Fansided

5 teams that won the MLB offseason

By Nathaniel Reeves

February 25, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein during a spring training workout at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 25, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein during a spring training workout at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco senior vice president/general manager Bobby Evans shakes hand after the signing of pitcher Johnny Cueto at a press conference at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco senior vice president/general manager Bobby Evans shakes hand after the signing of pitcher Johnny Cueto at a press conference at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

2. San Francisco Giants 

After a disappointing 2015 season following their third World Series title in five years, the Giants re-tooled this offseason and should challenge in the NL West in 2016. One of the knocks on San Francisco’s front office has been its unwillingness to spend money in free agency, but that changed this season with three critical pickups.

In particular, the Giants did a nice job of improving their rotation, which was destroyed by injuries last year. Adding Johnny Cueto, widely considered the best starting pitcher available behind Price and Greinke, gives San Francisco an excellent 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Madison Bumgarner.

The Giants also brought in Jeff Samardzija on a five-year, $90 million contract to fill another spot in their rotation. While that is likely an overpay for a pitcher who really struggled in 2015, Samardzija is certainly a bounce-back candidate. In any case, Cueto and Samardzija will provide a big upgrade over the likes of Tim Hudson, Tim Lincecum and Chris Heston.

Perhaps equally important for San Francisco was signing outfielder Denard Span for three years and $31 million to fill a spot in a thin outfield. Span struggled through injuries in 2015, but if he returns to his pre-injury levels, that deal will end up looking like a steal for the Giants down the line.

While the division rival Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t have a bad offseason by any stretch, they lost Greinke and did not do as much as many expected. The Giants improved a lot and should have a great shot in the NL West next season, making them one of the main winners of the offseason.

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