Well the MLB winter meetings have started and were already off to a hot start. Some of the big names are already signed and off the board, obviously Aaron Judge and the remainder of the big name shortstops.
We got the news early on about Anthony Rizzo returning to the Yankees on a two year deal. The defending champion Houston Astros signed first basemen Jose Abreu to a 3 year deal solidifying their infield as probably the best in the MLB (Bregman, Pena, Altuve). Carlos Santana signed a 1 year deal with Pittsburgh which could be one of the last deals he gets as he's going to be 38 next season.
Before I run through the remaining position players out their as free agents lets discuss some of the biggest deals that happened over the weekend and yesterday. The biggest two names to sign elsewhere were Jacob DeGrom signed a 5 year deal (6th year option) with the Texas Rangers (which I personally told Dr. Data on November 15th when he said Judge is going to San Fran). Mets quickly replaced him though by giving. 40 year old Justin Verlander the BAG (2 years/86 mil). Verlander and Mad Max are going to be unbeatable in the post season for the Mets, similar to how DeGrom and Max were this post season....oh wait. No surprise the Dodgers resigned Clayton Kershaw to a 1 year deal, I feel like they've been doing this for the last 3-4 years now. Zach Eflin left the Phillies and signed a 3 year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The pool of pitchers is still pretty deep despite Degrom, Verlander, and Kershaw already off the board. The #1 pitcher available would be Carlos Rodon, who is rumored to get 5 years in the range of $120-140 million. Rounding it out some other back of the rotation pitchers could be filled by some of the follow: Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, Jameson Tallion, and Taijuan Walker.
Trea Turner signed an 11 year $300 million contract with the Phillies. The Phillies are onto something with the way they give contracts to some of the top position players in the game. They just made the world series and they will be paying Turner and Bryce Harpe $27/$26 million a year for the foreseeable future. These are steals when you consider Judge will get somewhere between $36-40 mil a year.
The second and third base free agent class isn't anything to really talk about, primarily guys looking over 30 that arent all stars looking to get one last deal. The shortstop class however is stacked. With Turner off the board, stars like Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson, Xander Bogaerts are still left. I think Correa replaces Turner and signs with the Dodgers, Swanson to the Cubs, and I believe Bogaerts stays in Boston.
No one knows when Aaron Judge is expected to sign, the Yankees have already made an offer with his agent saying he isn't sure if they will have to match or exceed a competing offer. At this point I think he goes to the Giants, and the Yankees will have to pivot quick. Judge leaves I believe the Yanks should go after Bogaerts, outfielder Andrew Benintendi, and make sure they throw a bag at Carlos Rodon to bolster their starting rotation.
Theres still a ton of names out there and free agency but I expect a lot of them to sign by the end of this week, and here at CubeMonkeySports well do our best to keep you updated with our completely unbiased opinions.
Oh and Edwin Diaz is staying in Queens with the Mets, cue the trumpets!
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