Each MLB team’s most important offseason decision
By Nick Villano
The MLB offseason is often the longest of the four major sports. While big trades and wild rumors continue for the NBA, NHL, and NFL every month of the offseason, baseball is the only place where some of the biggest free agents available are still there going into spring training. Reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell didn't get a deal done until March 19th. Matt Chapman didn't pick his team until pitchers and catchers were already at camp, and he signed a six-year extension this season.
This year, we're expect things to happen a little quicker. Last season, we did see Shohei Ohtani pick the Los Angeles Dodgers before Christmas. We could see something similar this year with the game's big fish.
Juan Soto is by far the biggest free agent available this offseason. He helped carry the New York Yankees to the World Series, and now he will have a line out of the door of suitors trying to court his services for the rest of his career. He's a true star that can change the way a team operates. However, he's just one star, and once he decides his next destination, we could see a lot of movement in the league, both in trades and other free agent signings. His signing could have a ripple effect on the entire MLB.
With that in mind, let's take a look at every MLB team and their biggest decision this offseason.
Arizona Diamondbacks - Addressing Jordan Montgomery
One of the latest signings of last year's offseason was Jordan Montgomery. The reigning National League champions were trying to bolster the roster. They wanted to get over the hump after losing the title. Signing one of the top free agent pitchers available, even if it was deep into Spring Training, felt lik a no-brainer move.
The Diamondbacks signed Jordan Montgomery to a one-year deal worth $25 million. If he started 10 games (which he did), he could vest into a $20 million player option (which he did). Now, the Diamondbacks are welcoming back Montgomery, but likely not with open arms. Montgomery was one of the worst players in all of baseball.
He had a -1.4 WAR and a 6.23 ERA in 25 games (21 starts). In August, he was moved to the bullpen. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Now, the Diamondbacks have to figure out how they move forward. Do they just eat crow and hope this one year was an outlier? Do they keep Montgomery as the most expensive reliever in baseball? Will they try to trade him (which feels possible since he has essentially a one-year deal)? What they do with Montgomery will drive everything else the Diamondbacks do.