All-Acquired Teams: Post Lockout
One of my two projects that focus more on real-life teams than astrological signs is All-Acquired Teams, lineups made of players who have changed teams between seasons. The bifurcated nature of this year’s offseason creates an opportunity for TWO All-Acquired teams per league. MLB made a similar move during 1981, when the season itself was split in half due to a player’s strike, so it’s fitting that this dual All-Acquired situation is also due to a labor dispute.
The National League made the biggest post-lockout splashes, as two generational talents at first base will be suiting up for new NL teams next year. Aries Matt Olson not only had the better 2021 season, he also got the better contract: an 8-year extension, which came after the Braves acquired him from the Athletics as part of their major selloff. This allowed the Dodgers to scoop up Olson’s predecessor in Atlanta, Virgo Freddie Freeman, on a 6-year free agent deal. Not to be outdone, the Braves then poached a career-long Dodger player, Libra closer Kenley Jansen. Let’s just say the storylines will abound when these two teams meet in the third week of April.
Sticking to the NL East, the Phillies picked up the top two remaining outfielders on the free agent market, who both just happen to be Pisces. Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber wouldn’t both fit on a traditional National League lineup, but the new universal designated hitter changes all that. Speaking of designated hitters, the Nationals picked up Nelson Cruz, for what will be the Cancer Crab’s first taste of NL action since his 8-game debut season with Milwaukee in 2005. Libra Andrew McCutchen and Pisces Jorge Soler will likely occupy the DH roles for their new teams, the Brewers and Marlins, respectively. Even though the Rockies are planning on using Kris Bryant primarily in left field, but I didn’t count him as an “outfield” target, since the Capricorn has played mostly third baseman in his career.
On the pitching side, San Francisco’s signing of Sagittarius lefty Carlos Rodon leads NL starters. He’d be followed in the rotation by Pisces Chris Bassitt, new to the Mets, another victim of the A’s fire sale. Tyler Anderson (Dodgers), Drew Smyly (Cubs), and Mike Minor (traded to the Reds) would make up the rotation – not a super impressive group, as the NL made their top pitching acquisitions before the transactions freeze. In the bullpen, Ian Kennedy (who will set up in Arizona for pre-lockout acquisition Mark Melancon) and Brad Hand (who’s behind Corey Knebel on Philadelphia’s depth chart) are the top-scoring new relievers.
As the National League is to first basemen, the American League is to shortstops, with two dominant infield captains moving to new AL teams. Virgo Carlos Correa is only guaranteed to stay in Minnesota for one season, before the first of two opt-out clauses kicks in. While he has played shortstop his entire big league career, Scorpio Trevor Story will be moving over to second base in Boston, at least until Xander Bogaerts potentially opts out of his own deal after next season.
The next five top-scoring all-acquired AL players changed teams due to trades rather than free agent deals. Numbers 1 and 5 – Leo outfielder Jesse Winker and Cancer third baseman Eugenio Suarez – both went from Cincinnati to Seattle in the same deal. Numbers 2 and 3 were also involved in the same blockbuster: both Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa went from the Twins to the Yankees, but while this was the first move of the offseason for the Sagittarian Donaldson, Aries Kiner-Falefa had already been traded once: from the Rangers in exchange for slugging Capricorn catcher Mitch Garver. Number 4 is platinum glove Taurus third baseman Matt Chapman, who went from the A’s to the Blue Jays… the same trajectory as Donaldson took several years earlier.
As the return for Donaldson and Kiner-Falefa, Minnesota received Sagittarius catcher Gary Sanchez and Libra infielder Gio Urshela. I’m not sure who would start behind the plate in a hypothetical all-acquired lineup: Sanchez has more upside, but also less consistency, although Garver has had his share of injuries in the recent past. For infield depth, we have Cancer Crab Josh Harrison, who signed with the White Sox after splitting last season between Washington and Oakland, and Libra Brad Miller, who signed a two-year deal with Texas.
The Twins also headline the new AL starting pitchers, dealing for Sonny Gray from the Reds. The Scorpio righty has more upside than the Libra Zack Greinke, who will be returning to the Royals, his original team. Other post-lockout rotation options include Gemini Yusei Kikuchi (new to Toronto) and Capricorn Michael Pineda (who signed with the Tigers). Speaking of the Tigers, Detroit also nabbed the top-scoring reliever, Gemini lefty Andrew Chafin. Two of Chafin’s sign-mates also changed teams: Garrett Richards is heading to Texas, while Joe Kelly signed with the White Sox. Sticking with Chafin, one of his former real-life teammates also shows up on the all-acquired leaderboard: Aquarian lefty Jake Diekman, who left the A’s for the Red Sox in free agency.
Next time, I’ll return to my All-Time Since 1980 project for Flashback Friday, focusing on the Fire Signs! That’s Sagittarius (Fergie Jenkins), Leo (Carl Yastrzemski), and Aries (Don Sutton), for those who want a little spoiler.