To the regular MLB fan, this offseason has been very boring. We were expecting this to be a usual offseason, bloated contracts being handed out like candy and players on crappy teams bidding farewell from their torture. However, the MLB threw us a curveball this year and it was a nasty one. We have waited endlessly for trades and the free agents to sign, and it has been a nightmare. Even now, with less than 2 weeks until Opening Day, some top free agents remained unsigned! So, here are the winners of the offseason, so far.

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#5: Colorado Rockies

The Rockies had a breakout year in 2017, with their key performers being Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, D.J. LeMahieu, etc. This offseason was a very interesting one for the Rockies. They went the route of free agency, making no major trades that would affect their team. They went with signing a bunch of quality relief pitchers. The most notable of these was the signing of Wade Davis for 3 years and $52 million. In 2017, Davis had a 2.30 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, 79 strikeouts, 32/33 SV, and 15 earned runs in 58.2 innings pitched. With these stats and his consistency, signing him for $17 million a year was a no-brainer. Among Davis, the Rockies signed Bryan Shaw (3 years, $25M), who had a 3.52 ERA with the Indians in 2017, and Jake McGee (3 years, $25M), who had a 3.61 ERA with the Rockies in 2017. They also signed veteran catcher Chris Iannetta for 2 years and $7.75 million. He had a .254 AVG and an .865 OPS in 272 AB with the Diamondbacks the previous year. Iannetta also threw out 24% of batters that tried to steal a base against him. They also resigned Carlos Gonzalez for 1 year and $8 million. He had a .262 AVG and an .762 OPS in 470 AB for the Rockies in 2017. He also had a 98.6% success rate at getting an out last year in the outfield.

The most notable loss for the Rockies would likely be Greg Holland, who proved his role as a closer in 2017 well with 41/45 SV in arguably the hardest stadium in the MLB to pitch in, and after being out in 2016 with Tommy John surgery. The biggest thing about this loss is that it’s not confirmed. Holland is still a free agent, so the Rockies could still attempt to bring him back to Coors. In 2017, Holland had a 3.61 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, 70 strikeouts, and 23 earned runs in 57.1 innings pitched. Losing Pat Neshek will hurt them, as he had a 1.59 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, 69 strikeouts, and 11 earned runs in 62.1 innings pitched with the Phillies and Rockies in 2017. They also lost veteran catcher Jonathon Lucroy, who provided a .265 average and a .716 OPS in 423 AB for the Rockies and Rangers in 2017. Lucroy also threw out about 23-30% of the batters who tried to steal a base against him. Also losing Mark Reynolds will hurt, as he had a .267 AVG and an .839 OPS in 520 AB with the Rockies in 2017. Reynolds can be replaced however, likely by Ian Desmond, who had a .274 AVG and an .701 OPS in 339 AB in 2017. Reynolds had a 99.5% success rate at getting an out.

#4: Milwaukee Brewers

The Brew Crew were also a breakout 2017 team, with key performances from Chase Anderson, Corey Knebel, Travis Shaw, Domingo Santana, etc. They made some hefty lineup and rotation changes in the offseason. The biggest of these would likely be the trade for Christian Yelich, who in 2017 had a .282 AVG and an .807 OPS with the Marlins. He was a good guy to bring in runs, stacking up a quality 81 RBI. However, Yelich had a defensive WAR at -0.6, but he had a 99.7% success rate in the field, with only one error last year. Another good outfield addition was the signing of Lorenzo Cain for 5 years and $80 million. In 2017, Cain had a quality .300 AVG with an .803 OPS with the Royals. Cain also highlighted a 12.1 defensive WAR in 2017. Two decent pitching signings included signing Matt Albers (2 years, $5M) and Jhoulys Chacin (2 years, $15.5M). In 2017, Albers had a 1.62 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 63 strikeouts, and 11 earned runs in 61 innings pitched with the Nationals. In 2017, Chacin had a 13-10 W-L count, a 3.89 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 153 strikeouts, and 78 earned runs in 180.1 innings pitched with the Padres.

The biggest notable loss for the Brewers would probably be Anthony Swarzak, who shipped off to the Mets after a great season, but he was the factor that got them eliminated from the Wild Card. In 2017, Swarzak had a 2.30 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 91 strikeouts, and 20 earned runs in 77.1 innings pitched with the White Sox and the Brewers. They also lost Neil Walker, who jumped on the growing Godzilla that is the Yankees for 1 year and $4 million. In 2017, Walker had a .265 AVG and an .801 OPS in 385 AB for the Mets and Brewers. He also had a 98% success rate at getting an out with the Mets and Brewers in 2017.

