MLB free-agent frenzy: Catch up on flurry of moves as Javier Báez, Marcus Stroman, more find new homes

Diamondbacks sign Melancon

The Diamondbacks have signed veteran reliever Mark Melancon to a two-year contract, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. 

Melancon, who will celebrate his 37th birthday in March, spent last season with the San Diego Padres. He amassed a 2.23 ERA (175 ERA+) and a 2.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio to go with his 39 saves. He even made his fourth career All-Star Game.

Last season, Arizona had eight pitchers record a save, including two (Joakim Soria and Tyler Clippard) who tied for the staff lead with six apiece. Melancon should give the Diamondbacks a more steady presence in the ninth inning. 

Phillies sign Knebel

The Phillies have agreed to a deal with righty reliever Corey Knebel, reports ESPN's Jeff Passan. Contract terms are unknown but I would bet on a multi-year contract. Our R.J. Anderson ranked Knebel the No. 34 free agent this offseason. Here's his write-up:

Knebel's sales pitch is so obvious that it's deliverable in a tweet-sized message: He has big stuff, a mid-to-upper 90s carrying fastball and a wicked curve, as well as ample experience in every role that can be assigned to a modern reliever: closer, setup man, and even opener.

Knebel, 30, had a 2.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings around a lat injury this past season. Philadelphia has had bullpen problems for several years and Knebel is likely to step in as the team's closer. He's good enough to be the No. 1 guy in a contender's bullpen, though the Phillies would be wise to continue adding bullpen help.

Rangers still looking for SP

MLB.com's Jon Morosi reports the Rangers are still looking to upgrade their rotation, even after signing Jon Gray. The Athletics (Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas) and Reds (Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle) are obvious potential trade partners, though some of those players will be easier to acquire than others. Bassitt and Manaea will be free agents next offseason, it should be noted. Montas as another two years of control.

The top of the free agent pitching market has been mostly picked clean. There's the reliable Marcus Stroman, then pitchers with big upside but also big injury risk like Carlos Rodón and Clayton Kershaw. The Rangers currently have Gray and Dane Dunning penciled into their 2022 rotation. The three spots after that remain up for grabs.

Cubs sign Gomes

The Cubs have agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with catcher Yan Gomes, reports Craig Mish. Gomes was the best available catcher in a very thin free agent market, and the signing will certainly lead to speculation that Willson Contreras could be traded this offseason. Contreras is one year away from free agency and the front office has indicated he would be moved if the two sides are unable to work out a contract extension.

Gomes, 34, hit .252/.301/.421 with 14 homers between the Nationals and Athletics this past season.

Mariners extend Muñoz

The Mariners made an under-the-radar signing overnight. Seattle signed reliever Andrés Muñoz to a four-year, $7.5 million extension with three club options, the team announced. The deal covers his remaining four years of team control with club options for three free agent years. He gets a nice guaranteed payday and the Mariners get cost certainty.

Muñoz, 22, joined the Mariners in the Austin Nola trade with the Padres. He was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery at the time and returned to face two batters in the season finale this year. Muñoz throws exceptionally hard -- his average fastball was 100.1 mph in 2019, during his MLB debut and prior to Tommy John surgery -- and profiles as a high-strikeout late-inning reliever. Seattle can now use him in the closer's role without worrying about saves leading to sky high arbitration salaries.