MLB offseason: 7 bold predictions for what is to come in 2023

It’s that time of year when MLB teams start making their vision for the 2023 season become a reality through trades, free agent signings, and various roster moves. It’s also the perfect time to make some bold predictions about where some of the biggest names in the game will play next season.

7 bold MLB predictions for the offseason

1. Dansby Swanson will head to Chicago

The Braves would love to have Swanson back as their shortstop, but they don’t necessarily need to have Swanson back as their shortstop.

It’s an interesting situation for Atlanta as Swanson was a valuable part of their 2021 World Series-winning team and 2022 NL East champion squad. However, the Braves can move Vaughn Grissom over to shortstop and keep Ozzie Albies at second base and make sure the middle of the infield is strong.

There are other places where Atlanta can spend the money, and Swanson will find a new home at Wrigley Field with the Cubs as was first predicted on our site as part of our top 25 free agent predictions you can read here. Unlike the Freddie Freeman situation, there will be little drama with the signing and the Braves will have another emotional reunion to deal with next season when Chicago visits Truist Park.

With so much of Atlanta’s core locked up, it will be little surprise that the Braves won’t bid as high for Swanson’s services as the Cubs. However, they will be confident knowing the Grissom-Albies combination is strong as they look to once again repeat as NL East champs.

4. The Red Sox lose Xander Bogaerts and sign Brandon Drury

Boston’s relationship with Bogaerts is officially severed as he signs a deal with the San Francisco Giants this offseason. That move means that Trevor Story moves over to shortstop (where he earned All-Star honors with the Colorado Rockies) and the Red Sox fill his former position at second base by signing Brandon Drury to a three-year deal.

The second base market is very light this offseason, so Drury will be in demand. Boston will need a second baseman with the coming infield moves, and will likely jump on Drury as soon as they see that Bogaerts won’t be returning.

San Francisco makes a splash at shortstop and sets the stage for the future after Brandon Crawford’s contract runs out at the end of this season.

5. Aaron Judge stays in New York

While many signs point to Judge heading west to join the Giants, the Yankees will figure out a way to keep the face of the franchise in the Bronx for years to come.

After a disappointing end to the 2022 campaign, New York needs to find something to show it is serious about not only winning in 2023, but also finally getting back to the World Series. Losing Judge not only weakens the lineup, but also is a black eye publicly. New York won’t let that happen, finding a way to sign him to a deal that locks him up for years to come.

Turning 31 near the start of next season, Judge and the Yankees will work on a contract with shorter length and higher average annual value.

6. Baltimore signs Jacob deGrom

The Orioles had a magical 2022 and look poised to once again make some noise in 2023. Payroll is minimal heading into next season (under $10 million on the books right now), so there is plenty of room for Baltimore to make a splash. That includes signing deGrom to a big deal that could shake up how the AL East looks at the Orioles heading into the campaign.

With Baltimore declining the option for Jordan Lyles in 2023, adding a veteran pitcher at the front of the rotation makes sense. A team that has been linked to Carlos Correa (more about that below) many times could certainly use a big name as proof it isn’t going to just stand pat in a stacked division. If the Orioles are going to get to the postseason in 2023, it could well be on the arm of deGrom.

7. Kodai Senga lands with the Dodgers

As deGrom stays on the East Coast, the Dodgers will look outside the U.S. to boost their rotation in 2023. There will be plenty of competition to land Senga, who has become one of the most-talented pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball and has posted as an international free agent. Some of that competition for the Dodgers will come from within the National League West, with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants already on the list of teams that are expressing interest in inking him to a deal.

With Clayton Kershaw’s ability to work deep into multiple games questionable, Walker Buehler out after Tommy John surgery, and Tyler Anderson exploring free agency as well, Los Angeles will need to find some answers for the rotation. The 30-year-old Senga could provide those answers, and Los Angeles would be a natural landing point for a Japanese superstar looking to prove himself in MLB (just ask Shohei Ohtani).