The New Year serves as a symbolic halfway point of the offseason. It has been just over two months since the Dodgers knocked off the Yankees to win the World Series. We’re a little more than six weeks from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training.
Twenty six of MLBTR’s Top 50 free agents have come off the board. Four of the top 10 remain unsigned, as well as Roki Sasaki (who was not ranked because his earning power is limited). More than half the money has been spent — Alex Bregman is the only unsigned player who landed within our top six free agents — but the offseason is proceeding at a relatively normal pace. It has moved a little more quickly than last winter, when 22 players from our Top 50 had signed by the time the calendar flipped to January.
Using MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, we’ll look through every team’s activity on the open market. We’ll stretch back to November 4, the date at which free agents were first allowed to begin discussing contract terms with every team. That excludes a pair of deals that were signed within the five-day exclusive negotiation window for teams to discuss contracts with their own free agents: the Reds’ $2.25MM deal with Brent Suter and the Royals retaining Michael Wacha on a three-year, $51MM contract.
This isn’t an exhaustive look at a team’s offseason activity. The Blue Jays (Andrés Giménez), Angels (Jorge Soler), Cubs (Kyle Tucker) and Yankees (Cody Bellinger) are among teams that have acquired highly-paid players in trade. The Dodgers signed Tommy Edman to an extension that guaranteed $64.5MM in new money. This is strictly a look at free agent activity.
For this exercise, we’ll take the total amount even if the contract includes deferred money. Teams are ordered by overall spending.
1. New York Mets
Total guarantees: $917.25MM
- OF Juan Soto: Fifteen years, $765MM
- LHP Sean Manaea: Three years, $75MM ($23.25MM deferred)
- RHP Clay Holmes: Three years, $38MM
- RHP Frankie Montas: Two years, $34MM
- RHP Griffin Canning: One year, $4.25MM
- INF Jared Young: One year split contract ($425K in minors)
- RHP Dylan Covey: One year split contract ($350K in minors)
- RHP Justin Hagenman: One year split contract ($225K in minors)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Total spending: $287MM
- LHP Blake Snell: Five years, $182MM ($65MM deferred)
- OF Teoscar Hernández: Three years, $66MM (approximately $23MM deferred)
- RHP Blake Treinen: Two years, $22MM
- OF Michael Conforto: One year, $17MM
3. New York Yankees
Total guarantees: $235.5MM
- LHP Max Fried: Eight years, $218MM
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt: One year, $12.5MM
- RHP Jonathan Loáisiga: One year, $5MM
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
Total guarantees: $210MM
- RHP Corbin Burnes: Six years, $210MM (roughly $60MM deferred)
5. San Francisco Giants
Total guarantees: $182MM
6. Texas Rangers
Total guarantees: $130.5MM
- RHP Nathan Eovaldi: Three years, $75MM
- DH Joc Pederson: Two years, $37MM
- C Kyle Higashioka: Two years, $13.5MM
- LHP Hoby Milner: One year, $2.5MM
- RHP Jacob Webb: One year, $1.25MM
- RHP Shawn Armstrong: One year, $1.25MM
- RHP Luis Curvelo: One year split deal
7. Los Angeles Angels
Total guarantees: $80.25MM
- LHP Yusei Kikuchi: Three years, $63MM
- C Travis d’Arnaud: Two years, $12MM
- SS Kevin Newman: One year, $2.75MM
- RHP Kyle Hendricks: One year, $2.5MM
8. Baltimore Orioles
Total guarantees: $71MM
- OF Tyler O’Neill: Three years, $49.5MM
- RHP Tomoyuki Sugano: One year, $13MM
- C Gary Sánchez: One year, $8.5MM
9. Athletics
Total guarantees: $70.95MM
- RHP Luis Severino: Three years, $67MM
- 3B Gio Urshela: One year, $2.15MM
- LHP T.J. McFarland: One year, $1.8MM
10. Houston Astros
Total guarantees: $60MM
11. Boston Red Sox
Total guarantees: $52.3MM
- RHP Walker Buehler: One year, $21.05MM
- LHP Patrick Sandoval: Two years, $18.25MM
- LHP Aroldis Chapman: One year, $10.75MM
- LHP Justin Wilson: One year, $2.25MM
12. Cleveland Guardians
Total guarantees: $42MM
- RHP Shane Bieber: Two years, $26MM
- 1B Carlos Santana: One year, $12MM
- C Austin Hedges: One year, $4MM
13. Chicago Cubs
Total guarantees: More than $40.5MM
- LHP Matthew Boyd: Two years, $29MM
- C Carson Kelly: Two years, $11.5MM
- LHP Caleb Thielbar: One year, salary unreported
14. Detroit Tigers
Total guarantees: $30MM
15. Washington Nationals
Total guarantees: $29MM
- RHP Trevor Williams: Two years, $14MM
- RHP Michael Soroka: One year, $9MM
- 1B Josh Bell: One year, $6MM
16. Philadelphia Phillies
Total guarantees: $22.5MM
- OF Max Kepler: One year, $10MM
- RHP Jordan Romano: One year, $8.5MM
- RHP Joe Ross: One year, $4MM
17. Cincinnati Reds
Total guarantees: $21.05MM
- RHP Nick Martinez: One year, $21.05MM qualifying offer
18. Toronto Blue Jays
Total guarantees: $15MM
19. Tampa Bay Rays
Total guarantees: $8.5MM
19. Colorado Rockies
Total guarantees: $8.5MM
- 2B Thairo Estrada: One year, $3.25MM
