As we approach the winter meetings, most of the offseason action remains ahead of us, starting with Monday’s non-tender deadline. There has been some early movement, however, as two free agents signed their qualifying offers, we got an early need-for-need challenge trade, and 9 of our Top 50 MLB Free Agents have already left the board.
The splashiest signing of November was the White Sox snagging of Yasmani Grandal on a four-year, $73MM deal. MLBTR readers largely approved of the deal in this poll from Connor Byrne. The Southsiders also locked up their long-time lineup fulcrum in Cuban first baseman/designated hitter Jose Abreu. After he accepted the qualifying offer, GM Rick Hahn committed two more years to 2019’s AL RBI leader.
The Braves win November’s volume award, moving early on many fronts. They returned vets like Darren O’Day, Chris Martin, and Nick Markakis, solidified Tyler Flowers and Travis d’Arnaud as their catching tandem, and brought in the top bullpen arm on the market in lefty Will Smith.
The Padres also came to play this winter, signing Drew Pomeranz to a lengthy four-year contract. Pomeranz impressed in a 26-game stint in Milwaukee, and he’ll now pair with Kirby Yates at the back end of San Diego’s bullpen. The Rangers, meanwhile, turned three-year, $30MM rotation arms into a tradition when they signed former Twin Kyle Gibson.
Lest we forget, November also gifted us with an always-exciting pre-debut extension when the Mariners inked first baseman Evan White to a six-year, $24MM pact despite finishing 2019 in Double-A. On the flip side, we lost some players from the pool through the overseas departures of former major leaguers Gerardo “Baby Shark” Parra, Justin Bour, Tyler Austin, Mike Wright and Aaron Altherr.
November also gave us the rare controversial waiver placement. 28-year-old Jonathan Villar appeared in every game for the Orioles in 2019, putting up 4.0 bWAR with a .274/.339/.453 line while moving capably between second and short. He is likely due a somewhat heady $10.4MM through arbitration, but given Baltimore’s lack of financial commitments, stated desire for a veteran shortstop, and general need for talent of all shapes and sizes, it’s somewhat surprising to see them make Villar available for common claim.
As for the rest of the market, the Cards saved us the trauma of seeing Adam Wainwright in a non-Cardinals jersey, the Nats brought back Patrick Corbin’s personal catcher Yan Gomes on an affordable two-year deal, the Mariners plucked a low-cost rotation flyer off the pile in Kendall Graveman, the Diamondbacks gave Carson Kelly a veteran partner behind the plate in Stephen Vogt, and a few vets conceded early to minor league deals: Ryan Goins (A’s), Blaine Hardy (Twins), Josh Harrison (Phillies), A.J. Cole (Blue Jays).
The rumors continue to swirl, and though there’s still more than 12 hours left in the month, it’s a good time to see what y’all think was the best move made in November.
(Poll link for app users)
Whoever voted for Kendall Graveman, you are funny. Not funny like a clown funny, but you know, funny
There are 45 people that voted for him so far!
173 now
341 now on Nov 30th @ 11:14 PM pst
It was a better move than the insane total money guaranteed to Gibson and Pomeranz.
Just don’t mention the shinebox. Bad things happen if you mention the shinebox.
I’m watching that tonight for the first time in many years
Whoever votes for the Mariners signing of Kendall Graveman as the best November move is a clown, funny or not.
the Chase Anderson deal could end up well from the Toronto perspective.
Yes, for sure, that deserved a mention as well.
I voted for the Will Smith deal but the White Sox bringing in Grandal is a close second.
K.
How did that trigger you?
Take it easy boomer
Lmao go cry about another minor league signing, troll
You got all offended and angry because he wrote ‘K’? Good gravy, you boomers are something else.
Pretty passive aggressive there, chitown. It was a simple question. Why you mad?
rct- you have weird interpretive skills. chitown was clearly butthurt that jd picked Will Smith. Jd asked a simple question.
And chitown seems to have no problem getting butthurt over his own team but when it comes to rivals, troll away.
K.
