CarterHud

Chris Stratton. Photo from NBC

           The Los Angeles Angels have acquired RHP Chris Stratton from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for LHP Williams Jerez.

            The Angels always deal with rotation injuries. Both Tyler Skaggs and Andrew Heaney are hurt, but could be ready for Opening Day. Stratton can fill in as a starter, and when everyone is healthy, improve a weak bullpen. They trade Jerez, a lefty reliever that made his debut last season.

             Stratton, 27, had a 5.09 ERA with 112 strikeouts and a team leading 10 wins in 145 innings last season. He made 26 starts with two relief appearances. In his three year career in San Fran, Stratton has a 4.63 ERA with 169 strikeouts in 213.2 innings.

             For the Giants, they had seven pitchers vying for a rotation spot. Stratton didn\’t make it, and he doesn\’t have options, so they traded him. Also not making it was Andrew Suarez, who was optioned to AAA. They receive Jerez, a younger pitcher and is a lefty.

            Jerez, 26, made his MLB debut in 2018, with a 6.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 15 innings. He allowed two runs in 7.1 innings in Spring Training.

Ryan Yarbrough. Photo from SBNation

             In mid-May 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays unleashed a strategy that would change baseball. That strategy was the \”opener\”. Essentially, they would start the game with a reliever pitching an inning or two. Then, they would either continue on with their relievers or have pitchers like Ryan Yarbrough, Ryne Stanek, Diego Castillo or Yonny Chirinos pitch multiple innings. The Rays plan to utilize the strategy again. The offseason was once again filled with interesting decisions, as the Rays try to find the best underrated players out there.

             Offseason additions: RHP Charlie Morton, INF Yandy Diaz, C Mike Zunino, OF Avisail Garcia, OF Guillermo Heredia, RHP Emilio Pagan, OF Jake Smolinski, UT Emilio Bonifacio, LHP Ryan Merrit, LHP Oliver Drake

             Offseason subtractions: RHP Sergio Romo, 1B CJ Cron, OF Mallex Smith, OF Carlos Gomez, 1B/OF Jake Bauers, C Jesus Sucre

              Rotation
Only four pitchers started in every game they played in for the Rays last season. Two of them, Chris Archer and Nathan Eovaldi, were traded at the deadline. Archer landed another one of those four players, Tyler Glasnow. The fourth pitcher was Blake Snell. Snell had a 1.89 ERA, with 221 strikeouts in 180.2 innings, earning AL Cy Young honors at age 25. Glasnow had a 4.20 ERA after the trade. The team signed Charlie Morton to a two year deal. 2018 was the best year of Morton\’s career, making his first all-star appearance and finished with a 3.13 ERA, plus 201 strikeouts in 167 innings. The final two spots will likely go to openers. Despite only officially starting six games, Ryan Yarbrough was virtually a starter, pitching in 147.1 innings. Same with Yonny Chirinos who in 18 games (seven starts) pitched 89.2 innings. Ryne Stanek and Diego Castillo are opener options. Both Jake Faria and Austin Pruitt are natural starters, but could join the rotation for openers. They\’ll start 2019 in AAA.

                Bullpen
Swiss Army Knife reliever Sergio Romo went south to Miami. Romo made five starts, and converted 25 saves. Closing duties will likely be split between Jose Alvarado and Chaz Roe, who combined for nine saves, and were two of the few Rays relievers to not make a start. Stanek and Castillo, along with Yarbrough and Chirinos, will enter games from the bullpen. Lefty Jalen Beeks, acquired for Eovaldi, can also go multiple innings. Wilmer Font allowed five runs in 27 innings in 2018. The final spot is between lefty Adam Kolarek and righty Emilio Pagan, the latter acquired in a three tean trade this offseason.

                 Catching
The Rays traded speedy center fielder Mallex Smith to the Mariners for catcher Mike Zunino. Zunino hit 20 home runs in 113 games last year, and is one of the best power hitting catchers. But, he has a career batting average of .207 and a .682 OPS. Michael Perez is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster. He hit .284 in limited time last year.

