Even when the baseball season ends, there is still plenty of news floating around MLB, especially involving free agency. Plenty of players test the waters as free agents and determine if they’ll stay with their previous team or join a different squad. But which players that joined a new team in the 2016-17 offseason will succeed the most in 2017?
Out of the four major American sports, baseball sees players change teams the most. Many MLB players join a new team because of an increased offer of money, but some do it for a change of scenery or for a better chance to win.
However, switching teams doesn’t always equate with success. Big names can sometimes turn into a nightmare for their new teams. For instance, the Josh Hamilton deal with the Angels: Hamilton, coming off multiple hugely successful seasons for the Rangers, was a complete flop in Los Angeles. Hamilton struggled in his first two seasons with the Angels and suffered a substance abuse relapse. He lasted just two years in what was a five-year deal.
Plenty of big names changed teams this offseason, but only time will tell which players succeed the most in a new uniform. Here’s a prediction of which players are going to do the best on their new teams.