Kemp, Lester, Cespedes, Rollins All Change Teams: Hot Stove: 12/14

Free Agent Signings

Cubs signed Jon Lester (16-11, 2.46 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 2015 age: 31) to a 6 year, $155 million deal ($25.8 million per season).

Twins signed Ervin Santana (14-10, 3.95 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 2015 age: 32) to a 4 year, $55 million deal.

Dodgers signed Brandon McCarthy (10-15, 4.05 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2015 age: 31-32) to a 4 year, $48 million deal.

Royals signed Kendrys Morales (8 HR, 42 RBI, .218 AVG, 2015 age: 31-32) to a 2 year, $17 million deal.

Red Sox signed Justin Masterson (7-9, 5.88 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 2015 age: 30) to a 1 year, $9.5 million deal.

Astros signed Luke Gregerson (5-5, 2.12 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 2015 age: 31) to a 3 year, $18.5 million deal.

Astros signed Pat Neshek (7-2, 1.87 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 2015 age: 34) to a 2 year, $12.5 million deal.

This single move could be the most consequential of the offseason. The Cubs dramatically picked up Jon Lester, arguably the top free agent pitcher, for $155 million. With Lester signed and teams turning their attention elsewhere, Max Scherzer, James Shields, and Jake Peavy could see their destinations fall into place. Lester’s six year, $155 million deal could serve as a starting point for negotiations for free agent Max Scherzer or for extension candidate Jordan Zimmermann. Okay, back to the Cubs. Though quite expensive, the addition of Lester will be huge for the team. Though they’ve stocked up on many big hitting prospects, the only solid pitching prospects in the Cubs system are C.J. Edwards and Pierce Johnson. Lester will be a great leader for the up and coming Cubs team, which is looking to contend in the near future. The 6’4”, 240 pound lefty is coming off the best year of his career, having gone 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP between two teams on two coasts. Though inconsistent, Lester also had big years in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. His postseason experience will be big for the Cubs, as he is 6-4 with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP across 14 postseason games (12 starts). However, it is the World Series where he is toughest to hit, having gone 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP over three starts, allowing just one run in 21 innings.

Trades

Dodgers traded Matt Kemp (25 HR, 89 RBI, .287 AVG, 8 SB, 2015 age: 30), Tim Federowicz (1 HR, 5 RBI, .113 AVG, 2015 age: 27-28), and cash to the Padres for Yasmani Grandal (15 HR, 49 RBI, .225 AVG, 3 SB, 2015 age: 26), Joe Wieland (1-0, 7.15 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 2015 age: 25), and minor leaguer Zach Eflin (10-7, 3.80 ERA, 1.32 WHIP at High A, 2015 age: 21).

Red Sox traded Yoenis Cespedes (22 HR, 100 RBI, .260 AVG, 7 SB, 2015 age: 29), Alex Wilson (1-0, 1.91 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 2015 age: 28), and minor leaguer Gabe Speier (3-0, 1.55 ERA, 0.79 WHIP at GCL, 2015 age: 20) to the Tigers for Rick Porcello (15-13, 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 2015 age: 26).

Reds traded Mat Latos (5-5, 3.25 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2015 age: 27) to the Marlins for Anthony DeSclafani (2-2, 6.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 2015 age: 25) and minor leaguer Chad Wallach (7 HR, 57 RBI, .322 AVG, 3 SB at A and High A, 2015 age: 23).

Phillies traded Jimmy Rollins (17 HR, 55 RBI, .243 AVG, 28 SB, 2015 age: 36) to the Dodgers for minor leaguers Zach Eflin and Tom Windle (12-8, 4.26 ERA, 1.37 WHIP at High A, 2015 age: 23).

Dodgers traded Dee Gordon (2 HR, 34 RBI, .289 AVG, 64 SB, 2015 age: 27), Dan Haren (13-11, 4.02 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 2015 age: 34), and Miguel Rojas (1 HR, 9 RBI, .181 AVG, 2015 age: 26) to the Marlins for Andrew Heaney (0-3, 5.83 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 2015 age: 24), Chris Hatcher (0-3, 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 2015 age: 30), Enrique Hernandez (3 HR, 14 RBI, .248 AVG, 2015 age: 23), and minor leaguer Austin Barnes (13 HR, 57 RBI, .304 AVG, 11 SB at High A and AA, 2015 age: 25).

Angels traded Howie Kendrick (7 HR, 75 RBI, .293 AVG, 14 SB, 2015 age: 31-32) to the Dodgers for Andrew Heaney.

D-Backs traded Wade Miley (8-12, 4.34 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 2015 age: 28) to the Red Sox for Rubby De La Rosa (4-8, 4.43 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 2015 age: 26), Allen Webster (5-3, 5.03 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 2015 age: 25), and minor leaguer Raymel Flores (1 HR, 12 RBI, .282 AVG, 14 SB at Low A, 2015 age: 20).

Nationals traded Ross Detwiler (2-3, 4.00 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 2015 age: 29) to the Rangers for minor leaguers Abel De Los Santos (5-3, 1.92 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, at A and High A, 2015 age: 22) and Chris Bostick (11 HR, 62 RBI, .251 AVG, 24 SB at High A, 2015 age: 22).

