MLB News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Newsletter

New York Mets starter Kodai Senga Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Three MLB players who have been worth every penny they got this offseason

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 8/27/23

With the end of the 2023 season approaching fast, let's look back at the players who switched teams this offseason and highlight three who have exceeded expectations in their first season with their new organizations.

The 2023 free-agent class was full of big deals, including 13 players signing deals worth $20M-plus a season. But the three signings that stand out were all lower than that, showing that the biggest signings don't always have the biggest impact.

Kodai Senga, pitcher, New York Mets: five years, $75M with a player option after 2025

After spending the first 11 years of his career in Japan, Senga signed with the New York Mets after opting out of his contract with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Nippon Professional Baseball.

The 30-year-old has adjusted to the MLB quickly after a rough month of April, With 24 starts on the season he is 10-7 with a 3.17 ERA striking out 164 hitters in 136.1 innings. Senga has been the most consistent pitcher on the Mets staff in 2023, even before shipping out pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

He features a forkball that has been nearly unhittable with a 60.4 whiff percentage, which means hitters are missing the pitch when they swing.

Kodai Senga, Wicked Ghost Forks.

9th and 10th Ks.

15 whiffs out of 18 swings on the Ghost Fork tonight.
83% whiff rate. pic.twitter.com/HlU6OPyQH8
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 26, 2023

In a league starved for pitching, Senga's contract is already looking like a bargain as he continues to shine in New York.

Cody Bellinger, outfielder, Chicago Cubs: one year, $17.5M with a mutual option for 2024

After a historic three-year span to begin his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers that included a National League Rookie of the Year award in 2017 and the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2019, Bellinger struggled so bad from 2020-22 that the Dodgers decided to cut ties with him and let him become a free agent.

After having numerous suitors, the 28-year-old decided to sign a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs to rebuild his value. Not only has he rebuilt his value, he has lined himself up for a big payday this upcoming offseason.

Currently slashing .317/.365/.540 with 42 XBH, 70 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 98 games.

Doing most of his damage post-All-Star break, Bellinger has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball. With a .352/.385/.623 slash line including 11 home runs and an MLB-leading 46 RBI in the second half of the season, he has been pivotal in the turnaround the Cubs have experienced this season as they push for the playoffs after a 74-88 season in 2022.

A season-high FIVE RBIs on the day for Belli! pic.twitter.com/wpkk5x0jZw
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 27, 2023

With his option for next year being mutual, he is likely to decline it to secure a long-term deal after his career-revival season in Chicago.

Zach Eflin, pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays: three years, $40M

In a Rays rotation that has been decimated by injuries with starters Shane McClanahan, Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen all lost for the season, the club has watched a strength of their team become a weakness.

Eflin has been a different story, After spending his first seven years with the Philadelphia Phillies he signed with the Rays this past offseason and has been one of the most consistent pitchers in all of baseball and someone the Rays can rely on.

In 25 starts, Eflin is 13-8 with a 3.55 ERA including a 1.04 WHIP which is third in the MLB. With only 20 walks allowed in 144.1 innings pitched, the 29-year-old ranks second in the MLB in that category as well.