MLB free agency tracker: Keep up with latest offseason moves
The 2023-24 MLB hot stove is upon us. All eyes are on the top free agent, two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who became the first $700 million player professional sports history.
Which teams will go all-in to contend for a 2024 World Series title? Where will other top free agents, such as Cody Bellinger and Blake Snell, land? Who will make the trades that has everyone buzzing?
Below is a running list of notable transactions and updates from throughout the MLB offseason.
Ranking the top 50 free agents | Free agency and trade grades
Notable MLB offseason transactions
Feb. 6
Kershaw returns to Dodgers
Three-time Cy Young Award winner and former National League MVP Clayton Kershaw is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers, sources confirmed to ESPN. Story »
Feb. 1
Orioles get ace Burnes in trade with Brewers
The Baltimore Orioles have acquired former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, the teams announced Thursday, giving up infielder Joey Ortiz, left-hander DL Hall and the 34th pick in the 2024 draft in a deal between two reigning division winners. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 25
D-backs add Pederson on one-year deal
Joc Pederson and the National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year, $9.5 million contract that includes a mutual option for 2025, a source confirmed to ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Rangers add RHP Robertson to bullpen
The Texas Rangers and free agent relief pitcher David Robertson, who has 175 career saves, reached a one-year deal in the $11 million-$12 million range, sources told ESPN. Story »
Jan. 23
Hoskins, Brewers close to deal
First baseman Rhys Hoskins and the Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing a two-year, $34 million contract with an opt-out after the first season, sources told ESPN.
Story » | Grade »
Angels keep filling out bullpen
The Los Angeles Angels continued their offseason-long pursuit of bullpen help Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $9 million deal to bring back veteran left-handed reliever Matt Moore, sources told ESPN.
Nationals, OF Joey Gallo agree to one-year deal
Outfielder Joey Gallo and the Washington Nationals are in agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract, sources told ESPN, filling an outfield slot with the rebuilding team as Gallo looks to regain full-time at-bats. Story »
Jan. 21
Angels nab righty Stephenson
Right-hander Robert Stephenson and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a three-year, $33 million contract that includes a conditional option that could be triggered if Stephenson misses a particular amount of time due to an elbow injury, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN on Sunday night. Story »
Jan. 19
Astros land market’s best closer
Star closer Josh Hader and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a five-year, $95 million contract that contains no deferrals, a source tells ESPN. Story »
Jan. 17
Jays in agreement with Yariel Rodriguez
The Toronto Blue Jays have reached a four-year, $32 million deal with Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez, according to multiple reports. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 12
Giants land righty Hicks
Right-hander Jordan Hicks and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a four-year, $44 million contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. Hicks is expected to work as a starter after spending the majority of his career in the bullpen. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 11
Yankees lengthen rotation with 2-time All-Star
Right-hander Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a two-year, $37 million contract that includes a vesting player option, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Cubs, Dodgers make 4-player trade
The Chicago Cubs are acquiring third baseman Michael Busch and reliever Yency Almonte from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a pair of toolsy teenaged prospects, left-handed starter Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope, sources tell ESPN. Story »
Jan. 10
Cubs reach deal with Shota Imanaga
The Chicago Cubs and Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga have agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal that has several provisions, including the team’s option to extend the contract after both Years 2 and 3 to $80 million over five years, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 7
Dodgers add All-Star bat
Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year, $23.5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Manaea joins revamped Mets rotation
Sean Manaea and the New York Mets have agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract that includes an opt-out after the 2024 season, according to multiple reports. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 5
Giants land rotation arm in trade with Mariners
The San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a trade that will send former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to the Giants for outfielder Mitch Haniger and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 4
Mets land Harrison Bader
Centerfielder Harrison Bader and the New York Mets are in agreement on a one-year, $10.5 million contract, a source tells ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 30
Braves acquire Sale in trade with Red Sox
The Atlanta Braves acquired left-hander Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox for infielder Vaughn Grissom. Story » | Grades »
Dec. 29
Giolito, Red Sox reach 2-year, $38.5 million deal
Right-hander Lucas Giolito and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $38.5 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 24
Mariners add backstop
Catcher Mitch Garver and the Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a two-year, $24 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 23
Padres pick up bullpen arm
Left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a five-year, $28 million contract that includes opt-outs after the third and fourth years as well as an injury clause that can convert the fifth year into a club option, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 21