How often would you say you post “take it easy boomer”? Twice a day?
It’s difficult to limit it to two, considering how many times boomers here whine about minutiae
The NYY waiving Ellsbury if they save the 26 million
Yankees aren’t getting out of that they will pay Jacoby.
Grandal’s the biggest single move. Braves’ bullpen shopping plus d’Arnaud means they probably got the most done overall.
100+ people who voted for the Abreu extension must have thought they were voting on the worst deal of November.
Those White Sox fans are always “entertaining” but a little to quick to pounce…..
Abreu is by far the best and most certain signing. Rounding out the top 5:
1. Jose Abreu
2. Jake Odorizzi
3. Yasmani Grandal
4. Will Smith
5. Adam Wainwright
Pomz and Gibsom will like a word.
Why do you say Abreu is the worst signing? I’m a Sox fan so my perspective is likely skewed. Interested in hearing an outside view of why it’s a bad signing.
There was no reason for the team to give the extension. Already had him signed for one year. They aren’t saving any money and are taking all the risk. They bid against themselves, no other team was fighting them to get him after the QO. If he has a good year, they could still have resigned him at the same rate but most likely less.
There may have been little financial reason for the White Sox to extend Jose Abreu so soon based strictly on advanced analytics but his importance to the franchise can’t be understated. His mentoring of the young players throughout the White Sox 3-year rebuild and his overall veteran presence can’t be denied. The White Sox are making a statement to the young players already on their active roster and to those prospects ready to debut in 2020 and beyond that Abreu will be here for the long haul.
The White Sox are rewarding Abreu for all that he has done and for what he will continue to do as they transition from rebuilding to AL Central relevance and ultimately to perennial World Series contenders. He has been the face of the franchise and will remain so with others stars joining in.
The Abreu signing also has marketing implications with him being a fan favorite. He has also been a willing recruiter of other players including fellow Cuban Luis Robert two years ago. Abreu himself was recruited by countryman Dayan Viciedo and Alexei Ramirez when he was an international FA back in 2013.
The White Sox have had a history of Cuban players on Chicago’s South Side since Minnie Minoso starred for them during their ‘Go-Go’ era. Minoso was not only the ‘Cuban Comet’ but also became Mr. White Sox and remained an ambassador for the franchise until his passing a few years ago. Minoso was a great friend and mentor to Abreu just as Abreu has become to Yoan Moncada and Robert. Abreu’s value to this franchise far surpasses his analytic worth. He will likely remain a White Sox beyond his playing days and assume the role that Minoso had for 60 years.
Bottom Line: The White Sox signing of Abreu goes far beyond WAR. Plain and simple it is a great business move!
None of that has anything to do with signing him for 3 years at $16+ MM when you could have gone year to year and had all those same “off field” benefits without the risk.
Can you recognize the logical inconsistency when on this same site people are saying a 4 WAR Villar isn’t worth $10 MM playing up the middle, yet a 2 WAR Abreu is worth $50 MM playing at 1B?
Too long. Did not read one word. Next!
[Downvote]
Comparing Jonathan Villar to Jose Abreu is ‘apples and oranges’.
You are using analytics to value Villar. Abreu is a franchise icon who provides added intangible benefits above and beyond his WAR.
Btw: I believe that Villar is worth every bit of his $10.5MM arbitration salary and feel the Orioles made a huge mistake in outrighting him ahead of the Monday contract tender deadline. Once Villar officially becomes a free agent he figures to have a number of suitors, hopefully among them the Cubs who haven’t had a decent leadoff hitter since Dexter Fowler departed as a FA following their 2016 World Series championship. I’d be willing to bet that Villar will sign a contract in the neighborhood of his expected arbitration amount, perhaps even exceeding it with some frenzied bidding.
