Yes, thank you. I thought that was evident. I also find it puzzling how someone can think that all of CHI, DET, and MIN are not going to be better. I just wanted to know the reasoning behind it and "I’m just not that impressed with any of the guys that were added" raises some questions to the average MLB onlooker.
Here's Jim Bowden's assessment in The Athletic of how the A.L. Central has improved in the off-season.
Chicago White Sox
Grade: B-
Free agents: RHP Kendall Graveman, 3 years/$24 million; RHP Joe Kelly, 2 years/$17 million; INF/OF Leury García, 3 years/$16.5 million; INF Josh Harrison, 1 year/$5.5 million; RHP Vince Velasquez, 1 year/$3 million
The biggest needs of the White Sox this offseason were second base, right field and bullpen depth. They didn’t land Javier Báez or Marcus Semien in free agency to play second base, but they did retain Leury García and sign free agent Josh Harrison, a versatile pair who can share the position and play at an adequate level. The White Sox did not land an upgrade for right field either, but with Adam Engel, Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets, they should be fine. And in the bullpen, they’ll be more than fine, as
they now boast the best bullpen in the AL (and second best to only the Braves in MLB, in my opinion). Kendall Graveman is an excellent fit, and his sinker from the right side is the different look this bullpen needed. They also added the power arm of Joe Kelly, who, excluding his first appearance in May after recovering from shoulder surgery, last year pitched 43 innings (47 outings) with 50 strikeouts, a 2.08 ERA and a .149 batting average against. Unlike last offseason,
the White Sox didn’t make a huge trade or free-agent signing, but they didn’t have to as I have them winning the division by at least 10 games anyway.
Cleveland Guardians
Grade: D
Trades: Traded RHP J.C. Mejía to Brewers for C/INF David Fry; traded OF Harold Ramirez to Cubs for cash; acquired RHP Tobias Myers from Rays for INF Junior Caminero
Free agents: RHP Bryan Shaw, 1 year/$3 million; C Luke Maile, 1 year/$900,000
The Guardians’ main goals this offseason were to improve the outfield and add more offense to the lineup. They’ve done neither. They did begin to address their bullpen by bringing back reliever Bryan Shaw, who led the majors with 81 appearances last year. Shaw posted a 3.49 ERA in 2021, his first season back with the club after pitching for it from 2013-17. The Guardians improved their backup catcher depth by signing Luke Maile to a major-league contract and Sandy León to a minor-league deal.
Cleveland is trending in the wrong direction as the rest of the division gets better.
Detroit Tigers
Grade: A
Trades: Acquired C Tucker Barnhart from Reds for 3B Nick Quintana
Free agents: SS Javier Báez, 6 years/$140 million; LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, 5 years/$77 million; LHP Andrew Chafin, 2 years/$13 million; RHP Michael Pineda, 1 year/$5.5 million
The Tigers had a stellar offseason. Their goals included improving their team up the middle and bolstering their starting rotation, and they accomplished both. Tucker Barnhart, a two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher, will immediately improve their game calling, pitch framing and blocking behind the plate. Eduardo Rodriguez, who was rated as the second-best left-handed starting pitcher in free agency, behind only AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, gives them an established starter with a 4.16 career ERA. He registered a career-high 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 2021.
But the Tigers’ biggest move was landing shortstop Javier Báez, who brings energy and enthusiasm to the park every day. He has 30 home run pop and will strike out too many times, but his above-average glove, along with Barnhart’s at catcher, will make the Tigers’ up-the-middle defense much better, helping their young pitching staff. Veteran right-hander Michael Pineda should be able to eat innings and help the back of their rotation. And left-hander Andrew Chafin, who held left-handed hitters to a .170 average (16-for-94) last season, significantly strengthens their bullpen.
The smartest decision the Tigers made this offseason was to let their top two prospects, center fielder Riley Greene and first baseman Spencer Torkelson, try to make the big-league team out of spring training. Both are AL rookie of the year candidates and could be impact players as soon as this summer.
This offseason, the Tigers took a huge step forward with their roster, so much so that I’m predicting they’ll finish second in the AL Central this season.
Kansas City Royals
Grade: D+
Trades: Traded LHP Mike Minor and cash to Reds for LHP Amir Garrett; acquired RHP Zach Willeman from Dodgers, completing the Danny Duffy trade.
Free agents: RHP Zack Greinke, 1 year, $13 million; RHP Taylor Clarke, 1 year, $975,000
The Royals’ biggest offseason move was their reunion with future Hall of Fame pitcher Zack Greinke, whom they signed to a one-year deal. Greinke, 38, can still post double-digit wins in a season as he knows how to outfox hitters for five-plus innings. More importantly, he will be invaluable in helping Kansas City’s young starting pitchers get better.
The Royals added to their bullpen by trading for lefty Amir Garrett and signing righty Taylor Clarke, but the best part of their offseason, quite frankly, is that they’re ready to let top prospect Bobby Witt Jr. be their Opening Day third baseman. That said, I would have liked to see more moves. I understand that the Royals want to mostly promote from within because that’s how they built their last world championship team in 2015, but they really could have used more signings and trades to get them closer to contending for the postseason. They still seem to be another year away.
Minnesota Twins
Grade: A
Trades: Traded 3B Josh Donaldson, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa and C Ben Rortvedt to Yankees for C Gary Sánchez and 3B Gio Urshela; traded C Mitch Garver to Rangers for SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa and RHP Ronny Henriquez; acquired RHP Sonny Gray and RHP Francis Peguero from Reds for RHP Chase Petty
Free agents: SS Carlos Correa, 3 years/$105.3 million; RHP Dylan Bundy, 1 year/$5 million; RHP Joe Smith 1 year/$2.5 million
Extensions: OF Byron Buxton, 7 years/$100 million
The Twins shocked the baseball world when they signed Carlos Correa to a three-year, $105.3 million contract that established a record average annual value ($35.1 million) for an infielder. Correa slashed .279/.366/.485 last season with 34 doubles, 26 home runs and 92 RBIs and won his first Gold Glove at shortstop. He’ll be a game-changer on offense and defense for Minnesota. In their big trade with the Yankees, the Twins acquired third baseman Gio Urshela, a special defensive player who will partner with Correa to form one of the best defensive left sides of the infield in the league. The Twins also picked up catcher Gary Sánchez in that trade. Sánchez has tremendous power but a low contact rate, and he gives up too many passed balls; they’d be best served using him as a DH most of the time.
Before the lockout, Minnesota made the uncomfortable decision to sign center fielder Byron Buxton to a seven-year extension. The Twins are betting that Buxton will be healthy over the next seven years even though he hasn’t been over his first seven years in the majors. From 2015 to 2021, he’s had more than 300 at-bats in a season only once, played 100 games or more once, never hit 20 home runs, never stolen 30 bases and yet they were willing to give him a new deal worth at least $100 million plus incentives.
The Twins also traded for two-time All-Star Sonny Gray, sending their first-round pick from last year, Chase Petty, to Cincinnati to get it done. They signed veteran starter Dylan Bundy, hoping he can bounce back and overdeliver for them on an undervalued contract. They added veteran reliever Joe Smith and claimed reliever Trevor Megill from the Cubs. Bottom line: I love that instead of rebuilding, they decided to try to win now, and weren’t afraid to spend money and trade top prospects to do it.
