ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark talked to 16 baseball executives who feel the Mets and Marlins did the least of any team to improve this winter.

That said, the executives rank Sandy Alderson’s signing of Shaun Marcum as the third best free-agent signed to a one-year deal.

“Bet you didn’t know that Marcum is one of four active pitchers working on a streak of four straight seasons with a winning record, a WHIP under 1.27, an ERA under 3.75 and at least 20 starts,” Stark explains.

Marcum reportedly agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the opportunity to earn another $4 million in incentives.

He was 7-4 with a 3.70 ERA in 21 starts for the Brewers in 2012, during which he missed two months of the season with an elbow injury.

To hear from Marcum, watch this: