Approximately one quarter of the teams in baseball won between 80 and 89 games last year. None of the seven clubs made the playoffs, but all of them were within striking distance of a postseason berth. The teams have had wildly different approaches to the 2011-12 offseason — at least so far. I've broken the clubs down into two groups, with their 2011 win totals in parentheses and links that send you to the club's offseason transactions summary:
Aggressive Spenders
- Angels (86) - The Angels signed Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson and LaTroy Hawkins and traded for Chris Iannetta. GM Jerry Dipoto's debut offseason has been a busy one.
- Dodgers (82) - The Dodgers haven't quite kept up with the Angels, but they've spent considerably since the season ended. Matt Kemp signed a $160MM extension and Tony Gwynn, Aaron Harang, Jerry Hairston, Chris Capuano and Mark Ellis obtained two-year deals. Adam Kennedy, Juan Rivera, Matt Treanor, John Grabow and Josh Bard also signed with the Dodgers.
Restrained Spenders
- Braves (89) – GM Frank Wren exercised Eric Hinske's option, but that $1.5MM commitment represents the Braves' biggest offseason expense so far.
- Giants (86) - GM Brian Sabean has had a relatively quiet offseason so far, bringing back relievers Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez and Guillermo Mota and trading for outfielders Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan.
- Blue Jays (81) - The Blue Jays traded for Ben Francisco, Sergio Santos, Jeff Mathis, Luis Valbuena and picked up Edwin Encarnacion's option, but many Blue Jays fans continue salivating over the possibility of a major free agent acquisition.
- Nationals (80) - The Nationals traded for Gio Gonzalez and signed Mark DeRosa, Chien-Ming Wang, Jeff Fulchino and others. GM Mike Rizzo may not be done yet.
- Indians (80) – GM Chris Antonetti picked up Fausto Carmona's option, traded for Derek Lowe and re-signed Grady Sizemore, but otherwise the offseason has been quiet for Indians fans. The team also added a few former big leaguers on minor league deals and traded for Aaron Cunningham.
Two teams — the Cardinals and Tigers — graduated from the 80-89 win club to the postseason in 2011.
What this post needs is a poll: who among the 80-89-win-club will vault themselves into the playoffs this next season?
My vote: Braves and Angels.
Do both wildcards count or only the winner in the sudden death?
I guess both wild cards? I mean, who can guess which team will win a one-game playoff…
It’s all about health with the Braves, they were a playoff team last year that never had the best offense and the great pitching staff fell apart outside of Hudson, they stay healthy and they still have a great shot because it’s still about pitching no matter what the Marlins and Nats did. Nats scare me more though, I will say that.
I don’t like the CJ signing, not to mention he only goes every 5 days anyway but I don’t see him being that good. Albert is Albert but the Machine needs to stay healthy because with Trumbo either being traded or having his focus on playing 3B, Pujols might be that whole offense. Personally, I say trade whoever you have to and get Trout in that lineup everyday. Angels will win their division. Rangers are going with too many unknowns in Feliz as a SP (been a while since he’s done that), Darvish in America and either Ogando who was figured out in the 2nd half or Harrison who is blah. Not to mention Lewis who comes alive for the playoffs but the season….not impressed. Offense will make it close but I think the Rangers are in the WC race this year.
Why don’t you like the CJ signing may I ask? A five year, relatively cheap deal for a guy with not a lot of mileage on his arm and nearly a 10 WAR the past two years. Plus he’s pitching in a pitcher’s haven in Anaheim against two poor offensive teams (soon to be three with the Astros coming). Lefties also have a better track record of aging well, and he has the arsenal of pitches to not rely purely on velocity.
There’s no reason to not like the signing in my opinion.
The only thing that makes your point valid is the fact that the sox just gave danks 13mil a year……so wilson is not too hateful by comparison
NL West isn’t that strong, so I could see the Giants sneaking in and doing some damage, as they did in 2010.
Shoulda thrown the Reds in this (79) because of their huge offseason!
We have the trendy picks every year. The teams that make the most moves. Last year we had the Rockies and the A’s. We will see what happens.
Just above: 91 wins, the Rays who have extended Moore and signed Molina. Not thinking marquee names but lots of “Rays moves” coming very soon, Friedman will be very busy in January. Getting himself a 1B, hopefully a young one like Rizzo or Trumbo, a DH, probably Damon, a bullpen arm like Ayala or Wheeler or Rays are supposedly hard after Andrew Bailey and as was posted on this site, I believe Matt Joyce will get an extension. Friedman might as well be in a coma for November and December, he almost refuses to make moves so even the Moore extension and Molina signing weren’t expected, he fills out his roster in January.
