MLB Free Agency Buzz

By Tyler Curtiss & Matt Lipp

     The 2016 season concluded in a special way last November when the Chicago Cubs broke their World Series drought of over 100 years. Teams then looked forward to building their team into a contender for next season. Yoenis Cespedes kicked off the signings by agreeing to a four year 110 million dollar extension with the New York Mets. This re-signing puts the Mets in position to fight for a postseason berth. Another big splash in the market this year was the signing of Dexter Fowler by the St Louis Cardinals on a five year, 82 million dollar contract. This was huge for the Cardinals since they not only improved their own lineup but they hurt their rivals too, the Cubs. The loser of the 2016 World Series, the Cleveland Indians, also made a big offseason acquisition. They signed Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion to a three year, 60 million dollar deal. He will add some much needed pop to the Indians lineup. Junior Vincent Gurfolino said, “The Indians came so close last year to winning it all, signing a power bat like Encarnacion will help put them over the hump.” Encarnacion is the missing piece to the Indians puzzle.

​     Many people believe the biggest move of the offseason is the Chris Sale trade that sent him to the Boston Red Sox in return for top prospect Yoan Moncada along with Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz. This blockbuster deal pairs Sale, a former Cy Young award winner, with two other Cy Young winners in the Boston rotation, David Price and Rick Porcello. “I think the biggest move made by a team this year was Boston trading for Chris Sale. That trade should definitely benefit both teams in a big way,” said Senior baseball star John McAuliffe. During the 2016 season Boston had the most potent offense in the league, and now they are combining that offense with the best pitching rotation. The Red Sox are going to be unstoppable.