2022 MLB Free Agency Tracker: Carlos Correa, Mets Agree to Surprise Deal
With the 2022–23 MLB offseason in full swing, questions surrounding the futures of many of the game’s best will finally be answered as clubs reload their rosters in preparation for another run at the World Series in 2023.
As the free agency period continues to unfold, check out the list below for noteworthy transactions around the league:
For more information about MLB’s top 2022 free agents, check out our breakdown and signing predictions of the top 50 available players.
Dec. 28: Jean Segura Lands Two-Year Deal From Marlins
The Marlins added the veteran second baseman to a two-year, $17 million contract. Segura, who turns 33 in March, has been a durable player for the majority of his career. He missed 64 games in 2022, though most of those came as a result of a freak play where he was hit by a pitch while attempting to bunt and broke his finger. Segura has posted an OPS+ over league average (100) in six of the past seven seasons, and each of the last three. His All-Star days might be behind him, but he should be a safe bet for steady production. — Nick Selbe
Dec. 27: Rangers Agree to Two-Year Deal With Nathan Eovaldi
The Rangers’ spending spree on pitching keeps on rolling with another free agent starter coming into the fold. This time, it’s Eovaldi, who’s been a model of consistency the past few years though comes with some injury concerns after managing only 20 starts in 2022. Still, it’s hard not to be impressed with the depth Texas has been able to compile: Eovaldi will join Jacob deGrom, Andrew Heaney, Martín Pérez, Jon Gray and Jake Odorizzi to form a strong foundation for a club looking to end a six-year playoff drought. — Nick Selbe
Dec. 23: Craig Kimbrel to Join Phillies’ After Agreeing to One-Year Deal
Kimbrel, an eight-time All-Star, will reportedly head to Philadelphia after agreeing to terms on a one-year, $10 million deal, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The 34-year-old appeared in 63 games for the the Dodgers last season, recording a 6–7 record with 72 strikeouts, 22 saves and a 3.75 ERA. — Jelani Scott
Dec. 22: Cubs, Tucker Barnhart Reach Two-Year Deal
Chicago and catcher Barnhart have agreed to a two-year deal with a 2024 player option, The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal reported. Barnhart spent his entire career with the Reds before the Tigers acquired him after the ’21 season. He slashed .221/.287/.267 to go with one home run and 16 RBIs in Detroit’s ’22 season. — Daniela Perez
Dec. 22: Wil Myers to Join Reds on One-Year Contract
Myers is on his way to Cincinnati on a one-year, $7.5 million contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The contract reportedly has the potential of reaching $9.5 million dependent on playing time or if he is traded, and also includes a mutual 2024 option. The outfielder spent eight seasons with the Padres, receiving an All-Star nod in ’16. In ’22, he hit .261/.315/.398 for seven home runs and 41 RBIs. — Daniela Perez
Dec. 21: Carlos Correa Agrees to 12-year Deal With Mets
Carlos Correa has jumped ship from the Giants and agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract with the Mets, a source confirmed to Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci. Despite agreeing to a 13-year, $350 million contract with San Francisco just a week prior, New York continued its free-agency spree by adding the two-time All-Star. The move comes a day after an introductory press conference for Correa was postponed after a physical revealed a medical concern. — Daniela Perez
Dec. 20: Brandon Drury Heads to Angels on Two-Year Deal
Drury enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022, setting new career highs in nearly every offensive category. He hit 28 home runs with a .263/.320/.492 slash line over 138 games, winning his first career Silver Slugger. He’s the second infield acquisition by the Angels this winter along with Gio Urshela, and joins a group that also features Anthony Rendon, Jared Walsh, Luis Rengifo and David Fletcher. Expect Drury to play all over the diamond in Anaheim. — Nick Selbe
Dec. 18: Red Sox Add Justin Turner on Two-Year Deal
Turner will head to Boston after nine seasons with the Dodgers. The veteran third baseman is expected to get most of his playing time at designated hitter with Rafael Devers manning the hot corner. Turner leaves Los Angeles as the Dodgers’ all-time leader in postseason hits and RBIs. — Nick Selbe
Dec. 18: Astros Re-Sign Michael Brantley on One-Year Contract
The veteran Brantley returns to Houston on a one-year, $12 million deal. Brantley can still hit with the best of them, but a season-ending shoulder surgery limited him to just 64 games in 2022. Brantley will turn 36 in May and now has a chance to regain his form if he can stay in the lineup more consistently. — Nick Selbe
Dec. 17: J.D. Martinez Joins Dodgers on One-Year, $10M Deal
According to multiple reports, veteran designated hitter JD Martinez is heading to warmer weather this season after agreeing to a one-year deal with Los Angeles. He’s been in Boston for the last five seasons, batting .274/.341/.448 during the 2022 campaign despite seeing a 77-point dip in OPS. Martinez, though, did smack 16 home runs and 62 RBIs over the course of 139 games this season. The move will reunite him with hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc, a key figure in Martinez’s ascension nearly a decade ago, and Mookie Betts, a former Red Sox teammate. The right-handed hitter’s reported addition does leave questions about Justin Turner’s future, as the 38-year-old played nearly half of his games at the DH slot last season. — Madeline Coleman
