Grading early performances from 10 biggest MLB offseason acquisitions

First impressions aren't everything, but making a good one can go a long way. This is especially true when you're a star player looking to endear yourself to a new organization and fan base.

Here's how 10 of MLB's biggest offseason acquisitions have fared through the season's first month.

Juan Soto, Mets: B-

Expectations for Soto were sky-high after signing the largest contract in professional sports history. The four-time All-Star hasn't yet produced like he can, but there are zero concerns since the new season is just over a month old. The 26-year-old's .374 on-base percentage is elite as always, but the powers numbers are significantly down, with three homers and a .398 slugging percentage through 30 games. However, Soto's presence in the lineup is clearly a factor, as the Mets boast an MLB-best 21-9 record. It's scary to think how good New York can be when he gets going.

Kyle Tucker, Cubs: A+

Trading for Tucker has turned the Cubs into an offensive juggernaut. The five-tool star has been his usual excellent self at the plate, slashing .288/.397/.568 with seven home runs, 25 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. It's not just his production that stands out, however, as his presence seems to have made everyone around him better. Chicago needs to do whatever it can to keep him around for the long haul, but extending the soon-to-be prize of free agency won't be easy or inexpensive.

Alex Bregman, Red Sox: A

The Red Sox raised some eyebrows when they gave Bregman a whopping three-year, $120-million deal. However, the 31-year-old's been Boston's best player to start 2025. He leads the team in hits (40), doubles (11), homers (six), RBIs (23), batting average (.331), OPS (.971), and fWAR (1.5). The two-time All-Star entered the season with great career numbers at Fenway Park but has also been producing on the road, slashing .353/.397/.603 over 16 contests.

Max Fried, Yankees: A+

The Yankees signed Fried to an eight-year megadeal hoping to pair him with Gerrit Cole and reigning rookie of the year Luis Gil. Injuries to both holdovers have forced Fried to become the ace in New York, and he's done an excellent job so far. The lefty owns a 5-0 record with a 1.19 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through six starts, having not allowed more than two earned runs in any of them. There are still questions about how this deal will age in its later years, but there's no telling where the Yankees would be right now without Fried's stabilizing presence atop the rotation.

Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks: C-

Some concerning trends for the 2021 NL Cy Young winner have continued into this season after developing over the last few years. The 30-year-old's FIP and WHIP are consistently going up while his K/9 goes down, which suggests he's not the dominant swing-and-miss pitcher he once was. His 4.1 BB/9 in 2025 is also a career worst. Burnes' whiff rate is in the 27th percentile and hard-hit percentage is shockingly in the fifth percentile. He's got plenty of time to figure it out, but it's not ideal for the D-Backs considering they just invested $210 million in a regressing arm.

Willy Adames, Giants: D

The Giants have been one of baseball's surprise packages in 2025 despite Adames not yet finding his stride at the plate. The 29-year-old has hit just two home runs and holds a .591 OPS (71+) in the first season of his seven-year, $182-million contract. The fit was always questionable on paper: Oracle Park in San Francisco is a tough place for righties to hit for power. Adames will probably get it going, but it's not unreasonable to think the Giants may not be getting the 30-home run guy they paid a pretty penny for.

Blake Snell, Dodgers: C

It's not really fair to grade Snell since he's made only two starts. So, his letter is based on his lack of availability. The two-time Cy Young winner hasn't pitched in almost a month due to a shoulder issue, and a timetable for his return is unclear after a recent injection. The 32-year-old isn't new to injuries, as he logged just 104 innings last year and only made 31-plus starts in a season twice over his 10-year career. The silver lining for the Dodgers is they just need Snell to be healthy for the playoffs, as all would be forgotten with another title.

Roki Sasaki, Dodgers: D+

Baseball's top prospect is clearly still adjusting to the majors after coming over from Japan. The 23-year-old starter has shown flashes of what made him such a hot commodity during the offseason, but his skills aren't refined yet and feel raw. He's only made it through six innings once and has walked almost as many batters (18) and he's struck out (20). Sasaki's Baseball Savant page is also covered with blue outside of fastball velocity. He's still oozing with potential and doesn't cost the Dodgers anything, but this looks like a long-term project.

Garrett Crochet, Red Sox: A+

Crochet has been exactly what Boston thought it was getting when it acquired the ace from the White Sox for a hefty package of prospects. The left-hander owns a 2.05 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and 50 strikeouts over an MLB-high 44 innings (seven starts) while leading a rotation that's been hit hard by injuries and underperformance. The 25-year-old is doing a great job of limiting hard contact so far compared to 2024, as he's currently in the 86th percentile for hard-hit percentage compared to the 49th percentile last year.

Anthony Santander, Blue Jays: D

Santander's reputation as a slow starter wasn't exaggerated. The Blue Jays' marquee offseason addition has gotten off to a brutal start, hitting just three home runs in 28 games after clubbing 44 last year. He ranks in the 38th percentile or worse in barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and expected slugging percentage. His struggles at the plate, coupled with his poor defense and baserunning, have amounted to a minus-0.4 fWAR thus far. The Blue Jays desperately need his bat to wake up if they want to avoid falling behind in the competitive AL East.