Akshay Bhatia wins the Valero Texas Open. Bhatia earns $1.656 million million bringing his 2024 on-course earnings to $2.6 and his career on-course earnings to $5.2 million. 

Valero Texas Open Top 10 Payouts

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2024 Earnings Leaders Update

Full List

Dean Burmester wins the fifth LIV Golf event of 2024 at Miami earning himself $4 million, plus $125,000 from his team finishing third. Burmester's career LIV Golf earnings (individual + team) is now at $11.97 million.

Miami Top 10

Full Results

2024 Earnings Leaders Update

Full Results

Way ahead of the NWSL October deadline to exercise options on upcoming free agents, here’s nine potential unrestricted free agents to keep an eye on in the coming months for extensions or options exercised as teams look at their long term plans. 

Reminder, if an option is not exercised—either mutually or by the club depending on type—before the October deadline, players are free to begin negotiations with other teams.

Here’s nine players to keep an eye on, in alphabetical order:

1. Janine Beckie (Portland Thorns)

Status: Contract through 2024

Beckie signed with the Thorns back in 2022, and was really finding her groove with the squad in their run up toward the 2022 NWSL Championship. The Canadian national team midfielder tore her ACL in preseason play in 2023, causing her to miss the entirety of the 2023 season and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. 366 days post injury, Beckie returned to the pitch, scoring two goals in the season opener against Kansas City. Although she is still building up her minutes toward 90, Beckie has been instrumental in the Thorns build-up thus far this season. 

2. Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave)

Status: Contract through 2024

Coming off a 2022 SEI (Season-Ending Injury), Dahlkemper rejoined the Wave midseason in 2023 and easily fit right back in with the squad, playing a single half in her debut in a 2023 Challenge Cup match before playing 90’s in the remaining six matches for San Diego, and even scored a goal against Orlando. In 2024, she’s already played every minute for the Wave and her pairing with USWNT defender Naomi Girma already aided San Diego in winning the 2024 Challenge Cup. Dahlkemper made her return to the USWNT in December and has gotten consistent call ups since then. 

3. Debinha (Kansas City Current)

Status: Contract through 2024 with a mutual option for 2025

Debinha was the biggest move of the NWSL’s first foray into free agency in the 2022-23 offseason, and with more teams, and a higher salary cap, she’s a prime target for Kansas City to lock down to avoid a bidding war. In her first season with the Current, the Brazilian national team midfielder scored nine goals and had two assists while earning three monthly Best XI selections and a nomination for NWSL MVP in 2023. Debinha injured her hamstring on opening day, but her return to play is expected after the April FIFA window. 

4. Marta (Orlando Pride)

Status: Contract through 2024

The Brazilian national team midfielder might have announced that the 2023 FIFA World Cup was her last World Cup, but her eyes remain firmly on the upcoming Paris Olympics and her season with Orlando. She’s already started the 2024 season off with a bang, getting the 88th minute equalizer against Angel City in their second match of the new season. Marta has been with the Pride since 2017, and last season became the first player to hit over 100 appearances for the club. She’s a six time FIFA World Player of the Year and current captain of the Pride, so it’s very likely that the Pride gives her an extension for as long as she wants to continue playing.  

5. Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave)

Status: Contract through 2024 with a club option for 2025

Easily one of the most recognizable names in women’s soccer across the world, USWNT forward Alex Morgan was one of the first players that San Diego acquired as an expansion side, and won the NWSL Golden Boot in the team’s inaugural season. In 2023, Morgan started 19 matches for the Wave, with seven goals, and five assists. This season Morgan has had the game winner in the 2024 Challenge Cup, as well as the assist for San Diego’s 98th minute game winner against the Reign last weekend. As one of San Diego’s franchise players, it will be important for the Wave to keep Morgan in San Diego for future seasons. 

6. Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Status: Contract through 2024

Naeher has long been the starting USWNT goalkeeper and last season captained Red Stars in her 20 regular season starts, during which she made 80 saves. Additionally, last season she broke the NWSL record for regular season saves when she surpassed the then-record of 519 saves and she additionally became the first goalkeeper in the NWSL to record 150 regular season appearances. Chicago struggled last season, finishing at the bottom of the table, but new ownership, a new general manager, and a new coach have started the Red Stars on a 3 game unbeaten streak to start off 2024. In the three matches, Naeher has already tallied nine saves, and only allowed two goals against—the lowest number of goals against for the teams which have played three regular season matches. 

7. Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage)

Status: Contract through 2024

The Ireland national team midfielder has been with the Courage since 2017 when she was signed by the club off the waiver wire having been released by the Houston Dash. She was named the captain ahead of the 2023 season where she was also named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team. She had 21 starts for North Carolina in 2023, was an instrumental part of their midfield, creating 17 chances, and only was subbed off twice in the entire regular season. This past offseason, she was linked with interest from several WSL (Women’s Super League - England) clubs. 

8. Christen Press (Angel City)

Status: Contract through 2024

Press was the first player added to the expansion side Angel City FC’s roster ahead of their inaugural 2022 season, and the contract reportedly made her one of the highest-paid players in NWSL history — at the time of signing. She currently holds the record for most results changing 85th minute or later goals in the NWSL at five alongside Sam Kerr. In 2022, she only played in eight games before tearing her ACL, and the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time, as Press’s 2021 form was immaculate, and she was the bright spot of the Angel City attack. Unfortunately the road to recovery for the injury was not easy. Four surgeries later, Press missed the entirety of the 2023 season as well as the chance to join the USWNT at the FIFA World Cup last summer. She is currently back training with the LA-based side full time and has posted herself doing lateral movement on grass in cleats, one of the milestones on her way to being game fit. 

9. Morgan Weaver (Portland Thorns)

Status: Contract through 2024 with a 2025 club option 

Weaver might not be the Thorns leading goalscorer, but she is absolutely pivotal in her role in and her pairing with Sophia Smith in the Portland attack. In 2023 Weaver started all 22 regular season matches as well as the semifinal, scoring seven goals and getting four assists. She was additionally named to the NWSL Best XI of August. The current season seems to be more of the same, with Weaver having scored the 52nd minute goal against Louisville last weekend to start a Thorns comeback. Weaver has played in every single minute of the Thorns’ season thus far. 

Note: 

Sophia Smith would’ve been on this list but her contract was extended last week through 2025 with a player option for 2026. The first ever player option in NWSL history. 

Related:

NWSL Transactions

The Bills pulled a (mild) April stunner in agreeing to trade WR1 Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, sending a somewhat settled NFL world back into a bit of a frenzy. Buffalo also attached a 2025 5th round pick, & a 2024 6th round pick to Diggs in the move, acquiring a 2025 2nd round pick as the lone asset coming back. The trade comes loaded with impacts from every angle, and we’ll dive into them all here.

Initial Thoughts

One of the larger reasons many assumed Diggs’ role with Buffalo was secure for the 2024 season was his $31.096M trade dead cap figure. This number is comprised of three years of unallocated signing bonus proration, 4 years of unallocated option bonus proration, & 4 years of unallocated salary conversion proration. In other words, this isn’t a number that the Bills can have another team “pay down” for them in any manner. Buffalo has paid these three bonuses to Stefon Diggs, and must now take on the subsequent salary cap for it.

Had this trade been processed after June 1st, Buffalo could have split this $31M figure up into $8.84M for the upcoming 2024 season, then $22.2M for the 2025 campaign. But there are two reasons the Bills opted not to go this route:

First, the 2024 NFL draft is just 22 days away, and it’s loaded with highly projected WR talent. Adding a 2nd round pick to their arsenal now bolsters their ability to move around as needed to ensure they lock in a viable addition to the WR room going forward.

Second, Bills GM Brandon Beane has been fairly transparent in using the word “reset” in regards to the 2024 season. Some have taken this to mean that the Bills no longer consider themselves viable contenders, but the word can & should also be applied to the financial side of the Bills’ process. Buffalo has been outspoken about offering more than few of their core players “pay cut or else” ultimatums this offseason. A few have bought in (Von Miller, Rasul Douglas, Dawson Knox), while others have fallen off of the roster (Mitch Morse, Deonte Harty, Jordan Poyer). Taking the $31M hit all in 2024 coincides with Buffalo’s plan to purge on the fly, opening up 2025 to be a much more aggressive “buyers” window for them.