Dec. 17: Dansby Swanson Heads to the Cubs on Seven-Year Deal
The Cubs and free agent shortstop Dansby Swanson are in agreement on a contract, David Kaplan first reported. According to Russell Dorsey, the deal is for seven years and $177 million. In total, Swanson spent seven seasons in Atlanta but broke out starting in the shortened 2020, totaling over 25 home runs in the last two seasons In 2022, Swanson made his first All-Star game and won the Gold Glove at shortstop after establishing himself as a premier defensive player in the league. — Daniel Chavkin
Dec. 16: White Sox, Benintendi Agree to Five-Year Deal
After a disappointing season, the White Sox are signing left fielder Andrew Benintendi to a five-year, $75 million contract. Chicago had a right-handed dominant lineup the last few years, so adding the lefty outfielder should help balance the lineup. Benintendi was an All-Star in 2022, compiling a .772 OPS and hitting for a .304 average with five home runs while splitting time between the Yankees and Royals. — Daniel Chavkin
Dec. 16: Twins Give One-Year Deal to Joey Gallo
Minnesota’s first addition after losing Carlos Correa is adding Gallo, a former all-star outfielder coming off a down season, on a one-year, $11 million deal. Despite a 2021 campaign where he hit 38 home runs with an .808 OPS, Gallo struggled mightily with the Yankees and Dodgers in 2022, just totaling 19 homers and a .638 OPS. He will look to bounce back in 2023 with the Twins before re-entering the market. — Daniel Chavkin
Dec. 15: Yankees Land Carlos Rodón on Six-Year Contract
New York has reportedly agreed to a six-year, $162 million contract with starting pitcher Carlos Rodón, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. ESPN’s Jeff Passan also reported on the move. Rodón, 30, has made the All-Star team in each of the past two seasons, finishing in the top six in Cy Young Award voting each year. In 31 starts for the Giants in 2022, he went 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA and 237 strikeouts over 178 innings. As part of the agreement with the Yankees, he will receive a full no-trade clause. — Nick Selbe
For more on the signing, read Tom Verducci’s analysis: It’s World Series or Bust for Yankees After Splurging for Rodón
Dec. 14: Tigers Add Michael Lorenzen to One-Year Deal
After pitching almost exclusively out of the bullpen from 2016 to ’21, Lorenzen joined the Angels last season as a starter with mixed results. He posted a 4.24 ERA over 18 starts but missed over two months in the middle of the year with a shoulder injury. He’ll get $8.5 million in ’23 from Detroit, with an additional $1.5 million available in incentives.
Dec. 13: Carlos Correa Signs Massive Deal With Giants
After missing on Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, San Francisco adds one of the biggest pieces available this offseason in shortstop Carlos Correa. He lands a Judge-esque megadeal, signing for 13 years and $350 million after betting on himself and opting out of his contract with the Twins following the season. His deal is now the biggest ever for a shortstop, eclipsing Francisco Lindor’s deal with the Mets, and the second-biggest ever for a free agent behind Judge’s with the Yankees. —Dan Lyons
For more on the signing, read Stephanie Apstein’s analysis: Carlos Correa Is Exactly Who the Giants Needed
Dec. 13: Giants Add Veteran Ross Stripling to Rotation
Coming off of a bounceback ’22 season with the Blue Jays, Stripling heads back to the West Coast to join San Francisco’s rotation with Carlos Rodón still in flux. Stripling, 33, signs a two-year, $25 million deal with a $5 million signing bonus, per Joel Sherman. The former Dodgers starter struggled through the first few years with the Blue Jays after being traded midway through the 2020 season, but recovered last season, pitching to a 3.01 ERA and posting a 10–4 record. —Dan Lyons
Dec. 12: Blue Jays Agree to Deal with Chris Bassitt
Toronto makes its second big move in three days, adding Bassitt to its rotation on a three-year, $63 million deal, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The veteran spent last season with the Mets, starting 30 games and accumulating a 15-9 record with a 3.42 ERA. He joins Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman at the top of the Blue Jays pitching staff. — Daniel Chavkin
For more on the signing, read Tom Verducci’s analysis: Blue Jays Sign Chris Bassitt to Improve Their Shaky Rotation
Dec. 10: Blue Jays Add Kevin Kiermaier
The outfielder remains in the AL East, moving from Tampa Bay to Toronto, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. Kiermaier will likely slot into the Blue Jays’ lineup as the centerfielder, allowing George Springer to move to right field following the Teoscar Hernandez trade. Last season, Kiermaier played in just 63 games due to injuries, slashing .228/.281/.369 with just seven home runs. — Daniel Chavkin
Dec. 8: Mets Re-Sign Brandon Nimmo, Add David Robertson
Nimmo, a first-round pick in 2011, will stay in New York after agreeing to an eight-year, $162 million deal, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman. Appearing in more than 100 games (151) for the first time since ’18, Nimmo turned in one of his best seasons in ’22, slashing .274/.367/.433 with 16 home runs, a 130 OPS+ and a career-best 64 RBIs.
