Offseason Contracts I like/Dislike

Posted byMichael RifkinPosted inMLB, Rifkin’s Rift Tide

By Mike Rifkin 

With Major League Baseball out of lockout and ready to begin their regular season next week. Here is a look at three signings I like and dislike

Likes

  1. Kevin Gausman/ Yusei Kikuchi – Toronto Blue Jays. Last season the Blue Jays won 91 games and finished fourth in the AL East, this offseason they have been very active. Gausman had a career year with the San Francisco Giants last season going 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA and had 227 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched.Gausman has experience pitching in the division when he was with the Orioles. Kikuchi was an All Star in 2021 for the Mariners but finished with a 7-9 record with a 4.41 ERA. Lining these two up behind Hyun Jin Ryu and Jose Berrios gives the Blue Jays a solid rotation. And with the Blue Jays lineup as lethal as it is they don’t have to be perfect. 
  2. Justin Verlander – Houston Astros : Verlander missed all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. In 2019 his last full season pitching Verlander won the AL CY Young Award going 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA and had 300 strikeouts in 223 innings pitched. The future hall of famer will give the Astros rotation a boost.
  3. Kendall Graveman – Chicago White Sox: : Graveman was acquired by the Astros at the trade deadline last year to help Houston’s bullpen on their way to the AL Pennant. Graveman signed a 3 year contract with the White Sox to help Liam Hendricks at the back end of the bullpen. Graveman had 49 strikeouts in 51 innings last season for Seattle and Houston. Graveman and Hendricks give the White Sox bullpen versatility and depth.  And now with the White Sox trading Craig Kimbrel Graveman should have a bigger role on the South Side. 

Dislikes

  1. Noah Syndergaard – Angels. Every free agency period everyone says the Angels need starting pitching, because we want to see Mike Trout on the biggest stage. The Angels signed Noah Syndergaard to a one year 21 million dollar contract. Syndergaard has thrown two innings the last two years due to Tommy John Surgery. The Angels could have used that money on two starters but are taking a risk on Syndergaard. 
  2. Marcus Semien – Texas Rangers. Semien bet on himself in 2021 signing a one year deal with the Blue Jays and he did not disappoint having a slash line of .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs and 102 RBI. The Rangers gave Semien a seven year contract worth 175 million dollars at 31 years old. The Rangers went all in this offseason and they are banking on Semien to deliver.
  3. Kris Bryant Rockies. This is nothing against the player I like Bryant a lot, but I am confused by the Rockies. Last offseason they traded star third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals and then this offseason lost Trevor Story for nothing but a draft pick. Signing Bryant after letting go of two prominent players is a weird strategy but in a division where the Dodgers, Padres and Giants all are better than the Rockies and the National League is deep, how long until the Rockies actually believe they can contend? If you were to ask me who I would rather have between Arenado and Story or Bryant I think the answer is simple Arenado and Story so the Bryant signing is confusing. But Bryant, if healthy, can put up some monster numbers at Coors Field.

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