This may very well be one of the busiest offseasons in recent memory.  I can’t remember the last time there were this many trades involving big name players.  Many of the big name free agent’s have already been signed by this point.  Of course all this commotion means that there has to be a winner and a loser up to this point in the offseason.  

With some of the recent signings by the Red Sox they made this a very difficult decision between them and the White Sox as the team who has one the offseason to this point.  Overall though the White Sox have made more quality additions without having to give up as many pieces as the Red Sox have.  To this point in the offseason the White Sox have signed Adam LaRoche, David Robertson, Zach Duke.  The White Sox have also traded for starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija without giving up too much in terms of prospects.  Marcus Semien severely disappointed last season only batting .234 with six homeruns in 64 games, and Chris Bassitt who has been good in the minors posting a 2.97 ERA, but will be 26 years old next season.  The White Sox have also traded for relief pitcher Dan Jennings from the Marlins for relief pitcher Andre Rienzo.  Jennings has been very good for the Marlins in three seasons posting a career ERA of 2.43 and a good strikeout ratio of 7.6 so/9.  

While some of these moves may not seem major and you make think other teams have had better offseasons because of the names they have signed I believe the White Sox are the team with the most important moves.  Their bullpen was absolutely atrocious last season as they blew an unheard of 21 saves with only 35 saves.  Zack Duke was effective in relief last season and is going to match up well late in games against left handed batters, and Robertson fixes the closer problem for the White Sox.  Last season Robertson had 39 saves in 44 chances and fell four strikeouts short of his second career 100 strikeout season.  Adam LaRoche is a huge upgrade at the designated hitter position and as a gold glove caliber first baseman he can spell Jose Abreu at first base when he needs a day off.  Then there is the singing of Samardzija which gives the Sox one of the deadlier one two punches with him and Chris Sale heading the rotation and Jose Quintana as the number three pitcher is no laughing matter as he has improved in all three of his major league seasons and his FIP last season of 2.81 shows there is still more room for this pitcher to grow.  The White Sox are building this team to compete now and with Dayan Viciedo on the market more improvements are sure to come.

Now where there is a best offseason there must be a worst offseason.  So far the worst offseason has to go the Baltimore Orioles.  A year after they were one series away from making it to the world series the Orioles have lost a lot of players without replacing anyone.  So far the Orioles have lost Andrew Miller to the Yankees, Nelson Cruz to the Mariners, and long time Oriole and fan favorite Nick Markakis to the Braves.  These are not the type of moves you would expect from a team who just won their division and are looking to make the playoffs once again.  Time is running out on the Orioles to upgrade their roster as many of the top free agents have already signed elsewhere.    

Nothing has gone as many people thought it would and some of the busier teams have been the most surprising such as the Cubs and the White Sox.  The Dodgers too have been busy but not in a spending way.  They let go of Hanley and made multiple trades today getting rid off Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, and soon Matt Kemp in a reported deal to the Padres.  This has been an offseason to remember up to this point with plenty of suspires and moves still to come.