The club also bolstered its bullpen with the addition of Robertson, a veteran reliever who last played for the Phillies, on a one-year, $10 million deal, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The two moves increase the team’s projected Opening Day payroll to $333 million, which would amount to a $65 million luxury tax bill and a $398 total post-tax payroll—both MLB records. —Jelani Scott
For more on the signings, read Emma Baccellieri’s analysis: The Mets Just Keep on Spending—but They Shouldn’t Be Done Yet
Dec. 8: Padres to Sign Xander Bogaerts
The Padres and Xander Bogaerts are reportedly in agreement on an 11-year contract worth $280 million, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal will keep Bogaerts under contract through his age-40 season. Bogaerts slashed .307/.377/.456 and had 15 home runs this past season. The four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger will look to continue his star-level play now going into his 11th year in the majors. —Joseph Salvador
For more on the signing, read Stephanie Apstein’s analysis: Xander Bogaerts’s Deal Makes It Clear the Padres Are Now the Red Sox
Dec. 7: Red Sox Land Japanese Star Masataka Yoshida
Boston has agreed to a five-year deal with Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida, according to a Wednesday report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal will guarantee Yoshida $90 million, while the Red Sox also will pay a $15.4 million posting fee to his Japanese club. Yoshida, 29, has spent the past seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Pacific League. With Orix, he slashed .327/.421/.539 in 781 career games, hitting 133 home runs and driving in 467 runs. —Patrick Andres
Dec. 7: Cardinals Agree to Deal With Willson Contreras
The Cardinals found their replacement for the legendary Yadier Molina on Wednesday with the signing of Contreras. The three-time All Star spent his entire career with the Cubs but is moving on, signing to a five-year deal worth $87.5 million. He had 101 hits and 22 home runs in 2022 while slashing .243/.349/.466 in his 113 games played. —Joseph Salvador
Dec. 7: Red Sox to Sign Kenley Jansen
After spending 2022 with the Braves—his first team other than the Dodgers, with whom he played from 2010 to ’21—Jansen is heading to the AL East. The Curaçaoan closer brings with him 391 career saves, three All-Star appearances and a World Series ring with the Dodgers, and was the NL leader in saves for the second time in his career in ’22. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that he is in agreement on a two-year, $32 million deal. —Dan Lyons
Dec. 7: Mets Reunite With José Quintana
Even after signing future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, the Mets are in need of starting pitching depth following the exits of Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker. Enter: Quintana, a 33-year-old lefthander who signed with the Mets as an international free agent from Venezuela in 2006. He never pitched for the big-league club, making his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2012, but should be a key rotation piece for New York in ’23. The 2016 All-Star pitched for the Pirates and Cardinals last season, posting a career-best 2.93 ERA in 165 2/3 innings. Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report that he has agreed to a two-year, $26 million deal. —Dan Lyons
Dec. 7: Aaron Judge Will Remain With Yankees
The long wait is over. According to multiple reports, Aaron Judge will remain with the Yankees, after a heated free agency period that, for a moment, looked like it would take him to San Francisco. Instead, after an MVP season in which he slugged 62 home runs for the Yankees to break the American League single-season record, he is set to sign a nine-year deal worth $360 million, per Ken Rosenthal. —Dan Lyons
For more on the signing, read Emma Baccellieri’s analysis: Aaron Judge’s Big Bet Pays Off—And Then Some
Dec. 7: Cubs to Sign Jameson Taillon
In need of a dependable piece for its rotation, Chicago has agreed to a four-year, $68 million deal with former Yankees and Pirates righthander Jameson Taillon, ESPN reports. In two years with New York, the 31-year-old starter tallied a 22–11 record with a 4.08 ERA in 61 starts. —Dan Lyons
Dec. 6: Phillies, Taijuan Walker Agree to Four-Year Deal
Taijuan Walker is reportedly heading to the Phillies on a four-year, $72 million deal, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. The right-hander posted a 12–5 record last season, compiling a 3.49 ERA in 29 starts last season in New York. The 2021 All-Star posted his best season in 2017, posting a 3.49 ERA through 157 1/3 innings and 32 strikeouts in 28 starts with the Diamondbacks. —Wilton Jackson
