NEW YORK (AP) – Ahead of the strike, players lined their pockets Wednesday as Major League teams opened their coffers for an unprecedented spending feast.
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Javier Báez, at the time with the Chicago Cubs, shows a tattoo with the MLB logo, as well as on his cap and jersey, while waiting to take batting practice before the second game of the National League Division Series. against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo / Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Major League Baseball teams pledged more than $ 1.4 billion in wages in one day for the first time Wednesday, hours before the majors are scheduled to go on a work stoppage once the collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. evening.
Six 9-digit contracts were concluded, including two from the Texas Rangers, who led the splurge by finalizing deals with shortstop Corey Seager for $ 325 million and 10 years and with infielder Marcus Semien for 175 million and seven seasons.
In addition, the Detroit Tigers entered the dance of millions by disbursing 140 for six years with Puerto Rican infielder Javier Báez.
Ace Max Scherzer received 130 million to play the next three seasons with the New York Mets, and right-hander Kevin Gausman came to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for $ 110 million for five seasons. Minnesota center fielder Byron Buxton also signed a $ 100 million, seven-year deal to stay in Minnesota.
It’s the first time teams have combined to spend more than $ 1 billion in a single day.
“It’s actually kind of fun,” said Scherzer. “I’m a fan of the sport, and to see that everyone is signing right now, to actually see teams competing in this way, has been refreshing, because we’ve seen how the market froze the past seasons ”.
The 21 agreements that have been announced so far on Wednesday add up to just over 1,290 million, part of the more than 2,000 million in new contracts that have been agreed in the days prior to the expiration of the collective contract.
“This year there was a situation where there was interest from the beginning and there was some interest in what we were asking for,” said Semien, a free agent for the second year in a row. “It was easier to narrow down the decision. It was determined in the opportunity to be able to build something ”.
The union and MLB are likely to be heading into a protracted labor dispute after the MLB median salary fell on Opening Game day in 2021 for the fourth consecutive season.
A lot of big names remain on the market. Shortstop Carlos Correra, first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Kris Bryant, slugger Trevor Story and outfielder Nick Castellanos remain in free agency and may have to wait until spring or maybe longer to find a new team.
Based on estimates of players who remain unsigned, MLB projects that offseason spending will be $ 3 billion for this generation of free agents, just over 700 million more than the previous season.
Other deals completed on Wednesday:
– Pitcher Marcus Stroman to Cubs, $ 71 million for three years
– Infielder / outfielder Chris Taylor to Dodgers, $ 60 million for four years
– Cuban pitcher Raisel Iglesias to Angels, 58 million for four years
– Pitcher Jon Gray, to Texas, $ 56 million for four years
– Venezuelan outfielder Avisaíl García to Miami, $ 53 million for four years.
– Pitcher Alex Wood to San Francisco, $ 25 million for two years.
– Venezuelan infielder Eduardo Escobar to the Mets, 20 million for two years.
– Dominican infielder / outfielder Leury Garcia to the White Sox, $ 16.5 million over three years.
– Catcher Yan Gomes to the Cubs, $ 13 million for two years
– Dominican reliever Yimi García to Toronto, 11 million for two years
– Reliever Corey Knebel to Philadelphia, $ 10 million for one year
– Pitcher Corey Kluber to Tampa Bay, $ 8 million for one year
– Mexican pitcher Andrés Muñoz to Seattle, $ 7.5 million for four years
– Venezuelan pitcher Luis García, to San Diego, 7 million for two years
– Puerto Rican receiver Roberto Pérez to Pittsburgh, 5 million for one year
– Pitcher Dylan Bundy to Minnesota, $ 5 million for one year
– Catcher Kevin Plawecki to Boston, 2.25 million for one year