                  Infield
The Rays recently extended utility infielder Brandon Lowe, and they still have another utility infielder Daniel Robertson, but both are blocked. Third baseman Matt Duffy will start the season injured. At first will be a platoon between Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz. Diaz was acquired for first baseman Jake Bauers. They will work out Diaz at first base, but he\’ll start the season at third, his natural position. Choi had a .877 OPS in 49 games for the Rays last season. Second baseman Joey Wendle stole 16 bases and hit .300. Shortstop Willy Adames is primed for a breakout season after hitting 10 home runs and .278 in 85 games in 2018.

                    Outfield
Tommy Pham, acquired in a trade deadline deal, Hit .343 with a .448 OBP that inflated his OPS to 1.071 after the trade. Kevin Kiermaier is a very good defensive center fielder, but again missed time to injuries and could work on his offense. Austin Meadows, also part of the trade with Glasnow, Had a .785 OPS in 59 games last year, his first taste of MLB experience. Only 10 of those games were with the Rays. In 27 games with AAA Durham, the Rays\’ affiliate, Meadows hit 10 home runs with a .344 average.

                  DH/Bench
The Rays picked up Avisail Garcia, who is the wild card on their team. Garcia hit a career high 19 home runs last year, but his average dropped by nearly 100 points, from .330 to .236. Guillermo Heredia, acquired with Zunino, is the 4th outfielder. Lowe and Robertson are extra infielders, and Perez is the backup catcher.

                   Lineup
CF Kevin Kiermaier
SS Willy Adames
LF Tommy Pham
1B Ji-Man Choi
C Mike Zunino
DH Avisail Garcia
2B Joey Wendle
3B Yandy Diaz
RF Austin Meadows

                     Rotation (last two are openers)
Blake Snell (L)
Charlie Morton (R)
Tyler Glasnow (R)
Ryan Yarbrough (L)
Yonny Chirinos (R)

                     Bullpen
Jose Alvarado (L)
Chaz Roe (R)
Ryne Stanek (R)
Diego Castillo (R)
Jalen Beeks (L)
Wilmer Font (R)
Emilio Pagan (R)

                      Bench
UT Brandon Lowe
UT Daniel Robertson
OF Guillermo Heredia
C Michael Perez

                      Additional Information
Ballpark: Tropicana Field
Manager: Kevin Cash
GM: Erik Neander
World Series Championships: 0
2018 record: 90-72

                      Steal of the Decade
The Rays dealt top starter Matt Garza to the Cubs, along with Zac Rosscup and Fernando Perez to the Cubs in 2011 for Chris Archer, Robinson Chirinos, Sam Fuld and Brandon Guyer. Garza had a 3.65 ERA in three seasons in Chicago, though fell off after a trade to Texas. Rosscup had a 5.32 ERA in three seasons for the Cubs, and is now a part of the Mariners bullpen after bouncing from team to team. Perez never played again after the trade. In return, the Rays got Chirinos, currently the Astros\’ starting catcher, but played in just 20 games as a Ray. Both Guyer and Fuld were fourth outfielders in Tampa, combing for eight season for the Rays. Archer would emerge as the ace of the Rays, with a 3.69 ERA in seven seasons. He was purely dominant from 2013-2015, though his ERA gradually raised after that. He would be traded at the 2018 non-waiver trade deadline for three players, including Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow, who could be key parts of the 2019 team.

                        Prediction
The Rays are always a surprise team. With a good pitching staff and an okay offense, they could make the playoffs in a bad American League.

Kratz (right)

       The San Francisco Giants have acquired catcher Erik Kratz from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for INF CJ Hinojosa.

       The Giants were in need of a backup catcher for Buster Posey with Nick Hundley leaving this offseason. They opted not to go with Aramis Garcia, who made his MLB debut in 2018, appearing in 19 games. Both Stephen Vogt and Rene Rivera were in camp on minor league deals, but Kratz is a better option. Kratz impressed last postseason with the Brewers. The Giants will be Kratz\’s eighth team, all since he left the Phillies after 2013.

        Kratz, 38, hit .236 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 219 Plate Appearances for the Brewers last season. He hit .292 in the Brewers\’ playoff run. In his MLB career for the Brewers, New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, *exhales* Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates, Kratz has hit .211 with 30 home runs and 98 RBIs in 868 Plate Appearances.

