2017 – Wade Davis reportedly agrees to the biggest deal ever offered a relief pitcher as he signs with the Rockies for $52 million over three years. This works out to an annual salary of $17.3 million, besting the $17.2 million given by the Yankees to Aroldis Chapman last year.

Cleveland sign free agent 1B Yonder Alonso for two years, filling the hole recently created when Carlos Santana moved to the Phillies, also as a free agent. In other signings, the Brewers ink SP Jhoulys Chacin to a two-year deal and Washington adds 1B Matt Adams, pending a successful physical.

The Rays send 3B Evan Longoria, arguably the greatest player in team history, to the Giants in a trade for four players, the most prominent of whom is OF Denard Span. Longoria comes with a risk as he is due to make $86 million over the next five seasons, but his acquisition fills a huge hole as the Giants got the worst offensive production from their third basemen among all major league teams last year.

2017 – For the fourth straight year, the Dodgers are assessed the largest luxury tax payment in MLB, while the Yankees have to make a payment for the 15th straight year – in spite of going through a successful youth movement before the season. Los Angeles will have to pay $36.2 million and New York $15.7 million. Three other teams are assessed much smaller amounts.

2017 – Unhappy with the fire sale undertaken by the Marlins in the last few days, C J.T. Realmuto requests that he be traded as well, although this is unlikely to happen given he will not a be eligible for free agency for a few years yet.

Dustin Fowler, whose season with the Yankees ended after just one inning when he tore his knee at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 29th, is suing the Chicago White Sox and the ballpark for negligence. He claims the injury was caused by improper padding on a protruding electrical box, creating a “hidden and undetectable hazard” that has put his career in danger.

The Dodgers swing a big trade with the Braves, sending four players – 1B Adrian Gonzalez, SS Charlie Culberson and Ps Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy – in return for OF Matt Kemp, a former star with Los Angeles. The objective seems to be to clear some payroll to allow the Dodgers to bid on high-ticket free agents in a year’s time.

In other moves, the Angels continue to be aggressive on the market, signing free agent SS Zack Cozart to a three-year contract. With defensive wizard Andrelton Simmons already on board, Cozart will likely move to 3B. The Rangers obtain P Matt Moore from the Giants for a pair of minor leaguers and the Rockies sign free agent reliever Bryan Shaw.

The Phillies make a splash by signing free agent 1B Carlos Santana to a three-year contract worth $60 million, the biggest granted so far this off-season. The signing comes on the heel of trading SS Freddy Galvis to the Padres in return for P Enyel De Los Santos.