Major league general managers have remained busy on the trade and free-agency front all year long, and their hard work has created some of the best pennant races we've seen in years. In fact, as the calendar turned to September, 21 of the 30 teams were still within 9 1/2 games of a playoff berth.
But there are five general managers -- coincidentally, all of them are in the American League -- who have stood out for the job they did this year building teams that have legit playoff, and possibly World Series, aspirations. Three of these GMs happen to work in one division: Oakland's Billy Beane, Los Angeles' Jerry Dipoto and Seattle's Jack Zduriencik in the AL West. Veterans Dave Dombrowski (Detroit) and Brian Cashman (New York Yankees) round out the top five. All of these general managers made dramatic moves to attain high-end talent, as well as making effective under-the-radar transactions.
There are several other GMs who have done a great job of building playoff-level teams, but they've mostly done it over a period of the past few years, such as Mike Rizzo (Washington), Dan Duquette (Baltimore), John Mozeliak (St. Louis), Brian Sabean (San Francisco) and Dayton Moore (Kansas City).
With that, here are my top five candidates for Executive of the Year for 2014 (based only on moves made since Nov. 1, 2013):
1. Billy Beane, VP/GM, Oakland Athletics
Free-agent signings: Scott Kazmir, Eric O'Flaherty.
Trades: Jon Lester, Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel, Geovany Soto, Adam Dunn, Billy Burns, Sam Fuld, Craig Gentry, Jonny Gomes, Fernando Abad, Luke Gregerson, Jim Johnson, Bryan Anderson
Payroll: $74,765,800 (27th in MLB)
Maybe a "Moneyball" sequel is in order? Beane has done the best GM work of his illustrious career in the past year. He wasn't afraid to trade his best prospects, Addison Russell and Billy McKinney, to attain quality starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. He wasn't afraid to trade his best all-around power hitter, sending Yoenis Cespedes to the Boston Red Sox for their ace, Jon Lester. How many times in baseball history has a team traded for two top-of-the-rotation starters in the same month?
Beane also had to deal with many challenges, including losing projected Opening Day starter Jarrod Parker to a second Tommy John surgery before the season even began. He also lost his ace from the prior season, Bartolo Colon, in free agency and another key starter, A.J. Griffin, to Tommy John surgery on April 30. Beane completely revamped his rotation, including Scott Kazmir, who he signed as a free agent. He also rebuilt the bullpen, making a key trade for Luke Gregerson to secure the eighth inning and making two of his most brilliant under-the-radar moves by signing left-handed reliever O'Flaherty and trading for lefty Abad, who both have been dominating.
Beane also continued his blueprint of building roster depth with his deals for Gentry, Fuld, Gomes and Soto. He now has more right/left flexibility and platoons than any team in baseball (perhaps that could be one of the key themes for "Moneyball II" when it's filmed?).
His final move, acquiring Adam Dunn from the White Sox, already is paying off. Dunn's power, walks/on-base percentage, great makeup and platoon ability (only against right-handed pitching) make that a typical Beane move.
If the A's can make it to October, they'll have the best and deepest overall starting rotation they've had since the Mulder-Zito-Hudson days and a legitimate chance for Beane to get his first World Series ring.
2. Jack Zduriencik, Executive VP/GM, Seattle Mariners
Free-agent signings: Robinson Cano, Fernando Rodney, Corey Hart, Chris Young
Trades: Austin Jackson, Kendrys Morales, Chris Denorfia, Logan Morrison.
Rookie call-ups: James Jones, Chris Taylor, Roenis Elias, James Paxton, Taijuan Walker
Managerial hiring: Lloyd McClendon
Payroll: $89,245,143 (20th in MLB)
The Mariners shocked the baseball world in the offseason when they outbid every team in baseball, including the New York Yankees, for the game's No. 1 free agent, Robinson Cano, inking him to a 10-year, $240 million pact. Although they took a lot of industry criticism for the length of the deal, they also changed the image and culture of the organization. Cano has been everything the Mariners had hoped for. He has again been one of the best hitters in the game, as well as the game's best second baseman. He's fifth in the American League in WAR (5.6), and most importantly, he has been a positive influence on the young Mariners players, leading by example in preparation, work ethic and having a winning attitude.
Zduriencik did a great job in signing proven closer Fernando Rodney to a two-year, $14 million deal and also signed pitcher Chris Young a pitcher who might turn out to be the AL Comeback Player of the Year after he was released by the Washington Nationals in spring training. Rodney has 39 saves and a 2.28 ERA, while Young has gone 12-7 with a 3.46 ERA.
