Kansas City’s Will SmithBrandon Sloter/Getty Images
Chicago White Sox: Signing John Brebbia
For as bad as the team presently is, the White Sox had a solid offseason, getting quite the haul of prospects/controllable assets in the Dylan Cease, Aaron Bummer and Gregory Santos trades. And, for the most part, they didn’t unnecessarily throw money at free agents in advance of what was always going to be a lost season.
They did give $4 million to Brebbia, though. Plus a $6 million mutual option with a $1.5 million buyout for next season. There are also incentives in the contract that would net him another million bucks if he makes 60 appearances this season—which he’s roughly on pace to do, despite a 5.93 ERA.
That’s just a bizarre investment in a 33-year-old reliever who isn’t going to be part of their long-term plans.
Cleveland Guardians: Designating Cal Quantrill for assignment
Not many offseason moves to choose from here, as Cleveland had probably the most uneventful winter of any club.
There was a nice big head-scratcher, though, as the Guardians designated Quantrill for assignment with two years of team control remaining, traded him to Colorado for a low-level prospect (Kody Huff) and later replaced him in the rotation with a Carlos Carrasco reunion.
Quantrill has pitched (by Rockies standards) exceptionally well, while Carrasco has struggled to the tune of a 5.16 ERA.
(In Cleveland’s defense, Carrasco wasn’t Plan A. They signed him to a minor league deal and gave him a roster spot because of the elbow inflammation from which Gavin Williams is still recovering. Nevertheless, cutting Quantrill to save a few million dollars was befuddling.)
Detroit Tigers: Letting Spencer Turnbull go
There were some extenuating circumstances with this divorce, but the Tigers could have brought back Turnbull for next to nothing. He made $2.15 million in 2023 and ended up signing a one-year, $2 million deal with the Phillies after the Tigers non-tendered him.
In Philadelphia, the 31-year-old has flourished. He had a 1.53 ERA in his first 35.1 innings pitched and could be an intriguing trade chip if he continues pitching well in what is currently a middle-relief role.
Meanwhile, Detroit signed Kenta Maeda to a two-year, $24 million deal in free agency, and he had a 6.75 ERA in seven starts before hitting the IL with a viral illness.
Kansas City Royals: Spending $5 million on Will Smith
On the one hand, Smith pitched for each of the past three World Series champions. Getting that type of success into a clubhouse that languished through 106 losses last season was a reasonably sound idea.
On the other hand, he had a 4.40 ERA last season and pitched his way out of a closer gig, and the Royals offered him more than triple what he made in 2023 ($1.5 million) to serve as their closer.
It took all of six team games for him to lose the closer job again, though he has at least pitched much better over the past month, starting to work his way back into higher-leverage situations.
Minnesota Twins: Trading for Manuel Margot
Amid the Bally Sports/Diamond Group RSN chaos, Minnesota didn’t really know what it could afford to spend this offseason. So, it didn’t spend much of anything outside of taking a discounted flyer on Margot.
Of Margot’s $10 million salary in 2024, the Dodgers are paying $4 million and the Rays are paying $2 million—as well as the $2 million buyout of his $12 million mutual option if it isn’t exercised.
So, the Twins are only on the hook for $4 million here. Even at that price, though, they haven’t even remotely gotten their money’s worth, with Margot currently sporting a .513 OPS and the worst bWAR on the Minnesota roster.