Financial Impact to Buffalo

Diggs’ $31.096M dead cap hit for 2024 means the Bills took a $3.2M cap loss in processing this trade. It also represents the largest single-season dead cap hit by any non QB, and the 6th biggest in NFL History.

Largest Single Season Dead Cap Hits

• Russell Wilson, $53M
• Matt Ryan, $40.5M
• Aaron Rodgers, $40.3M
• Tom Brady, $35.1M
• Carson Wentz, $33.8M
• Stefon Diggs, $31M

The dead hit also represents the largest cap hit on the current 2024 Bills Salary Cap Table, surpassing Josh Allen’s $30.3M number.

With all this said, the Bills immediately free up $27.3M of 2025 cap space per this move, not to mention shedding $19M of cash set to be paid out to Diggs for the upcoming 2024 season. The Bills now head toward the draft with around $4M of Top 51 cap space. They’ll open up another $10.2M of room on June 2nd after CB Tre’Davious White’s Post June 1st Designation fully processes.

In total, Buffalo paid Stefon Diggs $78.9M for 4 years of service, reeling in 445 catches (37 touchdowns) in 66 regular season games for the Bills.

Financial Impact to Houston

The Texans acquire Diggs with 4 years, $75M remaining on his current contract, but only $18.5M (all in 2024) is fully guaranteed right now. The deal very much becomes year-to-year after the upcoming season, and if the worst case scenario unfolds over the next calendar year, Houston can walk away from the contract taking on zero dead cap next March (assuming no salary cap conversions are processed on the 2024 salary).

Stefon Diggs Traded Contract
2024: $19.005M ($18.5M guaranteed)
2025: $18.505M ($3.5M guarantees next March)
2026: $19.6M
2027: $18M

Digg’s $19M cap hit becomes Houston’s 2nd largest figure for the upcoming season, behind only OT Laremy Tunsil’s $25.8M number.

Houston sees its Top 51 cap space drop down to around $12M with the acquisition of Diggs, making it likely that they’ll process a salary conversion or two (or move on from a contract or two) in the coming weeks. 

The Free Agent Wide Receiver Market

Is there a viable replacement for Stefon Diggs left in free agency? No. But there are at least a name or two worth staring at until your eyes cross.

Odell Beckham Jr, Tyler Boyd, Michael Gallup, Hunter Renfroe, Michael Thomas, Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Full List of Available WRs

The Wide Receiver Trade Market

Tee Higgins (CIN, 25)

Easily the “best” option reportedly available, but it seems highly unlikely that the Bengals would accept any offer here that bolstered Buffalo’s chances. It’s not impossible, but it seems close. We’ve got Higgins on a 4 year, $104M extension right now.

Allen Lazard (NYJ, 28)

Not exactly what the Bills need in terms of fit, and the fully guaranteed $10M salary for 2024 certainly doesn’t help. This doesn’t feel like a move any NFL team will be rushing to make.

Brandon Aiyuk (SF, 26)

Now we’re onto something. Nobody outside of the Niners front office really knows just how real the exit rumors this offseason are. Aiyuk may be looking for a larger role and subsequently a better extension offer, but San Francisco isn’t obligated to make a move if they don’t want to. For now, he carries a $14.1M fully guaranteed option salary in 2024 (far more salary cap than the Bills can acquire at the moment). Would that 2025 2nd round pick be enough to peak San Fran’s interest? Spotrac puts Aiyuk on a 4 year, $96M extension at the moment.

Concluding Thoughts

One of the bigger takeaways here isn’t so much the teams or people involved, but rather the numbers attached to this transaction. Would the Bills have pulled this trigger if the league salary cap hadn’t ballooned even more than front offices were expecting it to?

The fact is, the health of the league, and savviness of NFL GMs & salary cap manager, & the recent bolstered depth of NFL draft classes (especially at the WR position), have afforded teams the ability to stretch their limits with situations like this. 5 years ago, this trade isn’t even a thought from the team’s perspective.

