Through Sunday, February 18, there have been 11 Free Agents who have garnered a new deal with an annual salary of $10 Million or more.
Here are those 11 players listed in order of highest annual salary to least. This list will grow at some point since free agents such as J. D. Martinez and Jake Arrieta remain unsigned.
To see the highest annual salaries after December 28, click here.
1. Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs
- 6 years/$126 million ($21 million/year)
The 31-year-old right-hander had a 3.86 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 31 starts with the Rangers and Dodgers in 2017, Darvish struck out 10.1 hitters per nine innings, a little lower than his career mark of 11.
2. Carlos Santana, Philadelphia Phillies
- 3 years/$60 million ($20 million/year)
Santana’s 88 walks last season were actually his least in the last seven years. The first baseman has averaged 98.4 walks a season over that time frame. Turning 32 on April 8, his 23 homers in 2017 were right around his average of 24 a year since 2011.
3. Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres
- 8 years/$144 million ($18 million/year)
Hosmer's deal has an opt-out after five years and the contract amount shrinks to $13 million a season for the final three. The 28-year-old won his fourth Gold Glove at first base in 2017 while also hitting a career-high .318 and equaling a career-best with 25 homers.
4. Wade Davis, Colorado Rockies
- 3 years/$52 million ($17.33 million/year)
Davis' new contract represents the highest annual salary ever given to a relief pitcher. Last year with the Cubs, the 32-year-old saved 32 games and had a 2.30 ERA. From 2014-16 with the Royals, his ERA was a minuscule 1.18.
5. Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee Brewers
- 5 years/$80 million ($16 million/year)
Cain, who turns 32 on April 13, hit an even .300 last season, the third time in the last four seasons he has reached that mark. The outfielder is an excellent base runner and has 96 stolen bases over the last four years (caught only 18 times).
6. Jay Bruce, New York Mets
- 3 years/$39 million ($13 million/year)
Bruce rejoins the Mets, a team that traded him to the Indians last August. With the two teams, the soon-to-be 31-year-old smacked a career-best 36 home runs. That is the fifth time in the last seven years that he has hit at least 30.
T7. Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs
- 3 years/$38 million ($12.67 million/year)
The 28-year-old Chatwood appeared in 33 games (25 starts) with the Rockies in 2017 ending with a 4.69 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. His ERA was nearly a run lower the previous season (3.87) and he was much better away from Coors Field last season (3.49 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in away games).
T7. Zack Cozart, Los Angeles Angels
- 3 years/$38 million ($12.67 million/year)
Cozart made his first All-Star appearance with the Reds in 2017.
The 32-year-old shortstop (likely will move to third base with the Angels) reached career-highs last season with his .297 average, 24 home runs, 62 walks, and 80 runs.
9. Brandon Morrow, Chicago Cubs
- 2 years/$21 million ($10.5 million/year)
Morrow (turns 34 on July 26) had a superb 2017 season out of the bullpen with the Dodgers. In 45 appearances, he had a 2.06 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and struck out 10.3 hitters per nine innings. He did not give up a single homer all of last season.
T10. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
- 1 year/$10 million ($10 million/year)
Garcia made 27 starts in 2017 with the Braves, Twins, and Yankees finishing with a 4.41 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. Garcia (turns 32 on July 8) is looking to regain the form of when he had a 2.43 ERA in 20 starts with the Cardinals in 2015.
T10. CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
- 1 year/$10 million ($10 million/year)
Sabathia, who turns 38 on July 21, is getting ready to enter his 10th season with the Yankees. The southpaw is coming off his best season since 2012 as he ended 2017 with a 3.69 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 27 starts.