My hopefuls: Mark Trumbo or Anthony Rizzo, Johnny Damon and Andrew Bailey
Some other options: Carlos Pena, Brett Pill, Kendrys Morales, Joel Zumaya, Luis Ayala and a signing that I would like but don’t see happening because we love Damon, Luke Scott.
My pipe dream: Prince Fielder takes a 3 year deal after all. This will not happen and I will not waste time even hoping for it but I will buy an authentic Red Sox Crawford jersey if it does happen…then I will burn it.
i looked at the people the angels signed and then at the people the dodgers signed, and then i laughed
Dodgers have built one great AAA team! I mean, I love the Kemp extension but maybe they should of spent all that money they used on back up players for a Beltran type to hit behind Kemp.
how silly. we all know that old utility guys are the new market inefficiency
The fact that both were labeled “aggressive spenders” made me cry.
Dodgers didn’t need that much.
Resigning Kemp was probably a good idea (though does no one else remember when he sucked a whole, umm, ONE YEAR AGO?), but yeah, they didn’t ADD any real talent, just kept what they have.
Cardinals….. Wainwright back, Fielder gone…Braun, who knows…..Cards win the Central
Uh…Pujols, gone…LaRussa, gone. Cards win the Central? FAIL.
NL Central is up for grabs when you consider both teams from that division that went to the playoffs lost their star hitter. Losing Pujols will hurt the Cards but getting back Wainright and adding Beltran will certainly help. With the Reds adding Latos it seems more likely a 3-team race but on paper I’d say the Cards are the favorite.
And the reds sneak in and rob the division!!
I know it sounds crazy, but I think the Royals actually have a shot (yes, I know; they were a sub-80 win team last year)… at least at one of the two WC spots. Especially if they happen to add another quality pitcher via trade (perhaps Matt Garza?). Their offense should be explosive if not at least very interesting next season; with Cain leading off and Gordon/Hosmer/Butler/Moustakas in the middle of the order. They remind me of the Texas Rangers prior to 2010…great young offense, just waiting for the pitching to come through… Right now, I think they have a much higher upside than the Indians, at least… I could see them even finishing second in the AL Central.
Royals are not a crazy pick, they can be the Rays of 08 (and well 2011), the Rockies in I believe it was 2009, the almost Padres of 2010, the D’Backs of 2011
They get some good performances out of their pitchers and that offense is good enough to give them a chance. I think right now they are tied with the Sox for 2nd behind the Tigers.
actually i have the royals as one of my “look out” for teams……they are in a decent position to do something
Not exactly a huge Dodger fan here, but this is a team that has lost more than they’ve gained, IMO. Kuroda is a bigger loss than any or all of the pitchers that they have signed, and they’ve done zero to address the lack of offense nor plug the holes in the lineup.
Another club that has failed to improve is the Tigers. Ordonez, Guillen, Perry, Zumaya, and Betemit are gone. Dotel is added, and little else. Two platoons of Santiago/ Raburn and Inge/ Don Kelly are both pathetic, very addressable, and haven’t been addressed.
Move on!
i wouldn’t call losing Ordonez, Guillen, Perry, and Zumaya as a bad thing, in fact, i’d say thats “addition by subtraction”
The problem is what they’re replacing these guys with. Platoons of Santiago/ Raburn or Inge/ Don Kelly are ridiculous and inadequate. Delmon is no Magglio. The team is no better than what they finished the season with.
The only guy on that list that remotely contributed to our club last year was ordonez.
What about restrained spenders who didn’t even win 70 games? I mean there was some doubt during the course of the season that they weren’t even going to achieve 60 wins! I think they need some “LOVE” too! So lets give a great big “SHOUT OUT” to my favorite baseball team “The Baltimore Orioles” for showing “Restraint” during a time when most teams wouldn’t!
The words you’re looking for are “accepting mediocrity.”
Mediocrity would be a huge improvement for Baltimore.
Obviously everyone immediately thinks of the collapse and how Frank Wren hasn’t done anything. What can you really do, though? This was a team that was always in the top three to five in MLB through August. A horrendous five win September put St. Louis in the playoffs by a game. I think more than anything, the goals should be to keep everyone healthy, get Heyward hitting again and teach Fredi how to manage a damn bullpen.
that poor bullpen was spent!! starters have to help more