Today marks 60 days until MLB Opening Day, which is exciting for fans, players, management, and MLB. Baseball season is just around the corner and the MLB offseason has without question not been what we expected. Many are still waiting to see where free agents are going to be landing and for many positions to be filled for offense and defense.
60 days until #MLB Opening Day pic.twitter.com/yJy3ev5Kfy
— xCRYT0Nx (@xCRYT0Nx) January 28, 2024
Big Offseason Contracts
Yoshinobu Yamamoto × Shohei Ohtani
まだ余ってますが興味ある方おられますかね? pic.twitter.com/3bWkV15Blp
— はっち (@hachi_hawks21) January 28, 2024
Two of the biggest offseason deals that were made was the LA Dodgers signing Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani’s contract calls for $2 million in yearly salary and $68 million deferred annually with no interest, to be paid in $68 million installments between 2034 and 2043. Yamamoto’s contract has salaries of $5 million this year, $10 million in 2025, and $12 million in 2026. He gets $26 million each in 2027, 2028, and 2029, He then gets $29 million in each of the following two seasons and $28 million from 2032-2035. But Ohtani’s contract is the biggest free-agent contract in MLB history.
Iconic MLB Opening Day Players in History
Ted Williams was a .449 hitter in openers, with three home runs and fourteen runs batted in during fourteen games. Williams also recorded at least one hit in every MLB Opening Day game he appeared in. His first MLB Opening Day (April 20, 1939) was especially significant as he faced the rival New York Yankees and Lou Gehrig, who played in his 2,123rd consecutive game.
MLB Opening Day 1940 showcased high-quality pitching as Cleveland pitcher Bob Feller and White Sox pitcher Eddie Smith faced one another. Feller etched his name in the record books by throwing the only Opening Day no-hitter in MLB history.
Lastly, Hank Aaron impressed fans at Riverfront Stadium with his first swing of the 1974 season. He earned his 714th career home run, which tied Babe Ruth on the all-time list.
Free Agents Who Remain Unsigned
Many free agents still have yet to sign with a team. Over 20 of the top 50 free agents are still contemplating where to play in 2024. Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Clayton Kershaw, and J.D. Martinez are five noteworthy free agents who remain unsigned. Other players that remain unsigned include Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, Justin Turner, Tim Anderson, Hector Neris, Gary Sanchez, Michael Taylor, Tommy Pham, Gio Urshela, Hyun Jin Ryu, Ji Man Choi, Garrett Cooper, Carlos Santana, Amed Rosario, and Donovan Solano.
Closing Statement
Aside from 60 days until MLB Opening Day, there are also only 12 days until pitchers and catchers report. Then, in 25 days, Spring Training games commence. As the baseball season and MLB Opening Day for 2024 inches closer, everyone knows that a new season means a fresh start, as well as an opportunity to gain momentum early on in the season. MLB Opening Day is a very exciting time for baseball fans and players and marks the start of a long baseball season.
Photo Credit: “Opening Day Progressive Field” by Sonnett is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
