While the NFL is winding down its season with the annual Super Bowl in early February, the MLB is just getting started in anticipation of its new season starting on April 1.
The start of spring training is still a few weeks away but more than a few high-profile players will be attending a new training camp this year. The market for free agents is just starting to heat up. However, some of the bigger names have already secured their new deal.
Best MLB Free Agent Signings 2021
As many as 60 players were added to the list of the best available free agents at the end of last season. Here are the seven biggest to come off the board.
George Springer (OF) to the Blue Jays
Springer spent the last seven seasons with the Houston Astros. His best season in the Majors was 2019 with 39 home runs while hitting .292. He signed a six-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays worth $150 million.
James McCann (C) to the Mets
Following five seasons with the Detroit Tigers and two seasons with the Chicago White Sox, McCann is headed to the National League. He inked a four-year deal with the New York Mets worth $40 million.
Liam Hendricks (P) to the White Sox
Hendricks agreed to a three-year deal with the Chicago White Sox worth $54 million. He was named the American League Reliver of the Year in 2020 while pitching for the Oakland Athletics.
Brad Hand (P) to the Nationals
One of the latest signings sends Hand from Cleveland to the Washington Nationals. The one-year deal added up to $10.5 million. As the closer for Cleveland last season, he went a perfect 16-for-16 in save attempts.
Charlie Morton (P) to the Braves
In another one-year deal at $15 million, the Atlanta Braves add another starter to their rotation. Morton won 16 games with Tampa Bay during the 2019 season.
Adam Eaton (OF) to the White Sox
Eaton will earn $7 million this season with a second-year option at $8.5 million. He rejoins Chicago after spending the last four seasons with Washington.
Mike Minor (P) to the Royals
Minor signed a new two-year deal with the Kansas City Royals back in November of last year. His best season in the Majors was in 2019 when he went 14-10 for Texas with a 3.59 ERA.
A few other early deals of note include second baseman DJ LeMahieu resigning with the New York Yankees. Pitcher Marcus Stroman accepted a qualifying offer to remain with the New York Mets and pitcher Kevin Gausman did the same to remain with the San Francisco Giants.
The Yankees also signed pitcher Corey Kluber as a free agent from the Texas Rangers.
Two of the top names on the board still looking for a new deal include catcher JT Realmuto and pitcher Trevor Bauer.
Realmuto rejected an $18.9 million qualifying offer from Philadelphia after playing the last two seasons for the Phillies. He is considered to be the top catcher in baseball by many MLB insiders.
Bauer was named the 2020 Cy Young winner in the NL for the shortened 60-game season. The 30-year old right hander rejected a $18.9 million qualifying offer from Cincinnati to test the free agent waters. However, he could still come to terms with the Reds on a new deal.
Make sure you read our 2021 American League Preview and 2021 National League Preview.