Did last year’s MLB free-agent class live up to the money?

The 2018 free-agent period was highly anticipated until it actually happened.

In comparison, this offseason already looks like it’s going in fast forward. We’re days away from the 2019 Winter Meetings but Yasmani Grandal (Chicago White Sox) and Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia Phillies) cashed in on deals that were larger than all but three of the free-agent pacts that were signed last offseason.

Although it was slow to develop, there were still a number of big-money deals signed before last opening day. But they weren’t all winners. In fact, the bargain bin proved to be quite productive, as six of the eight players to lead the 2018 free-agent class in bWAR did not sign the top-10 biggest deals of the offseason.

Here is a look at those that did, reviewing the player and the deal after the first year.

A consideration of last year’s free-agent class, as this year’s class begins to be signed.

Quit slamming superstars for their teams’ failures

Fans have long loved to criticize players who sign big contracts. The media has long encouraged and aided this effort to greater or lesser degrees. Players who rake in the big bucks have long had a target on their back and probably always will.

Which is not totally unfair, of course. They’re supposed to be good. They’re supposed to help the team win. That, as the old saying goes, is why they’re paid the big bucks.

But there are limits to that right? A baseball team has 25 guys on it, not just one, and any one baseball player has way less power to carry one’s team to victory himself than, say, the quarterback of a football team or any single basketball player, each of which can make a huge difference. As such, while it’s fair to hold star players to a higher standard, it’s less fair to blame them when their teams fare poorly through no fault of their own.

Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have boosted local TV ratings for Phillies and Padres

Turns out, fans like it when baseball teams spend money on elite players. The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres have seen strong television rating increases this season after signing Bryce Harper and Manny Machado during the offseason, according to Sports Business Journal.

The Padres have seen a massive boost in viewers during the first half of the season. Ratings are up 81 percent compared to last year. Though the team is just 47-52, Padres fans have a lot to be excited about. On top of Machado, the team also has young stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Chris Paddack putting up breakout seasons.

Harper and the Phillies are seeing a 20 percent boost in the ratings thus far. The Phillies started the season hot, posting a 33-24 record through May. The team has gone 19-24 since, which could spell lower second-half ratings if they can’t turn things around.

The way things are going with Harper, I’m starting to regret suggesting that Eric Hosmer was the Steve Garvey of our times….