This year’s Winter Meetings didn’t provide as much activity as expected, but this has still easily been the busiest week of the offseason thus far. During the meetings (which ran from Sunday to Thursday) and the days since, we’ve seen a host of transactions. In case you missed any of those moves, here’s a full rundown:
Trades
- Angels – acquired 2B Ian Kinsler from Tigers for RHP Wilkel Hernandez and OF Troy Montgomery
- Athletics – acquired OF Stephen Piscotty from Cardinals for IF Yairo Munoz and IF Max Schrock
- Braves – acquired 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Scott Kazmir, IF Charlie Culberson and $4.5MM from Dodgers for OF Matt Kemp
- Cardinals – acquired OF Marcell Ozuna from Marlins for RHPs Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen, OF Magneuris Sierra and LHP Daniel Castano
- Mariners – acquired RHP Shawn Armstrong from Indians for $500K in international bonus pool space; acquired LHP Anthony Misiewicz from Rays for $1MM of international bonus pool space
- Padres – acquired 3B Chase Headley, RHP Bryan Mitchell and $500K from Yankees for OF Jabari Blash; acquired SS Freddy Galvis from Phillies for RHP Enyel De Los Santos
- Pirates – acquired RHP Nick Burdi from Phillies for $500K of international bonus pool space
- Rangers – acquired LHP Matt Moore and $750K in international bonus pool space from Giants for RHPs Sam Wolff and Israel Cruz; acquired OF Carlos Tocci from White Sox for cash
- Rays – acquired IF Joey Wendle from Athletics for a player to be named later; acquired IF Ryan Schimpf from Padres for IF Deion Tansel
- Royals – acquired RHP Brad Keller from Reds for cash or a player to be named later; acquired RHP Burch Smith from Mets for cash or PTBNL
- Yankees – acquired OF Giancarlo Stanton and $30MM (barring opt-out from Stanton after 2020) from Marlins for IF Starlin Castro, IF Jose Devers and RHP Jorge Guzman
Major league signings
- Angels – IF Zack Cozart (three years, $38MM)
- Astros – RP Hector Rondon (two years, $8.5MM); RP Joe Smith (two years, $15MM)
- Brewers – RHP Yovani Gallardo (details unknown; contract is pending a physical)
- Cardinals – RP Luke Gregerson (two years, $11MM)
- Cubs – RP Steve Cishek (two years, $13MM); RP Brandon Morrow (two years, $21MM); LHP Drew Smyly (two years, $10MM)
- Dodgers – RHP Tom Koehler (one year; contract is pending a physical)
- Mariners – RP Juan Nicasio (two years, $17MM)
- Mets – RP Anthony Swarzak (two years, $14MM)
- Nationals – RP Brandon Kintzler (two years, $10MM; contract is pending a physical)
- Orioles – RHP Michael Kelly (details unknown)
- Phillies – RP Tommy Hunter (two years, $18MM); RP Pat Neshek (two years, $16.25MM); 1B Carlos Santana (three years, $60MM; contract is pending a physical)
- Rangers – RP Chris Martin (two years, $4MM)
- Rockies – RP Jake McGee (three years, $27MM); RP Bryan Shaw (three years, $27MM)
- Twins – RHP Michael Pineda (two years, $10MM); RP Fernando Rodney (one year, $4.5MM)
- Yankees – LHP CC Sabathia (one year, $10MM)
Minor league signings
- Angels – OF Rymer Liriano (link)
- Brewers – RHP Angel Ventura (link)
- Indians – OF Melvin Upton Jr. (link)
- Mariners – IF Gordon Beckham (link)
- Marlins – IF Cristhian Adames, OF Rafael Ortega, RHP Alex Wimmers (links here)
- Mets – C Jose Lobaton (link)
- Nationals – LHP Tim Collins (link)
- Rangers – IF Hanser Alberto, RHP Kevin Jepsen (link)
- Rays – Thirteen players (link)
- Rockies – UTIL Shawn O’Malley (link)
- Royals – 3B/OF Cody Asche, RHP Mike Broadway (link)
- Tigers – UTIL Ronny Rodriguez (link)
- Yankees – C Erik Kratz (link)
International signings
- Dodgers – RHP Guillermo Zuniga ($205K bonus)
- Rays – SS Jelfry Marte ($800K bonus)
Designated for assignment
- Astros – OF Preston Tucker (link)
- Braves – 1B Adrian Gonzalez (link)
- Marlins – LHP Hunter Cervenka (link)
- Padres – RHP Jose Ruiz (link)
Released
- Mariners – RHP Seth Frankoff (link)
Waiver claims
- Mariners (from Phillies) – OF Cameron Perkins (link)
- Pirates (from Phillies) – INF Engelb Vielma (link)
Outrighted
- Tigers – RHP Victor Alcantara (link)
What a wonderful week it was for baseball fans. Stuff *finally* happened. Interestingly enough, all 10 of the top 10 free agents (per MLBTR, including Alex Cobb at 11 after Tanaka opted into his contract) are still on the market. I think teams are hoping these mid to low level signings will pressure top free agents into signing for less, panicking that they won’t get a contract.
