There are still plenty of impact free agents left on the market that teams in the AL East could pursue, but we're already looking towards the 2016 season and what's already taken place with pitchers and catchers reporting in just three weeks. Taking into account both new signings and re-signings, here's our list of the 5 Best Free Agent Signings In The AL East This Offseason.
5. LHP JA Happ -- Toronto Blue Jays
Happ was the first "big name" free agent to come off the board this offseason, and his return to Toronto (he pitched for the Blue Jays in 2012-14) could provide a major spark for the rotation if Happ's closing stretch with the Pirates in 2015 is any indication.
Happ posted a 7-2 record in 11 starts down the stretch with Pittsburgh after being traded from the Seattle Mariners, posting a 1.85 ERA with 69 strikeouts against just 13 walks in 63.1 innings. $12 million per year on a three-year deal is a bargain in this market, considering Happ is getting a real handle on his secondary stuff.
4. OF Hyun-soo Kim -- Baltimore Orioles
Here's the quietest impact signing in the division this winter. While the Korean Baseball Organization is well known for being an offense-first league, Kim's career 318/.406/.488 slash line in nine years with the Doosan Bears and career-best 28 home runs last season are still eye-popping.
He's also a lefty swinger who has touched a .400 on-base percentage a couple times in the KBO, and he's owed just $7 million over the next two season -- a budget deal which gives the O's a chance to see what they have in the Korean slugger before pushing their chips all in on a big deal.
3. RHP Marco Estrada -- Toronto Blue Jays
Estrada had a career year in 2015, posting a stellar 3.13 ERA in 181 innings. He was a rock for the Blue Jays' rotation, and his evolving change-up means that he'll always have a top-tier out pitch to play with if his fastball loses movement down the road.
The contract is manageable $13 million per season, the Blue Jays get out of a third guaranteed year, and Toronto gets fantastic run prevention every fifth day. A big win-win.
2. RHP Darren O'Day -- Baltimore Orioles
You'll notice that Chris Davis (and his 126 home runs over the last three seasons) didn't make our list. He's still a pivotal piece in the middle of the O's lineup, but $17 million per year from 2016-22 and additional payments through 2037 could turn this contract into an albatross really quick.
The real "best" signing for the Orioles this offseason was reupping setup man extraordinaire Darren O'Day on a four-year, $31 million deal. O'Day was getting major attention from teams looking to fill either a setup or closer spot, thanks to his sub-2.00 ERA over his last four years in Baltimore. The Orioles ultimately won out, keeping one of the most valuable relievers in Major League Baseball in house.
1. LHP David Price -- Boston Red Sox
Let's not overthink this. Landing one of the top five pitchers in Major League Baseball in his prime is a massive achievement for the Red Sox front office. The fact that he's a lefty (and thus has added value when his velocity starts to wane) makes this a potential franchise-course altering signing.
Seven years and $217 million may seem scary considering Price's iffy track record in the postseason, but everyone just needs to relax -- Price is good enough to lift an entire team TO the postseason, and he's too talented to struggle in the clutch for much longer.
Back to the MLB Newsfeed