for a 1 year deal soon.
I don’t think Pujols was a big surprise. I have been saying it for the last two years. The Angels owner has been saying for the last two offseasons that they were going to spend a lot of money via free agency. They struck out two years ago and couldn’t sign anybody.
Ryan Braun
Can’t believe Papplebon to Phil’s didn’t make it. However, Albert Pujols to the Angels is tops.
So 93% of MLBTR readers weren’t all that surprised that Yoenis “YouTube” Cespedes would go to the A’s? To me, that one came out of nowhere. The Angels’ moves were not surprising to me at all. Big, yes, but a new front office trying to make a splash and weaken their division rivals at the same time is pretty standard.
There is not a new ownership group for the Angels, just a new GM and front office staff because their last one was terrible.
There is not a new ownership group for the Angels, just a new GM and front office staff because their last one was terrible.
Oops, yep, my mistake. Edited to reflect reality.
I agree with your reasoning, but I was still a bit surprised. I had been telling anyone who would listen the last two offseasons that I thought the Angels would sign Pujols when his contract was up, but when they took on that horrendous Wells contract, I thought that they had lost the chance.
I agree with your reasoning, but I was still a bit surprised. I had been telling anyone who would listen the last two offseasons that I thought the Angels would sign Pujols when his contract was up, but when they took on that horrendous Wells contract, I thought that they had lost the chance.
So 93% of MLBTR readers weren’t all that surprised that Yoenis “YouTube” Cespedes would go to the A’s? To me, that one came out of nowhere. The Angels’ moves were not surprising to me at all. Big, yes, but a new front office trying to make a splash and weaken their division rivals at the same time is pretty standard.
You should have put “Braves do nothing” as one of the options.
The cubs getting a potential superstar 1b for an injury prone relief pitcher.
Tigers. Prince Fielder. Nobody expected him to break 200MM, especially as the offseason progressed. And, the Tigers had Miggy, who’s also really good.
Either Fielder or Epstein/Hoyer to the Cubs, but Epstein wasn’t on the poll.
Tigers. Prince Fielder. Nobody expected him to break 200MM, especially as the offseason progressed. And, the Tigers had Miggy, who’s also really good.
Either Fielder or Epstein/Hoyer to the Cubs, but Epstein wasn’t on the poll.
Has to be fielder or Marlins
but at the start of the offseason if you told me the Marlins would sign 3 big name FAs or the Tigers would sign Fielder, I would have laughed at both, but more so at the marlins.
So i go with marlins
Too many good choices, I can’t decide.
Too many good choices, I can’t decide.
i said cespedes to the a’s, not even as an a’s homer. i didn’t even think they were anywhere close to in the running for him, i just thought they were going to go after soler