- 2B Kyle Farmer: One year, $3.25MM
- C Jacob Stallings: One year, $2MM
21. Pittsburgh Pirates
Total guarantees: More than $5MM
22. Chicago White Sox
Total guarantees: $4.75MM
- OF Mike Tauchman: One year, $1.95MM
- OF Austin Slater: One year, $1.75MM
- RHP Bryse Wilson: One year, $1.05MM
23. Atlanta Braves
Total guarantees: More than $360K
- OF Bryan De La Cruz: One year split contract ($180K in minors)
- RHP Connor Gillispie: One year split contract ($180K in minors)
- OF Carlos Rodríguez: One year split contract (salary unreported)
24. Miami Marlins
Total guarantees: $200K
- 3B Eric Wagaman: One year split contract ($200K in minors)
25. Milwaukee Brewers
Total guarantees: More than $0
- LHP Grant Wolfram: One year contract (salary unreported)
26. Kansas City Royals
Total guarantees: $0
- None*
26. Minnesota Twins
Total guarantees: $0
- None
26. San Diego Padres
Total guarantees: $0
- None
26. Seattle Mariners
Total guarantees: $0
- None
26. St. Louis Cardinals
Total guarantees: $0
- None
* Counting Wacha as a free agent deal rather than an extension would push Kansas City to 12th in total spending
I’m almost positive the Dodgers will sign Tanner Scott and call it a successful offseason.
They don’t often shop at the top of the reliever market. I’d be surprised to see them sign Scott, who had a great season but also walks the world.
They normally don’t but the Dodger sites have had Scott at the top of their wish list especially after Williams was traded to the Yankees. I also came across this article from a site I’ve never heard of, I don’t know how reliable it is. motorcyclesports.net/dodgers-poised-to-triumph-in-…
If you don’t know how reliable a source is, then it isn’t.
@ DigglinDickers sure the top Dodgers sites want that but imo a lot of Dodgers fans have become spoiled and the team under Friedman has almost always developed or improved pitchers for the BP. I’m personally not sold on Scott but that doesn’t mean the FO isn’t.
Just seems extravagant and risky. I’d bet on Scott falling apart within the next three years.
Or maybe you actually learn something new. Happens
agreed Scott doesn’t have a great track record they can just keep Banda who was good for the Dodgers last season
agreed Scott doesn’t have a great track record
He’s had free range to use his personal ATM. He failed every year until Ohtani push him and Robert’s over the top. Anyone else woulda won something 20 years ago. Fire everyone and start over
As a Padres fan, I’m jealous of the Dodgers.
I’ll leave it at that.
Would you? Would you please leave it at that?
No.
Our best addition last year was home grown, and the 2nd best signed for 1 million.
Dont lose hope. Look at the difference those two made.
Padres going in reverse. If Sasaki is interested in playing for a team with ZERO money spent to improve, I guess the Padres are the perfect fit. Sad… they were close. Now just watch it get slowly dismantled.
Hope in Preller and Shildt, considerable disappointment with ownership,yes.
I feel your pain. It’s no fun when your team has a quiet offseason, but Preller always seems to make a big trade.
Why? They are the Dodgers. Miserable team.
Yeah, they seem to be suffering…
Very rough guess, but the Dodgers have something like $230m committed (assuming arb) to 13-14 players 30 and over.
Tanner Scott would add another 30-year old to the mix.
I’d love to know what they’ve got these guys on… special diets, macrobiotics, dozens of daily supplements, classical ballet…? it’s extraordinary to be this successful with a team this ancient by contemporary standards.
Their batting metrics could regress this upcoming season with all those 30+ year olds…there will be age decline, and sometimes it hits multiple players at the same time. That, or injuries. The Dodgers could actually be walking a fine line here.
I think Freeman’s decline already started last year. Of course, his decline went from elite to great. But i could see his numbers come down further to just “good” this year and next.
Big market teams are naturally older since they use free agency as a way to improve. There’s also probably a market inefficiency going on — while everyone looks to get younger, maybe they’re going after players at the end of their prime? The contract they have Freddie Freeman on is a complete steal, age be damed. With modern science, maybe players are starting to age more gracefully compared to the post steroid era?
Teams 1-16 all showing a real intention to improve.
Eh, the Tigers signing two middle, lower middle tier free agents to identical 1 year, 15m contracts is hardly what I would consider “real intention”. Now, if they go out and sign Bregman, make a trade for a starter or invest in a legitimate closer? Then I’ll be more likely to give them their flowers
Braves spending themselves into contention for next year!
Braves fans will wonder why they miss the playoffs going forward and only managed one WS with all that young talent locked up cheap for most of this decade.
