Recapping MLB Transactions From a Wild Wednesday

Wow. Talk about a wild day of moves across the league. Hot stove is an understatement — the stove was scorching on Wednesday. I can’t ever remember a day with so many big moves league-wide. The day got started with a big trade and ended with a big-ticket free agent signing. Buckle up, this is going to be a long one!

Dodgers agree to six-year $162M deal with 1B Freddie Freeman

Many around the league are shocked that Freeman will be wearing a jersey that doesn’t say Braves across his chest next year. After Atlanta acquired Matt Olson, the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox and Rays were among the teams pursuing the star first baseman. Ultimately, Los Angeles won out and will add Freeman to an already impressive lineup.

Rockies to sign 3B/OF Kris Bryant to seven-year $182M deal

Talk about a stunner. I’m not sure anyone predicted Bryant to sign a mega contract with Colorado at the beginning of the offseason, alas here we are. The 2016 National League MVP spent his whole career with the Cubs before a midseason trade to the Giants last summer. He now will head to another NL West team in one of the more surprising free agent deals in recent memory.

Blue Jays acquire 3B Matt Chapman from the A’s for RHP Gunnar Hoglund, INF Kevin Smith and LHPs Zach Logue and Kirby Snead

The Blue Jays used the trade route to give them one of the best infields in baseball. Chapman is an elite defensive third baseman and while he had a down year at the plate last year, he has been more than capable with the bat last season.

The main piece in the return for Oakland is Hoglund, who was taken by the Jays in the first round in the 2021 draft. The trio of Smith, Logue and Snead could all contribute at the Major League level for the A’s who continue to tear down their roster.

Phillies to sign DH/OF/1B Kyle Schwarber to four-year $79M deal

The Phillies needed to add a bat to their lineup and did just that in the former fourth overall pick. An All-Star last year, Schwarber raked while with the Nationals and Red Sox, finishing the year with 32 home runs and a .921 OPS.

Cubs agree to five-year $85M deal with Japanese OF Seiya Suzuki 

One of the most highly-touted players from Japan, Suzuki agreed to a deal to bring him to the North Side of Chicago. Suzuki’s bat has received rave reviews and he has star potential in the Major Leagues. He hit 38 home runs and slashed .317/.433/1.069 in the Japanese league in 2021.

Royals to sign RHP Zack Greinke to one-year $13M deal

The 38-year-old right-hander heads back to Kansas City, where he began his career back in 2004. Five years after he debuted for Kansas City, he won the American League Cy Young with the Royals. In addition to the Royals, Greinke made pit stops for the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Astros.

Giants agree to one-year $6M deal with OF Joc Pederson 

After spending the bulk of his career with the Dodgers, Pederson now heads to the division-rival Giants. Last year, Pederson split time between the Cubs and Braves and helped Atlanta win the 2021 World Series, the second ring of his career.

Braves re-sign OF Eddie Rosario, sign OF Alex Dickerson

The Braves lost one outfielder in Pederson but brought back another in Rosario and brought Dickerson into the field all in one day. Rosario also had a big hand in leading the Braves to a World Series trophy after joining Atlanta in deadline deal from Cleveland. Rosario posted a 131 OPS+ in 33 games with the Braves.

The Braves may have lost one outfielder to the Giants, but they took one away from them too. Dickerson spent the last three years with the Giants, posting a .823 OPS while in San Francisco.

Cubs to sign LHP Steven Brault to a one-year deal

Pittsburgh Baseball Now did a breakdown on the former Pirate signing with the Cubs which can be found here.

Tigers agree to two-year $13M deal with Andrew Chafin

Detroit added a strong piece to their bullpen in the left-handed Chafin who dazzled with a 1.83 ERA last season between the Cubs and A’s. The 31-year old has been a reliable arm for most of his career, with a career 3.30 ERA/3.18 FIP in just shy of 350 innings.

Royals acquire LHP Amir Garrett from the Reds for LHP Mike Minor and cash

The Reds continue to deal from their roster, this time sending the left reliever and life-long Red to Kansas City. In return, the Reds add a piece to their rotation after Wade Miley (Cubs) and Sonny Gray (Twins) will both be pitching elsewhere next season.

Reds to sign INF Donovan Solano to one-year $4.5M deal

Speaking of the Reds, they also agreed to a deal with Solano who has flown under the radar the last three seasons with San Francisco. Since 2019, Solano has slashed .308/.354/.435 in 236 games.

Angels sign INF Matt Duffy to one-year

The Halos announced a one-year agreement with Duffy, who hit .278 with the Cubs last year. Duffy is expected to get a shot at shortstop for the Angels this season.

Cubs sign RHP David Robertson to one-year deal

Finally, the last move we’ll be recapping. Robertson has pitched 13 seasons in the big leagues and has posted a sub-3 ERA and FIP for his career. He was limited to just 12 innings last year with the Rays and had a 4.50 ERA/3.67 FIP.

I’m not sure we’ll see a day as active as this for quite some time, but check back on Friday for a recap of all the deals that go down.