Since the first free-agent signing of the modern era back in 1974, there have been several free-agent deals that shook the baseball world and realigned power across the Majors. Here’s a look at several moves that changed the landscape of baseball, and in some cases were downright shocking.

2022-23: Carlos Correa signs with Twins

Correa’s first contract with the Twins, signed a year earlier, was shocking enough. But when he opted out after the 2022 season, things got much, much wilder.

First, Correa seemed to be headed to the Giants on a reported 13-year, $350 million deal. However, three hours before San Francisco was set to introduce him at Oracle Park, the club postponed its scheduled press conference as it reviewed Correa’s medicals. Then, the Mets swooped in, reaching a 12-year, $315 million contract with Correa early the next morning — but then that agreement also reportedly hit a snag in reviewing Correa’s physical. After three weeks of trying to get the deal to the finish line, news broke that Correa had reached yet another agreement: A six-year deal worth $200 million with the Twins that also includes team options for each year between 2029-32. This time, Correa passed his physical, the deal got to the finish line, and after so many twists and turns, the star shortstop returned to Minnesota.

2022-23: Jacob deGrom signs with Rangers

While the Rangers were certainly rumored to be in the mix for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, it was still a stunner when Texas inked deGrom to a five-year, $185 million contract in early December. It was the first big free-agent signing of the offseason, and it was a blockbuster. deGrom, considered by many to be the best starting pitcher on the planet when healthy, was limited to 26 starts over two seasons from 2021-22, due to an assortment of injuries, including shoulder and elbow problems. But Texas made a big splash for the second consecutive offseason (see below). This one hit an early speed bump, as deGrom made just six starts for the Rangers before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

2021-22: Kris Bryant signs with Rockies

The baseball world was stunned when Bryant, a former Rookie of the Year and MVP with the Cubs, and the Rockies reached a seven-year, $182 million deal. Colorado was coming off three consecutive fourth-place finishes in the NL West and the 2021 trade of third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals. Furthermore, star free agent shortstop Trevor Story was on his way to signing with the Red Sox. Unfortunately for the Rockies, injuries limited Bryant considerably over his first two seasons with the club.

2021-22: Marcus Semien and Corey Seager sign with Rangers

Semien bet on himself and came out on top. The 31-year-old infielder signed a one-year pact with Toronto after an abbreviated 2020 season and proceeded to hit .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs and 102 RBIs across 162 games played for the Blue Jays. After finishing third in AL MVP voting, the California native cashed out on his stellar stats by inking a seven-year pact with the Rangers worth $175 million. But that wasn’t even the biggest deal Texas struck for a middle infielder on Dec. 1, 2021 — an honor that went to Seager’s seven-year, $325 million contract that was announced on the same day. While that highly aggressive maneuver didn’t pay off immediately — the Rangers lost 94 games in 2022 — Seager and Semien helped push the team into the World Series in ’23.

2019-20: Gerrit Cole signs with Yankees

It wasn’t exactly surprising that Cole signed with the Yankees, but the size of his deal, as well as his move from one American League powerhouse — the Astros — to another were monumental. The right-hander was coming off the best season of his career, one in which he finished runner-up in AL Cy Young Award voting to teammate Justin Verlander, and he inked a nine-year, $324 million deal with New York. It was the longest deal ever given to a pitcher, as well as the most valuable.