Dodgers keep rolling, add Yamamoto
Star Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto has agreed to terms to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to ESPN sources and multiple reports, ending a frenzied free agency with the largest guarantee to a pitcher in baseball history: $325 million for 12 years. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 20
Mets add starting pitcher in deal with Brewers
The New York Mets acquired right-handed pitcher Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for minor league pitcher Coleman Crow. Story »
Dec. 19
Cutch back with Bucs
Andrew McCutchen, who needs just one home run to reach 300 for his career, will return to the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year contract. The deal is worth $5 million deal, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. Story »
Dec. 17
D-backs bring back Gurriel
The Arizona Diamondbacks and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. have agreed on a three-year, $42 million contract with a club option for a fourth season, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel on Sunday. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 15
Royals continue spending spree
Right-handed starter Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a two-year, $32 million contract that has an op-out after the first season, a source tells ESPN. The Royals also agreed to terms with outfielder Hunter Renfroe on a two-year, $13 million deal that has an opt-out after 2024, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
L.A. finalizing extension with Glasnow
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a five-year, $135 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Once the deal is complete, the trade with the Tampa Bay Rays will be official. Glasnow’s deal will start this season, and the total deal could get to $145 million if the Dodgers exercise a $30 million club option in the fifth year. If not, Glasnow has a $20 million player option. Story »
Dec. 14
Dodgers get rotation help, trade for Glasnow
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a trade to send RHP Tyler Glasnow and OF Manuel Margot to the Dodgers for RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny Deluca — contingent on Glasnow signing an extension with L.A., which is expected, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Tigers add Flaherty to starting staff
Right-hander Jack Flaherty and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story » | Grade »
Mahle heads to Texas on two-year deal
Right-handed starter Tyler Mahle and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a two-year, $22 million contract, sources told ESPN. Mahle underwent Tommy John surgery in May and should return this season, and he can earn another $5 million in performance bonuses based on IP in 2025. Story » | Grade »
Brewers acquire reliever from Royals
The Milwaukee Brewers have received right-handed reliever Taylor Clarke from the Kansas City Royals for right-handed reliever Ryan Brady and infielder Cam Devanney, a source tells ESPN.
Dec. 12
Tellez lands with Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with first baseman/designated hitter Rowdy Tellez. Story » | Grade »
Giants land big-time free agent
The San Francisco Giants have landed KBO outfielder Jung Hoo Lee on a six-year, $113 million deal that has an opt-out after four seasons, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Royals bolster rotation with Lugo
Right-hander Seth Lugo and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract, a source tells ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 10
Royals add to pen
Left-handed reliever Will Smith and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 9
Dodgers add Ohtani — for $700 million
Shohei Ohtani signed a historic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, posting on Instagram that he would play for his former team’s crosstown rival starting next season after spending six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 8
Boston nabs O’Neill for outfield
The Boston Red Sox secure outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the St. Louis Cardinals for right-handed reliever Nick Robertson and right-handed starter Victor Santos. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 7
Mets bolster bullpen
Right-handed reliever Jorge Lopez and the New York Mets are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story »
Dec. 6
Reds continue winter spree, add Candelario
Infielder Jeimer Candelario and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Candelario, 30, joins a young Reds team that has spent $87 million on free agents this winter. Story » | Grade »
Yankees secure Soto in blockbuster trade
The New York Yankees have acquired superstar outfielder Juan Soto, along with outfielder Trent Grisham, in a trade with the San Diego Padres for RHPs Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez and C Kyle Higashioka, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
D-backs add to rotation with Rodriguez
Left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a four-year contract for around $20 million a year, pending physical, sources familiar with the agreement tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
O’s bolster bullpen
Right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a one-year, $13 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story »
Dec. 5
A rare Red Sox-Yankees trade sends Verdugo to N.Y.
The New York Yankees are acquiring outfielder Alex Verdugo in a trade with the Boston Red Sox for right-handeres Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Fedde chooses White Sox
Right-hander Erick Fedde and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $15 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Fedde, 30, went 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA for the NC Dinos in the KBO, where he was named MVP this year.
Devenski returns to Rays
Right-handed reliever Chris Devenski and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a one-year contract with a club option, sources tell ESPN.
