Most Improved MLB Teams

With spring training just starting we are now able to see new faces showcase their skills in new threads. This can raise the question, which teams improved the most over the off season? In no specific order let’s get right into the list.

Dodgers

After dominating in last year’s World Series, the defending champs may have had the best off season of all time based off teams that have won it all the year prior.

They started free agency off with a bang when they signed two time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to a monster five-year $182 million deal on November 30th. This wasn’t the only “star” pitcher they ended up acquiring.

On January 22nd they signed Japanese star Roki Sasaki to a minor league deal. He finished his NPB (Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball) career with a 2.02 ERA (Earned run average), 524 strikeouts, and a .667 win/loss percentage.

A day later they signed the best reliever on the market, Tanner Scott, to a four year deal to solidify their bullpen this season.

This also doesn't include some of their key players returning in Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, and Enrique Hernandez. Oh yeah forgot to mention. Shohei Ohtani is coming back to pitch as well.

Red Sox

After just reaching the .500 mark, having some stars in some positions, and a loaded farm system the Red Sox’s plan this season was to bolster the rotation and add a quality bat and they did just that.

The two notable moves they made to their rotations was going out and signing Walker Buehler and trading for young star Garrett Crochet. These two moves were essential for this team to strengthen what was a solid rotation in 2024.

The next move they made to put a staple on their offseason was signing third baseman Alex Bregman. With the Red Sox needing a right handed bat and an infielder this signing was a no-brainer.

It will be interesting to see how they manage this Bregman signing moving forward, but nonetheless it was an important signing for this team.

Mets

This offseason was highlighted by one man and that man’s name is Juan Soto. After coming off a 41 homerun season, a .288 batting average and helping his team make the World Series, Soto was heading into free agency for the first time in his decorated career.

In the “Soto Sweepstakes” the two final teams were the Yankees and the Mets. Ultimately the Mets ended up winning the sweepstakes with an historic 15 year $765 million deal with a chance to get up and over the $800 million mark.

This signing instantly upgraded their lineup and the fact that they were able to retain their star first baseman Pete Alonso put the icing on the cake for a dream offseason if you are a Mets fan.

Yankees

As mentioned with the Mets the Yankees were in a tight race to retain Soto, but ultimately falling short, so how did they rebound after this?

Their first big free agent signing was left hand pitcher Max Fried. This signing will boost their rotation and will make it an interesting watch for this season.

The next move was trading for star reliever Devin Williams. Their bullpen struggled at the end of the year with Luke Weaver and Tim Hill being their only consistent pieces, so acquiring Williams was a must.

The final two notable moves came from the offensive side of the plate where they traded for former MVP Cody Bellinger and signed another former MVP in Paul Goldschmidt.

As this team comes into the season with some unfinished business it will be intriguing to see how these acquisitions will pan out.

Cubs

In a division that seems so open for every team the Cubs might have made enough improvements over the offseason to win the NL Central and get a postseason bid.

It all started on December 13th when they made their first big move and traded for star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Tucker last year battled some injuries, but still put up solid numbers with a .289 batting average, 23 home runs, and 49 RBI’s.

Cubs however have to get in talks with Tucker on a possible extension because he is as of now on a one-year deal for $16.5 million.

4 days later however they moved on from former MVP winner Cody Bellinger in exchange for Cody Poteet, however they did have one more notabile addition.

On January 28th the Cubs made another deal with the Astros and acquired star reliever Ryan Pressly. This move will help strengthen the back end of that bullpen and will give the Cubs a person they are confident in closing games.

Diamondbacks

After finishing top 3 in team average, runs, and hits the Diamondbacks were surprisingly not able to make the playoffs and heading to the offseason they had to make changes, and changes were made in a huge way.

To bolster up the offense they traded for Josh Naylor from the Cleveland Guardians on December 21st. Last year Naylor had a solid season tallying a .243 average, 31 home runs, and 108 RBI’s. This move will make this offense even more dynamic.

The more needed move came nine days later when they signed one of the best pitchers on the market in Corbin Burnes to a six- year $210 million deal. This one two punch with Zac Gallen can give this team enough boost to not only make the postseason, but make a deep run in it.

With the MLB season just under a month away it will be exciting to see how these new faces make their impacts to their new teams.

Peyton Waddell is a second-year student majoring in broadcast-journalism. To contact him please email him at prw5142@psu.edu.