What goes into a MLB free agent decision

TAMPA, Fla. – Regarding free agency among baseball players, and most professional athletes, misconceptions tend to abound. Given the burgeoning age of social influencers, extended media hype and inflated markets, the dynamics of a player selecting a team tend to be governed by influential preferences.

So often, both the concept and reality of a huge pay day tend to overwhelm those contemplating teams. Still others believe the chance “to win” becomes an overwhelming factor, and some seek a team for which they could fulfill a role.

Of the 400 players who signed free agent baseball contracts during the recent off-season, a prime factor remains longevity. Most sought long-term deals and others recognized their value in years ahead.

Of the principal free agents last off-season, Alex Bregman, Max Fried, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Jack Flaherty, Corbin Burns, Blake Snell and Anthony Santander dominated thinking and headlines.

“Every player wants to win, and I wanted to go somewhere I felt there was a real chance to win a World Series,” said Astros’ first baseman Christian Walker before Houston opened a three-game set with the Rays in Tampa. “For me, it was winning; winning was number one for me. Money for me is last and something like a by-product of the game.”

Given owners with considerable deep pockets and increasing revenue from media rights and merchandise, money does not appear to be in short supply. Just asked Soto, who inked a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets. That was off the 10-year, $700 million contract Shohei Ohtani signed during the 2023-2024 off-season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For others who set the bar during the last off-season, consider Fried (8-years, $218 million with the New York Yankees, and the largest contract ever to a left-handed pitcher), Corbin Burns (6-years, $210 million with Arizona), and Bregman (3-years, $120 million with Boston).

“You will get what you are worth, and I have confidence in my agent (Martini Sports Management),” Walker added, who inked a three-year deal with Houston for $60 million. “I was confident I would get what my value was. Every player wants to get what they can for their financial security. You get paid off your numbers, but this was about winning and culture. When I think of the Astros, that organization is all about winning.”

Though he did not directly admit, the Diamondbacks’ 2023 World Series appearance may have closed their window of opportunity and generated thinking for Walker toward free agency. Coming into play May 14 and opening a three-game series at Dodger Stadium, Arizona was just three games over .500 (at 25-22), sitting in fourth place in the NL West and four games behind the division-leading Dodgers.

“You notice he cares about winning,” said Houston manager Joe Spada of Walker. “He’s a perfectionist and every day he steps on the baseball field. He gives everything he has. Slow start (hitting .202 after the Astros’ first 47 games), but he’s made some adjustments and he’s coming around to the Walker we have seen in years past.”

Before signing with Houston, Walker, at 34 years old, spent his previous eight seasons with the Diamondbacks, hitting .251 during that time with 146 homers and 442 RBIs. In all, the native of Norristown, Pa., has 11 years in the majors with Baltimore, Arizona, and now Houston.

Quite a homecoming … Left-hander Colton Gordon started for the Astros on May 19 and that represented his second start in the majors. After a no-decision May 13 against Kansas City, the 26-year-old from nearby St. Petersburg took the ball and marched the mound on Steinbrenner Field in front of, he estimated, “about 50 people.” That included family, friends, and teammates from high school and three colleges, Hillsborough Community College, University of Central Florida, and the University of Florida. Gordon did not disappoint. Though he came up with another no-decision in the Astros’ 4-3 win, he displayed sharp control, and that was augmented with keen placement of pitches and effective breaking balls. In all, he threw 83 pitches and 59 for strikes. “Had my feet underneath me, great tempo, and it’s huge for me to allow (the breaking ball) to work,” he said afterward. “I can’t say enough about this team. Thery have welcomed me in and made me feel part of the team immediately.”

The mystique of Steinbrenner … with the 4-3 loss to Houton in the opener of a three-game set on May 19, the Rays dropped to 11-18 at Steinbrenner Field through their opening 47 games. “This is not home, so I really don’t know what to address,” said Tampa manager Kevin Cash on the Rays lack of winning at home. “This is a replacement home but that’s not an excuse for us not to play good baseball at any ballpark. I feel we have done everything to accommodate what we can for the players. The facility is tremendous, but we have just not played the way we would like here at this ball park. There is time to turn it around.”

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