MLB’s Six Most Disappointing Offseasons: Cubs and Mariners Lead the Pack
Feb
The ongoing MLB offseason has witnessed some major moves, from Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking Dodgers contract to the Yankees acquiring Juan Soto. However, as Christmas approaches, certain teams have left their fan bases yearning for more, with unmet expectations and missed opportunities defining their offseason narratives. Let’s delve into the disappointments of six MLB teams so far.
Cubs: High Expectations, Low Returns
What’s Gone Wrong: The Cubs kicked off the offseason with a managerial surprise, snatching Craig Counsell from the Brewers. Anticipation for a massive upgrade followed, with pursuits of Ohtani, Juan Soto, Jung Hoo Lee, Cody Bellinger, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, the result so far? Crickets. Cubs fans expected a festive season of roster upgrades but are left frustrated.
How to Save the Offseason: Re-signing Bellinger becomes crucial, fortifying the lineup’s offensive prowess. The addition of Blake Snell or another impactful starting pitcher, coupled with bullpen reinforcements, could still salvage the Cubs’ offseason.
Mariners: Disillusionment in Seattle
What’s Gone Wrong: The Mariners’ fan base is grappling with disillusionment, as offseason expectations of Ohtani or impactful additions were dashed. Trades involving Eugenio Suarez, Marco Gonzales, Evan White, and the departure of Teoscar Hernandez left fans disheartened. Financial struggles tied to ROOT Sports further compounded their disappointments.
How to Save the Offseason: Halting the trend of trading fan favorites is a start. Utilizing savings from previous deals to bolster the team’s prospects and acquiring impactful players could help the Mariners regain fan trust.
Angels: Ohtani’s Departure Stings
What’s Gone Wrong: Losing Ohtani to the Dodgers, and the Angels’ failure to match the deal, leaves a bitter taste. The team’s postseason hopes with Ohtani never materialized, and ownership decisions compounded fan frustration.
How to Save the Offseason: Immediate healing might not come with acquisitions alone. A change in ownership could provide a fresh start for the Angels.
Blue Jays: Missed Opportunities
What’s Gone Wrong: High hopes of landing Ohtani or Soto were dashed, leaving Toronto fans without a star acquisition. With limited impact bats available, Cody Bellinger is a risky option.
How to Save the Offseason: Signing Joey Votto, a Canadian baseball icon, could be a crowd-pleaser. Decisions on extensions or trades for Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. need consideration.
Mets: A Waiting Game
What’s Gone Wrong: While nothing catastrophic has happened, the Mets’ offseason has been marked by inactivity. The Severino signing addressed rotation concerns, but the team still has needs to fulfill.
How to Save the Offseason: Winning the bidding for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and adding another impact starter like Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery would significantly bolster the Mets.
Red Sox: Unmet Expectations
What’s Gone Wrong: Despite being linked to several top-tier players, the Red Sox have seen minimal impact moves. Uncertainty looms over the 2024 rotation, with questions about budget and starter reliability.
How to Save the Offseason: Stabilizing the rotation is imperative, and securing Jordan Montgomery could provide the needed certainty and innings reliability for the Red Sox.
In summary, these six teams find themselves navigating disappointing offseasons, but with strategic moves, they still have the chance to turn the tide and set the stage for a more promising season ahead.