        The Brewers upgraded their catching this offseason, signing Yasmani Grandal to a one year deal. With Grandal and the starter last year, Manny Pina returning, their wasn\’t room for Kratz. Getting a prospect in Hinojosa was better than designating Kratz for assignment, looking other teams might have done in the same situation.

        Hinojosa, 24, hit .265 with three home runs, six stolen bases and 28 RBIs in 311 Plate Appearances for AA Richmond and High-A San Jose last season. In his minor league career, Hinojosa has a batting average of .273 with 21 home runs, 135 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 1484 Plate Appearances.

Harrison Bader. Photo from ESPN

                The St. Louis Cardinals were one of the best teams in the early 2010s. Now three years removed from their last playoff appearance, the Cardinals are trying to get back to the postseason. They traded for all-star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, then extended him. The Cardinals rotation still could use improvements, as could their bullpen. But they are in the best position they\’ve been in in years. Now, their isn\’t an excuse to miss the playoffs.

                 Offseason additions: 1B Paul Goldschmidt, LHP Andrew Miller, C Matt Wieters, LHP Tommy Layne, RHP Ryan Meisenger

                 Offseason subtractions: RHP Bud Norris, RHP Luke Weaver, INF Greg Garcia, C Carson Kelly, RHP Tyson Ross, RHP Matt Bowman

                  Rotation
Former ace Carlos Martinez moved to the bullpen last season, and could be the closer when he returns from a shoulder injury. That leaves Miles Mikolas as the new ace. Mikolas pitched for the Padres and Rangers from 2012-2014, then went to Japan. In his return in 2018, Mikolas posted a 2.83 ERA, a league leading 18 wins, but also allowed a league leading 186 hits. He finished 6th in NL Cy Young voting. Rookie Jack Flaherty had a 3.34 ERA in 28 starts. Michael Wacha was back on form last year but was shut down after just 15 starts. Veteran Adam Wainwright was brought back, and will start the season in the rotation. Wainwright has fallen off after finishing third in Cy Young voting in 2014. Dakota Hudson didn\’t make a start last year, but made the rotation this spring.

                   Bullpen
Flamethrower Jordan Hicks is the likely closer after Bud Norris departed. Both Norris and Hicks had a 3.59 ERA last season. Hicks made six saves. The Cardinals signed Andrew Miller coming off his worst season since 2011. Miller, when healthy, is one of baseball\’s best relievers. John Brebbia had a 3.20 ERA in 50.2 innings last year. John Gant didn\’t make the rotation, but he was good in 26 games (19 starts) last year. Both Brett Cecil and Luke Gregerson will start the season injured. Top prospect Alex Reyes will start the season in the bullpen. Righties Dominic Leone and Mike Mayers are coming off tough years. Lefty Tyler Webb was strong in 15.1 innings last year.

                    Catching
Yadier Molina plays nearly every day, unless injured like he was in 2018. He still hit 20 home runs. The Cardinals signed four time all-star Matt Wieters to be the backup. He failed in two seasons with Washington.

                    Infield
The Cardinals getting Goldschmidt might have been the offseason\’s biggest move. Goldschmidt has been an all-star every season since 2013. He is also a three time Gold Glove winner, which improves the Cardinals\’ defensive issues at first. Matt Carpenter, the Cardinals\’ first baseman last year, will move to third base. Carpenter hit 36 home runs last year. Shortstop Paul De Jong hit 19 home runs in 115 games, and might be one of the best power hitting shortstops in the National League. Second baseman Kolten Wong had a career high WAR, but his offensive numbers aren\’t good.

                    Outfield
Marcel Ozuna had an insane 2017, but his first season with the Red Birds saw his numbers go back into the decent 2016 form. Dexter Fowler played in just 90 games, and disappointed, with eight home runs, with a .180 batting average and a .576 OPS. Harrison Bader has a great glove, and moved Fowler to right field, taking over in center. He stole 15 bases as well.

