NL All-Acquired 2021-22

Last week, I covered the top players who were acquired by American League teams prior to the lockout. This time, I’ll focus on the National League, whose acquired players top those of the AL by a fantasy point margin of almost 2,000 points (27,421 to 25,744). Of course, my database gives an incomplete picture, since I’m only counting players added to Major League rosters, and only players who will be changing teams over the offseason. But it’s a good starting point to see where things stand as the lockout approaches it’s third month.

Any discussion of players changing teams in the NL has to start with Leo co-ace Max Scherzer (2,523 / 84.1), who received a record-setting three-year deal from the Mets. The fourth-largest contract of the offseason so far will give Mad Max a staggering $43.33 million per year, the highest ever average annual value by more than 20 percent (according to calculations by MLB Trade Rumors). Joining Scherzer in an All-Acquired rotation is Taurus Marcus Stroman, who brings his ground ball specialist profile to the Cubs on a top ten contract of his own.

Chicago’s NL Central rival Cardinals picked up the only other 1,000+ point NL All-Acquired starter in former Toronto lefty, Gemini Steven Matz. Sticking with the Air Division, Libra Alex Cobb will go from the Angels to the Giants. And the best option to round out the starting five would be Aquarian Jose Quintana, who should compete for a rotation job with the rebuilding Pirates. In fact, the only other primary starter to change teams in the NL is J.C. Mejia, who was traded from the newly-christened Guardians to the Brewers, although the Virgo rookie put up a negative fantasy point total in 2021.

Two top Aries relievers will play for new teams in 2022, although only one of them pitched last season. That was All-Star Mark Melancon, who will stay in the NL West, moving from the Padres to the Diamondbacks. The other is Kirby Yates, who missed all of 2021 due to injury, but who will hope to bounce back with the Braves. Moving to the lower-leverage, side of the bullpen, Pisces Daniel Hudson will return to the Dodgers, after splitting last season between Washington and San Diego. Leo Corey Knebel, who opened some games FOR the Dodgers in last year’s playoffs, will settle in as a late-inning arm for the Phillies. Over the course of the last calendar year, Gemini Luis (A.) Garcia parlayed a minor league deal with the Yankees, into a playoff spot with the Cardinals, into a free agent deal with the Padres.

National League teams have definitely poured more resources into outfield additions than infielders, and they’ve focused their efforts on Air Signs. Libra Starling Marte will settle in for a four-year term with the Mets, after seeing time with four different teams in the last three years. Conversely Aquarius Mark Canha had spent his entire MLB career with the A’s, but he will join Marte in Queens, at least for the next two seasons. Canha’s sign-mate Hunter Renfroe was somewhat surprisingly traded from the Red Sox to the Brewers after breaking out against both righties and lefties in the 2021 season. Renfroe will replace Gemini Avisail Garcia in Milwaukee, as the Venezuelan outfielder signed a free agent deal with Miami.

Remember how only one significant catcher changed teams in the American League? Well, the NL beat that number by a factor of six! New Chicago Cub Yan Gomes leads the pack in fantasy points, but the Cancer Crab will likely be needed at first base. That works out, because Capricorn Jacob Stallings (traded from the Pirates to the Marlins) won a Gold Glove award behind the plate. In a game of musical catchers, Miami then traded Gemini Jorge Alfaro to the Padres, while Pittsburgh signed another Capricorn, Roberto Perez, to replace Stallings. Gomes’s fellow Cancer Crab, Pedro Severino, was signed by the Brewers as a second backup, while Houston traded another Gemini Garrett Stubbs to the Phillies.

While NL infield depth is basically nonexistent, there are enough players to cover each spot on the dirt. Gemini Cesar Hernandez will handle second base for the Nationals, after splitting last season between Cleveland and Chicago (AL). Capricorn Eduardo Escobar caps off the new additions by the Mets, where he will likely slot in at third base. This leaves shortstop for Taurus Joey Wendle, who was traded from one Florida team (Tampa Bay) to the other (Miami). I mentioned Yan Gomes as a first base option, but NL teams did acquire a pair of outfielders who could serve as a serviceable first base platoon: Virgo lefty Billy McKinney and Libra lefty-masher Jordan Luplow.

Next time, we’re going full circle as far as labor disputes are concerned, since the 1981 season was famously split in two by a player’s strike!