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MLB free-agent frenzy: Catch up on flurry of moves as Javier Báez, Marcus Stroman, more find new homes

The stove heated up ahead of the CBA's expiration on Wednesday night

The Major League Baseball hot stove heated up this week ahead of a lockout. MLB's current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expired on Wednesday night at 11:59 p.m. ET, and  the owners announced a lockout a few minutes later. The work stoppage means all free-agent activity will be halted until the players' union and the league can come to a new agreement -- a process that could take months. 

But many players and teams rushed to get deals in place after Thanksgiving and before the lockout, leading to a hectic free-agent frenzy. As of Wednesday, seven of the top 10 free agents have signed:

  1. SS Carlos Correa: Unsigned
  2. SS Corey Seager: 10 years, $325 million with Rangers
  3. 3B/OF Kris Bryant: Unsigned
  4. IF Marcus Semien: 7 years, $175 million with Rangers
  5. 1B Freddie Freeman: Unsigned
  6. LHP Robbie Ray: 5 years, $115 million with Mariners
  7. RHP Max Scherzer: 3 years, $130 million with Mets
  8. RHP Kevin Gausman: 5 years, $110 million with Blue Jays
  9. RHP Marcus Stroman: 3 years, $71 million with Cubs
  10. OF Starling Marte: 4 years, $78 million with Mets

The Rangers and Mets have been the most active teams in free agency and it's not particularly close either. In addition to Seager and Semien, Texas also signed righty Jon Gray and outfielder Kole Calhoun. The Mets signed infielder Eduardo Escobar and outfield Mark Canha in addition to Scherzer and Marte. The two clubs have committed over $800 million to free agents. 

Although free agency has been very active the last few days, the Marlins have been one of the few active teams on the trade market. The Marlins acquired catcher Jacob Stallings from the Pirates and infielder Joey Wendle from the Rays this week and sent catcher Jorge Alfaro to the Padres.

Miss any of the action? Here's a look at the notable deals that were signed ahead of MLB's lockout:

Notable hot stove deals

  • Corey Seager and the Rangers have agreed to a 10-year, $325 million pact (full story here). 
  • Max Scherzer and the Mets have finalized a three-year, $130 million deal (full story here).
  • Robbie Ray agreed to a five-year, $115 million deal with the Mariners (full story here).
  • Marcus Stroman reached a deal with the Chicago Cubs, he announced on Twitter (full story here).
  • James Paxton and the Red Sox agreed to a unique one-year deal for the left-hander (full story here).
  • Marcus Semien agreed to a seven-year, $175 million deal with the Rangers (full story here). 
  • Javier Báez agreed to a six-year, $140 million contract with the Tigers (full story here).
  • Chris Taylor reached an agreement to return to the Dodgers (full story here).
  • Corey Knebel signed a one-year deal with the Phillies (full story here).
  • The Marlins and Avisaíl García agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal (full story here). 
  • Kevin Gausman and the Blue Jays agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal (full story here). 
  • Jon Gray and the Rangers agreed to a four-year, $56 million deal (full story here).
  • Rich Hill signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Red Sox.
  • Leury Garcia signed a three-year deal with the White Sox, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
  • Corey Kluber signed a one-year deal with the Rays after spending 2021 with the Yankees (full story here).
  • Reliever Kirby Yates signed a two-year, $8.25 million deal with the Braves, the team announced.
  • Reliever Daniel Hudson is nearing a one-year, $7 million deal with the Dodgers, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
  • Catcher Yan Gomes agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal, reports Craig Mish.
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Live updates
 

Yankees look at Simmons

The Yankees are "among" the teams taking a look at free agent shortstop Andrelton Simmons, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network. 

Simmons remains one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball and the Yankees were terrible there last season, desperately needing an upgrade that would in turn help their pitching staff. Simmons would provide that. 

He also can't hit. In 131 games last year, he slashed .223/.283/.274, which is a rotten 57 OPS+. Even in his good years he's only slightly above average and has a career 88 OPS+. 

The Yankees were 10th of 15 AL teams in runs last year. 