Furthermore, Buffalo’s “reset” plan for the 2024 season is an indication that Brandon Beane is serious about not wanting to run his franchise in a true “continually push cap down the line” manner. He’s shown us in certain instances that he’ll convert a salary or two to make a move work in his favor - but the teams that truly make conversions their lifeline (Philly, New Orleans) simply never have an offseason like the Bills are going through right now.

If the Bills can remain relevant in the AFC (or even the division), it’ll be another checkmark next to this roster construction template on the list, showing that dead cap isn’t something to be ashamed of (in all cases), rather a signal that change is necessary, and that making more correct decisions than incorrect ones can keep a team “in the window” - despite what the masses may outwardly state.

Stephan Jaeger wins the Texas Children's Houston Open. Jaeger earns $1.638 million million bringing his 2024 on-course earnings to $2.77 and his career on-course earnings to $7.70 million. 

Texas Children's Houston Open Top 10 Payouts

Full Results

2024 Earnings Leaders Update

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Opening Day is upon us (amidst the rain for much of the east coast), and so too is our annual MLB Opening Day Financial Primer. We’ll recap the signings & trades from the offseason that was, project payrolls for each team going forward, and point out notable free agents for 2025 as well.

Notable Free Agent Signings

From Shohei Ohtani to Jordan Montgomery, this past winter saw plenty of eyebrow-raising moments for one reason or another. Spotrac details the biggest free agent contracts in a deep dive piece here: Recapping MLB Free Agency

2023-24 Free Agency Totals

With the regular season now here, we can put close on a 5 month free agency window that included 130 major league contracts for a combined total of $2.88 billion. If we exclude the massive pay days for Shohei Ohtani ($700M) & Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325M), this figure drops down to $1.86 billion across 128 contracts.

Last 5 Free Agency Totals
2024: $2.88B
2023: $3.9B
2022: $3.2B
2021: $1.4B
2020: $2.1B

2024 MLB FREE AGENCY

Offseason Spending

When factoring in free agent signings, internal contract extensions,  & arbitration results from this past winter, these days led the way in terms of 2023-24 offseason spending.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers, $1.26B
2. Kansas City Royals, $413M
3. San Francisco Giants, $361M
4. Philadelphia Phillies, $341M
5. Houston Astros, $273M

These teams kept their foot on the brake pedal this winter…

• Oakland Athletics, $26.7M
• Minnesota Twins, $27.3M
• Washington Nationals, $28.2M

VIEW MORE OFFSEASON TOTALS

Offseason Trades

87 trades hit the books between November 1st & March 28th, most of them on the smaller side, plenty of them including cash considerations to offset another move, but a few of them certainly seem impactful on the surface:

Dodgers Acquire SP Tyler Glasnow
This seems like it could very well be an “everybody wins” move out of the gate. Tampa Bay was never going to live with a $25M salary for Glasnow (or anybody for that matter), and the Dodgers had an opening to take on a high-level starting pitcher this winter (they ended up with 2). LA extended Glasnow to a 5 year, $136.5M contract upon acquiring him. Pepiot made the Rays’ rotation out of camp.


Yankees Acquire OF Juan Soto
A move that has long been rumored finally came to fruition. Soto will spend his walk year in a park that will have a lot of trouble holding his fly balls. Not a bad way to lead into your first big pay day. Michael King is already settled into the Padres rotation.


Orioles Acquire SP Corbin Burnes
The Orioles didn’t make the free agency splash some were hoping for, but bringing in Burnes to play out his walk season in Baltimore is plenty to hang your hat on (for now). This trade included a rare competitive balance draft pick move (the only type of draft pick allowed to be acquired in MLB).


Padres Acquire SP Dylan Cease
Despite rumors all over the east coast, San Diego swooped in late to acquire Cease from the White Sox. Cease has two more arbitration seasons (2024/2025) ahead of him, making this one of the more impactful acquisitions of the winter.

VIEW ALL TRADES

Opening Day Payrolls

Spotrac is now projecting out full tax payrolls for each team (including their 40-man allocations, minor league salaries, retained salary, etc…). The first tax threshold for the 2024 season comes in at $237M. Any team above this figure is considered a tax-paying team, and there are different levels of penalties based on where a team ends up with the payroll at the year-end. Those thresholds fall at $237M, $257M, $277M, & $297M this season.

