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Facing the stark reality that a rebuilding project is inevitable, some teams held fire sales this offseason, dealing from areas of strength and depth. Others simply continue to be mired in bad decisions or the aftermath of those decisions, or simply won’t be able to withstand the loss of an All-Star player to free agency. Regardless, here are the five teams that got worse in the offseason:
1. Oakland Athletics
What they lost: Left-hander Gio Gonzalez, 26, amassed a 31-21 record with a 3.20 ERA and striking out 368 hitters in 402 2/3 innings the last two years. Trevor Cahill, 23, averaged double-digit win totals in each of his three years in the majors. When healthy, Andrew Bailey was highly effective, saving 75 games over the last three years, striking out a man per inning. The A’s also lost reliever Craig Breslow in the Cahill deal, and outfielders David DeJesus and Josh Willingham left via free agency.
What they added: Gonzalez fetched two starters who are close to the big leagues in Brad Peacock and Tom Milone. Peacock has a high upside but could be a year away, and Milone is more of a back-of-the-rotation starter. For Bailey, the A’s received a fourth outfielder in Josh Reddick and two prospects; among the two, hard-throwing pitcher Raul Alcantara, 19, has more upside. For Cahill, the A’s received a package of prospects highlighted by right-hander Jarrod Parker, who has ace potential but is recovering from Tommy John surgery. For Willingham and DeJesus, the A’s received two first-round supplemental picks (Nos. 34 and 47 overall).
Bottom line: Without Gonzalez, the rotation has no stopper, and there will be many losses in 2012 for Oakland. Without Bailey, the A’s have a void in the ninth inning. Most of the prospects won’t even see the light of day until 2013 or 2014. The A’s shouldn’t be expected to compete in a stacked AL West for several years.
2. Chicago White Sox
What they lost: Like the A’s, the White Sox lost their ace, right fielder and closer this offseason, as well as their manager. Left-hander Mark Buehrle took his 15 wins per season to Miami, following skipper Ozzie Guillen. Carlos Quentin and Sergio Santos were dealt to the Padres and Blue Jays, respectively. Quentin belted at least 20 home runs in each of his four seasons in Chicago, while the 27-year-old Santos saved 30 games in 2011.
What they added: A first-round supplemental pick (No. 48 overall) seems like a shallow return for Buehrle, the team’s unquestioned ace. Quentin fetched two minor league arms with potential, and Santos brought a possible future No. 4 or 5 starter in Nestor Molina. Hiring Robin Ventura as manager was a smart move, as Ventura has all the skills needed to be a long-term solution and expectations will be low. However, we have no idea how he can handle a pitching staff and that could cost the Sox some games in 2012.
Bottom line: Buehrle’s leadership and ability to provide 200 innings per year will be missed most. Quentin’s move opens salary and a spot for farmhand Dayan Viciedo. But Santos, besides being a tough competitor, has a very team-friendly contract and is under team control for another five years. The White Sox still have a contending team in a weak AL Central, but they took a step backward and will need rebound years from key players to have any hopes of finishing first.
3. Milwaukee Brewers
What they lost: Prince Fielder is sure to leave, as will his 38 homers. The Brewers also could be without Ryan Braun for the first 50 games of the 2012 season after he failed a drug test (though he is appealing the result). The loss of bullpen arms like LaTroy Hawkins and Takashi Saito were under the radar, but those two were excellent setting up Francisco Rodriguez and closer John Axford during the pennant race last year.
What they added: The Brewers did improve the left side of their infield with the acquisitions of free agents Aramis Ramirez and Alex Gonzalez, but they did nothing to replace Saito and Hawkins. They will receive at least a first-round compensation pick for Fielder when he signs.
The bottom line: The Brewers will be contenders again this year, but the loss of Fielder alone probably puts them behind the Cardinals and Reds in the NL Central. Ramirez and Gonzalez help defensively and add some pop, but the lineup is now too right-handed, which will get exposed against elite pitching, especially without Fielder in the middle.
