Free agency came about in 1976 when 244 players refused to sign contracts and opted for, at season’s end, the right to participate in a re-entry draft. That draft took place in New York on November 4. Clubs were permitted to select players with whom they could negotiate. There was no compensation for clubs who lost players in this draft. In later years, the draft was abolished and compensation was required.
Other than signing their own players who had opted for free agency, and free agent players signed after being released by Toronto, the following players signed and we’re placed at minimum on the 40-man roster:
| Year | Player Signed | From |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 |  Miguel Batista |
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS |
| Valerio De Los Santos |
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES | |
| Pat Hentgen |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES | |
| Kerry Ligtenberg |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES | |
| Chris Gomez |
MINNESOTA TWINS | |
| Terry Adams |
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES | |
| Corey Koskie |
MINNESOTA TWINS | |
| 2005 | Billy Koch |
FLORIDA MARLINS |
| Scott Schoeneweis |
CHICAGO WHITE SOX | |
| B.J. Ryan |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES | |
| A.J. Burnett |
FLORIDA MARLINS | |
| Bengie Molina |
LOS ANGELES ANGELS | |
| 2006 | Jean Machi | TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS |
| Matt Roney | OAKLAND ATHLETICS | |
| Frank Thomas |
OAKLAND ATHLETICS | |
| Royce Clayton |
WASHINGTON NATIONALS | |
| John Thomson | ATLANTA BRAVES | |
| Tomo Ohka |
MILWAUKEE BREWERS | |
| 2007 | David Eckstein |
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS |
| Rod Barajas |
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES | |
| 2009 | Alex Gonzalez |
BOSTON RED SOX |
| John Buck |
KANSAS CITY ROYALS | |
| Kevin Gregg |
CHICAGO CUBS | |
| 2010 | Jose Molina |
NEW YORK YANKEES |
| Nick Green |
LOS ANGELES DODGERS | |
| 2011 | Octavio Dotel |
COLORADO ROCKIES |
| Jon Rauch |
MINNESOTA TWINS | |
| 2012 |  Darren Oliver |
TEXAS RANGERS |
| Francisco Cordero |
CINCINNATI REDS | |
| Rick Vandenurk | BALTIMORE ORIOLES | |
| 2013 | Maicer Izturis |
LOS ANGELES ANGELS |
| Melky Cabrera |
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | |
| Henry Blanco |
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | |
| Mark DeRosa |
WASHINGTON NATIONALS | |
| Chien-Ming Wang |
NEW YORK YANKEES | |
| 2014 | Dioner Navarro |
CHICAGO CUBS |
| 2015 | Russell Martin |
PITTSBURGH PIRATES |
| Ezequiel Carrera |
DETROIT TIGERS | |
| Felix Doubront |
CHICAGO CUBS | |
| 2016 | Scott Diamond |
TAMPA BAY RAYS |
| Franklin Morales |
MILWAUKEE BREWERS | |
| Gavin Floyd |
CLEVELAND INDIANS | |
| 2017 | Mike Ohlman |
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS |
| Kendrys Morales |
KANSAS CITY ROYALS | |
| Steve Pearce |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES | |
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia |
DETROIT TIGERS | |
| 2018 | Curtis Granderson |
LOS ANGELES DODGERS |
| John Axford |
OAKLAND ATHLETICS | |
| 2019 | Matt Shoemaker |
LOS ANGELES ANGELS |
| Freddy Galvis |
SAN DIEGO PADRES | |
| Clay Buchholz |
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | |
| Eric Sogard |
MILWAUKEE BREWERS | |
| 2020 |  Tanner Roark |
OAKLAND ATHLETICS |
| Hyun Jin Ryu |
LOS ANGELES DODGERS | |
| 2021 | George Springer |
HOUSTON ASTROS |
| Marcus Semien |
OAKLAND ATHLETICS | |
| 2022 | Yimi García |
HOUSTON ASTROS |
| Yusei Kikuchi |
SEATTLE MARINERS | |
| 2023 | Kevin Kiermaier |
TAMPA BAY RAYS |
| Chris Bassitt |
NEW YORK METS |
| Year | Player Signed | From |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 |  Luis Gomez |
ATLANTA BRAVES |
| 1984 | Dennis Lamp |
CHICAGO WHITE SOX |
| 1985 | Gary Allenson |
BOSTON RED SOX |
| 1989 | Bob Brenly |
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS |
| Tom Lawless |
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS | |
| 1991 | Ken Dayley |
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS |
| Pat Tabler |
NEW YORK METS | |
| 1992 | Jack Morris |
MINNESOTA TWINS |
| Dave Winfield |
CALIFORNIA ANGELS | |
| Alfredo Griffin |
LOS ANGELES DODGERS | |
| Kent Anderson | CALIFORNIA ANGELS | |
| Eric Plunk | NEW YORK YANKEES | |
| 1993 | Dick Schofield |
CALIFORNIA ANGELS |
| Dave Stewart |
OAKLAND ATHLETICS | |
| Paul Molitor |
MILWAUKEE BREWERS | |
| Darnell Coles |
CINCINNATI REDS | |
| Danny Cox |
PITTSBURGH PIRATES | |
| Tony Castillo |
NEW YORK METS | |
| 1994 | Greg Cadaret |
KANSAS CITY ROYALS |
| 1995 | Danny Darwin |
BOSTON RED SOX |
| Candy Maldonado |
TEXAS RANGERS | |
| 1996 |  Erik Hanson |
BOSTON RED SOX |
| Otis Nixon |
TEXAS RANGERS | |
| Charlie O’Brien |
ATLANTA BRAVES | |
| Ruben Amaro | CLEVELAND INDIANS | |
| Brian Bohanon |
DETROIT TIGERS | |
| Rich Rowland | BOSTON RED SOX | |
| Juan Samuel |
KANSAS CITY ROYALS | |
| Frank Viola |
CINCINNATI REDS | |
| 1997 | