The 2020-2021 MLB offseason started off slow but ended up becoming one of the most exciting winters fans have seen in a long time. Superstars such as Francisco Lindor and Nolan Arenado were on the move and the reigning CY Young winner was on the free-agent market.
While the winter saw teams such as the Mets and Dodgers grow stronger in the present and future, there are also teams that weakened themselves by making very questionable decisions. These are the teams who are the losers of the offseason.
Colorado Rockies
This one is obvious. Not only did the Rockies trade the face of the franchise in Nolan Arenado and got absolutely nothing in return, but they will also pay Arenado’s salary for 2021 at $35 million while also absorbing $51 million in total. So basically, the Cardinals picked up the best third baseman in baseball and $51 million for a bag of chips.
The Rockies did not look like they thought the move through before sending Arenado off. Rockies’ star shortstop, Trevor Story, is most likely next on the chopping block and Colorado will join teams such as the Pirates, Orioles, and Indians in rebuilding from the ground up.
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians have been trading their best players and cutting payroll for a while now but trading Francisco Lindor was the dagger in the hearts of Cleveland fans. Even though the Indians got some good players in return, none are or will ever be the worth that Lindor brought to the organization.
Not only did they give up Lindor but they also gave up pitcher Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco is a solid number two pitcher, that the Indians threw in this trade just to cut payroll. The Indians now have the lowest payroll in baseball at $35 million.
To put how low Clevalnd’s payroll is into perspective, they only have five players making over the major league minimum and less than what six individual players are making in one year. Six players are making more money by themselves than the Indians are spending on their entire team.
Chicago Cubs
Ever since winning it all in 2016, the Cubs seem to be stuck in limbo. They have enough talent to compete but not enough firepower to go up against top teams such as the Dodgers or Mets. Chicago made an egregious mistake by trading CY Young contender Yu Darvish to the Padres for scraps.
To add insult to injury, the Cubs are now back to shopping around third baseman, Kris Bryant and he will most likely be in another uniform before the start of the season. Although the Cubs haven’t lost as much as the other two teams on the list, they are here simply because this is the beginning of the end of the core that brought home Chicago’s first championship since 1908.
The Verdict
The three teams listed above have regressed in one way or another during the MLB offseason. They will have to overcome a ton of adversity if they want to see any type of success this upcoming season.
