We’re nearly two months into the 2016 MLB season, and several under-the-radar offseason moves have paid huge dividends beyond reasonable expectations.
With the way clubs spend for top talent, a star free agent will virtually never become a bargain. Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija are pitching like aces after shaky 2015 seasons, but the San Francisco Giants paid them accordingly.
Yet a surprising amount of one-year deals are proving tremendously successful for both parties. After teams responded to their availability with crickets, these players have repaired their value with sizzling starts. Now, they’re poised to attract more suitors this winter.
Some trades have shown to be lopsided, especially two involving breakout young pitchers who are under team control for years. Those kinds of players aren’t typically cheap or easy to find.
Most of what have turned out to be the biggest offseason maneuvers drew little fanfare at the time. But they’re causing front offices to take a victory lap.