                     Bench
First baseman and outfielder Jose Martinez has hit 31 home runs, with a .309 average and .850 OPS in his 270 game career. But, it looks like he could be traded. Tyler O\’Neil, a top prospect, has had a good spring but because he has options he might not make the team. Jedd Gyorko, last year\’s third baseman, is now a utility infielder. But, he will start the season injured. Yairo Munoz, another utility infielder, and Drew Robinson, acquired this offseason from Texas, will start the season on the team.

                     Lineup
3B Matt Carpenter
1B Paul Goldschmidt
LF Marcel Ozuna
SS Paul De Jong
C Yadier Molina
CF Harrison Bader
2B Kolten Wong
RF Dexter Fowler

                     Rotation
Miles Mikolas (R)
Jack Flaherty (R)
Michael Wacha (R)
Dakota Hudson (R)
Adam Wainwright (R)

                     Bullpen
Jordan Hicks (R)
Andrew Miller (L)
John Brebbia (R)
John Gant (R)
Alex Reyes (R)
Dominic Leone (R)
Mike Mayers (R)

                     Bench
C Matt Wieters
OF Tyler O\’Neil
1B/OF Jose Martinez
INF Yairo Munoz
UT Drew Robinson

                     Additional Information
Ballpark: Busch Stadium
Manager: Mike Shildt
GM: Mike Girsch
World Series Championships: 11
2018 record: 88-74

                      Steal of the Decade
The Cardinals want to make the playoffs this year. Their roster got a big boost this offseason with the acquisition of Paul Goldschmidt. They sent Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly and Andy Young, plus a draft pick to Arizona. Goldschmidt is a six time all-star, three time Gold Glover and four time Silver Slugger recipient. In his career, Goldschmidt has hit 209 home runs, stole 124 bases, has a batting average of .297, and an OPS of .930. The Cardinals recently extended Goldschmidt by five years.

                       Prediction
Without Goldschmidt and Miller, the Cardinals don\’t make the playoffs this year. With both of them, the Cardinals will have a chance to make the wild card, or win the NL Central.

           The Seattle Mariners won 89 games last season, but once again, missed the playoffs. Those three words: missed the playoffs, have been common for the Mariners, as they have not made the playoffs since 2001, the longest drought in the MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA. That drought will likely stand in 2019, as the Mariners and GM Jerry \”Trader Jerry\” Dipoto traded many of their best players, trying to contend in a few years.

           Offseason additions: LHP Yusei Kikuchi, DH Edwin Encarnacion, OF Mallex Smith, OF Jay Bruce, OF Domingo Santana, C Omar Narvaez, RHP Hunter Strickland, RHP Anthony Swarzak, SS JT Crawford, RHP Cory Gearrin, LHP Zac Rosscup, 2B Shed Long, RHP Tyler Danish

           Offseason subtractions: RHP Edwin Diaz, LHP James Paxton, 2B Robinson Cano, DH Nelson Cruz, C Mike Zunino, SS Jean Segura, LHP James Pazos, OF Denard Span, RHP Alex Colome, RHP Nick Vincent, OF Guillermo Heredia, RHP Juan Nicasio, RHP Adam Warren, RHP Erasmo Ramirez, OF Ben Gamel, UT Andrew Romine, C Chris Herrmann, OF Cameron Maybin

           Rotation
The Mariners traded top starter James Paxton to the Yankees, leaving Marco Gonzales as the Opening Day starter. Gonzales had a 4.00 ERA in 166.2 innings. They signed lefty Yusei Kikuchi from the Japanese league, where he had a 2.81 ERA over eight seasons. Former ace Felix Hernandez fell even more, to a 5.55 ERA. Entering his age 33 season, Hernandez has already fallen. Mike Leake led the team with 31 starts last year, and had a 4.36 ERA. Wade LeBlanc pitched 162 innings with a 3.72 ERA. Justus Sheffield, the Mariners top prospect who was acquired in the Paxton trade, should see time.

