Offseason Week 13 Recap | Jan. 28 - Feb. 3
Looking at What Happend During Week 13 of the 2024/25 MLB Offseason
Pitchers and catchers will report this upcoming week, which means that we only have a few more weekly recaps before the offseason is over. Today, we are going to be looking at the few things that happened during this past week of the 2024-2025 MLB offseason.
Free Agent Signings
Buccos Sign Veteran Utility Player
This year was yet another quiet offseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates, excluding the signing of veteran DH Andrew McCutchen. However, Pittsburgh recently brought veteran 2B/OF Adam Frazier back to the Steel City for a reunion on a 1-year, $1.5 million deal. Frazier, who as mentioned, formerly played for the Pirates spent the previous season with the Kansas City Royals, who he hit .202/.282/.294 for with a total of 4 homers & 22 RBIs. Now, Frazier will bring playoff experience back to a young Pirates team where his career started.
Dodgers Sign Another All-Star
The defending World Series Champions took no break this offseason, being very active yet again. This time, L.A. signed another All-Star reliever to join their star-studded bullpen in RHP Kirby Yates with a 1-year, $13 million deal. The veteran Yates spent 2024 with the Texas Rangers, whom he was selected as an All-Star with. With the Rangers, Yates posted a 1.17 ERA— going 7-2 with 85 strikeouts in 61 games, in which he earned 33 saves. Yates now joins another recently signed All-Star— Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech, Blake Trienen, and more in the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Detroit Signs Veteran Relief Pitcher
After seeking into the playoffs and reaching the American League Divisional Series, the Detroit Tigers had high hopes heading into the offseason, and they finally made a notable move on Wednesday, signing RP Tommy Kahnle to a 1-year, $7.75 million deal. Kahnle, who was apart of the AL-Pennant winning New York Yankees went 0-2 with a 2.11 ERA & 46 SOs in 42.2 IP in 2024.
Reds Sign All-Star Corner Outfielder
Under a new manager for 2025, the Cincinnati Reds have lots to look forward to in 2025, with a superstar in Elly De La Cruz, 2x World Series Champ Gavin Lux, & now a former All-Star in OF Austin Hays— who recently signed a 1-year, $5 million contract with the team. Hays, who started 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, hit .255/.303/.396 with 5 HRs & 20 RBIs in a season full of injuries. Hays will now look to bounce back into All-Star form with Cincy in 2025.
Padres Bring Veteran Backstop Back
Veteran catcher Elias Díaz was shockingly released from the Colorado Rockies last season, leading another team in the NL West, the San Diego Padres to pick him on a 1-year deal. Now, history has repeated itself with Diaz signing a 1-year deal with the club. As a member of the Rockies & Padres, Diaz hit a combined .265/.313/.382 with 6 homeruns & 39 RBIs. With Kyle Higosioka departing for the Texas Rangers, (Read Here) Diaz will likely get a starting job behind the dish for yet another year in his career.
Rays Make a Splash, Find New Shortstop
From making the playoffs in 2023 to finishing under .500 in 2024 & from having a young superstar both as your starting shortstop and as the face of your franchise to not even having a definite shortstop because your’s is facing 20 years in prison, the Tampa Bay Rays have surely had a lot of ups and downs over the past few years. However, Tampa Bay has a new shortstop and a new hope with the club signing Gold Glove INF Ha-Seong Kim to a 2-year, $31 million deal. Kim, who had spent his whole career with the San Diego Padres, hit .233/.330/.370 with a total of 11 homeruns & 47 RBIs in 2024, helping the Padres reach the playoffs before injuring his shoulder and undergoing surgery in October. Now, Kim’s eyes are set to being ready for Opening Day with the Rays on March 28th.
Royals Add Valuable Bullpen Piece
Kansas City’s mix of young and veteran presence finally got them to the postseason last season. However, Kansas City wants more and the organization showed it by signing one of the top relief pitchers on the market in Carlos Estevez to a 2-year, $10 million deal. Estevez, who joined the Phillies in July after a trade from the Angels, went 4-5 with a 2.45 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 55 innings. Estevez joins Lucas Erceg, John Schreiber, Michael Lorenzen, Kris Bubic, & more in the Royals’ bullpen.
Trades
Cubs Land Another Star From H-Town | CHC - HOU Trade
Earlier this offseason, the Chicago Cubs & Houston Astros pulled off a blockbuster trade, which sent superstar Kyle Tucker to Chicago. Recently, these two teams pulled off another big trade, this time landing Chicago an All-Star reliever. In the deal, the Cubs acquired RHRP Ryan Pressly in exchange for minor league RHP Juan Bello. Pressly, who waived his no-trade clause in order to be shipped to the Northside had a record of 2-3 with an ERA of 3.49 and 58 strikeouts in 56.2 innings. Pressly joins Porter Hodge, Keegan Thompson, Colin Rea, Eli Morgan, and multiple others in the Cubs’ bullpen.