4. New York Mets
What they lost: Shortstop Jose Reyes departed for the Marlins, taking with him a .337 average in 2011, along with 39 stolen bases and 101 runs scored. They also traded undervalued outfielder Angel Pagan and waived longtime prospect Fernando Martinez.
What they added: The Mets tried to improve their bullpen with the free-agent signings of Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch and trading for Ramon Ramirez, but none have the impact needed to make the club a contender. Free-agent signees Ronny Cedeno and outfielder Scott Hairston give the Mets veteran bench help. Andres Torres takes over in center field, but his great 2010 season looks like a fluke. The Mets also receive supplemental first- and second-round picks (Nos. 35 and 74 overall) for Reyes.
Bottom line: How detrimental can the loss of one player be? It’s significant if it’s a player like Reyes. The ownership’s financial woes have created a lethargic team culture and become a barrier that even great leadership -- GM Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins -- can’t overcome.
5. Baltimore Orioles
What they lost: More important is what the Orioles kept, as GM Dan Duquette stuck to his guns and did not trade any of his young core: Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Brian Matusz, Zach Britton and Matt Wieters. One notable loss is slugger Luke Scott, who signed with the Rays.
What they added: Their biggest acquisition might have been the return of Roy Poitevint, who began his career with the Orioles, as executive director of international baseball. The club was very active overseas, signing Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and Japanese lefty Tsuyoshi Wada. Former Rangers outfielder Endy Chavez can run and has a great glove but has never been able to hit or make adjustments at the plate. They also traded for third-string catcher Taylor Teagarden and left-handed starter Dana Eveland.
The bottom line: During his career, Poitevint’s international signings have included Hideo Nomo, Tomo Ohka, Sun Woo Kim and Jim Ho Cho. Unfortunately, Chen and Wada look more like Cho than Nomo. The Orioles were in need of starting pitching and an impact bat but accomplished neither. The leadership of Duquette and manager Buck Showalter is solid, but this is a franchise for which it is hard to recruit free agents and offers a limited budget. Those two factors alone always make it difficult to improve this team.
1. Oakland Athletics
What they lost: Left-hander Gio Gonzalez, 26, amassed a 31-21 record with a 3.20 ERA and striking out 368 hitters in 402 2/3 innings the last two years. Trevor Cahill, 23, averaged double-digit win totals in each of his three years in the majors. When healthy, Andrew Bailey was highly effective, saving 75 games over the last three years, striking out a man per inning. The A’s also lost reliever Craig Breslow in the Cahill deal, and outfielders David DeJesus and Josh Willingham left via free agency.
What they added: Gonzalez fetched two starters who are close to the big leagues in Brad Peacock and Tom Milone. Peacock has a high upside but could be a year away, and Milone is more of a back-of-the-rotation starter. For Bailey, the A’s received a fourth outfielder in Josh Reddick and two prospects; among the two, hard-throwing pitcher Raul Alcantara, 19, has more upside. For Cahill, the A’s received a package of prospects highlighted by right-hander Jarrod Parker, who has ace potential but is recovering from Tommy John surgery. For Willingham and DeJesus, the A’s received two first-round supplemental picks (Nos. 34 and 47 overall).
Bottom line: Without Gonzalez, the rotation has no stopper, and there will be many losses in 2012 for Oakland. Without Bailey, the A’s have a void in the ninth inning. Most of the prospects won’t even see the light of day until 2013 or 2014. The A’s shouldn’t be expected to compete in a stacked AL West for several years.
2. Chicago White Sox
What they lost: Like the A’s, the White Sox lost their ace, right fielder and closer this offseason, as well as their manager. Left-hander Mark Buehrle took his 15 wins per season to Miami, following skipper Ozzie Guillen. Carlos Quentin and Sergio Santos were dealt to the Padres and Blue Jays, respectively. Quentin belted at least 20 home runs in each of his four seasons in Chicago, while the 27-year-old Santos saved 30 games in 2011.
