The MLB offseason acquisitions are in, and the results are in: a mixed bag of successes and failures. While some players have lived up to the hype, others have fallen short of expectations. It's still early in the season, but the first six weeks have provided some intriguing insights into the performance of these star players in new homes. Here's a closer look at 10 of MLB's biggest offseason acquisitions and how they've fared so far.
Murakami's Marvel
One of the most surprising stories of the season has been the performance of Yoan Moncada, who signed a two-year, $34-million deal with the White Sox. Concerns about how he would adjust to MLB pitching were valid, but the former NPB Triple Crown winner and two-time MVP has quickly taken the South Side by storm. The 26-year-old is ranking top-three in the AL in homers (15), RBIs (29), and top-10 in runs (28), walks (30), slugging (.537), and OPS (.900). His performance has made him a fan favorite and a core piece of the surprising White Sox, while 29 other teams are kicking themselves.
Cease the Cease
Lucas Giolito, who signed a seven-year, $210-million deal with the White Sox, is proving why he was rewarded the biggest contract for a pitcher during this past offseason's free agency. The right-hander is tracking to put up the best campaign of his eight-year career, authoring a 2.41 ERA and 1.86 FIP with an AL-best 12.9 K/9 over 52 1/3 innings. He's also allowed only one homer and owns a 2.2 fWAR through eight starts. If the season ended today, Cease would finish second to Cam Schlittler in AL Cy Young voting. The 30-year-old has easily been worth his seven-year, $210-million deal in the early stages.
Suarez's Success
The Red Sox, who signed Eduardo Rodriguez to a five-year, $130-million deal, are reaping the benefits of their decision. The left-hander's 2.77 ERA leads the rotation, to go along with a 0.95 WHIP across 39 innings (seven starts). The 30-year-old is also holding opposing batters to a .197 batting average and keeping the ball in the park as usual, surrendering only three homers. Suarez's performance has made it look like a sage move for the Red Sox.
Contreras' Comeback
The Red Sox, who acquired Jose Contreras from the Cardinals, are getting a reliable bat and a veteran leader. Contreras leads his club in homers and RBIs and is one of only two Red Sox regulars with an OPS above .800. Beyond the production, he's also helped fill the veteran leadership void left by Alex Bregman's departure and has brought a bit of swagger to a slumping team. Considering what the organization gave up to get him, this deal's looking like a winner for Boston.
Alonso's Adjustment
The Orioles, who signed Anthony Santander to a four-year, $54-million deal, are hoping that the Polar Bear will anchor their lineup. While he's started to heat up over the last two weeks following a very slow start, it's clear that Alonso hasn't fully awoken from his slumber just yet. His .424 SLG and .734 OPS are notably well below his usual standards. An adjustment period to his new home after seven years with the Mets wasn't entirely unexpected, but it's time for Alonso to break out and fully anchor Baltimore's lineup like he's being paid to do.
Tucker's Tease
The Dodgers, who signed Matt Olson to a four-year, $60-million deal, are expecting a lot more from a player commanding a $60-million AAV. Drawing the second-most walks (24) on the team, the four-time All-Star has accrued a great .359 OBP. But with 16 extra-base hits across 42 games, his .416 SLG is well below his career mark of .501. Tucker is just one of Los Angeles' many stars off to mediocre starts, as Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Teoscar Hernández are still looking to get their bats going. History suggests it's only a matter of time.
Bregman's Blemish
The Cubs, who signed Alex Bregman to a seven-year, $175-million deal, are hoping that he'll be a vital part of their culture. While his leadership as a two-time champion on a squad looking to take the next step is vital, Bregman's performance has been a letdown. The 32-year-old's strikeout rate has spiked significantly, while his average exit velocity has dropped from last season. It's all smiles in Wrigleyville right now, but Chicago will need more from its marquee offseason addition if it wants to make noise in the months to come.
Valdez's Vomit
The Tigers, who signed Eduardo Rodriguez to a three-year, $70-million deal, are dealing with a disaster. Valdez is producing a career-worst 7.6 K/9 and opponents are hitting .311 and slugging .422 against his sinker. If that wasn't bad enough, the southpaw received a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Trevor Story, and his own manager didn't even try to defend his actions. On the bright side, his contract is only for three years.
Díaz's Dilemma
The Dodgers, who signed Kenley Jansen to a three-year, $69-million contract, are dealing with a rough start. The three-time All-Star closer allowed seven earned runs on nine hits with five walks and 10 strikeouts over seven appearances before undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in April. He's targeting a return in July after the All-Star break. It's tough to evaluate the 32-year-old because the injury clearly impacted his performance, so he doesn't get an F. However, L.A. clearly expected Jansen to be a fixture in a closing role that's been volatile over the last few years.
Bichette's Blunder
The Mets, who signed Matt Bichette to a three-year, $42-million deal, are dealing with a nightmare start to the season. The two-time All-Star is posting a career-worst 62 wRC+ and owns a .224/.272/.288 slash line with a measly seven extra-base hits. His bat speed also ranks in the 17th percentile, while his barrel rate sits in the 19th percentile. Given his $42-million AAV over the next three years, the numbers are incredibly hard to digest. The 28-year-old's performance this campaign is a stark contrast from the hitting machine the Mets likely thought they were signing after Bichette led the AL in hits in 2021 and 2022 and was on pace to top the majors last season before missing September with a knee injury. Although his age and resume suggest he can turn things around, the pressure will only continue to mount until it happens.