Proficient switch-hitters who steal 40+ SB’s and play decent defense at a premium position like 2B and SS don’t grow on trees. As good as Fowler was with the Cubs leading off in 2015 and 2016, he never approached Villar’s SB numbers and also provided below average defense in CF. Many of their other numbers are fairly comparable with Fowler doing a bit better with his OBP. Fowler’s best season was his 4.1 bWAR in 2016 at age 30. Villar posted a 4.0 bWAR with 40 SB’s last season with the Orioles at 28. I gotta believe the Cubs would be happy with a repeat of that or Villar’s 3.9 number with the Brewers in 2016 when he led the NL with 62 SB’s.
Hey clepto, provide your address I’ll be happy to send you the abridged or CliffsNotes version.
clepto, you are by far my favorite poster.
I have a hunch that no team values Jonathan Villar as a 4 WAR player. Defensive metrics have miles to go to be reliable. Villar is a bull in the China Shop defensively.
The White Sox also value Abreu higher than a 1.7 fWar player. He brings other elements to the table in that clubhouse. The D metrics for a 1B are laughably bad to begin with. Abreu gets knocked a good bit there too.
All of that can be true and the ChiSox still could have paid more than sticker price for Abreu. Free Agency has not been very kind to that type of player for quite some time.
As a rule of thumb I don’t read comments longer than the article.
It’s always fun when MLBTR posts test one’s vocabulary skills. I mean, how often does a sports-related article use the word fulcrum?
Love the Phillies movie reference. I wonder how many others got it
I am totally dense. Can you explain please?
I think will Smith’s contract will age better than Yasmani Grandal’s.
its certainly the best value. Grandal’s is near market value, while Smith, barring injury, is markedly below.
Best move is Yasmani. Most interesting is Evan White.
I think the most risky move is the Brewers/Padres swap.
Risky from which teams perspective? I think the brewers stole this swap.
I voted Will Smith because his team could be in the World Series this year. And he could be pitching big innings for them to get there
Same here.
YES! Kendall Graveman. I always like messing with polls and using my vote on the least likely answer.
Joe Pesci in the bar (Goodfellows) when the guy said he was funny. I guess if I have to explain it, it doesn’t matter
My vote is for Vogt, who wasn’t included for some reason.
2 years of Gomes for what essentially was the price of 1 year. Good glove, good receiver and bat will come back. 2019 bat was an aberration.
Urias was an A+ top prospect. Not sure why Preller traded him.
Urias is the best acquisition in 2019.
Because Preller is an idiot
All of them average out to be about C+ Will Smith was the best signing
The best and most impacting November move without a doubt is the White Sox signing of Yasmani Grandal. When all is said and done it could be the single most important one of the entire offseason if the White Sox are then able to persuade other significant free agents to follow him to Chicago’s South Side.
What Grandal brings to the White Sox alone is huge. His high OPS switch-hitting bat helps balance out a lineup that is heavily right-handed. His defense, especially his ability to frame pitches is equally significant with the ChiSox having a rotation chock full of young power arms who still have command issues. His veteran leadership, along with that of returning slugger Jose Abreu will be huge for a rebuilding team ready to become relevant in 2020. The Grandal signing also addresses the White Sox catching position going forward which was a big question mark beyond 2020 with incumbent starter James McCann due to become a free agent following the upcoming season.
The biggest impact Grandal might have could be with the top FA pitching arms available this offseason. Money matters most but with Grandal and McCann behind the plate in 2020 the White Sox have just become far more appealing to the pitchers they target this winter. Often times a single move can create a domino effect during the hot stove. The Grandal move might not only cause a chain reaction with arms heading to Chicago but have a cascade effect with other potential players the front office pursues to fill holes in RF and at DH.
Novel write much?
You are repeating yourself with comments that hold little value. Is it your idea ‘clepto’ or did you steal it from someone else, perhaps my Sox pal pplama/Paulie who at least reads them before commenting?
Unbelievable that anyone picked “Padres trade for Trent Grisham, Zach Davies”
Still don’t understand the abreu extension when they could have just signed him year by year. Unless they were already gonna do that…
Grandal signing is not good for the Sox. A 4 yr contract for an aging catcher. Come on.
Every human being on earth is aging.
Wrong- They need to age on someone else’s dime. Productive on my dime.