This was a huge weekend for Major League Baseball! Three of the biggest names in baseball made giant moves. Jacob DeGrom, Justin Verlander, and Trea Turner have all found new homes.

Jacob DeGrom has played for the New York Mets his whole career but this season he won’t. On December 2nd, DeGrom shocked many by taking a 5-year-$185 million deal with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers only won 68 games compared to the Mets’ 101. Many fans were disappointed in the Mets’ lack of interest in DeGrom considering that the Mets didn’t even give a final offer to DeGrom. DeGrom has been one of if not the best pitchers in baseball over the past few years when healthy. He has a 2.52 ERA (earned run average) with 1,607 strikeouts over 209 career games. The only issue with this deal is that DeGrom is always hurt. He has missed the majority of the past three seasons with arm issues. Giving him $37 million a year is a bet that is a high risk, high reward for the Rangers. 

The next big signing was the reigning Cy Young Award Winner Justin Verlander. He’s headed to the Big Apple! Once Mets fans were even done sulking about seeing DeGrom go, the Mets went out and got Verlander. The 39-year-old signed for 2-years-$86 million with the Mets on December 5th. Verlander will reunite with Max Scherzer for the first time since they played together on the Detroit Tigers. They will both make a combined $216 million during their time with the Mets. Verlander emphasized how taken back he was when seeing the Mets’ passion and determination to win. Having two years left on Scherzer and Verlander, some would ask if there is a World Series win in the future.

This offseason brought a stacked shortstop roster. Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson, and Xander Bogaerts. Turner was the first of the bunch to sign with a team. After spending one full season on the west coast with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Turner wanted to return home to the east coast and sign with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies were searching for a new shortstop to replace Jean Segura’s departure. Segura played second base and the stud rookie Bryson Stott played shortstop all season, however, they would like to move Stott to second base. Trea Turner can play anywhere you put him. He has spent time at shortstop, second base, third base, and the outfield. There will be plenty of options for where Turner will play. The Phillies signed Turner for 11-years-$300 million on December 5th. After making it to the World Series last season, this is a great start to the offseason for the Phillies.