Based on our Opening Day estimates, the Mets are set to carry a $336.5M tax payroll into the season, $14M more than the 2nd place Dodgers ($322M), & $27M more than the 3rd place Yankees ($309M). In total, 9 teams are currently projected as a tax team for 2024.

VIEW TAX PAYROLLS

In terms of cash spending, the Yankees ($303M) enter the season with the highest allocation, slightly higher than their cross-town rival Mets ($301M), and the heavily-invested Dodgers ($295M). The Marlins ($100M), Pirates ($92M), and of course Athletics ($66M) enter the year at the bottom of the barrel for now.

VIEW CASH PAYROLLS

2023 vs. 2024 Opening Day Tax Payrolls

Opening Day Starting Pitchers

Getting the nod to take the hill for the first game is still an honor (even if injuries impact so many teams in this regard out of the gate). We've collected the official list of Opening Day starters, making note of each player's salary for the upcoming season. The pitchers range from Tyler Glasnow's $25M with the Dodgers, down to Josiah Gray & Cole Ragan's near minimum salaries with the Nationals & Royals respectively. VIEW 2024 STARTING PITCHER SALARIES

Minimum Salary

The minimum salary for the 2024 MLB regular season comes in at $740,000. The most recent CBA instituted $20,000 increases annually on this figure. Nearly every 1st year player will earn this (or a prorated amount of it) salary for the upcoming season. Most players still in the pre-arbitration portion of their careers will earn at or slightly above this number until they become arbitration eligible in their 4th service year. VIEW MORE

Trade Deadline

This year’s trade deadline is set for Tuesday July 30th, and could include plenty of firepower based on the below list of notable expiring contracts.

Notable 2025 Free Agents

It's never to early to start thinking about next winter. These players are on the must-watch list as they enter a contract season in 2024. VIEW ALL 2025 MLB FREE AGENTS

Starting Pitchers

Corbin Burnes, Shane Bieber, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Luis Severino, Max Fried, Nick Pivetta, Blake Snell, Sean Manaea

Relief Pitchers

Paul Sewald, AJ Minter, Scott Barlow, Ryan Pressly

Infielders

Pete Alonso (1B), Gleyber Torres (2B), Alex Bregman (3B), Christian Walker (1B), Willy Adames (SS), Paul Goldschmidt (1B), Danny Jansen (C), Yoan Moncada (3B), Cody Bellinger (1B)

Outfielders

Juan Soto, Teoscar Hernandez, Anthony Santander, Alex Verdugo, Tyler O'Neill

The Portland Thorns today announced that forward Sophia Smith had signed an extension with the club through 2025 with a player option for 2026. This is huge for the Thorns as Smith was going to be a free agent at the end of the season without the extension in place. It is also the first time that a contract option has been announced as a player option and not a club or mutual option. 

Smith is the youngest MVP in NWSL history as well as the reigning Golden Boot champion. In a team release Smith stated, “I’m excited to call Portland home and extend my time with the Thorns.” Last year she accounted for over 25 % of all of the Thorns regular season goals as well as assisting in an additional 12%.

“We are over the moon to have Soph commit again to the Thorns. She is a proven, world class talent and one that we are excited to have contributed to the team’s continued success,” said Head Coach Mike Norris in a team release. “We look forward to working with her in a Thorns jersey as she continues to shine as one of the top strikers in the world.”

As the Thorns top offensive contributors and the current face of the franchise, it was important for the Thorns to lock down Smith into a longer contract to avoid the potential bidding war of free agency or the allure of Smith playing abroad in Europe. The player option for 2026 does definitely leave the door open for Smith to head across the pond in the future.

With the NWSL regular season underway and no shortage of chaos and excitement in every single match, now’s the time to look at how roster’s evolved over the last four months of the offseason. The 2024 offseason was unique in the fact that for the first time, the NWSL’s version of free agency would come into play during an expansion year, and the dreaded expansion draft.  

In a normal year, there would likely be slightly more returners per team, but this season there’s only an average of 18.25 returners per team for the 12 squads from last season. Angel City, North Carolina, and Orlando round out the top all with 21, while Chicago had the fewest returners on their first matchday roster at 14. 

