3 teams that have won the MLB offseason … so far

With the Major League Baseball offseason paused by a lockout, free agent signings and trades between MLB teams have come to a screeching halt as well.

However, before the Collective Bargaining Agreement expired on December 1, there were plenty of teams who made moves to improve themselves for the 2022 season.

Which three MLB teams made the best moves and improved the most this offseason? Here’s our list.

Let’s start in Detroit, where the Tigers have made some big strides this offseason in an effort to battle for the American League Central crown next season. Highlighting the moves this offseason have been a trade with the Cincinnati Reds to acquire catcher Tucker Barnhart, who could well be more than just the team’s answer short-term answer at catcher, signed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to a five-year, $77 million to solidify the rotation, then answered the questions about what the franchise would do at shortstop by inking Javier Baez to a six-year, $140 million deal.

After finishing third in the division last season with a 77-85 mark, Detroit went out and swiftly addressed needs that will accelerate their window to compete for the division. There is also plenty of excitement surrounding the franchise with former top overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson likely to be a part of team’s 2022 plans as well.

It’s easy to see why Detroit is among the three teams who have won the offseason so far. Let’s stay in the American League for our next impressive offseason move-maker.

The American League West is going to look very different next season, thanks in large part to some of the moves made by the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers this offseason.

With a spending spree, the Texas Rangers are one of the winners of the MLB offseason so far

While the Mariners didn’t make our list, they certainly should get credit for signing the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner (Robbie Ray) and making a trade to bring infielder Adam Frazier over from the San Diego Padres. It’s also likely that the Mariners will still be active once a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is in place and transactions can begin again.

That could be what is to come in Seattle, but there have already been plenty of waves made in the division with the Texas Rangers opening up the franchise’s collective checkbook and shelling out a seven-year, $175 million contract to Marcus Semien and a 10-year, $325 million deal with Corey Seager to rebuild their middle infield. Texas also inked starting pitcher Jon Gray to a four-year deal worth $56 million. Add in a one-year deal with outfielder Kole Calhoun and you can see that the Rangers have been busy completely revamping their roster.

Texas still needs to work on its pitching, but its aggressiveness before the CBA expired put the American League West on notice that the team hoped to turn things around quickly from last year’s 102-loss debacle.