It was a strange winter, with 40% of the cash ($1.1 billion of $2.7 billion) spent by the Dodgers and more than 50% in the National League West, according to @CodifyBaseball (Giants $262 (The Diamondbacks are fourth with $136 million).
So many big teams are still on the sidelines. The Giants and Angels remain strong candidates for National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, while the Rangers and Red Sox remain strong candidates for Jordan Montgomery, but they’re big markets with a reason to spend money. They’re not the only team.
Here are some thoughts on a team that has work to do.
1. Red Sox
Lucas Giolito could be out for the rest of the year with an elbow issue, but BoSox watchers say they wouldn’t be surprised if they simply replace Giolito with a solid innings eater (Michael Lorenzen) and Mike Clevinger remain).
2. Giants
They signed Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, Jung-Hoo Lee, Jordan Hicks and Tom Murphy, and they’ve done a good job. However, there is still a big gap between them and the Dodgers. “They should sign Snell. They can afford it,” said one rival.
3. Mariners
Fifty-four percent of their solutions clearly meant overwintering. “He wants to be there. Sign him,” one rival said of Snell.
4. Cubs
They brought back Cody Bellinger, but they still look like a mid-major National League cream. “Monty is a great fit for the Cubs. They can afford him,” says one competitor.
5. Rangers
They seem to be resting on their laurels after winning their first World Series. They got caught up in the RSN mess, won the World Series, made tens of millions of dollars, and have an All-Star Game coming up. Montgomery and JD Martinez might fit in there.
