With so many top players in free agency this offseason, it was clear we were going to see some giant deals signed over the MLB Winter Meetings. From Aaron Judge and Trea Turner to Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander, the market has been as hot as ever – so which teams have landed a star?
After months of questioning where the star slugger will play in 2023, Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million contract on Dec. 7 to stay with the New York Yankees. It's a great day in the Bronx but a sad one in San Francisco – the Giants came so very close.
Yankees Aaron Judge hits his 62nd Home Run, setting the American League single-season record
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— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 5, 2022
During the 2022 regular season, Judge batted .311 with a 1.111 OPS and 62 home runs, an AL record for the most in a single season. The four-time All-Star has won AL Rookie of the Year (2017), AL MVP (2022), three Silver Slugger awards (2017, 2021, 2022), and the Hank Aaron award (2022), so it's no surprise that he was so highly sought after in free agency.
In spring training, Judge rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million contract extension offer from the Yankees, reportedly hoping to get a longer deal with a higher value. It turned out to be the right call, and with the Giants pushing up the numbers in free agency – they reportedly also offered Judge a $360 million contract – the Yankees had to come to the negotiating table in a big way.
New York wasn't going to let Judge walk without a fight, and $360 million with a full no-trade clause certainly proves they know his worth – even if it took them a while to work it out. With nine more years in New York, fingers are crossed Judge can add a World Series ring to his trophy cabinet soon.
Everything's bigger in Texas, including the contracts.'
On Dec. 2, the Rangers signed ace pitcher deGrom to a five-year, $185 million deal. This comes just one season after acquiring second baseman Marcus Semien (seven years, $175 million) and shortstop Corey Seager (ten years, $325 million).
Over his nine-season career with the New York Mets, deGrom went 82-57 with a 2.52 ERA and 1,607 strikeouts in 1,326 innings pitched. The two-time Cy Young winner missed the start of 2022 due to injury but returned to the Mets roster on Aug. 2 and went 5-4 with an ERA of 3.08 and 102 strikeouts through the remainder of the regular season.'
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— New York Mets (@Mets) October 8, 2022
Just a month after recording his first World Series win with the Houston Astros, Verlander is moving to New York. On Dec. 5, the ace pitcher reached a two-year, $86 million agreement with the Mets, closing the door on the rumors of him staying in Texas.
After two years away to recover from Tommy John surgery, Verlander returned in 2022 to record a 1.75 ERA with 185 strikeouts in 28 games during the regular season. He started four games during the playoffs, recording three strikeouts against the Seattle Mariners in the AL Division Series, 11 against the New York Yankees in the ALCS, and five and six in his two games, respectively, against the Phillies in the World Series.