            Bullpen
The Mariners lost what seems like their entire bullpen, including Edwin Diaz, Nick Vincent, Alex Colome, James Pazos, Juan Nicasio and Adam Warren. Hunter Strickland is the closer, after making 14 saves last year for the Giants. Chasen Bradford is the best returning reliever, after a 3.69 ERA in 46 games last year. Lefty Roenis Elias had a 2.65 ERA in 51 innings. Anthony Swarzak, acquired in the Diaz trade, is injured to start the season. Lefty Zac Rosscup made the team out of Spring Training. Cory Gearrin comes in after a decent 2018 with three teams. He had a 1.99 ERA in 68 games in 2017. Nick Rumbelow, Matt Festa and Brandon Brennan get the last three spots.

             Catching
The team traded 20 home run hitter Mike Zunino to the Rays. In a separate deal that saw Alex Colome go to the White Sox, the team acquired Omar Narvaez. Narvaez had a .794 OPS last season, much better than Zunino. David Freitas is the backup.

             Infield
Both middle infielders, Robinson Cano and Jean Segura, were dealt. Dee Gordon played outfield in his first Seattle season, but will move back to second now. Gordon stole 30 bases last year. JP Crawford, a former top prospect acquired for Segura, didn\’t make the team. Tim Beckham, who had a career year in 2017, went back to his previous form in 2018, hitting .230. He is the shortstop, for now. Kyle Seager survived all the trading, probably due to his contract. He will start the season injured. Ryon Healy can play first and third. He\’ll play first when Seager returns, but third without him. He hit 24 home runs last year. Jay Bruce had never hit below 18 home runs before 2018, when he hit nine. He is an outfielder, but will play first base for now.

               Outfield
The Mariners\’ best player now is Mitch Haniger, who hit 26 home runs with a .859 OPS in 2018. He plays right field. Mallex Smith, acquired for Zunino, hit .296 with 40 stolen bases last year. Domingo Santana didn\’t play much for Milwaukee last year because of their strong outfield, but hit 30 home runs in 2017.

                DH/Bench
The Mariners acquired DH Edwin Encarnacion, who has hit at least 32 home runs since 2012, hitting over 40 twice. Freitas is the backup catcher. Infielder Dylan Moore broke camp with the team, as did first baseman Dan Vogelbach, who hit four home runs last year.

                 Lineup
CF Mallex Smith
RF Mitch Haniger
3B Ryon Healy
DH Edwin Encarnacion
1B Jay Bruce
LF Domingo Santana
C Omar Narvaez
SS Tim Beckham
2B Dee Gordon

                   Rotation
Marco Gonzales (L)
Yusei Kikuchi (L)
Felix Hernandez (R)
Mike Leake (R)
Wade LeBlanc (L)

                   Bullpen
Hunter Strickland (R)
Chasen Bradford (R)
Zac Rosscup (L)
Roenis Elias (L)
Cory Gearrin (R)
Nick Rumbelow (R)
Matt Festa (R)
Brandon Brennan (R)

                    Bench
C David Freitas
INF Dylan Moore
1B Dan Vogelbach

                     Additional Information
Ballpark: T-Mobile Park
Manager: Scott Servais
GM: Jerry Dipoto
World Series Championships: 0
2018 record: 89-73

                       Steal of the Decade
The Mariners brought in shortstop Jean Segura before 2017 to bolster their offense. Segura had hiy 20 home runs and stole 33 bases in 2016 for Arizona. The Mariners acquired Segura, pitcher Zac Curtis and outfielder Mitch Haniger for pitcher Taijuan Walker and shortstop Ketel Marte. Segura hit .302 with 21 home runs and stole 42 bases over two seasons for the Mariners before a trade to Philly. Curtis didn\’t allow a run in 4.2 innings, then was traded to the Phillies in a separate deal. But Haniger was the real steal. Entering 2019, Haniger is the best player on the Mariners after hitting 26 home runs with a .285 average and .859 OPS, making his first all-star team. In return, the Mariners traded Walker, who will miss most of 2019 and missed all but three starts last year, but has a 3.49 ERA since the trade. Marte has grown into a decent shortstop, and is like Segura lite.

                       Prediction
The Mariners had a good team. But their pitching wasn\’t good, so they decided to unload. Now, the Mariners don\’t look like a good team. They aren\’t the worst team in their division, but by no means the best.