Offseason Week 6 Recap | Dec. 10 - Dec. 16
From Free Agency to Trades to League Rumors, Recapping Week 6
Week 6 of the 2024 MLB Offseason has come to a close & many moves were made during the week. Today, we are going to be looking at everything that has happened during this week of the 2024 MLB offseason.
Free Agent Signings
Danny Jansen Signs With Former Team’s Rival
Veteran catcher Danny Jansen has signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, a divisional rival of his former team, the Boston Red Sox. According to reports, Jansen declined mult-year deals to sign a 1-year, $8.5 million deal with the Rays with a mutual option for the 2026 season. In 91 games split between the Toronto Blue Jays & Boston Red Sox, Jansen hit .205/.309/.349 with 9 homeruns and 24 RBIs in 2024. Jansen is predicted to become the Rays’ starting catcher.
Cubs Add Veteran Catcher
Going into the offseason, one of the biggest needs for the Chicago Cubs was a quality starting catcher. Now, the Cubs can check that off their list after signing veteran Carson Kelly to a 2-year, $11.5 million contract. Kelly hit .238/.313/.373 with 9 homeruns and 37 RBIs in 2024 with the Tigers and Rangers. On the defensive side, Kelly will most likely be a platoon with Miguel Amaya for the starting job behind the plate in the Northside.
Yankees Add LHP on Record Deal
After heavily pursuing Juan Soto, the Yankees made their first big splash of the offseason by signing LHP Max Fried to a record 8-year, $218 million deal— the largest contract for a LHP in history and the 4th largest deal for a pitcher. Fried went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA & a 1.16 WHIP in 174.1 innings for the Braves in 2024. Fried is joing a Bronx rotation that features 3x Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, 2024 ROY Luis Gil, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, & Marcus Stroman.
**Soto Signs With Cross-Town Rival**
Juan Soto, the top free agent this offseaso has always been looked at as one of the most talented players in Major League Baseball. Soto, recently inked a record-setting deal with the New York Mets. This 15-year, $765 million deal is the largest contract in professional sports history & will keep Soto in New York for the rest of his career. Soto hit .288/.419/.569 with 41 homeruns and 109 RBIs for the Yankees in 2024, an amazing season that led the Yankees to their first AL Championship since 2009.
Philly Adds to Bullpen
After a quite offseason so far, the Phillies made their first major move of the offseason, signing reliever Jordan Romano to a 1-year, $8.5 million contract. Romano went 1-2 with a 6.59 ERA in 13.2 innings during a 2024 season where he greatly struggled with injuries. Romano joins a bullpen with Orion Kerkering, Jose Ruiz, Jose Alvarado, Matt Strahm, & Tanner Banks.
Eovaldi Re-signs With Texas
Nathan Eovaldi, who was a huge part in Texas’ first franchise World Series Championship in 2023, resigned with the club on Thursday, signing a 3-year, $75 million deal to stay in his home state. Eovaldi became a free agent after opting out of his contract, which he was able to do because he reached 300 total innings during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Eovaldi had a record of 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 170.2 innings.
Braves Add Outfield Help
Bryan De La Cruz joined his 3rd team in less than a year this past week by signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. However, this deal is not guaranteed and financial information was not provided. De La Cruz hit .233/.271/.384 with 21 homeruns and 68 RBIs in 149 games between the Miami Marlins & Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2024 season. De La Cruz will likely fill Ronald Acuna Jr.’s role to start the season until he is ready to return from his injury.
Trades
Burger Traded to 2023 Champs | MIA-TEX Trade
In addition to resigning Nathan Eovaldi, the Rangers made another major move this week, trading for 1B/3B/DH Jake Burger. In the deal, the Rangers received Jake Burger for 3 prospects: SS Echedry Vargas (TEX #17 Prospect), SS Max Acosta, & LHP Brayan Mendoza. Burger hit .250/.301/.460 with 29 homeruns and 76 RBIs for the Marlins in 2024 while spending time at third, first, and DH. All 3 prospects sent to Miami join their Top 30 Prospects List.
