Offseason Week 5 Recap | Dec. 3 - Dec. 9
From Free Agency to League Rumors to Team News, Recapping Week 5 of the MLB Offseason
Week 5 of the 2024 MLB Offseason has come to a close & a many moves were made during the week. Today, we are going to be looking at everything that has happened during this week of the MLB offseason.
Free Agent Signings
Flamethrower Chapman Signs With Boston
Aroldis Chapman, one of the hardest throwing players in league history and one of the best relievers of this generation will continue playing in 2025. Chapman, who is a 7x All-Star & a 2x World Series Champion will play for the 7th team in his career in 2025, the Boston Red Sox— who recently signed him to a 1-year, $10.75 million deal. Aroldis had a 3.79 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, & a 5-5 record in 61.2 innings for the Pirates in 2024. Although Chapman, 36, has declined in recent years, he still throws at a very high velocity, hitting 105.1 MPH in August. Chapman will join a bullpen with Liam Hendricks, Justin Slaten, Chris Murphy, & more relievers.
Higashioka Signs With ‘23 World Champs
The Texas Rangers recently signed one of the few catchers on the market, veteran Kyle Higashioka. This week, the 2023 World Series Champions signed Higashioka to a 2-year, $12.5 million deal that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season. Higashioka, hit .220/.263/.476 in 2024 with the San Diego Padres in 2024. Higashioka will likely become the Rangers back-up catcher, behind Jonah Heim.
Shane Bieber Re-Joins Cleveland
Shane Bieber, who has spent his entire career with the Cleveland Guardians is set to rejoin the team after signing a deal with them in free agency. Bieber recently signed a 1-year, $10 million deal with CLE that also has a $16 million player option for the 2026 season. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner, Bieber missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ACL. In the 2 starts he made in 2024, Bieber went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. Throughout his career, Bieber has a 3.22 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.
Athletics Make Big Signing
The Athletics have been one of the worst teams in the league for the past few years & will be playing in a minor league ballpark in 2025. Nevertheless, the A’s recently made the largest deal in franchise history by signing Luis Severino to a 3-year, $67 million contract. Serverino had a record of 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 182.0 innings for the New York Mets in 2024. Luis Severino is joining the Athletics’ rotation that features JP Sears, Joey Estes, Mitch Spence, & Luis Medina.
Orioles Sign O’Neill
The Orioles made their first big move of the offseason by signing LF Tyler O’Neill to a 3-year, $39.5 million deal. O’Neill hit .241/.336/.511 with 31 homeruns and 61 RBIs for the Red Sox in 2024. O’Neill, a great hitter, will become the only right-handed hitting outfielder currently on the Orioles roster.
Orioles Make Another Move
In addition to signing Tyler O’Neill, the Orioles added veteran C/DH Gary Sanchez on a 1-year, $8.5 million deal. Sanchez hit .220/.307/.392 with 11 HRs, 37 RBIs, & 27 walks while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. On the defensive side, Sanchez posted a .977 Fielding % in 28 games at catcher. The rest of Sanchez’s games were spent at DH (46) & 1B (4). Sanchez will likely get most of his playing time as a designated hitter for the Orioles, while also serving as the backup catcher to Adley Rutschman.
*Giants Make Major Signing*
The San Francisco Giants recently landed one of the top free agents on the market, shortstop Willy Adames. Adames’s deal is a huge, 7-year, $182 million contract that includes a no-trade clause. In 2024, Adames started an MLB leading 161 games at shortstop, in which he hit .251/.331/.462 with 32 homeruns and 112 RBIs. This signing is the first big contract of President of Baseball Operations, Buster Posey’s career. Adames’s great season helped lead the Brewers to an NL Central Title, and he is looking to bring the Giants back to the playoffs, as he might be a Giant for the rest of his career.
League Rumors
Teoscar Hernandez Interested In 2 Teams
Teoscar Hernandez, who was a huge part to the Dodgers’s World Series Championship, seems to be down to two teams in free agency. These two teams are the Dodgers & the Red Sox. While Hernandez has expressed his interest in staying with L.A., he has always wanted to play in Fenway Park & could reunite with his former manager, Alex Cora. The New York Yankees have also shown interest in Teoscar but Hernandez doesn’t seem as interest to join them.
Good stuff -- The Rays traded Adames out to make room for .... He Who Shall Not Be Named. That didn't work out so great for us. haha