This is why. Braves motto = “that’s good enough” and never push for elite teams.
It’s over. Absolutely sad organization
The Braves have many holes: the outfield is a mess, short shop an offensive black hole, catching taking a huge step back, the starting pitching is dependent on Sale being near 2024 level, Schwelly not taking a step back, Reylo not burning out, Spencer coming back, and someone to take the 5th position.
But the Front Office will say everything is OK and nothing needs to be done!
Fire Snitker ! Fire Anthopolous !!! Sell the team !!! Poverty Organization !!! Ugh ! D’oh !! Argh !
That’s absurd. In 2023 their OPS+ was 125, one of the highest figures in history. There were a lot of injuries and weird dropoffs in 2024 but no particular reason during the 2023-24 offseason to think they wouldn’t have a a similar 2024 season at the plate—so it’s impossible to call the FO remiss in that regard.
As for pitching, they only picked up the 2024 Cy Young winner during the 2023-2024 offseason and ended up with a team ERA+ of a remarkable 120, but sure, hew to torrid fantasies that they never ‘go for it.’
They also had a nucleus of 9 guys with bWAR of 2.7 and higher, beating the Dodgers in that regard.
They’re going to miss Fried and Morton, though. Even if they re-up Morton they’re likely to miss what he was in years prior to 2024. They pushed their luck with him at age 40 and did all right. They shouldn’t count on him to give them much at 41. Roster Resource has ATL at $217m for LT purposes. Even if they want to stay under the lowest LT threshold there’s room there for a good starter.
It’s a little surprising they haven’t added one, but to complain about THIS front office??? Seven consecutive postseason appearances, as many full season WS wins as LAD, averaging 95 wins in stretch.
@Jack the 90s Braves teams were a disappointment to some for having all that talent but only one WS title. Many Braves fans worry about the same happening. Loads of talent and postseasons but only getting one title is underachieving to some fans.
The 2023 also had DArnaud hitting at the catcher spot and Arcia having a career year. Their corner outfield was still one of the worst that season.
I don’t doubt guys like Albies and Riley will bounce back compare to 2024. But you aren’t going to see 2023 Arcia…. That was the exception whereas 2024 was the rule with him.
Murphy has yet to show he can hit. And our final corner outfield spot is still terrible with Kelenic or whoever they sub in there.
The bottom 3rd of our lineup is a black hole. You can’t sit there and talk about how they will bounce back from 2024 and point to 2023 without also acknowledging where it’s different and in Arcia’s case completely out of the realm of normal.
The pitching has also taken a step back losing Fried. Again you point to 2024 ERA while talking about the offense bouncing back to 2023…. Well then by this definition our pitching is due for some regression itself. Reynaldo Lopez is the 2024 Arcia in the sense what he did last year is not who he is. When he turns into a pumpkin don’t be mad. Now in combo with Fried leaving that’s 2 spots that are no longer effective. Sure Strider fills one of those back. But there’s still one more. So pitching is in worse shape.
Most of you put in your rose colored glasses and refuse to accept this team is worse than 2024, which was a team that was in worse position than 2023…. And so on and so on. If I can acknowledge some of these guys will bounce back offensively it seems I’m the only one giving an unbiased assessment. Let’s see some of you take off your rose colored glasses and concede where they are getting worse to have an actual discussion. Until then don’t bother posting with your excuses. They carry no weight to me if you won’t take an honest look at this team.
SocoComfort
Braves teams were a disappointment to some for having all that talent but only one WS title.
======================
A WS title is a pretty difficult thing to win. The variance in the playoffs is huge, and the competition is enormous. At a minimum, you have huge spenders like Philly, the Mets, LAD, SD occasionally, the NYY, and then other teams like the RS, Houston, TX, all putting some serious money on the table.
If a team can win one WS in ten years, they are probably doing pretty well, and nowadays, 2 WS in 10 years is a borderline dynasty.
@JoeBrady I definitely get where you are coming from. Braves have 4 titles and are one of the oldest franchises. I’ve seen two which is more than most Braves fans have seen in their lifetime. Just explaining some of the rational for some of the fanbase
It’s over. Absolutely sad organization
=========================
I’d make a serious wager that they will make the playoffs, if that helps.
JackStrawb
It’s a little surprising they haven’t added one, but to complain about THIS front office???
==========================
After reading as many comments as I am sure you have, you must know by now that fans of maybe 29 teams think they aren’t spending enough, the GM should be fired, and the owner should sell the team.
IRT the Braves, they lost a serious amount of IL time to 5 guys that were AS’s in 2023. With even a normal amount of health, they’d have won 95+ games.
That’s a lotta potatoes!
5 people liked your scintillating tidbit, hmmmm
Enjoy Sack Lunch
Thank you for the Wacha asterisk ✳️ – days away from free agency
Wow a third of the league has spent 5 million or less so far. The system is broken folks.
Yeah. Arizona is ruining baseball with their big spending ways!
