So far the MLB Hot Stove season has been cold with no much buzz at this point. Will the big free agents sign lucrative deals in 2019.
In the last few off-seasons, we have seen the free-agent market change in the way free agents are pursued and signed. It seems that teams are going in a different direction in how they do business. Some teams are maybe reluctant to pay free agents a lot of money or get caught up in long term deals.
So that leaves some of these free agents in limbo, they take shorter deals. Big market teams are not as interested in big deals with big free agents. Even Bryce Harper and Manny Machado the last offseason did not get as much buzz as expected. Will it be the same for the free agents in 2019?
Some major free agents to watch for are Anthony Rendon, Gerrit Cole, Madison Bumgarner, Stephen Strasburg, and Zack Wheeler. But keep in mind most of these players are pitchers and in their late twenties or early thirties. As good as they are teams more reluctant to give big deals because of the risks and teams don’t want to be stuck in a deal that may not work out.
More teams want to keep their bright young stars so they are signing more contract extensions with their star players. An example would be the Colorado Rockies signing Nolan Arenado to an 8-year extension and Mike Trout signed with the Angels. The Mets found a way to keep Jacob deGrom.
The free-agent market is changing as the game changes. The lack of buzz could hurt MLB in some ways because there is less excitement to keep the fans interested in the offseason. Hopefully, some action or move comes sooner rather than later.
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