2023-2024 MLB Offseason: Who won?
With the Major League Baseball (MLB) offseason all but done, now is a great time to look back at all of the chaos. From trades to new signings, who benefited the most from the offseason? Better yet, who came out of the offseason on top? Looking back from Nov. 22, 2023, here are the most important takeaways from the MLB offseason.
Trades that take place during the MLB offseason are one of, if not the, most exciting parts of the winter months. Many trades and additions were made, but several have stood out to fans of the sport.
On Dec. 6, the Yankees finally made the big move they so desperately needed. New York acquired outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham in a trade with the San Diego Padres. In exchange, the Padres received pitchers Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vásquez, Johny Brito, and catcher Kyle Higashioka. Soto is the biggest piece in the deal, as the 25-year-old will attempt to assist the Yankees in their 28th World Series championship run. Soto already won the World Series with the Washington Nationals back in 2019 and hopes to secure a second championship in his new home.
Just a few days after the huge Juan Soto trade, the Dodgers continued strengthening their roster as they acquired pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot from the Tampa Bay Rays, in exchange for pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca. Glasnow is a wild card, as he’s had a tough time staying healthy, but when he’s on the mound, he has proven to be a threat. Glasnow will attempt to help the Dodgers bring home their second championship in five years.
The most recent blockbuster trade occurred between the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles, as the Brewers traded pitcher Corbin Burnes to the Orioles for infielder Joey Ortiz and pitcher DL Hall. The trade made sense for both teams, as the Orioles desperately needed a veteran ace to come in and lead their young pitching core, while the Brewers were able to get some future assets for an expiring contract. The Brewers have been stuck in mediocrity for some time and the Orioles are going to try and make a push at becoming true contenders after a shocking 100-win season in 2023.
Another exciting aspect of the MLB offseason is free agency. Big stars are looking for new homes, while some have to decide whether they’re willing to stay in the same city for years to come. While many free agents were signed, three in particular have stolen the show.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the biggest free agent signing of the offseason was two-way player Shohei Ohtani coming to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The monster 10-year, 700 million-dollar deal will keep Ohtani in Los Angeles for the next decade, which will almost certainly bring a World Series championship to Ohtani’s showcase. Ohtani has been one of the most exciting players in baseball for the past couple of years and it is expected that the pitcher-hitter combo will bring plenty of highlights to Los Angeles.
Staying with the Dodgers, the team signed Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, 325 million-dollar contract. Yamamoto was the most sought-after free agent behind Shohei Ohtani, and luckily for the Dodgers, they acquired both of them. After signing Yamamoto it was apparent that the Dodgers are going all-in for the upcoming season. Yamamoto was dominant in Japan and the 25-year-old is hoping his success translates to MLB.
Moving away from Los Angeles, the Houston Astros recently signed relief pitcher Josh Hader to a five-year, 95 million-dollar contract. The Astros somewhat surprisingly fell short of three-peating for the American League Championship this past season. With that being said, it doesn’t seem like they are interested in slowing down. Hader came alive last year for the San Diego Padres after an abysmal three-year stretch and is definitely capable of being the go-to closer for a World Series-contending team.
After all of the wild moves that have happened this offseason, it is pretty safe to say that the Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites to win it all this season. The Dodgers won 100 games last season and added stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Teoscar Hernández to make them even more deadly this season.
There are still other top-tier contenders such as the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and Houston Astros who all came out of the offseason looking even more dangerous, as well. Although there is a clear favorite heading into 2024, anything is possible in a 162-game MLB season.