It was easily one of the most entertaining MLB winter meetings in recent memory, and it all took place in the final 48 hours. After Jon Lester announced that he was signing a 6-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, everyone else unleashed trades and deals pf their own before the end of the meetings.
It all started with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who made a number of deals in a short amount of time. They figured out the crowded outfield situation by sending Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres, receiving the likes of catcher Yasmani Grandal. The Dodgers will also send about $32 million to San Diego to cover part of Kemp's contract. Many thought Andre Ethier was on his way out as well, but that deal never got done.
Los Angeles also made a deal with the Miami Marlins that may help the Marlins compete for an NL East title. They sent the likes of Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Marlins for top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney. The SS Gordon was traded after the Dodgers acquired longtime Philadelphia SS Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies.
Heaney's stint with the Dodgers did not last long, as he was then sent to the Los Angeles Angels for 2B Howie Kendrick. The Dodgers also agreed to a 4-year deal with P Brandon McCarthy.
After losing out on Jon Lester, the Boston Red Sox tried looking elsewhere to help their starting rotation. It started with a deal to acquire P Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Miley's ERA has gone up the past 3 seasons, including a 4.34 ERA last season, in which he finished 8-12.
That deal was followed by a deal that had been talked about for a while, but was made official on Thursday. The Red Sox traded OF Yoenis Cespedes and prospects to the Detroit Tigers for starting pitcher Rick Porcello. Both Porcello and Cespedes will be free agents following the 2015 season. The Red Sox acquired Cespedes from the Oakland A's at the 2014 trade deadline.
Boston also agreed with free agent P Justin Masterson on a 1-year deal. It is Masterson's second stint with the Red Sox, and it is unclear whether he will pitch out of the bullpen or the rotation.
The Tigers have yet to re-sign P Max Scherzer, and it is the furthest thing from a for-sure thing, so they made a deal to bolster their rotation. They acquired All-Star P Alfredo Simon from the Cincinnati Reds for SS Eugenio Suarez and a prospect. Simon had a career-high 15 wins last season.
The Reds also traded away P Mat Latos to the Marlins for starter Anthony DeSclafani and minor league catcher Chad Wallach.
Out of the AL Central the Minnesota Twins added P Ervin Santana on a 4-year deal, while the Royals added DH Kendrys Morales on a 2-year deal.
In the NL Central the St. Louis Cardinals took Mark Reynolds away from the Milwaukee Brewers on a 1-year deal.
The final trade of the day came from the Texas Rangers acquiring P Ross Detwiler from the Washington Nationals for 2 minor leaguers.
Despite the Winter Meetings being officially over, the moves are far from done. Top of the rotation pitchers James Shields and Max Scherzer remain on the market, while teams are still in conversations to execute trades. It's hard to believe with all of the wild moves that have happened that there is more to come, but there are still a lot more decisions to be made.
It all started with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who made a number of deals in a short amount of time. They figured out the crowded outfield situation by sending Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres, receiving the likes of catcher Yasmani Grandal. The Dodgers will also send about $32 million to San Diego to cover part of Kemp's contract. Many thought Andre Ethier was on his way out as well, but that deal never got done.
Los Angeles also made a deal with the Miami Marlins that may help the Marlins compete for an NL East title. They sent the likes of Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Marlins for top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney. The SS Gordon was traded after the Dodgers acquired longtime Philadelphia SS Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies.
Heaney's stint with the Dodgers did not last long, as he was then sent to the Los Angeles Angels for 2B Howie Kendrick. The Dodgers also agreed to a 4-year deal with P Brandon McCarthy.
After losing out on Jon Lester, the Boston Red Sox tried looking elsewhere to help their starting rotation. It started with a deal to acquire P Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Miley's ERA has gone up the past 3 seasons, including a 4.34 ERA last season, in which he finished 8-12.
That deal was followed by a deal that had been talked about for a while, but was made official on Thursday. The Red Sox traded OF Yoenis Cespedes and prospects to the Detroit Tigers for starting pitcher Rick Porcello. Both Porcello and Cespedes will be free agents following the 2015 season. The Red Sox acquired Cespedes from the Oakland A's at the 2014 trade deadline.
Boston also agreed with free agent P Justin Masterson on a 1-year deal. It is Masterson's second stint with the Red Sox, and it is unclear whether he will pitch out of the bullpen or the rotation.
The Tigers have yet to re-sign P Max Scherzer, and it is the furthest thing from a for-sure thing, so they made a deal to bolster their rotation. They acquired All-Star P Alfredo Simon from the Cincinnati Reds for SS Eugenio Suarez and a prospect. Simon had a career-high 15 wins last season.
The Reds also traded away P Mat Latos to the Marlins for starter Anthony DeSclafani and minor league catcher Chad Wallach.
Out of the AL Central the Minnesota Twins added P Ervin Santana on a 4-year deal, while the Royals added DH Kendrys Morales on a 2-year deal.
In the NL Central the St. Louis Cardinals took Mark Reynolds away from the Milwaukee Brewers on a 1-year deal.
The final trade of the day came from the Texas Rangers acquiring P Ross Detwiler from the Washington Nationals for 2 minor leaguers.
Despite the Winter Meetings being officially over, the moves are far from done. Top of the rotation pitchers James Shields and Max Scherzer remain on the market, while teams are still in conversations to execute trades. It's hard to believe with all of the wild moves that have happened that there is more to come, but there are still a lot more decisions to be made.
