Offseason Week 10 Recap | Jan. 7 - Jan. 13
From Free Agency to Trades to League Rumors, Recapping Week 10
We are now over 70 days into the 2024-2025 MLB Offseason, and today, we are going to be looking at the few things that happened during this week of the 2024 MLB offseason.
Free Agent Signings
SF Signs Future HOF Pitcher
Going into the offseason, Justin Verlander’s future was questionable, being 41 years old and being left off of the Astros’ postseason roster during the 2024 AL Wild Card. With not a high demand, Verlander found a new home, his 4th team, the San Francisco Giants. SF signed Verlander to a 1-year, $15 million contract, which will make the bay home for Verlander in his 20th major league season. In 2024, Verlander went 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA— one of the worst seasons of his big league career, while dealing with multiple injuries. Justin, who is trying to reach 3500 career strikeouts, joins the Giants trying to prove he can still pitch at a high level.
Toronto Adds All-Star Reliever
The Toronto Blue Jays have significantly upgraded their bullpen with the signing of a 2024 All-Star reliever. Jeff Hoffman signed a 3-year, $33 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this week, but there were some issues in his free agency. Per reports, multiple teams denied signing Hoffman due to a flagged physical. Nevertheless, Hoffman had an All-Star season in 2024 for the Phillies, going 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. Even with the injury concern after his flagged physical, Hoffman is expected to be Toronto’s closer during his time in Canada, and he will look to continue to pitch at an All-Star level.
Trades
LA Sends Middle Infielder to NL Central After FA Signing | LAD - CIN Trade
Gavin Lux, a former first round pick and 2x World Series Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers will look to bring winning to Cincinnati after being traded earlier this week. This exchange, which comes right after the Dodgers sign International FA 2B Hyeseong Kim, sends 2B Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds for their Competitive Balance Round A pick (#37 overall) and prospect, OF Mike Sirota (LAD #21).
Lux, who won his second World Series Ring in 2024, was originally a shortstop, before having significant trouble after his knee surgery in 2023. As a result, the team moved him to second base, where he will now join MLB superstar Elly De La Cruz in Cincinatti’s middle infield. In 2024, Lux hit .251/.320/.383 with 10 homeruns and 50 RBIs, along with a .980 Fielding % at second base.