These middle relievers getting vacuumed up like crazy by teams might end up dropping the price for Davis
Their set up guys not middle relievers
They’re setup guys, not their setup guys.
“I think teams are hoping these mid to low level signings will pressure top free agents into signing for less . . . “
That was kinda sorta (former As owner) Charles O. Finley’s response when free agency was new. He suggested that the way for owners to keep salaries depressed was to make every player a free agent every year and let them all compete for major league jobs.
Marvin Miller understood this as well, which is why he agreed to a system which produced a limited number of free agents each year, with needy teams competing for their services. The other owners ignored Finley, got rolled again by Miller and here we are.
So, every player in baseball (minus those controlled newbies) would only sign 1 year contracts? I think that would make it that much worse. You would be rebuilding your team every year.
I am surprised Martinez didn’t sign this week considering that he met with a few teams this week. The market for Hosmer seems small but I’m not surprised as his agent is seeking 200 million. No way he gets that much
A Gonzales to Yanks: Bird back up/DH possibilities. Big lefty bat for Yankees Stadium.
Minimum cost, WS ring.
Don’t think they’d want to tie up a roster spot.
If they want to add a veteran guy to the clubhouse I would think someone who could play more regularly at 2nd or 3rd and keep Torres in the minors to start the season : Utley, Kendrick, Phillips, etc.
Utley has retired, Kendrick and Phillips cost $M
Utley is still around…
One interesting wrinkle on your comment. I 100% agree with what you said, but maybe bring AGon in to start the season and then cut him when Gleyber comes up in May. Since any team is only out the pro-rated minimum up to that point, there is a lot of flexibility
Stuff finally happened….unless your a Jays fan. Don’t think they did a single thing
As a jays fan… yep. Nothings happened yet? :/
My favorite move the Phillies made was the Galvis trade.
Wondering if MLBTR has any information on the reported deal for Disney to acquire a piece of MLB’s BAMTech. I’ve read that every MLB team will be receiving $50-$68M in the Spring as a result of the deal.
Yanks hypothetical trade NY trades andujar and Adams to Tex for joe Gallo solves 3b problem and another lefty power bat to compliment the righty power. Tex gets 3b of the future and another quality sp. yanks can focus on maybe trading Frazier for a #1 or #2 sp. and stay under the 197mm.
Why not just let andujar play? Kids got talent and can go through growing pains with the offense we have.
Bc he is a righty. Concerned abt being too righty heavy come post season where will see top pitching
Gallo isn’t a good hitter though
Gardner
Judge
Bird
Stanton
Gallo
Sanchez
Didi
Hicks
Torres
Gallo will get pitches to hit. Nice balance from Land R hitters. Gallo could hit 40+
That lineup could shatter all time HR record 300 home runs
Why on earth would you want Gallo?
This was the most boring winter meetings ever!
Athletics made some good moves in my opinion.