Understandably, expansion sides Bay FC and Utah are composed mostly of players picked up from the NWSL expansion draft, trades, and free agency. Bay was also the most active team in getting teams from abroad at seven, while Portland was second at five – three of which were defenders. After having the third most goals scored against them in the league last year, Portland’s focus on defense comes to no surprise. Even though reigning NWSL Champions NJNY Gotham FC had a large number of returning players, they were also the team most active in the signing of additional free agents, and had seven additions, two more than any other returning squad.

The 2024 NWSL Collegiate Draft saw 56 players drafted to NWSL sides prior to preseason starting, 40 of those ended up signing with squads for the upcoming season. Utah and Washington both led the charge signing five each, while Chicago and Bay both had four in close second. Washington and Chicago are both coming into the season with new coaches and the high number of draft signings indicates just how the new staffs plan on moving forward.  

Although preseason rosters are often stacked with non-rostered invitees (NRI’s) attempting to earn one of the 364 active roster spots in the league, this offseason only 10 signed. Bay FC and Chicago both had two, while six squads didn’t end up signing any. 

A more in-depth part of the returning players analysis was done by Dr. Arianna Cascone below by looking at the percentage of minutes played returning per team. 

As you can see, on top of having 21 players return, both Angel City and Orlando also had 77.8% of their 2023 minutes played return to their squads. Chicago, who felt another offseason exodus of free agents— losing six —is the only squad below 50% on the chart. All this being said, Chicago is also the only squad who started off the regular season with two straight wins. Only time will tell if general managers and coaches have the right mix of players, culture, and tactics to win the NWSL Shield 24 games from now.

Related:

NWSL Transactions

NWSL 2024 Draft Tracker

Unlike the NFL or NBA where free agency is basically a 48-hour television show, MLB’s offseason and subsequent free agency comes at us like a slow-dripping faucet. With Opening Day now upon us, we’ll dive into every free agent contract signed this past winter that carries a total value guarantee of at least $25M, including all of the conditions, options, bells, & whistles included in each.

RELATED: MLB Free Agent Contracts

Shohei Ohtani (DH/SP, Dodgers)

10 years, $700,000,000

Ohtani landed a truly historic contract with the Dodgers back on December 9th, including a mesmerizing $680M of deferred cash. The result? A $70M per year contract now accounts for just $46,081,476 on LAD’s annual tax payroll for the next 10 seasons. Ohtani will earn $2M cash per year through 2033, then $68M cash each July 1st from 2034-2043. In addition, Ohtani has secured a full no trade clause, & he will be granted the ability to opt-out of the contract if controlling owner Mark Walter, or President Andrew Friedman are no longer with the Dodgers. He may also have the right to contest his future on the contract if he feels the Dodgers are not actively trying to keep a competitive roster around him at any point in time.

You know, but other than that, this is just your typical free agent contract.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, Dodgers)

12 years, $325,000,000

The biggest international fish in the free agency pool also landed in LA, shattering previous contract values for players coming from outside leagues. Yamamoto’s deal comes with $55M cash in 2024 ($50M signing bonus plus $5M salary). When combined with a $50.625M posting fee that the Dodgers paid out to his former club Orix, this becomes a $105.625M investment for the upcoming season. Again - historic. Yamamoto will see $155M over the first 6 seasons of the contract before a player opt-out becomes available to him. There’s another opportunity to bail out after the 2031 season (8 years, $213,000,000). Yamamoto enters 2024 as the 9th highest average paid starting pitcher in baseball.

Aaron Nola (SP, Phillies)

7 years, $172,000,000

The Phillies wasted no time bringing back their former 1st round pick, locking in Nola through his age-37 season in 2031. There are no options, no opt-outs, and the 30-year-old secured a full no trade clause with the deal. It’s also a nice and easy $24,571,429 per year structure. Nola enters the 2024 season as the 13th highest average paid starting pitcher in baseball.

Jung-hoo Lee (OF, Giants)

6 years, $113,000,000

The 25-year-old leaves South Korea for a deal that pays him $12M in 2024 ($5M signing bonus, $7M salary). In addition, the Giants sent Lee’s former team (Kiwoom Heroes) an $18.825M posting fee, making this a $30M investment for the upcoming season. Lee will secure $72M over the next 4 seasons before an opportunity to opt-out becomes available. He enters April as the 5th highest average paid center fielder in baseball.

