$615 million. On three players. By two teams. In one day.
It began at about 4 p.m. in Dallas on Nov. 28, when a Texas Rangers team coming off a 102-loss season agreed to terms on a seven-year, $175 million contract with Marcus Semien, a top-three finisher in MVP voting after two of the last three seasons. Twenty-three hours later, a Seattle Mariners team that hasn't reached the playoffs in two decades added reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray with a five-year, $115 million deal.