Most MLB free agents remain unsigned in the new year.
The 2020-21 MLB offseason has been extremely slow moving. While free agency in baseball doesn’t transpire at the pace of hockey, football, or basketball, it’s been very slow regardless. The biggest contract given out so far is the four year, $40.6 million deal that James McCann got from the New York Mets. Yet, the biggest names like J.T. Realmuto, George Springer, Trevor Bauer, and DJ LeMahieu remain unsigned without a contract and a team to play for.
A big reason why the offseason is going at such a slow pace is because of the financial ramifications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many owners are hesitant to spend money when they made no gate revenue from the 2020 season and that they don’t know whether fans will be allowed in stadiums for the upcoming season.
At this point last year, the top free agents in Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, and Stephen Strasburg were all signed to a combined $814 million which were all negotiated by super agent Scott Boras. The 2019-20 offseason saw over $2 billion go to the players whereas now, a combined $203 million has been earned by the ones out on the field.
Aside from the deal McCann got, the other top two earners were from the qualifying offer they accepted which was done so by Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman.
With many uncertainties remaining in regards to free agency and the 2021 MLB season, here are predictions for what could happen for the remainder of the offseason.