As the 2018 MLB season nears opening day, there are a number of free agents that are at least serviceable big players who are still unemployed.

While the market for Relief Pitchers has been strong, the markets for starters and hitters has been mixed at best.

That's just one of the characteristics of the oddest Free Agency season in memory.

Let's start with the starters

The big fish in this free agency starting pitching crop were figured to be Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta. They did reel in big contracts, but not on par with other recent free agent signings.

Yu Darvish's contract of six years at $126 million is a nice payday but is significantly below the $200 million dollar neighborhood where Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke were able to land - or their agents were able to land. Jake Arrieta signed with the Phillies for $75 million dollars for three years. A year ago it was thought that getting Arrieta for four years at $100 million would be a bargain.

That's a relief

Relief pitchers have fared better. Former Cubs closer, Wade Davis, signed with the Rockies for three years for $52 million dollars, according to a CBC report. Middle relievers and setup men have also done fairly well, Case in point, the Cubs signed Steve Cisheck for two years at $13 million.

But there are exceptions to the relievers getting paid trend. Rockies 2017 closer, Greg Holland is still unsigned.

The hitters' market is hit and miss.

The market for hitters, like that of pitchers, is all over the board. Super agent, Scott Boras, touted one of his clients, J. D. Martinez, as being worthy of a $200 million dollar contract.

The Red Sox deemed him worthy $110 million for five seasons. On the other side of the coin, can anybody tell me how Eric Hosmer landed an eight-year, $144 million dollar deal with the Padres? Meanwhile, SBNation reported that his teammate of last season, third baseman, Mike Mousakas had to settle for $6.5 million dollar deal for one season with his old team, the Royals.

This was after Moose came off a 38 homer year in 2017.

Twin signings for the Twins

Some teams seem to be navigating the new free agency terrain better than others. The Twins are a case in point. The Twins had a desperate need for starting pitching and came up with some solid help in the form of Lance Lynn. Lynn went 11-8 with an ERA of 3.43. While Lynn's peripheral numbers weren't particularly strong, signing him for $12 million dollars for one season looks like an excellent move. In addition, the Twins also picked up a big bat for a relative bargain bin price. Logan Morrison launched 38 home runs and drove in 85 runs for the Rays last season. The Twins wrapped him up on a one year contract for $6.5 million dollars.

Nice work, Twins.

The only downside to the Twins signing of Lance Lynn is hoping he doesn't notice that a pitcher deemed to be somewhat in the same tier as him, Alex Cobb, signed with the Orioles for four years and $57 million dollars. Well Lance, wait till next year.