Top 5 Best trades in the 2019 MLB offseason that happened in 2018

Hey Y’all how is everyone doing on this fine ass Tuesday night? So today is the first day of 2019 and if anyone had made any New Years resolutions for 2018 I sure hope you accomplished them because it is too late now. But if you didn’t no worries. You can just hold onto those resolutions and add them to your resolutions for 2019. So it’s crazy today marks the first day of a new year. Only 364 more until 2020. I hope everyone had good new years ever last night and I hoped everyone didn’t go to crazy last night. 2019 seems like it is going to be a good year. I know everyone says it. But I feel like being totally cliche and saying it here.

So what better way to kick off 2019 by remembering the previous year 2018 with a dope ass blog post.  The MLB season has now been over for approximately 65 days and while there is still a lot more trades and signings that are going to happen for the 2019 MLB off-season since we have now entered into 2019. A lot of big trades and signings has happened in these 64 days of the 2019 offseason in 2018. So enough chitchat how about we jump right into this. So without further adieu here are the top 5 best trades in the 2019 MLB offseason that happened in 2018

1.  Arizona Diamondbacks trading star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals on December 5th: Okay on December 5th the Arizona Diamondbacks traded away there star hitter and face of the franchise since 2011 first Baseman Paul Goldschmidt to the St Louis Cardinals. The Diamondbacks received starting pitcher Luke Weaver, Catcher Carson Kelly who played in 19 games with the Cardinals in 2018 as well prospect infielder Andy Young on December 5th, 2018. In his 8 years D-Backs Paul was a 6 time all star ( with his most recent one being in 2018) , a 3 time gold glove award winner, a 4 time silver slugger award winner, on the NL Hank Aaron Award in 2013 and led the NL in HRs and RBIs that same year.

In 2018 Paul Played in 158 games with the Diamondbacks getting 172 hits, 95 runs, 33 HRs, 83 RBIs, 316 total bases, 73 extra base hits, 123 weighted runs created, 145 weighted runs created plus and a 42.4 weighted runs above average. Paul also put up an amazing .290/.389/.533 slash line along with an equally amazing .922 OPS, a .243 isolated power, a 4.2-speed score, a .359 BABIP a 0.8 UBR and a .390 WOBA for the 2018 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. This was definitely an amazing trade and the Cardinals didn’t have to break the bank to make it either and I am very excited to see how it will play out in 2019.

2.  The Seattle Mariners Trading Second Baseman Robinson Cano and Closer Edwin Diaz to the New York Mets on December 3rd: Okay second trade on the list is the first of the three major trades made by the Seattle Mariners this offseason that I am covering on this list. The Seattle Mariners as I have mentioned before have really cleared house and pretty much all of there star players on their rosters in 2018 are now gone. On December 3rd, 2018 the Seattle Mariners traded their Second Baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz as well 20 million dollars in cash consideration to the New York Mets.

In exchange for outfielders Jay Bruce and Jarred Kelenic. As well as for Anthony Swarzak, Gerson Bautista, and Justin Dunn. The Mets signed Robinson Cano to finish out the remainder of his 10-year 240 million dollar contract that he signed with the team back in December of 2013. Robinson is 36 now and will finish his 10-year contract after 2023 when he will be 40 years old.

In 2018 Robinson Cano season was shortened to only 80 games due to the fact that he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs on May 15th. Robinson would return to the Mariners on August 14th. In his injury-shortened season, Robinson got 94 hits, 44 runs, 10 HRs, 50 RBIs, 146 total bases and 32 extra base hits. Robinson also got a very solid .303/.374/.471 slash line along with a .845 OPS in 2018 with the Mariners.

Edwin Diaz had established himself as the MLB’s best reliever in 2018 winning the AL reliever of the year award, leading the MLB in saves and making it to his first all-star game in 2018. Edwin pitched in a total of 73 games in 2018. Getting a 0-4 record, 57 saves, a 1.96 ERA, 124 strikeouts and a 0.79 WHIP. Edwin also got a 44.3 strikeout percentage, a 7.29 strikeout to walk ratio, 15.22 strikeouts per every 9 innings pitched, a 1.61 FIP and a 1.49 Skill interactive ERA in 2018.

3.  The Los Angeles Dodgers trading right fielder Yasiel Puig, Left Fielder Matt Kemp and Starting Pitcher Alex Wood to the Cinncanti Reds on December 21st: Okay for the third trade on the list is probably the biggest blockbuster trade that happened in the 2019 MLB offseason in 2018. On December 21st the Los Angeles Dodgers traded away there two star outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig as well as one of there star pitchers in there starting rotation Alex wood for the Cinnacnti reds in exchange for starting pitcher Homer Bailey ( who they released later that day) and for prospects shortstop Jeter Downs and pitcher Josiah Gray.  right fielder Yaisel Puig played in 125 games with the Dodgers in 2018 getting 108 hits, 60 runs, 23 HRs, 63 RBIs, 200 total bases and 45 extra base hits.

Along with a .267/.327/.494 slash line along with a .820 OPS in 2018. Left Fielder Matt Kemp played in 146 games with the Dodgers in 2018 getting, 134 hits, 62 runs, 21 HRs, 85 RBIs, 222 total bases and 46 extra base hits. Along with a .290/.338/.481 slash line along with a .818 OPS. Matt also made it to his third all-star game appearance in 2018. Last but not least is Starting Pitcher Alex Wood. Alex pitched in 33 games in 2018. Getting a 9-7 record, a 3.68 ERA, 135 strikeouts and a 1.21 WHIP. Alex also got a 21.2 strikeout percentage, a 3.38 strikeout to walk ratio, 8.01 strikeouts per every 9 innings pitched, a 3.53 FIP and a 3.90 skill-interactive ERA in 2018 with the Los Angeles Dodgers

4.  Seattle Mariners Trading Starting Pitcher James Paxton to the New York Yankees on November 19th: Okay second to last trade on the list is a trade that really needed to happen. The New York Yankees traded for a starting pitcher. As a devout Yankees fan, I can certainly say that I must not be the only fan that wishes they would go after starting pitchers more in the offseason versus going after power hitters. On November 19th 2018 the Seattle Mariners traded away starting pitcher James Paxton to the New York Yankees in exchange for top prospect starting pitcher Justus Sheffield who made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2018.

As well as another prospect pitcher Erik Swanson and prospect outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams. James pitched in 28 games in 2018. Most Notably pitching a no hitter on May 8th against the Toronto Blue Jays. In those 28 games, James got an 11-6 record, a 3.76 ERA, 208 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP. James also got a 32.3 strikeout percentage, a 4.95 strikeout to walk ratio, 11.65 strikeouts per every 9 innings pitched, a 3.24 FIP and a 2.96 Skill interactive ERA in 2018 with the Seattle Mariners.

5.  Seattle Mariners Trading Shortstop/Second Baseman Jean Segura to the Philadelphia Phillies on December 3rd: Okay last but not least on the list is shortstop/second baseman, Jean Segura. Jean is a really solid player who is an extremely dominant hitter who almost always posts a high batting average and a high amount of hits in the regular season. The Mariners traded Jean to the Philadelphia Phillies on December 3rd, 2018.

In exchange for first baseman Carlos Santanna and shortstop and third baseman J.P. Crawford. Jean had a very successful season in 2018 making it to his second all-star game appearance. Jean played in 144 games in 2018 with the Mariners. Getting 178 hits, 91 runs, 10 HRs, 63 RBIs, 243 total bases and 42 extra base hits. Along with an amazing .304/.341/.415 slash line along with a .755 OPS in 2018 with the Seattle Mariners.