@ BITA. Two of those teams (Braves and Padres) already have huge payrolls, a third (the Royals) spent on an extension, and several are so bad there’s probably no reason to spend, so maybe this list isn’t all that indicative of a broken system (although better revenue sharing might help). On the other hand, four teams in the bottom third (the Twins, Pirates, White Sox, and Marlins) do have one thing in common: bad owners.
So bad they have no reason to spend?
Dude come on. All teams should be spending.
Like the article said. It’s only the half way point of the offseason.
I don’t disagree but you it’s literally still January 1st and only half the top 50 FA signed so there is still plenty of guys left, complain closer to ST
Bottom teams are better off spending on scouting and development, not payroll
Is that a Mets fan telling others to be patient? How precious……
@ BITA. Seriously? You’ve never heard of bad owners? They’re not all equal. Look at the Dodgers under The Guggenheim Group as opposed to when owned by Fran McCourt. Or the Mets under Steve Cohen vs. when the Wilpons owned them. C’mon, dude.
BITA
Dude come on. All teams should be spending.
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IMO, that’s the worst advice in the world. Some teams don’t have a chance. At least 6-7. And many teams are already at what they can afford, and some teams are buying every player.
Look at the NBA. If you make all teams spend then the bad teams will take on bad contracts and get draft picks which gives them a chance in the future. Thats what should be happening in baseball. Since it’s not those bad teams will never have a legit chance.
They do make the bad teams spend. That’s why the A’s were going to have a grievance filed against them. Will it make them competitive, or even improved? Unlikely.
Revenue sharing recipients should have a Rule 5 amendment that allows them to stash 2 picks in the minors for a season before forcing them to be on an MLB roster. That would give them far more flexibility and the ability to draft players that could potentially impact their future.
The situation with the Athletics is because of YEARS of them not spending.
MLBPA just got around to filing the grievance. It’s in the rules and should be enforced. Every year
Except it doesn’t work that well in basketball
It works better than it does in baseball
If you make all teams spend
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If you’re asking for a spending floor, the you have to add a ceiling. That’s not happening. Therefore, tanking is necessary.
But regardless, big spending by the WS, Rox, etc., makes no sense.
A ceiling can and should happen. This idea that the union would never accept a cap is nonsense. If the union ensures teams spend with the floor the players can get paid just fine.
That won’t happen. Superstars and their free agent contracts are what drive salaries, not a spending floor. The PA will NEVER accept that.
Revenues are up, salaries are up, team values are up. The people in charge of instituting policy don’t see that anything needs changing and the numbers back that up.
A spending floor would help drive salaries too. All these teams that aren’t spending would be required to spend.
The system is broken
You forgot mariners and padres as teams that have spent nothing that have bad owners
I don’t need to explain Seattle… and in San Diego it’s looking like their new owner is more conservative (almost like the George to Hal Steinbrenner transition)
For SD, more fiscally responsible is the preferred term.
Add the Mariners to the list of teams that have bad owners. They have no intention of trying to win.
Same old Mariners. Same lame owners. Tied for last in spending. Finish first in profits. Maintain that 54% effort!
And it’s only halfway thru the offseason. There’s AMPLE time, especially for those swinging trades. Yet people will pull out their own hair, and gouge out their own eyeballs.
A system with a, say, 180m soft/luxury cap and a 250m hard cap with a 125m floor would result in more overall spending year to year than the current “spend as little or as much as you want” system. Players in the other 3 major sports have seen their average contract, league minimum contract and annual new free agent money contracts all increase yearly like clockwork (save the COVID fiasco), and it’s because their earning potential is tied to the revenue and its growth. Baseball team revenues have increased at a far more exponential rate than the player earnings….yet they for some reason belive, because of guys like Scott Boras, they are better off this way.
It’s asinine the players are so against a cap tied to revenue and a 50/50 split…especially in a league where teams are routinely threatened for not spending even their revenue sharing money on payroll.
Dang 917 million doesn’t get you what it used to
I don’t see how they consider Martinez Cincinnati spending when they kept a player they had thru a qualifying offer
I call it zero, zip, nada to add/improve.
#SelltheteamBob
It’s almost funny the disparity.
MLB has a huge issue with competitive balance. If I am a fan of the bottom 50 percent of spending it would be a very difficult proposition to spend for my team.
Why would you want to when they clearly have no intent to spend or win? It’s also a vivid demonstration of why a cap is worthless for competitive balance….
Clip, a real cap is needed along with a real spending floor. The NHL has a strict cap and I think it works well. If you enjoy watching the Globe Trotters beat the Generals then be my guest.
Why would they want to spend when they clearly have minimal opportunity to compete with the larger market teams? How does Miami compete with New York? Fiscally, the market size is so unequal. The fan base is not as invested. They need the perfect storm of everything going right, from draft picks, development, health, trades and occasional FA signings, because they can’t just fill the problems by throwing money at them.
Funny how “small markets” in the other leagues don’t have a hard time spending and competing with the large markets.
Wonder why.
Oh…cause they are all working under the same parameters and rules.
The NY Giants and Jets blow. The Kansas City Chiefs can’t be stopped.
The OKC Thunder are rolling. Minnesota looks good. Denver has the MVP. But NY Knicks haven’t won a title in decades.
