Baseball's Free Agents 2013 - 2023

2009-2012 Free Agents / 2001-2008 Free Agents / Type A/B Free Agents

From the 19th century through 1976, baseball players were bound to one team for life because of the reserve clause. Teams could renew contracts for one year for as long as they wanted to keep the player. The beginnings of free agency began in 1969, when longtime Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood was traded to Philadelphia and refused to report. He appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court but lost, but his case put in place an arbitration system for players' union and owner disputes.

In 1975, pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally played without a contract, arguing that their contract could not be renewed if it was never signed. An arbitrator agreed, and they were declared free agents. With the reserve clause effectively abolished, the players' union and the owners then agreed to the rules governing free agency that the teams and players would follow. A player is bound to the team that drafts him for three seasons in the minor leagues. Contracts are automatically renewed on a year-to-year basis.

After three years, a player must either be on a team's 40-man roster (as he is then considered as having a major-league contract) or he is eligible for what is called the Rule 5 draft (see below). Once he has played for three seasons and is on the 40-man roster, the team then has “options” on the player. They can send him to the minors and still keep him for three additional seasons with automatic contract renewals. Each player has three option years and can be sent up and down from the minors as many times as teams see fit during that period. A player with three years or more service cannot be removed from the 40-man roster without his permission. The player can opt to be released immediately or at the end of the season. A player also can elect to become a free agent whenever he is removed from the 40-man roster, starting with the second removal of his career. After three complete minor league seasons, a team has to decide if they want to keep a player and must sign the player to a major-league contract (adding him to the 40-man roster).

Players who aren't placed on the roster are eligible for the baseball Rule 5 draft. A player can be drafted by another organization for $50,000. But there is a risk for the drafting team: They must keep that player on the 25-man major-league roster for the entire next season or he is offered back to the original team for $25,000. A player not on the 40-man roster and not taken in the Rule 5 draft remains under contract with his current organization. He can elect to become a minor-league free agent instead of being taken in the Rule 5 draft, but players want to be selected in the draft because it represents what could be a fast track to the majors, getting away from a team that does not believe he belongs on the 40-man roster.

2022-23 Free Agents

BALTIMORE (3) — Jesús Aguilar, 1b; Robinson Chirinos, c; Rougned Odor, 2b

BOSTON (5) — Nathan Eovaldi, rhp; Rich Hill, lhp; JD Martinez, dh; Matt Strahm, lhp; Michael Wacha, rhp

CHICAGO (4) — José Abreu, 1b; Elvis Andrus, ss; Johnny Cueto, rhp; Vince Velazquez, rhp

CLEVELAND (1) — Austin Hedges, c

DETROIT (2) — Tucker Barnhart, c; Daniel Norris, lhp

HOUSTON (6) — Michael Brantley, of; Jason Castro, c; Aledmys Díaz, inf-of; Yuli Gurriel, 1b; Rafael Montero, rhp; Christian Vázquez, c

KANSAS CITY (1) — Zack Greinke, rhp

LOS ANGELES (4) — Archie Bradley, rhp; Matt Duffy, 3b; Michael Lorenzen, rhp; Kurt Suzuki, c

MINNESOTA (5) — Michael Fulmer, rhp; Billy Hamilton, of; Sandy León, c; Aaron Sanchez, rhp; Gary Sánchez, c

YANKEES (9) — Andrew Benintendi, of; Zack Britton, lhp; Matt Carpenter, inf-of; Miguel Castro, rhp; Aroldis Chapman, lhp; Marwin Gonzalez, inf-of; Chad Green, rhp; Aaron Judge, of; Jameson Taillon, rhp

OAKLAND (2) — Chad Pinder, of; Stephen Vogt, c

SEATTLE (5) — Matt Boyd, lhp; Curt Casali, c; Adam Frazier, 2b; Mitch Haniger, of; Carlos Santana, 1b

TAMPA BAY (3) — Corey Kluber, rhp; David Peralta, of; Mike Zunino, c

TEXAS (5) — Kohei Arihara, rhp; Charlie Culberson, inf-of; Matt Moore, lhp; Martín Pérez, lhp; Kevin Plawecki, c

TORONTO (3) — Jackie Bradley Jr., of; David Phelps, rhp; Ross Stripling, rhp

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA (0)

ATLANTA (9) — Ehire Adrianza, inf; Jesse Chavez, rhp; Adam Duvall, of; Robbie Grossman, of; Jay Jackson, rhp; Luke Jackson, rhp; Kenley Jansen, rhp; Darren O’Day, rhp; Dansby Swanson, ss

CHICAGO (2) — Willson Contreras, c; Wade Miley, lhp

CINCINNATI (5) — Chase Anderson, rhp; Austin Romine, c; Donovan Solano, 2b; Hunter Strickland, rhp; Justin Wilson, lhp

COLORADO (5) — Alex Colomé, rhp; Carlos Estévez, rhp; José Iglesias, ss; Chad Kuhl, rhp; José Ureña, rhp

LOS ANGELES (10) — Tyler Anderson, lhp; Joey Gallo, of; Andrew Heaney, lhp; Tommy Kahnle, rhp; Clayton Kershaw, lhp; Craig Kimbrel, rhp; Chris Martin, rhp; Kevin Pillar, of; David Price, lhp; Trea Turner, ss

MIAMI (0)

MILWAUKEE (6) — Josh Lindblom, rhp; Andrew McCutchen, of; Omar Narváez, c; Jace Peterson, inf-of; Taylor Rogers, lhp; Trevor Rosenthal, rhp

METS (9) — Edwin Díaz, rhp; Tommy Hunter, rhp; Seth Lugo, rhp; Trevor May, rhp; Tyler Naquin, of; Brandon Nimmo, of; Adam Ottavino, rhp; Joely Rodríguez, lhp; Trevor Williams, rhp

PHILLIES (6) — Chris Devenski, rhp; Kyle Gibson, rhp; Brad Hand, lhp; Corey Knebel, rhp; David Robertson, rhp; Noah Syndergaard, rhp

PITTSBURGH (2) — Ben Gamel, of; Roberto Pérez, c

ST. LOUIS (2) — Corey Dickerson, of; José Quintana, lhp

SAN DIEGO (6) — Josh Bell, 1b; Mike Clevinger, rhp; Brandon Drury, inf-of; Pierce Johnson, rhp; Sean Manaea, lhp; Craig Stammen, rhp

2021-22 Free Agents

2020 Free Agents

2019 Free Agents