In the baseball world, the bitter-cold winter months coincide with a fresh show of free agency news. Every team attempts to better themselves by signing new players and preparing for the start of the new season. This year, the signings of Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani and recent transfer Yamamoto Yoshinobu shook the baseball world, but those are far from the only moves that have shaped the offseason.
The biggest buzz thus far this winter has surrounded the Japanese phenomenon Shohei Ohtani. Over the past three seasons, Ohtani has proven himself to be not just the best current player, but also one of the greatest players of all time. His unique ability to pitch and hit at a dominant level has given him immense value and fame, bringing him renown at an international level. Unfortunately, despite being the highest-rated player in the league, Ohtani was a member of the Los Angeles Angels, a team that has made the playoffs once in the past decade.
On Dec. 11, Ohtani signed a record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth $700 million that shocked fans globally. The Dodgers, already stacked with talent such as Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, will see a lot of benefit from having Ohtani on the roster. On top of signing the reigning MVP, the Dodgers gave themselves flexibility by meticulously plotting Ohtani’s contract. Instead of paying $70 million per year to afford him, the Dodgers deferred $690 million to 2034, giving them more money to spend while Ohtani is on the roster. This genius move allowed them to grab another Japanese ace, Yamamoto Yoshinobu.
Coming fresh out of Japan, Yoshinobu was regarded as one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball. Due to international transfer rules between Japan and the United States, Yoshinobu wasn’t allowed to play in the MLB — until now. On Dec. 27, the Dodgers picked up the ace on the free agency market for $325 million over 12 years. Although the Dodgers have a deadly team regardless, stronger pitcher depth would greatly benefit them. Noted as the 13th-best overall team for pitching in the MLB last season, Yoshinobu will add power to their pitching lineup.
Josh Hader is another fire-baller who was recently picked up in free agency. This time, the Houston Astros made the call and collected the deadly pitcher for $95 million over five years. The Astros have had a nearly unstoppable bullpen in the past year, with stars such as Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly and Hector Neris making it nearly impossible for hitters to make a late-game comeback. Although Neris did leave the Astros roster recently in a move to Chicago, Hader is a good replacement. The lefty with a cannon is widely considered to be the best closer in the league, as Hader has been dominating the National League for many years. This move by Houston may prove to be a significant one.
Finally, Aaron Nola accepted a seven-year, $172 million contract from the Philadelphia Phillies. While Nola has been a Phillies favorite for years, his last season was not very pretty. Posting a 96 ERA+ (Earned Runs Allowed on a scale of 100), Nola’s last season was mediocre compared to previous years. This pickup by the Phillies will not bring them much success and could drag the team’s salary spending in the mud. However, despite previous struggles, the team also picked up former All-Star Gregory Soto, who could do wonders for their bullpen. The Phillies get a B-score for their free agency this season.
Overall, the teams that found the most success in free agency were the Dodgers, Cubs and Astros. With the season fast approaching, teams hope that the billions of dollars spent on these players will result in success the following season.
