Call to the pen
Fansided

These 4 MLB teams made the best moves on Saturday

By Kevin Henry

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 18: Chris Bassitt #40 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Cleveland Indians in the top of the first inning at RingCentral Coliseum on July 18, 2021 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 18: Chris Bassitt #40 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Cleveland Indians in the top of the first inning at RingCentral Coliseum on July 18, 2021 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 12: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at T-Mobile Park on September 12, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 12: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at T-Mobile Park on September 12, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Winner: Toronto Blue Jays signing Yusei Kikuchi as a free agent

With the Blue Jays signing Kikuchi, the rotation should be set with Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Alek Manoah. Despite losing last year’s American League Cy Young Award winner in Robbie Ray to the Seattle Mariners and 14-game winner Steven Matz to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Blue Jays have added the pieces they needed through free agency to be a strong contender in the AL East in 2022.

Now in Toronto, Kikuchi still has to show that he is the pitcher who succeeded in the first half of 2021 for Seattle rather than the one who struggled in the second half of the season. If he can do that, Toronto’s rotation will be formidable.

Winner: Colorado Rockies signing Alex Colomé as a free agent

Yes, the Rockies boosted an area of their team that needed help with a player that, on paper, should be able to do just that. The 33-year-old right-hander saw a ground ball rate of 54.1 percent last season, well above the MLB average of 45.1 percent. Keeping the ball on the ground is a big plus at Coors Field, and Colomé should slide right into the closer role for the Rockies, something that was a revolving door for the team last season.

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