Dec. 3
Braves get Kelenic in deal with Mariners
The Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Jarred Kelenic, left-hander Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White from the Seattle Mariners for right-handers Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 30
Reds bolster rotation with Martinez deal
Right-hander Nick Martinez and the Cincinnati Reds agreed on a two-year, $26 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season, sources told ESPN. Story »
Nov. 29
Severino joins Mets on one-year deal
Right-hander Luis Severino and the New York Mets on Wednesday agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract, sources told ESPN, sending the longtime Yankee to a Mets team that plans to spend its winter upgrading a depleted rotation. Story » | Grade »
Royals add utilityman Hampson
Speedy utilityman Garrett Hampson and the Kansas City Royals agreed Wednesday to a one-year contract, the team announced. Story »
Nov. 27
Cards add Gray to reshuffled rotation
The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a deal with free agent pitcher Sonny Gray, according to ESPN and multiple reports. Gray, 34, joins a revamped Cardinals rotation that also includes recent free-agent additions Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. Story » | Grade »
Heyward remains with Dodgers
Outfielder Jason Heyward is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year deal for $9 million, sources told ESPN. Story »
Nov. 26
Tigers sign Maeda to two-year deal
Right-hander Kenta Maeda and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a two-year, $24 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Detroit has been all over mid-tier pitching, and the 35-year-old Maeda stays in the American League Central. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 22
Mariners trade 3B to D-backs
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquire third baseman Eugenio Suarez from the Seattle Mariners, with the latter getting reliever Carlos Vargas and catcher Seby Zavala, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 21
Gibson headed to St. Louis
Kyle Gibson is in agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals on a one year, $12 million deal with a team option, sources tell ESPN. Story »
Nov. 20
Cards reunite with Lynn
Right-hander Lance Lynn and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed on a one-year contract with a club option that guarantees $10 million and reunites the 36-year-old with the team that drafted him a decade and a half ago, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Braves land Lopez
The Atlanta Braves added another reliever to their bullpen by agreeing to $30 million, three-year contract with right-hander Reynaldo Lopez. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 19
Phillies re-sign Nola
Right-hander Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed on a seven-year, $172 million contract, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN on Sunday. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 17
Brewers acquire OF from Yankees
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired outfielder Jake Bauers from the New York Yankees for minor league outfielders Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez, Jeff Passan reports. Story »
Negotiating window for Yamamoto to begin soon
Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to be posted Monday, a source tells ESPN’s Buster Olney. That means the 45-day negotiating window for MLB teams will start Tuesday. Story »
Nov. 16
Braves, White Sox make pitcher swap
The Atlanta Braves receive left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer, under club control through 2026, while the Chicago White Sox get right-handed starter Mike Soroka, left-handed starter Jared Shuster, shortstop Braden Shewmake, infielder Nicky Lopez and right-handed starter Riley Gowens. Story »
Nov. 6
Braves bring back RHP Charlie Morton
Atlanta is exercising its $20 million option on the right-handed starter, sources tell ESPN, despite significant discussion within the organization about declining it. Story »
Key MLB offseason dates
Dec. 4-7: Winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee
Dec. 6: Rule 5 draft
Jan. 12: Deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to submit salary figures
Jan. 29: Arbitration hearings begin
Feb. 22: 2024 spring training games begin
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Ryan S. Clark
Many of Mikko Rantanen’s greatest moments have come in a Colorado Avalanche sweater. It’s just that the most defining moment of his career came at their expense.
It wasn’t enough that the Dallas Stars were trailing by two goals. It was also the fact that Rantanen scored a hat trick in a string of four unanswered goals that saw his current team, the host Stars, eliminate his old team, the Avalanche, in a 4-2 win Saturday in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at the American Airlines Center.
“Obviously, the feeling was incredible to win a series,” Rantanen said in his postgame media availability. “This series was not exactly what I expected. I expected a seven-game series, even before Game 1. The ups and downs in the series. … Belief was there with the group the whole time. Obviously, I was able to make a pay to get the first one and the crowd started to roll.”
The Stars, attempting to reach the conference finals a third straight time, will advance to the semifinal round in which they will await the winner of series featuring the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets. That encounter will be decided Sunday in Game 7 in Winnipeg.
Soon, the Stars’ collective focus will shift to another Central Division foe. But for now? The attention before, during, and after the game, was on Rantanen.
Part of what made the Avalanche-Stars series arguably the most intriguing first-round series in either conference was the fact it placed two 100-point teams that are in championship window against each other. But, it also came with several subplots with the notable being the team that traded quite a bit to land Rantanen — with the hope he could win them a Stanley Cup now — needed him to defeat the team that he won a championship with back in 2022.
