The beginning of the MLB season is quickly approaching. All 30 teams will compete in spring training on Feb. 21. On the night of March 25, the San Francisco Giants will host the New York Yankees. The other 28 teams will begin their season the following day, the earliest a traditional opening day has been scheduled.

Across the league, teams’ rosters are changing. While some teams are electing to be passive in the free agent market, others are making noise and spending lots of money to perform well this season. Three of the most prominent free agent signings are Bo Bichette, Pete Alonso and Kyle Tucker.

Alonso has been a dominant player since his rookie season, during which he hit 53 home runs. He also drove in 126 runs last year, more than any player in the American League. Alonso signed a contract with the Baltimore Orioles in early December worth $155 million over five years, the second-largest contract in Baltimore Orioles history. The addition of Alonso will make the Orioles more competitive in the American League East division with fierce challengers. 

Every other team in the AL East has appeared in the World Series since 2018, but the Orioles eye the pennant for the first time since 1983.

For the New York Mets, Alonso’s departure was followed by Bichette’s arrival. He signed a contract with the Mets and will earn $126 million over the next three years. Bichette batted an impressive .311 last season and was a major contributor to a Toronto Blue Jays team that almost won the World Series. The Mets appeared in the National League Championship Series in 2024, and in June 2025, they were on pace to win over 100 games. After that, the Mets struggled, missing the postseason and barely avoiding finishing with a losing record. The Mets hope to improve this season and win the NL East for the first time since 2015.

The most controversial signing was Tucker with the two-time defending World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers. He will earn a whopping $60 million per year for the next four seasons. 

Many baseball fans feel like the Tucker signing is yet another reminder of how unfair the game can be. Some teams can spend an enormous amount of money, while others face a tighter budget. As a result, a team’s payroll becomes the primary determinant of their success as opposed to their ability to identify talented young prospects and properly develop their skills in the minor leagues. 

For context, the Miami Marlins had a payroll of just under $68 million last season, which is barely more than what the Dodgers are paying Tucker. When one team can pay one player almost as much as another team pays upwards of two dozen players, there is a problem.