‘WINNING THE WINTER’ CAN BACKFIRE
Padres, White Sox latest to feel pain of optimism turning sour
They collected their information, discussed trades with clubs and potential signings with players’ agents, but when general managers departed the Boca Raton Resort & Club, they were subtly reminded Thursday of a little history lesson.
“I’ve learned that you don’t want to win the winter,” New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told USA TODAY Sports. “It almost creates false expectations. When a team wins the winter, typically the media pressure crushes them over time or it’s just hard to live up to the expectations.
“So I’d rather get blasted over our deals, because then it has a better chance of working out.”
So far, so bad. The Yankees made the only real trade at the annual GM meetings by acquiring Aaron Hicks from the Minnesota Twins for catcher John Ryan-Murphy. It drew rave reviews, knowing it might lead to a bigger move.
“I’ve been there,” said Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein. “It’s not what you want.”
In the offseason preceding the 2011 season, the Boston Red Sox, then Epstein’s employer, acquired All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from the San Diego Padres and signed outfielder Carl Crawford to a $142 million deal. The Red Sox had an epic late-season collapse, missing the playoffs. Epstein and manager Terry Francona were gone after that season. In 2012, the Red Sox finished last with 93 losses. Gonzalez and Crawford were traded in August.
“The expectations became so high,” Epstein said, “people were speculating whether this is the greatest team of all time, a super team. It affected us when we got to a slow start. It’s an unbelievable dynamic over the last few years how the winners of the offseason tend to be miserable the following September.”
The Padres and Chicago White Sox were crowned winter champions a year ago. The Padres made nine trades. bringing in an entirely new outfield, with the largest payroll in franchise history.
They proceeded to spend the summer losing 88 games, firing two managers and finishing next-to-last in the National League West.
The White Sox traded four players for starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija and signed a slew of free agents, including closer David Robertson, outfielder Melky Cabrera, first baseman Adam LaRoche and pitcher Zach Duke.
The White Sox finished 19 games out of first place — and 11⁄2 games out of last — with White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf calling it the most disappointing season of his tenure.
“Certainly, converting on the opportunity that was presented to us last year,” White Sox GM Rick Hahn said, “we wouldn’t change. Obviously, the results weren’t what we hoped. You wish it would have played out differently. But from the planning and execution of a plan standpoint, it’s certainly nothing we would have shied away from. Sometimes, it just takes time. Look at the Blue Jays.”
Ah yes, the Toronto Blue Jays were kings of the winter leading up to the 2013 season, the beneficiaries of the Miami Marlins’ fire sale, just a year after the Marlins had been winter champs, spending $191 million. It took three seasons, and another flurry of aggressive moves with the acquisitions of ace David Price, third baseman Josh Donaldson and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, but they finally reached the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
The Los Angeles Angels spent a record $240 million on All-Star first baseman Albert Pujols in December 2011, then came back 12 months later and threw out $125 million for All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton. They won the AL West in 2014.
“Anytime you bring in that kind of dynamic, it’s just different,” said Seattle Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto, the Angels’ GM at the time. “It changes the clubhouse when they come in, and it takes time.”
The St. Louis Cardinals have epitomized nondescript winters since GM John Mozeliak joined the organization 20 years ago. Yet, they have reached the playoffs 12 times since 2000, winning two World Series championships and four pennants.
The Cardinals were hoping to keep it that way, but within 24 hours, they lost two starters. Lance Lynn will miss the 2016 season with Tommy John surgery and Alex Reyes, their top prospect, was suspended 50 games for marijuana use.
They might have no choice but to steal winter headlines if they sign the top free agent, ace David Price, and perhaps retain outfielder Jason Heyward.
“Our goal is to win the in-season. It’s not making headlines in the offseason,” Mozeliak said. This year, they might have no choice. “Maybe we’ll see,” Mozeliak said, “if we have a different outcome.”
Good luck.