When a team spends $1 billion-plus, it should make the best moves. So it’s no surprise a quartet by the Dodgers — America’s model franchise — rank high among my 20 “Best Winter Moves.” The list, with key stat (* denotes league leader):
1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (1.108 OPS*): Who else? He leads the NL in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS while playing through the scandal of the season (he acts like he barely misses the 16 very large and maybe he doesn’t.) $700M bargain.
2. Shota Imanaga, Cubs (0.96 ERA*): The winner of the WBC clincher is outpitching even Yoshinobu Yamamoto (and everyone else). One of the greatest pitching starts ever in MLB (second to Fernando Valenzuela?)
3. Juan Soto, Yankees (.408 OBP*): The Yankees gave up their pitching depth for arguably the game’s best hitter, and it looks like they don’t need it.
4. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers (73 K’s*): One Dodgers person wondered in spring “how anyone ever hits him.” So far almost no one is.
5. Dylan Cease, Padres (4.3 hits/9*): A godsend for San Diego, and he’s a year from free agency.
6. Seth Lugo, Royals (1.66 ERA*): He didn’t fulfill his rotation goal in an abbreviated tryout in Queens, but he’s an ace in Kansas City.
7. Jordan Hicks, Giants (2.44 ERA): The gamble to turn him into a starter looks wise.
8. Sonny Gray, Cardinals (6.63 K/BB): Not everything is going wrong in St. Louis.
9. Chris Sale, Braves: (7.63 K/BB): No one could have predicted this resurrection, maybe not even the smart Braves front office.
10. Corbin Burnes, Orioles (1.01 WHIP): Arrived in Baltimore with superior arsenal and great attitude.
11. Jurickson Profar, Padres (.926 OPS): Is the former No. 1 overall prospect finally realizing his potential in Year 11? $1M bargain.
12. Reynaldo Lopez, Braves (1.34 ERA): Signing him to start is yet another smart Braves gamble.
14. Aaron Nola, Phillies (1 SHO*): The Phillies wisely kept their rotation together.
15. James Paxton, Dodgers (5-0*): Great stuff and a better team equal an undefeated start for ex-Yankee.
16. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers (1.03 WHIP): Terrific, but still wonder if he’s worth $325M (plus $50.6M posting fee.)
17. Erick Fedde, White Sox (2.3 WAR): South Side bright spot realizing star potential after returning from Korea.
18. Jack Flaherty, Tigers (10.5 K/BB*): Has 63 strikeouts to six walks and looks like he’s regained 2019-21 form.
19. Sean Manaea, Mets (3.05 ERA): Consistently solid, likely to opt out.
20. Tommy Pham, White Sox (136 OPS plus): The White Sox, 3-22 when Pham came, are 11-8 since.