Josh Hader (RP, Astros)

5 years, $95,000,000

After plenty of teams chimed in, Hader opted to join one of the best teams in baseball, further fortifying a Houston roster that has annually been in contention. Hader secures a flat $19M each year through 2028 (his age 34 campaign), and a full no trade clause to help dictate his future. He becomes the 2nd highest average paid closer in MLB history, behind only Edwin Diaz ($20.4M).

Cody Bellinger (1B/OF, Cubs)

3 years, $80,000,000

After securing $17.5M in what was deemed his “showcase season” in 2023, Belling returns to the Cubs on a contract that now at least provides him a multi-year guarantee - if he so chooses. This 3 year, $80M contract contains a player opt-out after 1 year, $27.5M (+ a $2.5M buyout), then another player opt-out after 2 years, $55M (+a $5M buyout). So, in essence this is either a 1 year, $30M deal, or a 2 year, $60M deal, or a 3 year, $80M deal. 

Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, Diamondbacks)

4 years, $80,000,000

After shunning the Dodgers at the deadline, E-Rod joined another NL West team this past winter. The $80M guarantee consists of $76M across the next 4 seasons, plus a $6M buyout on a potential vesting option for the 2028 campaign. In full, this contract could max out at 5 years, $93M including innings incentives. Somewhat surprisingly, Rodriguez will earn the same $14M salary in 2024 that he secured with the Tigers in 2023.

Sonny Gray (SP, Cardinals)

3 years, $75,000,000

It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a career for Gray, who just completed a 5 year, $48M contract with Cincinnati/Minnesota combined, but the now 34-year-old will be asked to step in and solidify a shaky Cardinals rotation. His $75M guaranteed consists of $70M over the next 3 seasons, plus a $5M buyout on a 2027 club option. If exercised, this becomes a 4 year, $100M deal in full.

Blake Snell (SP, Giants)

2 years, $62,000,000

Despite early reports that multiple teams were offering blockbuster deals to Snell, the Boras-led pitcher opted for a short-term cash grab with the up and coming Giants. This is a 1 year, $32M contract with a player opt-out available after 2024. $17M of that $32M comes via a signing bonus which is deferred until January of 2026, lowering his present day tax salary from $31M to $29.7M. If he opts-in to the remaining 1 year, $30M, $15M of that salary is deferred to 2027. It’s a lot of ifs and maybes for arguably the best available pitcher on the open market this winter.

Matt Chapman (3B, Giants)

3 years, $54,000,000

Reportedly seeking a 5-6 year guarantee this winter, Chapman settled for a 3 year deal that includes a 4th year mutual option - but also contains player opt-outs after every season. Taking that into consideration, this becomes either a 1 year, $20M contract, a 2 year, $38M contract, a 3 year, $54M contract, or a 4 year, $73M contract. There’s a world where he and the Giants just led this one ride all the way out.

Seth Lugo (SP, Royals)

3 years, $45,000,000

Lugo declined a $7.5M player option with the Padres for 2024, instead securing $45M fully guaranteed through the 2026 season. He’ll have the ability to opt-out after 2 years, $30M if he feels a multi-year-guarantee opportunity could exist going forward.

Jeimer Candelario (3B, Reds)

3 years, $45,000,000

After a wildly successful 2023 both with Washington & the Cubs that earned him $5M total, Candelario scored a major raise that includes $72M through 2026, plus a $3M buyout on a 2027 team option. In full, this contract could max out at 4 years, $60M.

Jordan Hicks (SP, Giants)

4 years, $44,000,000

Despite just 8 career starts, the Giants handed Hicks $44M fully guaranteed this winter to join their rotation going forward. The 27-year-old made 65 appearances last season with the Cardinals and Blue Jays, posting a solid 3.29 ERA for his efforts. He can add $2M per year based on innings pitched, raising the max value of this deal up to $52M over 4 seasons.