Winnipeg, Carolina, Nashville compete yearly in NHL. Toronto loses yearly.
The people against a revenue-tied Cap in baseball are either delusional or simply Yankees and Dodgers fans.
It is not funny at all. It is sad what our great game has become.
It’s always been this way.
If I am a fan of the bottom 50 percent of spending it would be a very difficult proposition to spend for my team.
======================
5 of the bottom 15 spenders were playoff teams. Is it okay to continue rooting for them?
Low spending clubs can and do win. Money is an advantage but a talented FO is worth more than that.
You want to talk embarrassing. The Cubs have spent half what the Angels have. And ended up with an injured SP, A C who is a question mark and a guy who retired in 2019. Hoyer- Executive of the Year.
The one good thing about Moreno in LA is that at least he tries to win, he isn’t afraid of spending, he just screws up the team because he has to be like Jerry jones
Ricketts must’ve given up on trying
Moreno isnt in LA, and if he’d get a decent GM and let him make the moves the Angels might be competitive. Arte needs to sign the checks, nothing more.
Trading for Kyle Tucker was a smart move.
Imagine if the Mariners spent good money on bats with that rotation. My goodness.
I’m with you as a Padres fan.
Constantly hearing the same excuses. CBT, market size and TV deal with a side of debt service.
Yes, Padres ownership spent under Peter Seidler, grateful for that but things are in full reverse now.
agreed. The Mariners and Friar faithful would have a good team!
Misery always welcomes company
God I have no idea what it feels like to lose a superstar like Soto
Right?! Maybe Cano back in the day but us Pads and M’s fans can commiserate.
Still remember the M’super squads back in the day with Griffey, the Big Unit and A-Rod then Ichiro (saw him at Peoria back in the day).
Now Tatis, Manny, Soto and Hader here in 23 and no hardware for either of our teams.
Why our teams share Peoria and years of misery haha.
Peoria is a nice park. Enjoyed living in Glendale for ST baseball.
Our payroll is huge. We have a new controller, and we will make some moves soon.
I will say just saw a post from Sheel Seidler, if there is one person/family that can put a Padres fan like myself it ease it’s the Seidler family.
I trust that family and trust that Sheel and Tom Seidler are committed to this team, city and fanbase and bringing SD a championship.
Believe Cease is gone. Financial casualty. Preller usually surprises but that wheeling n dealing has really thined out there farm system.
towinagain
I’m with you as a Padres fan.
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SD was #5 in spending last year. Complaints about how cheap they are are laughable. Seattle was #16. You aren’t with them.
And…I want them to stay number 5 spending.
Out of their nearly 60 years in MLB the Padres have been at the bottom 5 to 10 in payroll for more than two-thirds of their existence.
The Padres routinely spent LESS than the Mariners, routinely underfunding their farm as well.
Nearly two thirds ot more of their existence the Padres have had losing seasons.
The Padres will not have a top five payroll THIS YEAR.
@JoeBrady sit down.
Yes, I am with Mariners fans
I don’t have a problem with the level of spending the Pads do. It’s just that they really need to stay high on the payroll list with all the LT significant deals they gave out.
Team has flaws and they’ve dealt a ton of the minor league depth to acquire cheap replacements.
Yes! Mariners ownership is beyond pathetic. As a lifelong mariners fan I despise the current owners
I never thought I would miss George Argyros, but I do.
Mariners would have spent on Carlos Santana, however he chose to go to the Cleveland Indians instead.
When your team’s Plan A free agent target is a 38 year old 1B and they can’t even close the deal on that, it’s time to maybe switch your fandom to a more serious team
If I (somehow) am able to move out of Seattle I’ll make sure my future kids aren’t mariners fans
If they would have he would be a Mariner. Last I heard they didn’t beat Clevelands other. Didn’t even come close.
God I love these Mariners takes. So Original!!! So Unique!! So Compelling!! Such Biting Sarcasm !!! Haha those Mariners owners sure got put in their place!! ROLLING ON THE GROUND LAUGHING!!!
Arizona has been extremely impressive I love watching the work of Mike Hazen and Company
I don’t think we know the financial deals yet on seattles offer
It could’ve been less AAV in return for a 2nd year
Meant to put this on the Carlos Santana post
That’s why you don’t know the details and likely never will. It was definitely less aav or they would hav released rhe details. If he wanted less av but a 2nd year Cleveland would have done it.
Good pass by them though probably. 12m is about max you would want to go and they would need to beat it. Only problem is the never pivoted to someone else. Can Turner still play 1b every day? If so great. Settle for Rizzo? Not exciting but he could be average. Horowitz Lowe Naylor Goldschmidt much better options though.
Best collection of bad pitching contracts in all of baseball. Impressive indeed.
Well, my team is paying Marcus Strohman $37 million and another $5 million to Jonathan Loiasiga who will spend most of the Season on the IL, so there’s some competition there.
30 games 4 era. Arizona would have loved to have that.
Nobody’s spent as much as my ex wife!
I don’t think you win the season by winning the off season. I assume this list will be updated as the off season goes down. I bookmark it and check in November and see if the big spenders really improved.
