5. Max Fried signs with New York Yankees

There are many factors to look at with this trade.

First, it seems a bit desperate for the Yankees. New York signed Fried to an eight-year deal the day after it missed out on Juan Soto. It handed out a $218 million deal to the left-hander who will be 31 years old on Opening Day. At $27 million per year, this is a good deal in the short term but the Yankees will have many dead years at the end.

Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are also on long-term deals and will be making high salaries in their upper 30s. Now, add Fried to the mix. In the short term, this is a move that can help the Yankees win and that is the ultimate goal.

4. Blake Snell signs with Los Angeles Dodgers

Blake Snell was the first big-time domino to fall in free agency during the week of Thanksgiving.

Last year, Snell was unable to sign a long-term contract that he was in search of. He waited until Spring Training and landed in San Francisco. Now, after a strong season, the left-hander remains on the west coast and joins the reigning champs.

The Dodgers add Snell to a rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and eventually Shohei Ohtani.

3. Willy Adames signs with San Francisco Giants

Not only does Willy Adames help the Giants on the field but it finally lands a star in San Francisco.

This is something that the Giants have been waiting for. The front office was hot in pursuit of free agents in recent years such as Aaron Judge and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, just to name a few. The team was passed up on but made a huge big for Adames. President of baseball operations Buster Posey handed out the largest contract in team history to Adames and he is now the shortstop of the future.

The Giants are also working on improving the starting rotation. Corbin Burnes has been linked to San Francisco but nothing is done yet. The combination of both would put the Giants near the top of the offseason but for now, the Adames move remains one of the best yet.

2. Boston Red Sox acquire Garrett Crochet in trade

There was no team more desperate for a starting pitcher than the Red Sox. They watched as Max Fried and Blake Snell went off the board. Rather than panic, Boston pivoted quick and landed Garrett Crochet in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.

Boston paid the price for a 25-year-old left-hander with multiple years of control left. The Red Sox sent over four prospects, including catcher Kyle Teel, who was at the top of the farm system. The two sides are already in talks for an extension.

Boston landed one of the biggest starting pitchers available. While it wasn’t in free agency, the Red Sox got a deal done and can keep Crochet in Fenway for years to come. Boston remains in the market for another pitcher in hopes of competing in the AL East.

1. Juan Soto signs with New York Mets

It was the crown jewel of the offseason.

Juan Soto spent last season with the Yankees and made it clear that he was not signing an extension. Soto was interested in hitting free agency and it was no surprise given his value. As one of the best players in baseball since coming in at 19 years old, Soto was going to land a monster contract.

It came down to the two New York foes but Steve Cohen would not be outbid. The Mets made a franchise-altering signing with Soto. A 15-year, $765-million contract landed the All-World outfielder in Queens for the remainder of his career. And for the Mets, this proves that they will no longer be a small fish in a big pond.