Jorge Soler (DH, Giants)

3 years, $42,000,000

Soler declined a $9M player option with Miami for the 2024 season, instead locking in $42M through 2026, including $16M for the upcoming campaign ($9M signing bonus, $7M salary). The barely 32-year-old should have plenty of home run swings left in the tank even after this deal expires.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (OF, Diamondbacks)

3 years, $42,000,000

Gurriel rejoins Arizona on a $42M guarantee that consists of $37M through the 2026 season, plus a $5M buyout on a $14M club option. This makes this deal a 4 year, $51M contract for max purposes, but a player opt-out opportunity after 2025 also leaves the possibility for a 2 year, $24M scenario as well.

Lucas Giolito (SP, Red Sox)

2 years, $38,500,000

After bouncing around a bit the past 2 seasons, Giolio was looking to secure his career in Boston, potentially as a top of the rotation place setter. Those hopes were quickly dashed when the 29-year-old suffered an elbow injury that required immediate surgery. Contractually, this is a 2 year, $37M contract plus a $1.5M buyout on a $14M vesting option in 2026. Giolito had also secured a player opt-out after the 2024 season, but that now seems highly unlikely.

Marcus Stroman (SP, Yankees)

2 years, $37,000,000

Stroman’s stock dipped down the stretch in 2023, leaving many to believe that he’d opt-in to a $21M salary with the Cubs for 2024. He declined it, securing at least $37M over the next 2 seasons. If he pitches 140 innings this upcoming season, an $18M player option will be tacked on for 2026.

Rhys Hoskins (1B, Brewers)

2 years, $34,000,000

An ACL tear early on in 2023 devastated what was building up to be a really nice first run into free agency for Hoskins. He instead opts for an identical salary to his 2023 payout ($12M), with the ability to control his destiny thereafter. This is a 1 year, $12M contract out of the gate, a 2 year, $34M contract if he opts-in, with the potential for a 3 year, $48M deal if both sides agree to run this thing all the way out.

Robert Stephenson (RP, Angels)

3 years, $33,000,000

Stephenson has been inconsistent at best over 8 MLB seasons, but the Angels are (clearly) banking on him to settle in as a late game (possible closer) reliever for the foreseeable future. The 31-year-old will secure $11M in each of the next 3 seasons.

Michael Wacha (SP, Royals)

2 years, $32,000,000

Wacha declined a 2 year, $32M option in San Diego for a 2 year, $32M contract in Kansas City. Maybe the nice weather was too boring for him? The 32-year-old can opt-out after 1 year, $16M.

Reynaldo López (SP, Braves)

3 years, $30,000,000

Despite 18 starts over the past 4 seasons in Chicago/Cleveland, Atlanta brought in Lopez to compete for their 5th rotation spot. The $30M guarantee consists of $26M through 2026, plus a $4M buyout on a club option in 2027. The contract can max out at 4 years, $34M.

Sean Manaea (SP, Mets)

2 years, $28,000,000

Manaea declined a $12.5M option in San Francisco to secure a multi-year guarantee this winter. He’ll earn $14.5M for the upcoming season in New York, then can opt-out of the final 1 year, $13.5M if he wishes. 

Nick Martinez (SP, Reds)

2 years, $26,000,000

Martinez has been a hybrid pitcher for the better part of 6 seasons, now making 9 starts but 63 total appearances with San Diego last year. He declined a 2 year, $32M player option with the Padres this past winter, but couldn’t find stronger value on the open market. A good 2024 in Cincinnati will give him a chance to opt-out after 1 year, $14M, and reset his financial value.

Jordan Montgomery (SP, Diamondbacks)

1 year, $25,000,000

Better late than never. After much deliberation, Montgomery joined the defending runner-up D-Backs on a 1 year, $25M guarantee that vest to 2 years, $50M in total through 2025. If he posts 10 starts in 2024, Montgomery will have the ability to opt-out of the contract and hit the open market again next winter. If he decides to hang around, the 2025 salary is conditioned as follows: $20M with 10-17 starts this season, $22.5M with 18-22 starts this season, $25M with 23+ starts this season.

Peter Malnati wins the Valspar Championship. Malnati earns $1.512 million million bringing his 2024 on-course earnings to $2.10 and his career on-course earnings to $9.96 million. 

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