Four underrated offseason moves
Revisiting some trades and signings from a busy offseason
With Spring Training underway and games starting, the offseason is almost over. Everyone knows the Los Angeles Dodgers got even better after signing Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz and the New York Mets overhauled their roster with a series of trades and free agent signings.
What about some of the transactions that have flown more under-the-radar and may not have gotten as much national attention?
Here are four underrated moves you may have forgotten about or overlooked that still have a chance to make a significant impact this season.
1. Red Sox trade for Caleb Durbin
Full trade:
Red Sox receive: INF Caleb Durbin, INF Andruw Monasterio, INF Anthony Seigler, Competitive Balance Round B Draft pick
Brewers receive: LHP Kyle Harrison, INF David Hamilton, LHP prospect Shane Drohan
The Boston Red Sox had to pivot their entire offseason after failing to re-sign Alex Bregman. Instead of running it back with Bregman, signing one of the other premier free agent bats or swinging a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Ketel Marte, the Red Sox focused on run prevention. Step one was bringing in Ranger Suarez on a five-year, #130 million deal to be the Red Sox’s number two starter, giving Boston one of the best and deepest rotations in baseball. Step two was improving their infield defense.
That is where Caleb Durbin, the 5’7” infielder who finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting last season and played a crucial role on the 97-win Milwaukee Brewers, comes in. Last season, Durbin spent the majority of his time at third base. Coming up, he was primarily a second baseman, but was blocked there by platinum glover Brice Turang. Durbin is in the 29th percentile for arm strength, which helps explain his average defense at third last season. I expect that with a full season at second, Durbin can become a plus defender and will help elevate the Red Sox’s elite pitching.
Durbin has elite bat-to-ball skills–95th percentile in squared-up rate, 96th percentile in whiff rate and 98th percentile in K rate–and it did not take a lot for the Red Sox to acquire him. If the defense improves with a more consistent role at second base, Durbin could be one of the steals of the offseason.
Orioles trade for Taylor Ward
Full trade:
Orioles receive: OF Taylor Ward
Angels receive: RHP Grayson Rodriguez
We will forgive you if this trade slipped your mind. It happened just about two weeks after the World Series, and Taylor Ward is one of the most under-appreciated players in baseball. And in case you have not been paying attention to what has been going on in Anaheim lately, Ward is coming off of a 36-homer, 103-RBI season and over the last four seasons has quietly been one of the better hitters in all of baseball.
There are real injury concerns with Grayson Rodriguez, and while he is talented, being able to move him for a proven bat like Ward is an absolute win for the Baltimore Orioles and will help give them one of the absolute best lineups in baseball. The AL East has been in a bit of an arms race this offseason, and this is the move that kick-started it all. With Ward, new signee Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg returning, the Orioles have five guys who are legitimate 30-homer threats.
This is the type of offseason Orioles fans have been clamoring for. They finally spent some money on Alonso, but Ward might end up being just as important of a piece in the lineup.
Braves trade for Mauricio Dubon
Full trade:
Braves receive: UTIL Mauricio Dubon
Astros receive: INF Nick Allen
Mauricio Dubon has become one of my favorite players in baseball. Super-utility players are extremely valuable, and there are few better than the Honduran-born Dubon, a two-time utility Gold Glove award winner who has started games at every position except pitcher and catcher for the Houston Astros over the last two seasons. For a Braves team that has been bit by the injury bug the past few seasons, and already has been with an early injury to presumed starting shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, Dubon’s versatility will be even more useful.
If the Braves are completely healthy, Dubon likely does not find his way into the starting lineup. But with Kim sidelined for at least the first month of the season, Dubon will begin his Braves’ career as the team’s starting shortstop according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. After that, Dubon could also see some time in right field, which would allow the Braves to spell Acuna, who has missed significant time the last two seasons recovering from a torn ACL, and give him some opportunities to DH. One spot Dubon may not spend much time at is first base, where Olson has played 162 games at the past four seasons.
Dubon is not going to wow anyone at the plate, but with the Braves he should not need to. He had a very respectable .720 OPS with 10 home runs in 2023 and is in the 90th percentile for whiff rate and 97th percentile for K rate. The Braves missed the postseason last year. In a loaded NL East with a new-look Mets team and the always dangerous Philadelphia Phillies, competing for the division title will be a tall task. But players like Dubon are crucial for winning teams, and Dubon is a winning player.
Tigers sign Kenley Jansen
Contract details: One year, $9 million with a $12 million club option for 2027
The Detroit Tigers have notably spent the past few seasons without a set closer, with manager A.J. Hinch piecing together his relievers and utilizing what people have dubbed “pitching chaos.” Now, he has another arm at his disposal, Kenley Jansen, a potential future Hall of Famer and the current active saves leader. Jansen never really relied on velocity to get outs, so even at 38, he is still one of the better late-inning pitchers in baseball.
Last season with the Angels, Jansen had 29 saves with a 2.59 ERA in 62 appearances. This year with the Tigers, Jansen will have a lot more competition for the ninth inning. Will Vest led Detroit in saves last season with 21. Kyle Finnegan has closing experience with the Washington Nationals and got a few opportunities last year after a midseason trade. The young Troy Melton projects to be a starter down the road, but with a full rotation could be a factor in the bullpen if the Tigers choose to put him on the Major League roster instead of keeping him in AAA to get more starts.
While the Tigers rotation has stolen all of the headlines this offseason after they kept Tarik Skubal and signed Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, their bullpen could be just as good. This will be year number 17 for Jansen, and with high expectations in Detroit, he might just be called upon to get some very important outs down the stretch.
Missed anyone? Let us know in the comments what your favorite underrated move from this offseason was!
What about the Mariners trade for Brendan Donovan? That seems like a good trade for the M's. When the trade was made the reporter thought he would bat lead off. I just Googled the M's projected line up and they have him batting 7th. Regardless, he's a starter.