Best and Worst Off-season Moves

I have been puzzled by many moves this off-season, but also pleased and proud of others. Here is a breakdown of the best and the worst moves made so far this off-season.

Best

1. The Seattle Mariners acquiring Cliff Lee--also signing Chone Figgins and Jack Wilson.
-The Mariners gave up a few prospects to get a Cy Young winner and proven post-season winner. I love this deal for the Mariners who gain one of the best left-handers in the game right now. Lee should be great in Seattle, especially pitching in a very pitcher-friendly park in Safeco Field. The Blue Jays also did very well in this deal with prospects they acquired. Everyone knew they wanted to deal Halladay, but were looking to get good players in return and they finally found that deal.
-The signings of Figgins and Wilson are very solid. Figgins is especially a great deal as he adds more speed to a lineup that already features Ichiro.

2. The Red Sox signing John Lackey.
-Lackey, the biggest free agent pitcher on the market, is a HUGE signing for the BoSox. They add him to a rotation that is already stellar with Josh Beckett, John Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka. The best part of the deal is that Lackey, the former Angel, has proven to be a post-season nemesis for the Red Sox, who constantly face the Angels in the American League Division Series.

3. The Yankees and Tigers deal.
-The Yankees got what they wanted in their outfield, adding Granderson to play centerfield. The Bronx Bombers add a player who can hit in one or two in the lineup, and is clearly better than the player he ended up replacing in Melky Cabrera. He could end up playing leftfield after Cabrera was dealt to the Braves for Javier Vazquez. Either way, the deal looks good for the Yankees.
-The Tigers also made out very, very well in this deal. They took the Yankees prized prospect Austin Jackson, along with two solid relievers. What sells me on the Tigers end of this is that they got rid of payroll like they desired--in the form of Granderson and Edwin Jackson--while also adding playings with potential high caliber. Max Scherzer has the potential to be huge, especially if he adds a third pitch. The Tigers have seen this form of pitcher before, with Jeremy Bonderman and also Justin Verlander.

Other deals of note:
-The Orioles signed closer Mike Gonzalez.
-The White Sox signed J.J. Putz--add him in front of Bobby Jenks and games are shortened.
-The Astors signed Pedro Feliz. This deal went under the radar almost entirely, but what a sign by the Astros. Adding Feliz into their line-up in a park that right-handed hitters have had success is a great move.
-The Cardinals signing Brad Penny. If Penny can regain the form that had him in the All-Star game a couple of years ago, then this deal is great for the Cardinals rotation.
-The Nationals have had a very solid off-season. They added Pudge Rodriguez to catch, while putting Jason Marquis into their rotation. I like those deals. Also Eddie Guardado in the bullpen is a great sign.

Worst

1. The Phillies getting Roy Halladay...at such a cost.
-Unquestionably, Halladay is one of the best--if not the best--pitcher in pro baseball presently. But, is he really that much of an upgrade over Cliff Lee? AND does that upgrade warrant trading Kyle Drabek? You would have to pose a pretty amazing argument to convince me that it is worth it. The Mariners really stole this deal in my opinion.

2. The Braves getting Melky Cabrera for Javier Vazquez.
-The Braves have puzzled me all off-season. This move takes the cake. The Braves traded Jeff Francoeur to the Mets for Ryan Church, then did not get him back in arbitration and instead trade Vazquez to the Yankees for...Melky Cabrera. The downgrade from Francoeur to Cabrera, especially defensively, disturbs me. Especially knowing that the Braves traded away the fourth-place Cy Young finisher for an expendable outfielder. Poor trade. Sums up what seems to be a sad off-season in Atlanta.

3. There is no other deal that really jumps out at me as a worst deal. But some that come to mind include the Angels signing Hideki Matsui. The Braves signing Troy Glaus to play a new position is not great. The Mets signing Kelvin Escobar and the Giants adding Mark DeRosa are two deals that the jury will remain out on until mid-season.