What they added: A first-round supplemental pick (No. 48 overall) seems like a shallow return for Buehrle, the team’s unquestioned ace. Quentin fetched two minor league arms with potential, and Santos brought a possible future No. 4 or 5 starter in Nestor Molina. Hiring Robin Ventura as manager was a smart move, as Ventura has all the skills needed to be a long-term solution and expectations will be low. However, we have no idea how he can handle a pitching staff and that could cost the Sox some games in 2012.
Bottom line: Buehrle’s leadership and ability to provide 200 innings per year will be missed most. Quentin’s move opens salary and a spot for farmhand Dayan Viciedo. But Santos, besides being a tough competitor, has a very team-friendly contract and is under team control for another five years. The White Sox still have a contending team in a weak AL Central, but they took a step backward and will need rebound years from key players to have any hopes of finishing first.
3. Milwaukee Brewers
What they lost: Prince Fielder is sure to leave, as will his 38 homers. The Brewers also could be without Ryan Braun for the first 50 games of the 2012 season after he failed a drug test (though he is appealing the result). The loss of bullpen arms like LaTroy Hawkins and Takashi Saito were under the radar, but those two were excellent setting up Francisco Rodriguez and closer John Axford during the pennant race last year.
What they added: The Brewers did improve the left side of their infield with the acquisitions of free agents Aramis Ramirez and Alex Gonzalez, but they did nothing to replace Saito and Hawkins. They will receive at least a first-round compensation pick for Fielder when he signs.
The bottom line: The Brewers will be contenders again this year, but the loss of Fielder alone probably puts them behind the Cardinals and Reds in the NL Central. Ramirez and Gonzalez help defensively and add some pop, but the lineup is now too right-handed, which will get exposed against elite pitching, especially without Fielder in the middle.
4. New York Mets
What they lost: Shortstop Jose Reyes departed for the Marlins, taking with him a .337 average in 2011, along with 39 stolen bases and 101 runs scored. They also traded undervalued outfielder Angel Pagan and waived longtime prospect Fernando Martinez.
What they added: The Mets tried to improve their bullpen with the free-agent signings of Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch and trading for Ramon Ramirez, but none have the impact needed to make the club a contender. Free-agent signees Ronny Cedeno and outfielder Scott Hairston give the Mets veteran bench help. Andres Torres takes over in center field, but his great 2010 season looks like a fluke. The Mets also receive supplemental first- and second-round picks (Nos. 35 and 74 overall) for Reyes.
Bottom line: How detrimental can the loss of one player be? It’s significant if it’s a player like Reyes. The ownership’s financial woes have created a lethargic team culture and become a barrier that even great leadership -- GM Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins -- can’t overcome.
5. Baltimore Orioles
What they lost: More important is what the Orioles kept, as GM Dan Duquette stuck to his guns and did not trade any of his young core: Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Brian Matusz, Zach Britton and Matt Wieters. One notable loss is slugger Luke Scott, who signed with the Rays.
What they added: Their biggest acquisition might have been the return of Roy Poitevint, who began his career with the Orioles, as executive director of international baseball. The club was very active overseas, signing Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and Japanese lefty Tsuyoshi Wada. Former Rangers outfielder Endy Chavez can run and has a great glove but has never been able to hit or make adjustments at the plate. They also traded for third-string catcher Taylor Teagarden and left-handed starter Dana Eveland.
The bottom line: During his career, Poitevint’s international signings have included Hideo Nomo, Tomo Ohka, Sun Woo Kim and Jim Ho Cho. Unfortunately, Chen and Wada look more like Cho than Nomo. The Orioles were in need of starting pitching and an impact bat but accomplished neither. The leadership of Duquette and manager Buck Showalter is solid, but this is a franchise for which it is hard to recruit free agents and offers a limited budget. Those two factors alone always make it difficult to improve this team.
LOL Orioles, though I agree with the Athletics topping this list. I can't believe both Cahill and Gonzalez were traded.
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