#3: Los Angeles Angels

The Angels were so close to jumping to the Wild Card in 2017, and they lately acquired Justin Upton from the Tigers and Brandon Phillips from the Reds to try and help that cause. The offseason saw the Angels acquire a hefty amount of hitters. The biggest signing was the resigning of Justin Upton for 5 years and $106 million. In 2017, Upton highlighted with 35 HR, 109 RBI, a .273 AVG, and a .901 OPS in 557 combined AB with the Angels and Tigers. He also had a success rate of getting an out 97.6% of the time last year. They also acquired veteran Ian Kinsler from the Tigers in a trade. Kinsler highlighted his 2017 year with 22 HR and 52 RBI in 551 AB, but slumped with a .236 AVG and a .725 OPS. He also had an incredible success rate of 98.3% for an out last year. Finally, they signed Zack Cozart to a 3 year and $38 million contract. Cozart highlighted a career year in 2017 with a .297 AVG and a .933 OPS as well as 24 HR and 63 RBI in 438 AB with the Reds. He also had a 97.5% success rate at an out with the Reds last year. They also acquired Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani, who had a .331 AVG and .942 OPS in 202 AB, and a 3.20 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 29 strikeouts, and 9 earned runs in 25.1 innings pitched in Japan last year. Another minor acquire that could make a decent difference would be Rene Rivera, who had a .252 AVG and a .736 OPS with the Cubs and Angels last year, and threw out about 38% of hitters last year!

The most notable loss for the Angels in the offseason would likely be the loss of Brandon Phillips. In 2017, Phillips had a .285 AVG and a .735 OPS in 572 combined AB with the Reds and Angels. He also had a 98.8% success rate at throwing people out last year. Another loss was C.J. Cron, who was shipped off to Tampa Bay during the offseason. He highlighted with a .248 AVG and a .741 OPS in 339 AB. He also had a 99.5% success rate at getting an out with the Angels last year. Losing Yunel Escobar will not hurt as much, as Cozart should be able to replace him well, but it could still hurt a bit. The veteran had a .274 AVG and a .730 OPS in 350 AB in 2017.

#2: New York Yankees

The Yankees surprised all of us in 2017 with being one game from the World Series carried by Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, etc. The biggest addition for them this offseason was acquiring Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins. In Stanton’s incredible 2017 year, he highlighted 59 HR, 132 RBI, a .281 AVG, and a 1.007 OPS in 597 AB. Stanton also had a 98.8% rate of getting an out in the outfield. Brandon Drury was another highlight, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks. In 2017, he had a .267 AVG and a .764 OPS in 445 AB with the D-Backs, and had a 97.7% success rate at getting an out. They also reacquired C.C. Sabathia for 1 year and $10 million. He had a 14-5 W-L count, a 3.69 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 120 strikeouts, and 61 earned runs in 148.2 innings pitched. They also acquired Neil Walker for 1 year and $4 million, and he had a .265 AVG and an .801 OPS with the Mets and Brewers. Like I said before, he had a 98% success rate at getting an out in 2017.

Their biggest loss will probably be trading Chase Headley to the Padres, although Drury could likely replace him. In 2017, Headley had a .276 AVG and a .758 OPS in 512 AB last year with the Yankees. They also lost Jaime Garcia to the Blue Jays. In 2017, Garcia had a 5-10 W-L record, a 4.41 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 129 strikeouts, and 77 earned runs in 157 innings pitched. They also lost Todd Frazier, to the Mets. In 2017, Frazier had 27 HR, 76 RBI, a .213 AVG, and also a .772 OPS with the White Sox and Yankees last year. They also lost Michael Pineda, who had an 8-4 W-L record, a 4.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 92 strikeouts, and 47 earned runs in 96.1 innings pitched.

#1: Philadelphia Phillies

After yet another awful season, the Phillies have significantly stepped up their game this offseason. The biggest addition was signing Jake Arrieta to a 3 year, $75 million. In 2017, Arrieta had a 14-10 W-L record, a 3.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 163 strikeouts, and 66 earned runs in 168.1 innings pitched with the Cubs. They also signed Carlos Santana for 3 years and $60 million. In 2017, Santana had 23 HR, 79 RBI, a .259 AVG, and an .818 OPS in 571 AB with the Indians. They also acquired 3 great relief pitchers. They resigned Pat Neshek (2 years, $15.25M), Fernando Abad (1 year, $2.5M), and Tommy Hunter (2 years, $18M). In 2017, Neshek had a 1.59 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 69 strikeouts, and 11 earned runs in 62.1 innings pitched with the Phillies and Rockies. In 2017, Abad had a 3.30 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 37 strikeouts, 16 earned runs in 43.2 innings pitched. In 2017, Hunter had a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 64 strikeouts, 17 earned runs in 58.2 innings pitched.

The biggest loss for the Phillies would probably be Daniel Nava, who had a .301 AVG and an .813 OPS in 183 AB with the Phillies last year. The second largest one would likely be Freddy Galvis, who was shipped off to the Padres. He had a .255 AVG and a .690 OPS with the Phillies in 608 AB last year. He also had a 98.9% success rate for an out last year.