Stove was Hot at 2022 MLB Winter Meetings
What a wild three days in San Diego.
On Wednesday, December 7, the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings came to a close. It was the first time the event was in-person since the 2020 offseason prior to the pandemic. It is evident that having the meetings in-person had an effect on the Stove: it was Hot. Players returning to their former team, signing with new teams, fulfilling their likely landing spot, as well as some shocking headlines. Here are all of the contracts signed at the 2022 Winter Meetings.
Justin Verlander, SP, New York Mets
Starting off with a bang was the Mets, signing 2022 AL Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander to a two-year, $86.6 million contract on Monday, December 5 at noon. Steve Cohen and Billy Eppler rebound after losing deGrom, and pair JV with his old teammate, Max Scherzer. The risk is present with now two players in their older years, but the boom factor is crazy.
Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Mets fans’ fun came to a screeching halt when star shortstop Trea Turner signed with the Phillies just hours later for 11 years, $300 million. Turner and the Phillies had been linked for weeks. Turner is reunited with Bryce Harper and has the chance to play for a legit, east coast competitor, while Philly addresses a weakness in their lineup. Additionally, the contract includes a full no-trade clause.
Tommy Kahnle, RP, New York Yankees
After missing all of 2021 and most of 2022 from Tommy John, Kahnle appeared in 12.2 innings for the Dodgers in 2022, boosting his value immensely. While the Red Sox were obvious suitors for the 33-year-old, the Yankees swooped in with a better offer at two years, $11.5 million, depriving Boston of a nice piece for the pen. Kahnle will look to build off of his strong September and postseason during his second stint with the Yankees.
Vince Velasquez, SP/RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
On Tuesday, Velasquez and the Pirates agreed to a one-year, three-million-dollar contract. Coming off a one-year stint with the White Sox where he began the season as a starter and transitioned to the bullpen, Velasquez will provide Pittsburgh with depth and a veteran presence, as the Pirates are years away from contention.
Josh Bell, 1B/DH, Cleveland Guardians
Bell provides Cleveland with middle-of-the-lineup pop, something they were lacking heavily in 2022. Bell had a nice year with Washington and San Diego and provides nice versatility with his switch-hitting ability, too. The deal lasts two years and is worth $33 million with an opt-out after the first year.
Andrew Heaney, SP, Texas Rangers
Texas added to their pitching depth by signing the 31-year-old southpaw to a two-year, $25 million deal, with an opt-out in the middle. After struggling with the Angels and Yankees in 2021, the Dodgers did Dodger things by helping Heaney pitch to a 3.10 ERA in 2022 in 72.2 innings. If he stays healthy, he could be a great piece for the Rangers.
Cody Bellinger, OF, Chicago Cubs
Looking to rebound after a brutal couple of years, Bellinger signed a one-year “prove-it” deal with the Cubbies, worth $17.5 million. The former MVP will look to regain his value and get his career back on track in The Windy City.
Mitch Haniger, RF, San Francisco Giants
The Giants get their outfielder, but it is not Aaron Judge. They signed Mitch Haniger to a three-year, $43.3 million contract on Tuesday evening. His bat will provide power for a lineup that desperately needs it.
Taijuan Walker, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
Dave Dombrowski strikes again, bolstering the rotation by signing the veteran starter. He will be the fourth option behind Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Ranger Suarez. With the loses of Zach Eflin and Kyle Gibson, the Phillies remain solid with Walker.
Matt Strahm, RP, Philadelphia Phillies
What’s a strong lineup and rotation without a lockdown guy out of the pen. The Phillies also inked Matt Strahm to a two-year, $15 million contract. Strahm expressed his interest in becoming a starter again in 2023, but Thomson will most likely have him in the pen for the meantime.
Jameson Taillon, SP, Chicago Cubs
Taillon and the Cubs agreed to a four-year, $68 million deal early Wednesday morning after a late night of negotiations. The Cubs, who have the resources to spend, get a guy in Taillon who will give them reliability in an unpredictable rotation.
Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees
Some of you might have just scrolled down to the MVP. Rightfully so, as the Yankees signed him to a nine-year, $360 million contract on Wednesday morning. It is the most annual money ever for a position player, which is well-deserved after the season Mr. Judge had. Judge turned down higher offers from San Diego and San Francisco in order to stay in the Bronx. Judge will be a Yankee for life.
Jose Quintana, SP, New York Mets
The Mets add starter depth by signing Quintana to a two-year, $13 million contract. He will join Scherzer, Verlander, Carlos Carrasco, and Tylor Megill in the current state of the Mets rotation.
Kenley Jansen, CP, Boston Red Sox
The Sox finally get their first closer since Craig Kimbrel in 2018. The “no-closer” era is over in Beantown, as Jansen signed a two-year, $32 million deal with the Red Sox. He saved 41 games in 2022 and will be the number one option for Alex Cora.
Willson Contreras, C, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cards got to work fast to replace Yadier Molina, signing longtime rival Contreras for five years, $87.5 million. One of the best offensive catchers in the game will be a nice addition to a lineup already containing Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and Tommy Edman.
Aledmys Diaz, UTIL, Oakland Athletics
Diaz and the A’s agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal on Wednesday. He will provide a young Oakland team with a veteran presence and versatility.
Masataka Yoshida, OF, Boston Red Sox
Yoshida and the Sox agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract on Wednesday evening. The Japanese outfielder is known for his quick bat that yields contact. However, the 5’8 little guy has solid power for his size, hitting 133 home runs in Japan across seven seasons. He is the perfect leadoff hitter for the Red Sox.
Joe Jimenez, RP, Atlanta Braves
The Braves improved their bullpen, bringing in Joe Jimenez from Detroit in exchange for two prospects. He will look to build on his strong ’22 campaign as he begins a new chapter in Atlanta.
Xander Bogaerts, SS, San Diego Padres
The Winter Meetings ended with a bang when Bogaerts and the Padres agreed to a whopping 11-year, $280 million deal that will keep Xander in San Diego until he is 41. The Padres get a winner in Bogaerts and have a scary good lineup, while Chaim Bloom does what Chaim Bloom does best and refuses to pay homegrown talent.
The Winter Meetings provided fans with an unforgettable three days. After a couple of slow offseasons, the WM reminded fans that baseball season is right around the corner. One can only hope that the stove stays hot heading into 2023.