Dec. 6: Giants to Sign Mitch Haniger
The Giants have agreed to terms with veteran outfielder Mitch Haniger on a three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday evening. The contract will be worth $43.5 million with an opt-out clause after the 2024 season, per The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal. Haniger, who turns 32 in December, was limited to just 57 games last season but has been productive when able to stay in the lineup. He made the American League All-Star team in 2018 and hit 39 home runs with an .803 OPS in 2021. —Nick Selbe
Dec. 6: Cubs to Sign Cody Bellinger
Outfielder Cody Bellinger and the Cubs have reportedly agreed to a one-year contract worth $17.5 million, according to multiple reports and confirmed by Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstien. Bellinger was a top prospect for the Dodgers who was one of the league’s best hitters early in his career, winning the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year and 2019 NL MVP. However, he failed to reach 20 home runs and recorded an OPS under .660, playing his way out of the Dodgers long-term plans. —Daniel Chavkin
For more on the signing, read Nick’s analysis: Cubs Make a Sensible Bet on Cody Bellinger
Dec. 6: Rangers to Sign Andrew Heaney
Texas has agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth $25 million with with a potential opt-out in the middle, per ESPN. The contract value can increase to $37 million with incentives. Last year with the Dodgers, Heaney compiled a 4–4 record with a 3.10 ERA. The lefty started in 14 of his 16 appearances, striking out 110 batters in 72 2/3 innings. —Joseph Salvador
Dec. 6: Guardians Sign Josh Bell
After a 97–70 season and trip to the AL Division series round, Cleveland adds a solid power bat to the lineup in Bell, who spent 2022 with the Nationals and Padres after five years with the Pirates. Bell hit 17 home runs and knocked in 71 runs between the two teams, but struggled mightily after being traded to San Diego, hitting just .192 in 53 games for the team. He’ll look to regain the form he had in Pittsburgh and Washington as he heads back east on a two-year, $33 million deal with an opt out, per Jon Heyman. —Dan Lyons
Dec. 5: Dodgers Re-Sign Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw’s second consecutive trip to free agency didn’t last long after Los Angeles opted to bring the veteran lefty back on a one-year deal, a move that was reported hours after free agency last month but was announced by the team Monday. Now entering his 16th season with the Dodgers, Kershaw is coming off an injury-riddled year but still pitches like the ace he’s been throughout his career when healthy; the soon-to-be 35-year-old earned his ninth All-Star appearance this year while going 12–3 with a 2.28 ERA in 22 starts. —Jelani Scott
Dec. 5: Phillies Snag Trea Turner
Philadelphia bolstered its shortstop outlook with arguably the most sought-after player at the position in Turner, who earned All-Star nods in each of the past two seasons with the Dodgers. In 160 games last season, Turner, a 2019 World Series champion with the Nationals, recorded a .298/.343/.466 slash line, 21 home runs and 100 RBIs. —Jelani Scott
For more on the signing, read Emma Baccellieri’s analysis: Trea Turner and the Phillies Are a Perfect Match
Dec. 5: Mets Sign Justin Verlander
Verlander, who will turn 40 in February, bounced back during the 2022 season after missing most of ’20 and all of ’21 due to Tommy John surgery. This past season, he started 28 games for the Astros, going 18–4 with a 1.75 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 175 innings, culminating in his third Cy Young award and first since ’19. —Zach Koons
For more on the signing, read Tom Verducci’s analysis: The Mets Had No Choice but to Sign Justin Verlander
Dec. 3: Orioles Sign Kyle Gibson
Gibson joins a young Orioles team coming off a somewhat disappointing 2022 campaign with the Phillies. The ’21 All-Star made 31 starts and had a 10-8 record, though posted a 5.05 ERA—his second season out of the past three with an ERA north of 5.00. —Nick Selbe
Dec. 2: Rangers Land Jacob deGrom
A two-time Cy Young winner and four-time All-Star, deGrom is now headed to Arlington in a stunning move that netted the coveted ace a massive five-year deal. The oft-injured 34-year-old battled a shoulder injury prior to and throughout the 2022 campaign but managed to make 11 starts and finish the year with a 3.08 ERA and 102 strikeouts. —Jelani Scott
