Toronto Blue Jays: Grading the Offseason for the AL East

Boston Red Sox: B-

Notable additions: Nathan Eovaldi, RHP (free agent); Steve Pearce, 1B (free agent).

The world champions didn’t make any big moves like they usually do. They re-signed Steve Pearce and Nathan Eovaldi who turned out to be great acquisitions for them last season at the trade deadline and were important contributors in the playoffs.

They’ve lost, however, at least for now as he’s still a free agent, their All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel who saved 42 games for them last year, and haven’t signed anyone to replace him. They definitely have internal options like Matt Barnes who could take over the closer’s role, but signing Kimbrel back or trading for a proven closer would have definitely been the best option. The team is so complete however that they didn’t need any urgent moves and the signings they’ve done fit well with their current situation which is why they get a fine grade.

Tampa Bay Rays

Yandy Diaz, 3B (three-team trade with Indians and Mariners); Avisail Garcia, OF (free agent); Guillermo Heredia, OF (trade with Mariners); Charlie Morton, RHP (free agent); Mike Zunino, C (trade with Mariners).

No big headline moves were made, but they signed one of the best available starters on the free agent market in Charlie Morton to improve their rotation which already has the 2018 American League CY Young Blake Snell.

They added catcher Mike Zunino who will hit his share of homers and outfielder Guillermo Heredia who will likely replace the figure of Mallex Smith in the outfield. They also added to their lineup with the signings of Avisal Garcia and the trade for Yandi Diaz. The Rays have a better team than last year and they’re certainly the favorites along with the Angels for the second wild-card spot. The 90-win team surprised everyone last year and it seems like they want to contend once again in 2019.

New York Yankees: A

Zack Britton, LHP (free agent); J.A. Happ, LHP (free agent); DJ LeMahieu, 2B (free agent); Adam Ottavino, RHP (free agent); James Paxton, LHP (trade with Mariners); CC Sabathia, LHP (free agent); Troy Tulowitzki, SS (free agent).

The Yankees have been, by far, the most active team in the division and possibly in the majors. They’ve re-signed Britton, Happ, and Sabathia while also signing second baseman DJ LeMahieu, reliever Ottavino and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to a minor league deal after being released by the Blue Jays. They also made one of the biggest trades in the offseason to acquire Canadian southpaw James Paxton.

Their rotation got better, their offense might have lost a bit with Didi Gregorius being out approximately until the All-Star game, but they’ve added infield depth with LeMahieu and Tulowitzki. Adding on to that, their bullpen has gotten even better with the signing of Ottavino.

Some might argue they should have signed Manny Machado to take over third base or play shortstop while Gregorius is out, but their team is already very good and committing $300 million might not be the best idea when you have a young player like Miguel Andujar who isn’t a great defender but is very young with a great bat, and Gleyber Torres who finished third in the rookie of the year race and can play all three infield positions. They simply made all the necessary moves to make their team better, which now seems to make them the favourite to win the AL East in 2019.

Toronto Blue Jays: C+

Freddy Galvis, INF (free agent); David Phelps, RHP (free agent); Clayton Richard, LHP (trade with Padres); Matt Shoemaker, RHP (free agent); John Axford, RHP (free agent).

The offseason started with the hiring of Charlie Montoyo as the new Blue Jays manager to replace John Gibbons and officially start a new era in Toronto. In terms of player moves, the Blue Jays did what they needed to do.

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They added a couple of veteran starters as well as a couple of relievers, including John Axford’s minor league deal. They also added veteran shortstop Freddy Galvis to shore up the infield after trading away Aledmys Diaz for prospect Trent Thornton, who could very well make his debut this coming season from the bullpen or even as a starter. Matt Shoemaker has some valuable upside as a No. 3 starter and Clayton Richard adds a veteran presence to a young pitching staff led by Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez.

Many fans wanted the Jays to sign Bryce Harper and even though he’s still a free agent and there are some mystery teams interested in him, realistically speaking it is extremely unlikely the former MVP ends up in Toronto. It’s also a move that doesn’t seem to fit Ross Atkins’ plan. There are arguments in favor of signing him, others against that idea, but putting the Harper dilemma aside, Atkins has made some moves that could pay dividends in what is expected as a bridge year until the wave of prospects starts to come up.

It may not have been the most exciting offseason for Blue Jays fans, but it was one in which the front office did more or less exactly what they said they would do: Exercising patience and making sure their decisions were made with the long term goals in mind.