Who won the off-season last year? The Dodgers. The year before? The Rangers
I imagine NY LA is usually at top of list and they usually make playoffs. It’s the teams who sign the big free agents that NY LA is smart enough to avoid that you might worry about. Baez Bryant. Bregman if he gets 200 250 Alonso at 150 200. When you can get just as good 1b for 1 year 12m any team over paying for Pete isn’t too bright. Even the awful 3 year with opt outs is stupid just not as stupid.
Soto couldn’t lead the Padres to the Promised Land. Or the Yankees. Mets will end the streak of Off-Season winners going the distance. And then the Mets will begin to see how they’ve hitched their wagon to a total diva.
He’s not a qb or pg so he can’t lead a team. Cohen is more concerned about the increase in attendance than promise land. He has stearns now so he is aware Soto baseball talent isn’t worth 800m.
As much as I enjoyed watching Soto play last year and initially wanted him to sign with the Yankees, thank god they didn’t win the bidding.
Nearly $800 million for one player is insanity, even for the Yankees.
And, Soto will never be impactful enough to justify that contract.
He is a great hitter, but his defensive ability is questionable and he’ll be a DH in a few years.
It is Soto’s fault that the Yankees didn’t win the World Series? You must be joking. They might not have made the playoffs if Soto wasn’t on the team. They certainly would not have made the World Series without him. He almost single-handedly carried the team on his back, and Judge was no where to be found. One player is not capable of winning a World Series for a team. But it sure wasn’t Soto’s fault that the Padres and Yankees didn’t win a championship.
Yup. The pretense that money doesn’t matter—and matter hugely—is absurd.
If Suter and Wacha don’t count, why should Nick Martinez? Seems to be a very similar situation, the team got a chance to retain a soon to be free agent before other teams could negotiate.
Am I missing something about Suter not counting?
The author of the article mentioned that he and Wacha were not considered in free agent spending for this offseason in the 3rd paragraph.
Betcha Castellini thinks Suter’s $2.75MM counts.
Or Matt Chapman, for that matter.
I would think Chapman wouldn’t count because it was signed during the regular season.
Other teams were free to negotiate with Martinez. Everyone who received a QO had a couple weeks to discuss contract terms before deciding whether to accept. Reds just made an offer that no one wanted to beat, especially with the draft compensation attached.
Interesting. I guess I didn’t know that other teams could negotiate with a free agent that had a QO attached. So could a player sign a new deal with another team before deciding whether or not to accept the QO? If so, I assume that the QO immediately becomes void?
Yeah this has happened a couple times. Tyler Anderson’s deal with the Angels is the most recent example, I believe. Will Smith’s contract with the Braves was like this as well. The QO doesn’t become void as if it never happened. It’s just rejected like it would be for any other free agent, so all the draft compensation still applies.
Thanks Anthony. Happy New Year!
But that still counts as spending. If the RS went into the off-season thinking, “we will spend $21M on Pivetta, if he accepts, or we will spend $21M on Buehler if Pivetta declines, it still qualifies as spending $21M.
There is no doubt on this one.
Nick Martinez is counted toward spending. The question was why not Suter and Wacha because they were about to be free agents and were signed in the offseason.
Absurd
A quarter of these teams have no interest in spending but will happily take revenue sharing
@Butter Biscuits Just about everyone misses the point. It’s fun owning an MLB team. The perks are terrific. If I owned the A’s while they were in Oakland I wouldn’t have gone bankrupt, either, trying to hang with teams that can run $225-300m payrolls.
Granted you can run more of a Rays franchise than an A’s franchise—if you’re smart enough—but you’re still not spending what the Yankees, Dodgers, and Mets spend. Or the Braves, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Rangers….
It’s enough for some of the owners of these franchises just to be in the game at all, and the number of front office execs who can run a Rays-caliber operation on their shoestring budget is much smaller than the number of MLB teams.
So what are they supposed to do? Go broke for your entertainment?
Typical MLBTR commenter: ‘I love capitalism! But not when the results for my favorite team are capitalistic!!!’
I’ve got a question, using Otani as an example; what happens if in 5 years say the dodgers file for bankruptcy? Yes I know, not likely. But are the differed dollars somehow guaranteed or protected in some way? Yes, I know MLB would probably step in, but I was just wondering.
Within 18 months of when the salary would have been paid out, it has to be deposited into an account to secure it for the future deferral payments.
Like other bankruptcies, creditors would tend to be ranked in tiers in order of who gets paid first out of the necessarily limited money or assets the bankrupt still possesses.
I’m not certain how salaries or partial salaries are escrowed in MLB so I won’t comment on that, but think of a pie representing the assets of the bankrupt organization. The creditors, everything from hot dog wholesalers to players to the guy who painted the seats last month but hasn’t been paid yet—everyone with a claim to money from the bankrupt—are typically given some cut of the organizations assets and existing income streams (the Dodgers might still be selling season tickets at a discount on the assumption they’ll still be operating as a baseball team in the season following the bankruptcy declaration) up to 100% of their claim—-though it’s typically less than 100% and can be as little as 0%.