Zduriencik also upgraded center field when he acquired Austin Jackson in a three-way deal that sent Nick Franklin to the Rays. He improved his team's depth with deals for Denorfia, Morrison and Hart. He also did a great job in landing Kendrys Morales. After refusing to give in to Scott Boras' asking price and allowing Morales to sign with the Twins in June, Zduriencik swooped in and traded for him in late July, and they'll now pay him a fraction of what they originally offered. Now it's just a matter of whether Morales will be productive in the final month of the season.
The Mariners' farm system continues to develop top-end prospects like James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Mike Zunino, as well as solid options such as Roenis Elias, James Jones and Chris Taylor.
Zduriencik's best work, though, might be the construction of his bullpen, where he has stockpiled six relievers with mid-90s fastballs and plus secondary pitches. The Mariners have been one of the top two teams in baseball in team ERA most of the season. They are well-suited for the postseason (if they get there) thanks to the quality of their pitching staff.
And finally, Zduriencik deserves credit for the hiring of veteran manager Lloyd McClendon, who has done more than a solid job in leading this team to postseason contention.
3. Jerry Dipoto, GM, Los Angeles Angels
Free-agent signings: Joe Smith
Trades: Huston Street, Tyler Skaggs, David Freese, Hector Santiago, Jason Grilli, Fernando Salas, Gordon Beckham, Joe Thatcher.
Rookie call-ups: Matt Shoemaker, C.J. Cron.
Contract extension: Mike Trout
Payroll: $127,062,000 (9th in MLB)
Dipoto has done the best job of any GM in baseball in revamping a bullpen in one season, highlighted by a deal with the Padres at the trade deadline that landed Huston Street, who has converted 35 of 37 opportunities this year and single-handedly solved the Angels' biggest problem of the past few seasons. Dipoto started the process of seriously rebuilding the bullpen in the offseason when he inked Joe Smith to a three-year, $15.75 million contract, and the veteran right-hander has responded with a 2.07 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 66 appearances.
Another key move by Dipoto was promoting rookie Matt Shoemaker, who at age 27 has delivered for the Angels, posting a 14-4 record and 3.14 ERA.
However, his best work might be locking down superstar Mike Trout, who signed a six-year, $144.5 million contract, taking away future concerns of arbitration and free agency.
4. Brian Cashman, Senior VP/GM, New York Yankees
Free-agent signings: Masahiro Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann
Trades: Chase Headley, Martin Prado, Stephen Drew, Brandon McCarthy, Chris Capuano, Josh Outman.
Rookie call-ups: Dellin Betances
Waiver pickup: Esmil Rogers.
Contract extension: Brett Gardner
Payroll: $209,416,323 (2nd in MLB)
Cashman went on a spending spree in the offseason that would have made the late George Steinbrenner proud when he signed Tanaka, Ellsbury, Beltran and McCann to a combined $438 million of future financial salary exposure. The signings have not all worked out quite as planned, but all four players have still produced. Cashman also did a great job in extending left fielder Brett Gardner to a four-year deal at a bargain rate based on the year he has had. But Cashman's best work came at the trade deadline, when he acquired Headley, Prado, Drew, McCarthy and Capuano in trades in which he gave up very little value in return. The farm system also produced this year, including one of the game's best eighth-inning relievers in Dellin Betances.
5. Dave Dombrowski, President, CEO & GM, Detroit Tigers
Free-agent signings: Joe Nathan, J.D. Martinez, Joba Chamberlain
Trades: David Price, Ian Kinsler, Andrew Romine
Rookie call-ups: Nick Castellanos, Eugenio Suarez, Steven Moya
Managerial hiring: Brad Ausmus
Payroll: $161,023,527 (4th in MLB)
Dombrowski barely made this list with so many strong candidates knocking on the door, but it was his last-minute trade deadline deal that landed David Price from the Rays that cemented his place in the top five. With the Tigers dealing with a key injury to Anibal Sanchez and another setback in Justin Verlander's shoulder inflammation, the Tigers' chances of making the postseason would have been much slimmer had they not traded for Price. Not only that, but Max Scherzer and Price make for a great top of a postseason rotation.
Dombrowski also did a good job of picking up J.D. Martinez and Joba Chamberlain off the scrap pile. Free-agent signing Joe Nathan has been very inconsistent, but he has time to revert to the way he pitched in 2012 and 2013 and could be a rock in the postseason.
And finally, the hiring of rookie manager Brad Ausmus was brilliant, as the Tigers are now in good hands for years to come with him at the helm.