The Major League Baseball Free-Agency and Trades During the Off-season

Thalia Medina and Adam Correa

March 2, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to clinch the series. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Before the season starts in the MLB, players are going to be traded or be assigned to a new team. Many teams will have to be creative with their 2021 rosters.

Brett Gardner, who is a left fielder for the New York Yankees, has re-signed with the team making it his 14th season with the Yankees. Gardner has a career .743 OPS in 1,548 games, all with the Yankees.

The New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner celebrates after scoring a third-inning run against the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. (Howard Simmons/New York Daily News/TNS)

Another familiar player is San Diego Padres superstar Fernando Tatis, Jr., who is the shortstop for the Padres. Tatis Jr. signed a 14-year extension with the team that is worth $340 million. Dennis Lin, who is a staff writer for The Athletic, calls Tatis “the Lebron James of shortstops” because of his major deal.

The San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a double in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game 3 of the National League Wild Card series at Petco Park in San Diego on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Padres advanced with a 4-0 win. (K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)

The biggest free-agent player this year that surprised many people was George Springer, who was right fielder for the Houston Astros. Springer signed a six-year $150 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, the largest contract in Blue Jays history.

George Springer (4) of the Houston Astros leaps up but can not catch a home run ball hit by Mookie Betts (50) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (John McCoy/Getty Images/TNS)

Nolan Arenado, who played third baseman to the Colorado Rockies, also made headlines when the Rockies traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals. While he is playing for the Cardinals, the Rockies are expected to cover $50 million of the $199 million remaining on Arenado’s contract.

Texas Rangers third base coach Tony Beasley talks with Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado during the seventh inning on Sunday, July 26, 2020 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

For some fans it is disappointing when their favorite baseball player leaves their team, but for baseball players it is business.

Donate to The Telescope

Your donation will support the student journalists of Palomar College. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.