The current MLB free-agency period has been arguably the wildest one in the history of the sport.
It’s hard to remember another time where so many superstars have changed uniforms in such a short period of time.
And we’re just getting started.
Many more dominoes are going to fall before the offseason comes to an end.
Nobody should let their guard down yet.
But before any other splashes go down, we’re going to rank the three best moves made in free agency so far.
The biggest factor in these rankings is the impact each player figures to make with his new team.
3. Texas Rangers Sign Corey Seager
Look, when it comes to this particular signing, let’s start with the obvious.
The Texas Rangers paid a MASSIVE price to land Corey Seager.
The two sides agreed to a deal for 10 years and $325 million, which seems like an overpay if we’re being honest.
BREAKING: Star shortstop Corey Seager and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a 10-year, $325 million deal, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2021
But there’s no denying the player that Seager is.
The 27-year-old is going to bring an immense amount of value to a Rangers team that is having a ridiculous offseason — the organization has also signed Marcus Semien, Jon Gray, and Kole Calhoun.
Seager is a career .297 hitter with an OPS of .870 and OPS+ of 131.
He averages a bWAR of 5.1 per 650 plate appearances (for reference, 650 plate appearances is roughly one full season).
He’s a two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger.
In the 2021 season, he appeared in 95 games and slashed .306/.394/.521.
That’s elite production.
Availability has been an issue for him throughout his career, however, and that needs to change.
But if the former first-round pick can stay on the field, he — along with Texas’ other key additions this offseason — could easily take this club to the next level.
2. Seattle Mariners Sign Robbie Ray
The Seattle Mariners needed this.
The club signed Robbie Ray to a five-year deal worth $115 million on Monday.
Reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray and the Seattle Mariners are finalizing a five-year, $115 million contract with an opt-out after the third season, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2021
Seattle won 90 games in the 2021 MLB season, but it wasn’t enough for the organization to end its playoff drought.
The Mariners haven’t made the postseason since 2001, which stands as the longest active dry spell in North American pro sports.
Clearly, the franchise is ready for that to change.
By signing Ray, Seattle has already become one of the AL’s most intriguing teams on paper.
The team desperately needed rotation help, and it got it.
The Mariners posted a rotation ERA of 4.61 in 2021.
Some promising arms emerged, but the staff’s ERA ranked 19th in the majors.
With Ray, everything changes.
Seattle now has a legitimate staff ace (which it lacked) and boasts a rotation that suddenly looks pretty solid on paper.
1. New York Mets Sign Max Scherzer
Again, let’s be honest: The New York Mets paid a ridiculous price for Max Scherzer.
But if things unfold the way the Mets are hoping they will, then the deal is going to be worth every penny.
Max Scherzer’s deal with the Mets is done, per source. Three years, $130 million, an opt out after the second season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2021
New York’s 2021 rotation featured an elite one-two punch (when healthy) of Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman.
But beyond those two, the staff wasn’t very good.
And with Stroman and Noah Syndergaard now gone, the Mets had no choice but to massively address their rotation in free agency.
It’s safe to say they’ve done so.
They now boast arguably the two most dominant pitchers in MLB in deGrom and Scherzer.
Having those two guys at the top of the rotation will give opposing teams nightmares, especially in any potential playoff series.
The Mets are threats to make some noise in 2022.
NEXT: Several MLB Teams Surprising Fans With Free Agency Spending