The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Teams spend $1.4B in a day before MLB locks out players
NEW YORK — Before getting locked out, players loaded up Wednesday as big league teams unlocked their coffers for an unprecedented spending spree. Major League Baseball clubs committed to a one-day record $1.4 billion in salaries Wednesday, hours before the league locked out players following the expiration of the sport’s collective bargaining agreement.
Six nine-figure contracts were handed out, including two by the Rangers — shortstop Corey Seager got $325 million over 10 years and infielder Marcus Semien got $175 million over seven years. The Tigers got infielder Javier Báez for a $140 million, six-year deal, ace Max Scherzer was assured $130 million over three years from the Mets, and right-hander Kevin Gausman landed with the Blue Jays for $110 million over five years. Twins center fielder Byron Buxton also finalized a new $100 million, seven-year contract. It was the first time teams combined to spend over $1 billion in a single day.
The deals announced Wednesday totaled $1,423,250,000, part of roughly $2 billion in new contracts handed out since the end of the World Series ahead of the CBA expiration. Players and teams alike may have feared the chaos of a limited free-agency window in the spring if the lockout goes that long. That spurred agents, GMS and owners to act before rosters froze.
Teams won’t be able to communicate with players during the shutdown. “It’s funny how you sign it and the next day you’re shut out,” Seager said. “They’ve been upfront with me. I know what to expect from them. They know what to expect from me. They know I’m going to come prepared.”
Plenty of big names remain on the board. SS Carlos Correa, 1B Freddie Freeman, 3B Kris Bryant, SS Trevor Story and OF Nick Castellanos are still free agents and might have to wait until spring or later to find a home. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander appears to technically still be on the market despite agreeing to a $25 million, one-year deal with a conditional $25 million player option for a second year to return to Houston more than two weeks ago. The Astros never announced they had finalized his contract.
Among other deals completed Wednesday: RHP Marcus Stroman to the Cubs, $71 million over three years; OF/INF Chris Taylor returned to the Dodgers, $60 million over four years; RHP Raisel Iglesias stayed with the Angels, $58 million over four years; RHP Jon Gray to Texas, $56 million over four years; OF Avisail Garcia to Miami, $53 million over four years; LHP Alex Wood to San Francisco, $25 million over two years; RHP Corey Knebel to Philadelphia, $10 million for one year; RHP Corey Kluber to Tampa Bay, $8 million for one year; and former Braves INF Johan Camargo to Philadelphia for $1.4 million for one year. The Red Sox signed LHPS Rich Hill and James Paxton and reacquired OF Jackie Bradley Jr. in a trade that sent OF Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers. The D’backs added fourtime All-star Mark Melancon, a former Brave and last season’s MLB saves leader (39) with the Padres, on a $14 million, two-year deal.