Camila Sosa
Major League Baseball’s 2022 free agency has been one of the busiest in recent years despite the lockout. The large number of free agents available triggered the market, and these are the five biggest contracts awarded by American League teams.
5.- Robbie Ray – Seattle Mariners
The Mariners gave Ray the second largest contract in the organization’s history by signing him to a five-season, $155-million contract, which includes an option to opt out after the third season and a no-trade clause.
Ray became a free agent after winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander came to Seattle to be the ace of the rotation after leading the young circuit in effectiveness (2.84), innings pitched (193.1), ERA+ (154) and WHIP (1.04), as well as first in strikeouts in the Major Leagues (248).
4.- Javier Báez – Detroit Tigers
In the midst of the rebuilding process, the Tigers wanted to show the team how Latin Americans do it with the arrival of Báez. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican shortstop signed with Detroit for six seasons and $140 million, the organization’s largest contract for a free agent in more than a decade.
Báez finished last season playing with the New York Mets after being traded mid-season to the Chicago Cubs, where he made his Major League debut in 2014. In 2021, despite leading MLB in strikeouts with 184, the infielder connected for .265, with 31 home runs and 87 tows.
3.- Trevor Story – Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox completed one of the biggest signings of the 2022 free agency market by acquiring the services of the experienced shortstop. Boston reached an agreement with Story for six seasons and $140 million, a pact that could be extended to seven years and $160 million if after the fourth year the team triggers the seventh-season clause and does not give the player the option to trigger the contract’s re-scission clause.
The 29-year-old agreed to play in Boston even though he will see action for the first time in his career as a second baseman, as the team’s starting shortstop in Xander Bogaerts. Story will form one of the most feared lineups in all of the Major Leagues along with J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers and Bogaerts himself.
2.- Marcus Semien – Texas Rangers
The Rangers made the two biggest 2022 free agency moves in the American League and Semien’ s contract is one of the greatest of all. The former shortstop, who won the Gold Glove last year as a second baseman, signed for seven seasons and $175 million.
Siemen just had one of the best seasons in history for a second baseman by setting a home run record with 45 home runs, in addition to playing all 162 games for the Toronto Blue Jays. In addition, he hit 39 doubles, drove in 102 runs, was called to the All-Star Game for the first time, won his first Silver Slugger and placed third in the MVP voting.
1.- Corey Seager – Texas Rangers
The 27-year-old shortstop landed, so far, the largest contract in Major League Baseball’s 2022 free agency. Seager signed with the Rangers for ten seasons and $325 million, a contract that also has a limited no-trade clause.
Since debuting with the Dodgers in 2015 Seager made waves in MLB and in 2016, his first full season, he won National League Rookie of the Year. In addition, on a couple of occasions he has won the Silver Slugger and in 2020 he was the MVP of the Division Series and the National Championship Series with the Los Angeles Angels.
