Nothing is cheap about the free agent market. With each passing winter, the price tags for these valuable assets increase to incredible heights. Here are six big names set to make good on their enormous new contracts.
Jason Heyward
The Cubs didn’t necessarily need another bat. But when the 26-year-old outfielder was available, Theo Epstein wasn’t going to let him pass by without an offer – especially when the slugger also provides much-needed defense in a corner outfield position. Heyward accepted an eight-year, $184 million contract to join Chicago. An offense and a team already primed for greatness in 2016 has a major jump on the competition.
Ben Zobrist
Before landing Heyward, the Cubs made a splash with the addition of the 34-year-old utility player. For four years and $56 million, Zobrist – coming off a World Championship during his stint with Kansas City – joins his his former manager in Tampa. The familiarity of having Joe Maddon in the dugout certainly influenced Zobrist, while the team adds a player set to bring a veteran presence and a winning pedigree over to the North Side.
Zack Greinke
When your rotation ERA is 4.37 (23rd in MLB) and your entire staff allows 500 walks for the season, it might be tempting to overpay for the best pitcher available. The Diamondbacks fell under the spell of Greinke – enough to make him the highest annual salaried player in league history. Even though the ex-Dodger isn’t likely to equal the season-long run of dominance he experienced in 2015, he will no doubt help Arizona in an area that was desperate for improvement.
David Price
The D-Backs’ team ERA was certainly unspectacular. Boston, however, was even worse. Last offseason, the Red Sox brass was intent on signing multiple middle-of-the road starting pitchers instead of trying to land an ace. The experiment failed miserably, resulting in a last place finish in the AL East. New GM Dave Dombrowski brings a change of course. And there’s no better example than the enormous deal given to Price. Yes, it’s an irrational move (and likely one that will bite them several years later). For now, though, it could be a difference maker in a division filled with parity.
Johnny Cueto
The San Francisco Giants made one of the worst signings of the free agent period so far when they offered $90 million to the downward trending Jeff Samardzija. They made up for it (somewhat) upon getting Cueto. A dominant performance in Game 2 of the World Series certainly didn’t hurt his stock. But with 96 wins over eight years with the Reds, he already proved he can be a consistent No. 2 starter behind Madison Bumgarner. After all that time pitching in the bandbox that was Great American Ballpark, the spaciousness of San Francisco’s AT&T Park will suit him very well.
Reporter asks Johnny Cueto if he’s excited because the Giants win the WS every other year. Ummmmmm.
— Wendy Thurm (@hangingsliders) December 17, 2015
Jordan Zimmermann
Paying any pitcher $110 million over five years comes with a great deal of risk. But relative to the other signings that would follow to arms at or above the age of 30, the Tigers may have gotten a bargain. Zimmerman, a 29-year-old Wisconsin native, wasn’t as stellar in 2015 (13-10, 3.88 ERA) as he was in the previous two seasons with Washington. That said, he’s a starter who’s durable – something that can no longer be said about Justin Verlander.