With one assist through the first four games, there was a discussion about if the Stars could manage to win with a sputtering Rantanen on top of the fact they were already without two of their best players in defenseman Miro Heiskanen and forward Jason Robertson.
Rantanen responded with a three-point performance in Game 5, and a four-point performance in Game 6 only to then have a hand in each goal on Saturday. His first goal came on the power-play with 12:12 remaining in the third period when he found enough space to fire a wrist shot that beat MacKenzie Blackwood.
Then came the game-tying goal and the significance it carried. The Stars went on the power play went Avalanche forward Jack Drury was called for holding. Drury part of the trade package the Carolina Hurricanes used to get Rantanen in late January before they would trade him to the Stars.
Drury’s penalty opened the door for Rantanen to score a game-tying goal that might be one of, if not, his signature salvo. Rantanen skated into the Avalanche zone in a 1-on-3 before he split two players before going around the net for a wrap-around goal that went off the skate of Samuel Girard with 6:14 left.
Three minutes later, the Stars received another power-play opportunity that saw Rantanen along with another former Avalanche forward in Matt Duchene work together to find Wyatt Johnston for the game-winning goal.
In the final minute, the Avalanche pulled Blackwood in the attempt to grab a late goal and force over time. Instead? Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger withstood a barrage that officially ended when Stars forward Tyler Seguin got the puck out of the zone only for Rantanen to skate in on an open net for the hat trick with three seconds left.
“I couldn’t care less who scored for them, I really couldn’t,” Avalanche captain and left winger Gabriel Landeskog said when asked about what it was like to watch Rantanen score a hat trick. “Mikko is one of my best friends and I love him, but I couldn’t care if he scored or if somebody else scored.”
For eight full seasons, Rantanen was part of a homegrown movement that saw the Avalanche go from finishing with what was then the worst record in the salary cap era back in 2016-17 to become a perennial favorite to win the Stanley Cup, which did they did in 2023, while also becoming a model for the need to build through the draft.
Building through stars such as Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen allowed the Avalanche to become a success. As did the moves they made to get other key figures like Valeri Nichushkin and Devon Toews.
Like all teams in a championship window, the Avs were facing the prospect of possibly making a difficult decision. They had yet to agree to a new contract with Rantanen, who was a pending unrestricted free agent. Then, came the blockbuster trade that few throughout the league saw coming.
The Avalanche traded Rantanen in a three-team trade that saw them get Martin Necas and Drury along with two draft picks. Rantanen’s time with the Carolina Hurricanes was limited to just two goals and six points in 13 games.
Despite the fact the Hurricanes are also among that cadre of championship contenders, Rantanen struggled to find cohesion in Raleigh. Rather than run the risk of watching leave for nothing in free agency, the Hurricanes put out feelers to a few teams with the Stars being one of them.
A long-time admirer of Rantanen, the Stars packaged two first-round picks, three second-round picks and former prized prospect Logan Stankoven to get Rantanen. They then signed him to an eight-year contract worth $12 million annually.
“It’s two things: It’s where our team’s at, and it’s Mikko Rantanen,” Stars general manager Jim Nill told ESPN back in March.
Rantanen finished the regular season with five goals and 18 points in 20 games prior to the showdown with his former team.
Not only did Rantanen’s hat trick condemn his former team to their second first-round exit since winning the Stanley Cup, but it continued a theme of former Avalanche eliminating their previous employers.
The Avalanche and Stars faced each other in last season’s Western Conference semifinal that saw Duchene, a former Colorado first-round pick, score the game-winning goal.
A year later, it was another former Avalanche first-round pick who delivered the devastating blow.
“It seems pretty fitting,” Johnston said about Rantanen. “Obviously, we want to win for each other and I think that goes a little extra when it’s a guy like that who is such a big part of our team and was there for a long time and everyone knows the trade that went on. It’s so awesome. We’re so happy as a group for him.”
As if Rantanen scoring a hat trick in a four-goal comeback wasn’t enough, there’s also the fact that this is now the ninth consecutive Game 7 that Stars coach Peter DeBoer has won his career.
DeBoer’s nine wins in Game 7s broke a tie with Darryl Sutter for the most in NHL history. It was also DeBoer’s third game 7 wins with the Stars.
“I felt something was going to happen,” DeBoer said. “But I could not have predicted that.”
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