Platinum Glove Winner Dealt | CLE - TOR - PIT Trade
Andres Gimenez, a former Platinum Glove Award winner, was recently traded to the Blue Jays in a 3 team trade. In this trade, the Blue Jays received 2B Andres Gimenez & RHP Nick Sandlin, the Guardians received OF Nick Mitchell (TOR), LHP Josh Hartle (PIT #17 Prospect), RHP Luis Ortiz (PIT), LHP Michael Kennedy (PIT), & the Pirates received 1B Spencer Horwitz (TOR). Gimenez hit .252/.298/.340 with 9 homeruns and 63 RBIs for Cleveland, while playing tremendous defense at second base.
Crochet Dealt to Sox | CWS - BOS Trade
Garrett Crochet, who was a member of the worst team in baseball, the Chicago White Sox, has been a big trade target since July. However, Crochet has finally been traded— to the Boston Red Sox. This deal sends Crochet to New England in exchange for multiple prospects— C Kyle Teel (#25 OVR Prospect), OF Braden Montgomery (#54 OVR Prospect), 3B Chase Meidroth (BOS #11 Prospect), & RHP Wikelman Gonzalez. Crochet went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 146.0 innings for the Chi-Sox in 2024. Going to Boston, Crochet is joining a rotation that features Tanner Houck, Lucas Giolito, Garrett Whitlock, Kutter Crawford, & Brayan Bello. On the other side of this trade, the White Sox received multiple prospects with high potential in part of their heavy rebuild that is in progress.
Tucker Traded to the Windy City | HOU - CHI Trade
Over the past season, Kyle Tucker has been one of the better trade candidates in the league and he has finally been dealt, as he is entering his last season of club control. On Friday, the Chicago Cubs acquired RF Kyle Tucker from the Astros in exchange for 3B Isaac Paredes, RHP Hayden Wesneski, & prospect 3B Cam Smith. Tucker hit .289/.408/.585 with 23 homeruns and 49 RBIs in 2024 after missing nearly 3 months to injures. On the other side of the trade, Paredes hit .238/.346/.393 with 19 homeruns and 80 RBIs between the Rays and Cubs in 2024. Wesneski, who the Astros also acquired had a record of 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 28 games (7 starts), adding up to 67.2 innings. Cam Smith, who was drafted 14th overall last summer in the 2024 Draft, became Houston’s #1 Prospect and is estimated to be in the big leagues in 2 seasons.
All-Star Closer Sent to the Bronx | NYY - MIL Trade
After their bullpen blew 2 games in the World Series, leading to the Dodgers winning the series, the Yankees were going to attempt to add bullpen pieces during the offseason. Without a closer, the Yankees made a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, in which they received CP Devin Williams in exchange for LHP Nestor Cortes, prospect 2B Caleb Durbin, & cash considerations. Williams had a record of 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA and 14 saves throughout 22 games in a season where he missed three months due to injuries. Cortes had a record of 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA & 162 strikeouts in 31 games for the Yankees in 2024. After being traded, Durbin became the Brewers’ #15 prospect.
SP Springs Sent to Sacramento | ATH - TB Trade
The Athletics & the Rays, both teams who will be playing their 2024 home games in a minor league ballpark, made a trade on Saturday. In the deal, the A’s received SP Jeffery Springs & prospect LHP Jacob Lopez for SP Joe Boyle, prospect 1B Will Simpson, prospect RHP Jacob Watters, & a Competitive Balance Round A pick for the 2025 Draft. Springs went 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 7 games for the Rays in 2024. On the other hand, Boyle went 3-6 with a 6.42 ERA in 13 games for the A’s in their final season in Oakland.
Buccos Add UTL Player | PIT - BOS Trade
The Pirates recently added 2B Enmanuel Valdez in a trade with the Red Sox. Valdez, who was recently DFA’d by the Red Sox, hit .214/.270/.363 with 6 homeruns and 28 RBIs in 76 games for Boston. In the deal, the Red Sox acquired prospect RHP Joe Vogatsky.
League News
Nationals Win Draft Lottery
The MLB’s draft lottery for the 2025 MLB Draft took place during Week 6 of the offseason, and the Washington Nationals won the lottery, receiving the first overall pic. The Nats’ are predicted to draft SS Ethan Holliday (Stillwater HS, OK), former No. 1 overall pick Jackson Holliday’s brother. The draft order for the 1st round can be found here:
