So far this MLB offseason, the reigning champion Dodgers have signed as many free agents as the rest of their division combined. But it’s the Mets who signed the most expensive free agent ever. The Yankees pivoted admirably after losing a generational star, while the Blue Jays came in second multiple times. The Diamondbacks managed to surprise just about everyone as the Padres and Mariners did almost nothing. The Guardians made a flurry of trades, and the Astros dealt away a superstar. The A’s have spent more than anyone expected, and the Cardinals … well, they announced their intention to make a trade.
All 30 teams had the chance to get better over the winter. Some did; some did not. A few free agents are still in need of a team, but with spring training just days away, let’s grade how every team fared this offseason.
Grades by division: NL East | NL Central | NL West | AL East | AL Central | AL West
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Acquired SP Jesús Luzardo via trade from the Miami Marlins
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Signed RP Jordan Romano to a 1-year deal
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Signed OF Max Kepler to a 1-year deal
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Signed SP/RP Joe Ross to a 1-year deal
The defending NL East champs entered the offseason much earlier than they would’ve liked, thudding out of the playoffs in a dispiriting NLDS loss to the Mets on Oct. 9. In the aftermath, all reports indicated that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski would oversee a roster refresh in the winter. For the second consecutive October, the Phillies’ vaunted offense had imploded on the big stage beneath an avalanche of strikeouts. Shaking things up seemed logical, prudent. Veteran stalwarts such as Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner wouldn’t be dealt, but All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm — whose late-season struggles resulted in a surprise NLDS benching — was rumored to be available via trade.
But a deal never materialized, not for Bohm or any other member of the Phillies’ lineup. Instead, Dombrowski doubled down on starting pitching, reinforcing what was already a strength of his club. Acquiring Jesús Luzardo to be the team’s No. 5 starter could prove to be a real needle-moving transaction. Just two years ago, the southpaw started Game 1 of the 2023 wild-card series for the Marlins against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Injuries limited him in 2024, but Luzardo is one season removed from being one of the…