For more on the signing, read Tom Verducci’s analysis: Jacob deGrom’s Deal Opens MLB’s Free Agency Spigot
Dec. 2: Red Sox Sign Chris Martin
Boston greatly boosted its bullpen by signing Martin to a two-year, $17.5 million deal. The righthander had a 3.05 ERA with 74 strikeouts across 56 innings for the Dodgers and Cubs last season. He has a 3.17 ERA since 2019 and should provide stability in late innings as the Red Sox look to rebound from a last-place finish. —Nick Selbe
Dec. 1: Rays Sign Zach Eflin
The righthander had been a reliable contributor for the Phillies over the past several seasons, mostly as a starter but also getting work in relief last year during Philadelphia’s run to the World Series. He has a 4.10 ERA since 2019 and should help provide even more depth to Tampa Bay’s rotation. —Nick Selbe
Nov. 28: Astros Sign José Abreu
The 2020 AL MVP and three-time All-Star elected to leave the White Sox after nine seasons to sign a three-year deal with Houston on Nov. 28. In his last season in Chicago, Abreu recorded a career-low 15 home runs but finished the year batting .304/.378/.446 with 75 RBIs. The 35-year-old is now poised to fill in at first base in a formidable Astros lineup, and provide the defending champions with another effective slugger for a potential role as a designated hitter. —Jelani Scott
For more on the signing, read Nick Selbe’s analysis: José Abreu Signing Helps Astros Approach Evil Empire Status
Nov. 25: Pirates Sign Carlos Santana
Pittsburgh added the veteran first baseman to a one-year, $6.7 million deal. Santana hit .202/.316/.376 with 19 home runs across 131 games with the Royals and Mariners, showcasing his typical patient approach at the plate along with a continued decline in power output. —Nick Selbe
Nov. 15: Yankees Re-Sign Anthony Rizzo
After arriving to New York via a deadline deal in 2021, Rizzo has continued to provide solid production over the past year-plus, leading to back-to-back contract extensions. He finished the ’22 season ranked second on the Yankees in home runs with 32, tying a career-high, and produced a .817 OPS with 75 RBIs. —Jelani Scott
Nov. 15: Angels, Tyler Anderson Agree to Deal
The first-time All-Star turned down a qualifying offer to return to the Dodgers in favor of an hour drive down the I-5 to sign a three-year deal with the Halos. After playing for five different teams over the last four seasons, Anderson seems to have hit his stride coming off a breakout 2022 campaign in L.A. The 32-year-old posted a 15–5 record and 138 strikeouts, his most since ’18, as well as a 2.57 ERA. —Jelani Scott
Nov. 15: Giants’ Joc Pederson Accepts Qualifying Offer
Pederson chose to stay close to home this offseason after the Bay Area native re-upped with San Francisco for one more season. A free-agent signing this past March, Pederson batted .274/.353/.521 en route to earning his second All-Star selection and finishing the season as a Silver Slugger finalist. The two-time World Series champion recorded 23 home runs and 70 RBIs in 134 games. —Jelani Scott
Nov. 15: Rangers’ Martín Pérez Accepts Qualifying Offer
After a breakout season in which he made his first All-Star team, Pérez opted to take the one-year, $19.7 million deal to remain in Texas. The lefthander went 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA over 32 starts in 2022 after previously owning a career 4.71 ERA prior to. the season. —Nick Selbe
Nov. 12: Astros Re-Sign Rafael Montero
Montero blossomed into a critical late-innings reliever during Houston’s run to their second World Series title. He put up a 2.37 ERA over 71 appearances during the regular season with 14 saves, then posted a 1.93 ERA across 10 postseason games. The Astros rewarded him with a three-year, $34.5 million contract. —Nick Selbe
Nov. 10: Padres Retain Robert Suárez
San Diego’s standout righthander joined a growing list of relief pitchers who inked new deals following an impressive debut campaign. The 31-year-old Suárez, who spent 2016-20 pitching in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, struck out 61 batters and posted a 5–1 record while registering a 2.27 ERA and one save. —Jelani Scott
Nov. 10: Mets Re-Sign Edwin Díaz
After earning his second career All-Star nod in 2022, Díaz cashed in on his outstanding season by signing the largest contract ever for a relief pitcher. The 28-year-old logged 32 saves with a 1.31 ERA, 118 strikeouts and 18 walks. Díaz was also a part of MLB’s 17th combined no-hitter back in April when he closed out a historic win over the Phillies in New York. —Jelani Scott