Dig into the Wilpons’ financial problems with the Mets after Madoff for some of the glorious color involved.
It would be the case, though, that whoever bought the franchise would assume some or all of its liabilities, depending on what the supervising court had to say. The court would also appoint a conservator to act as the FO, PBOPs, and so on until such time as a new team owner could be found.
I’d rather the team was handed to the public and to the players to own and operate, but sadly I don’t always get what I want.
This list is nuts. The top 3 teams spend a billion and a half, which is aprox. 350 million more than the rest of the teams combined. And the bottom 4 spend nothing. Never been a fan of parity but this is out of control. Meanwhile the commish thinks gimmicks like the “Golden At Bat” will draw in the fans.
Inflated because of Soto. They don’t spend a billion and a half a year. Only 800 or 900 million. Take Soto away they spent much less than a billion.
What would be the reasoning to take Soto out?
if this is commentary on the bottom spenders it’s easy to agree. receiving revenue sharing and doing nothing to improve the team is a big problem.
It’s good to see 16 teams actually trying to get better.
The Lousy GM shapiro and his lackie in Toronto are embarrassments.
The Nightmare continues….
Well….one could say that the jays don’t need to sign free agents because of the pipeline of the thoroughbred talent coming up….
Including one that has served his PED suspension….
Note: pure sarcasm from an (ex) fan
Someone needs to do a welfare check on AA.
LAD have spent in deferrals more than all but 5 other teams have spent in total guarantees. IOUs for the win!
AA is more patient than other GMs. He will wait until the Tier 2 FAs start dropping.
Agreed, though the last few seasons he’d make the first moves of the offseason. Now, his moves need to be more direct with less wiggle room due to the luxury tax position, though he’s stated it’s not a determinant (but nobody likes burning money, even if it’s not your’s, unless you’re the President).
There’s still a number of quality FA out there. Not worried, but anxious.
Congress creates the budget, not the President.
Seems like a bunch of teams should be spending more.
The Cubs should be embarrassed for that kind of money and the players they picked up. I’ve seen bums dumpster dive and get better outcomes
I’ve spent more at the dollar store on toilet paper today than the Mariners have this season. Sad!
Can the TP hit and play infield? Jerry knows his s*** ya know…
Way to go M’s! Way to build a lineup around that pitching staff! Please, sell the team Stanton…
All you need to know about genius Atkins. Players pick oakland over him. LOL
Why is McFarland considered a free agent signing on this list but Wacha isn’t? McFarland signed in November. Wacha in December.
Wacha signed on 11/3 this year, the day before other teams could negotiate. McFarland signed on the eighth.
There’s a reasonable argument that Wacha, Suter and Jacob Waguespack should qualify as free agent signings. (Only Wacha would move the needle for this list.) I think the meaningful distinction for FA vs. extension is whether other teams could make an offer, but I wouldn’t push back much if you considered “signed after the end of the World Series” a better cutoff.
Baseball reference says Wacha signed December 18. No biggie, one way or the other. Just seemed strange you have the one outlier.
can we now stop with the stories about Jays being in on everyone? until the idiot twins running show are fired, no one will go near the dumpster fire. all they are good for is running up the competitions bids. bye bye Vlad, Bo, Gaus, Bassitt, Berrios… hello AAAA all stars.
@Stieb Cooperstown Toronto hasn’t registered that it needs to gamble heavily on signing its own players, even players still in the minors, to expensive contracts that buy out a few FA years.
They need to operate as if they were the Braves. They can’t compete by operating like the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers. They have to give risky extensions to their young players—but they’ve never adjusted to that.
It’s wanton stupidity, finally.
Btw, of the 5 players you name they got two as free agents and one in trade whom they then extended and probably had to give an opt out to as many teams do. Not the best example.
You can’t sign young players for a discount if they’re the children of MLB stars and thus already set for life and not desperate and very confident in their future value. Could’ve signed Manoah, Schneider and Tiedemann to long extensions… but that wouldn’t have worked out great.
Bobby witt Jr says Hi
I think Jays’ fans need to start thinking of a rebuild. Their under/over is 76.5. Unless they sign Sasaki, I don’t think they can make the playoffs.
Unless you think you can extend Vlad, there isn’t much in TO worth saving.
Teo wasn’t a new free agent, he resigned
He still reached free agency. There was no longer a contract to extend.
Curvelo will be a factor in the rangers bullpen.
Happy new year to all, especially you cheeky Mets, Red Sox and Dodger fans. Stay safe and be blessed.
It’s clear that there doesn’t need to be a salary cap or threshold or whatever, but a spending floor, and punish teams that don’t spend and obviously try to tank.
There’ll be no tanking for the Mariners they have their sights on 54%!
crazy to think the 4 of the AL west made the top 10. probably first time ever.
I bet 1 of these teams that haven’t or have barely spent any money on FAs swoops in n starts snatching up these lower tier players. Coupon shopping n add a cpl nice pieces to there roster. It’s a new year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Reds do just that. Sadly they usually gamble wrongly, but maybe they will get lucky this year. They need a right fielder and maybe they are hoping to sign someone like Santander for a bargain. Probably won’t happen.
