With two weeks before Opening Day of the 2024 MLB regular season, it’s time to evaluate the offseason. Some teams did well, while others either had questionable moves or didn’t do enough to improve their chances of competing. Here’s a look at the five MLB teams that should be considered losers of the 2023-24 offseason.
Angels
Much like with our look at the winners of the offseason, there’s one obvious team that makes our MLB offseason losers list for 2023-24: the Angels. While Shohei Ohtani did remain in southern California, the two-way sensation will wear Dodger blue in 2024 and not Angels red. This comes after Ohtani failed to make it to the postseason after six seasons with the franchise.
It’s next to near impossible to replace a player of Ohtani’s stature. And given that the team in Anaheim had six seasons of Ohtani and Mike Trout — although, the two did have their fair share of injury troubles from 2018-23 — and couldn’t make it back to October, Ohtani’s tenure could be looked upon as one of the biggest “what ifs” of the 21st century.
Blue Jays
Speaking of Ohtani, rumors abounded in December that Toronto was very much in play for the two-way star. That, however, never occurred. Ohtani would have been a major add for the Blue Jays, a team that struggled with offensive production from several established stars, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer.
However, Toronto’s major adds from this winter were defensive specialist Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Justin Turner, the latter of whom will replace Brandon Belt. On the flip side, the Jays lost Whit Merrifield and Matt Chapman, as well as hard-throwing reliever Jordan Hicks.
While a healthy Guerrero Jr. could be considered an offseason addition, the reality is that the Orioles and Yankees are improved on paper. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are somewhat stuck in neutral.
Giants
The 2023-24 MLB offseason marked another winter in which the Giants failed to net their big fish. Two winters ago, the Giants lost out on the Aaron Judge sweepstakes. This past winter, Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, even though the Giants reportedly offered the same deal he took with Los Angeles.
Now, the Giants do come into 2024 with an improved roster. Jung Hoo Lee could prove to be a steal, while Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman are two big power bats that the Giants needed.
But, one has to wonder if the Giants, with a less-than-stellar rotation — one that will miss Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray for at least part of 2024 — and two strong teams in Los Angeles and Arizona, have enough to truly test the powers of the NL West.
Red Sox
The hits keep coming for the Red Sox, a team that saw Craig Breslow take over as head of baseball operations this past winter. While the Orioles and Yankees had loud offseasons, Boston opted for a quieter one amid a rebuild. Unfortunately for Boston, even the moves the Red Sox made may have already blown up in their face.
The Red Sox’s marquee offseason acquisition, Lucas Giolito, has a UCL tear and will require surgery. Boston was going to have a tough go of it in the AL East to begin with. But after the loss of Lucas Giolito and a trade that saw Chris Sale go to Atlanta, the Sox’s pitching depth will be tested.
Twins
In reality, the Twins don’t belong on this list of MLB offseason losers. The Twins aren’t traditionally big spenders. And, Minnesota’s coming off a season in which Minnesota won the AL Central and still has a solid foundation. On the other hand, though, the Bally Sports saga affected the Twins roster. Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda found new homes, and Minnesota — a team with a win-now roster — didn’t add replacements for the starting rotation.
The Twins come into 2024 in a tight spot, as Kansas City and Detroit are both on the rise. And in a pitching-heavy Cleveland team, and this year could go in several different directions as far as the AL Central is concerned.