Staff Writers
The 2018-2019 offseason was once predicted to be a historic and memorable offseason in terms of the talent on the market and the money that would be spent. Now over halfway through the offseason, this market is not turning out as predicted. Up to date, the biggest trend has been for teams and players choosing to wait as long as they feel is needed instead of ensuring their 2019 contracts.
The offseason started
off slow with many players and teams picking up player options and only one
player accepting the qualifying offer, Hyun-Jin Ryu. As spring training looms
the best free agents remain on the market with no immediate deals appearing
likely. This class of free agents is headlined by two young, premier talents,
Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. Both players burst into the league at a young age
and have made their presence felt every season. Manny Machado has played for
the Baltimore Orioles for his entire career up until the last half of the 2018
season when he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was another impressive
season for Machado but unfortunately it ended with some controversy over his
decisions and effort. Even though he played the entire season it may be the
couple games in the playoffs he chose not to hustle that will determine his
impending contract. Bryce Harper, a former number one overall pick has had a
similar career as Machado, as the two are both on track to join the MLB Hall of
Fame. The biggest distinction for Harper is his 2015 season. This season was
historic for him winning the NL MVP. So far, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia
Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago White Sox’s have been connected to
the superstars, but the Phillies and White Sox’s remain the favorites for the
two. No one can be certain when the two will sign, but when they do, both
contracts will be massive, historic deals for the league.
Other big players that
still remain on the market are all-star closer Craig Kimbrel, World Series
winning starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel, and stud center fielder A.J. Pollock.
All these players are guaranteed to strike a big contract, but it is looking
more likely they will all have to settle for cheaper deals than they originally
believed they would receive. The starting pitching market is starting to move
and players are finding the team they will play for in 2019 and potentially
beyond, most notably with Patrick Corbin signing a six-year deal with the
Washington Nationals.
Thankfully for
baseball fans, free agents are not the only source of news during this time and
teams are also making trades to improve their teams. Earlier in the offseason,
star first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt was traded from Arizona Diamondbacks to
the St. Louis Cardinals. The New York Mets made headlines for their trade with
the Seattle Mariners receiving top players, closer, Edwin Diaz and second
basemen, Robinson Cano. Additionally, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati
Reds hooked up with Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, and Alex Wood going to the Reds for
younger prospects.
It is difficult to predict when these other great players
will finalize their contracts, but when they do, it will definitely shake up
the league and might potentially trigger other moves. In a league that is
continually searching for younger talent, youthful players with potential is
the popular way to go, but every successful teams need some productive veterans
to hold the clubhouse together and ultimately be successful.