The Twins were looking to trade Pablo Lopez because of his contract, how about McNeil, Tidwell and Megill for Lopez and his $60 something mil, especially if we can’t sign Sasaki
How does taking McNeill on help them?
Package is too light if you remove him as well
Deferrals need to end, there should be an outright ban across the league. There’s just no reason for them other than for billionaires to game the accounting. No player needs a deferral.
No player needs a deferral.
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Why can’t a player get a deferral? I get some of my salary deferred. And if my employer wanted to give me a higher salary in exchange for deferring some of it, I would be glad to do so.
Agreed. Deferred comp plans are common. Ohtani saves a ton on high CA income taxes by receiving millions after he retires and moves. The same way you or I would save by receiving payments in a lower retirement bracket. And teams must pay the present value of deferred payments in the current years – not the deferred years. That AAV is real money. My only complaint is that the team benefits financially on the growth of the present value payments – not the player. If I’m not mistaken, that growth belongs to the team without any impact on AAV or yearly penalty cap. That doesn’t seem fair to the spirit of the luxury tax.
It doesn’t affect or is affected by the luxury tax. The luxury tax is set by the current present value of the deferral at the time the contract is signed. It literally changes nothing as far as revenue sharing, luxury tax, and payroll are concerned. It does have some benefits to the team and player, but otherwise feel free to ignore
My only complaint is that the team benefits financially on the growth of the present value payments – not the player.
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The implied amount the player receives is approximately the risk-free US Treasury 10-year bond. That seems pretty reasonable since that should “maybe” be part of a balanced portfolio.
It’s embarrassing being a Rays fan. But Blue Jays what the heck? Only Garcia??
Players aren’t accepting their offers.
True. Don’t know the real reason but yeah, it sucks for Jays fans
Tigers owner Chris Illitch is one of the richest in baseball, yet here we are.
The Red Sox being 11th in spending after all the ‘Full Throttle’ last year and aggressive talk again this off season is a DISGRACE.
Even if Burnes wasn’t going to sign they could use a healthy, veteran starter to put into this rotation. Banking on Gioloito or Buehler to be healthy and productive is a roll of the dice coming off injury.
and then there are the pirates who are spending their way into another last place guaranteed finish
The article is interesting – especially as the data build on how we already viewed the history of spending by teams.
Total contract values for a single year’s FAs can be misleading, however. If Soto had signed with Yankees, would Mets have signed contracts for hitters totaling $750M? Would the Mets have signed Burnes leaving Arizona as a low spender not committed to improving? Look at the comments about Atlanta failing to spend on FAs and the replies about Atlanta’s successes in the WS and playoffs. Too much noise in a one-year number that represents varying years of AAV to be meaningful by itself.
One of my main nit picks is that none of the numbers mean anything by themselves. A team could sign 4 mediocre players to 7-yearcontracts and look like a big spender, while a second team could sign four good players to one-year contracts and look like a small spender.
SF and AZ, for example, have spent about 4x what the RS spent, in total, but less than what the RS spent per season.
Alright! My Cardinals, getting ready for a big season, I see! Sheesh! Mozeliak can’t exit soon enough for me.
Way to go Mariners owners – per usual.
I know we will never compete with say LA, but damn man it’s depressing being a Reds fan….
Nothing but a guy that won’t fulfill previous years production, again…
There’s an asterisk for Wacha and Royals, but Pirates did the same with McCutcheon, extended him. So that puts Pirates at $0 F.A.’s. Cherington and Nutting just don’t see a “window”
to compete, even with having control of Skenes, Jones and Keller on the bump. Really, time for a new owner.
Nats have good young core but owners are neither locking them up or helping with FA that are much more than lottery tickets to trade at deadline. The young core will all hit FA before they ever try to make a run at playoffs.
I just got the “stop complaining about the Orioles not spending, they’ve spent $71 million already this winter, 8th overall” from one of my friends.
I think an analysis needs to go into adds/subtracts with the money.
For instance with the Orioles:
– O’Neill replaces Santander, estimated to go for 4 yr/80M – probably a slight net loss and a huge injury risk
– Sanchez replaces McCann, who wanted a multi-year deal. TBD if it saves $ this year, just saves the time. Backup catcher isn’t a huge impact either way.
– Sugano is another 1 year commit, very likely a bottom half of the rotation guy. He replaces Burnes, a true #1, who went for 6/210M. This change is a net decrease in quality.
Yes, the Orioles spent $71M. Signing the 3 they lost would have been $300M plus, so they actually didn’t spend money. But the team as of today has taken an overall step backward in competitiveness with these adds and subtracts.
I did not expect them to stick with Santander, and I understand a 1 year commit on Sanchez with Basallo pending…but I also expect with the supposed freedom to spend and urge to win with the competitive window open, this means improvements and spending to come between now and March. The rotation is an obvious deficiency – need 2 top half guys. Always need bullpen help. There’s no trophy for having the least dollars spent per win or being “good enough.” Going to probably have to be trades now though.