Among the torrential downpour of moves that occurred today, the Matt Kemp deal stood out the most. Kemp still has five years and $107 million left on his contract, and it looks like Los Angeles will pay $32 million, while San Diego takes on $75 million. Kemp will be a huge bonus to a lineup that has not seen a true star since Adrian Gonzalez. Just a few years ago, trading Kemp would have seemed almost inconceivable, but after he failed to keep up the incredible production of his 2011 season, the Dodgers saw him as the best trade candidate in a crowded outfield including Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, and Joc Pederson. In Kemp’s incredible 2011 season, he batted .324 with 39 home runs, 126 RBI, and 40 stolen bases as he barely finished second to Ryan Braun in the NL MVP race. His 2012 couldn’t quite live up to his 2011, then he missed half of 2013 to injuries. At the All Star Break, the Oklahoma native was batting just .269 with eight home runs in 86 games. However, in 64 games after the break, he slammed 17 home runs while driving in 54 and batting .309. In September, he won the NL Player of the Month Award by batting .322 with nine home runs and 25 RBI in just 24 games. Because the Padres traded Yasmani Grandal, they needed a catcher to fill the void, and Tim Federowicz will do just that. The 27 year old former top prospect has not established his footing in the majors, holding a .194 career batting average with five home runs through 89 games played over four seasons. Last year at AAA Albuquerque, he did bat .328 with 14 home runs in 78 RBI. He’ll be Rene Rivera’s backup.

The main return to the Dodgers is Yasmani Grandal. The 26 year old catcher is also a former top prospect, but the likelihood is that Grandal will come into his own. He hit .297 with eight home runs in 60 games in his rookie 2012, but was limited to just 28 games in 2013 amid injuries and the BioGenesis scandal. Last year, he hit 15 home runs in his first full season, but batted just .225 while striking out 115 times in 128 games. He will team with A.J. Ellis behind the plate for the foreseeable future. Also going back to LA is Joe Wieland, a 24 year old starting pitcher who is yet to gain a foothold in a major league rotation. He pitched decently in five starts in 2012 (0-4, 4.55 ERA, 1.27 WHIP), but he missed all of 2013 to injury and pitched poorly in six games in 2014. The Dodgers are hoping Wieland can be a part of their future rotation. Lastly, Zach Eflin is a 20 year old pitcher who pitched all of last season at High A Lake Elsinore, going 10-8 with a 3.80 ERA over 24 starts. He could be in the majors by the time he is 22 and scouts have high hopes for the righty. Eflin was subsequently traded to Philadelphia in the Jimmy Rollins deal.

The Tigers and Red Sox made an interesting trade. Yoenis Cespedes and Rick Porcello seem to be roughly equal in talent, yet the Red Sox added a pair of prospects to acquire Porcello. Rick Porcello, a former first round pick and top prospect, took a little while to get it going in the majors after breaking in at 20 years old. A successful rookie season saw him go 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA as a 20 year old in 2009, but he never built off that rookie season. However, in 2014, he finally reached the potential so many thought he had, going 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP over 32 games (31 starts). He walked just 41 batters in 204.2 innings, and threw three shutouts. The Red Sox, in dire need of pitching, will find great use of Porcello in his final contract season. He will join other newcomers Wade Miley and Justin Masterson in a rebuilt rotation.

Going to the Tigers is Torii Hunter’s replacement, Yoenis Cespedes. He has just one year left on his contract, but he will fit nicely into Detroit’s 2015 outfield with Rajai Davis and J.D. Martinez. Cespedes is known for his big power and his big arm, knocking 71 home runs and throwing out 31 baserunners in his three year career. His best season was his rookie 2012, when he batted .290 with 23 home runs and 82 RBI in his age 26 season, but his average has dipped since then. He hit .240 in 2013 (albeit with 26 home runs) and was batting .246 at the All Star Break in 2014. After the break, he did manage to bat .279, and he finished the season at .260 with 22 home runs and 100 RBI. If Cespedes wants to be a complete player, he will have to work on his patience at the plate, as he has walked only 115 times in three seasons. Despite a decent .263 career batting average, his 115 walks have led him to a .316 on-base percentage that needs to be raised. Also going to Detroit is 28 year old Alex Wilson. He pitched dominantly in 18 appearances in 2014, going 1-0 with a 1.91 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He will help replenish the relief corps that had a meltdown in the ALDS, and right handers batted just .151 against him in 2014. He can also function as a long-reliever, having been a starter in the minor leagues up through the 2011 season. Lastly, to offset the fact that the Tigers cannot receive draft pick compensation if Cespedes leaves via free agency, the Red Sox sent Gabe Speier over to Detroit. Speier is just 19 years old and has yet to pitch above the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, but he’s proven himself to be a legitimate prospect in those 33 professional innings. What scouts love about Speier is the fact that he’s walked exactly two batters in his entire minor league career, holding an effective strikeout to walk ratio of 16:1.

-Zack Silverman