After several offseasons in which most of the big fish weren’t reeled in until well after the new year, it was a pleasant surprise this time around to see so many free agents find new homes before the calendar turned to December. In fact, 26 of SI’s initial top 50 free agents signed before the league’s collective bargaining agreement expired on Dec. 1.
And there was no lack of fireworks—among the players who already got deals done, Corey Seager (No. 2) and Marcus Semien (No. 4), both decided to join the same 100-loss ballclub.