Is this a fit? It sure is on defense. Offense? Not so much. They'd need to make up for that elsewhere. 

 

At least two teams in on Bryant

The Mariners and Phillies have been connected to free agent third baseman/utility man Kris Bryant, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network. 

Bryant makes all kinds of sense for the Mariners with the positional flexibility and their need for a big bat in the lineup, not to mention how they don't have much money on the books and would love to capitalize on the momentum of last season. 

He makes just as much sense for the Phillies. Their roster was incomplete last year and it's why they couldn't hold off the Braves in the final two months of the season. They need more lineup depth and Bryant can provide that in addition to being able to handle third base, left field or even center field if they wanna get crazy and add both Bryant and Schwarber, as an example (I don't think it's even remotely likely; just throwing it out there for kicks). 

 

Schwarber market is "huge?" 

We mentioned below what a monster season -- albeit an abbreviated one -- Kyle Schwarber had in 2021 and there's a "huge market" for him right now, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The Marlins, Phillies, Red Sox and Rockies are among the teams interested. 

The Marlins inclusion here is intriguing after they signed Avisail Garcia on Sunday. They have tons of young talent on the pitching staff but desperately needed to upgrade the offense with multiple big bats, so this would be a nice piece. 

The Rockies inclusion here is just plain weird. They didn't contend last season and are losing Jon Gray and Trevor Story to free agency. Of course, it would be fun to see Schwarber drop bombs in Coors Field. 

 

Castellanos seeking long deal

Nick Castellanos has seen interest from at least the Phillies and Marlins, per reports, and it's likely his market is bigger than that. The Marlins are said to be very interested, but Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that Castellanos is looking for a very long deal, something in the seven- or eight-year range. Surely that takes a Marlins union off the table. Then again, if no one else is offering it, the price might come down to the Marlins range. They are looking like an aggressive team early this offseason. 

 

Phillies in on corner outfield help

The Phillies focus, in connecting several reports, seems to be on adding a power hitter to possibly play left field, though this first one could also play third base. 

First, there's a report from Jon Morosi of MLB Network that says both the Phillies and Mariners have been looking at Kris Bryant. The former Rookie of the Year and MVP hit .265/.353/.481 (124 OPS+) with 32 doubles, two triples, 25 homers, 73 RBI, 86 runs, 10 steals and 3.3 WAR in 586 plate appearances for the Cubs and Giants. Of note here would be Bryant's long-standing and well-reported friendship with Bryce Harper. He can handle several positions, notably third base and left field, but he can also pass as a center fielder. 

Speaking of former Cubs, both Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos have also been connected to the Phillies. Morosi reported the interest in Castellanos. 

Castellanos, 29, hit .309/.362/.576 (136 OPS+) with 38 doubles, 34 homers, 100 RBI, 95 runs and 3.5 WAR last season for the Reds. 

Jon Heyman of MLB Network mentioned the Phillies' interest in Schwarber. In 113 games between the Nationals and Red Sox, Schwarber hit .266/.374/.554 (148 OPS+) with 32 homers and 71 RBI. He had a rough 2020, which can be forgiven, but hit 38 homers in 2019 for the Cubs. 

 

3 years/$129M for Scherzer?

The Mets have made Max Scherzer a three-year contract offer worth a whopping $129 million dollars, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

This would be the largest contract in terms of average annual value in baseball by a significant margin.

 

Suzuki won't sign before lockout

Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki, the 15th best free agent available this winter, will not sign prior to the owners locking out the players on Wednesday. Agent Joel Wolfe told media, including Jim Allen, that between eight and 15 teams have shown interest in signing Suzuki to date.

Suzuki is subject to the posting system, meaning teams have a 30-day window to sign him to a contract; otherwise, he'll return to being part of Nippon Professional Baseball's Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Should the lockout occur as expected, Suzuki's window will be paused until the new Collective Bargaining is ratified by both sides.

For those wondering, Suzuki will not be signing before the lockout occurs. Wolfe confirmed as much, telling the media that he had turned down multiple teams hoping to ink him over the next day-plus.

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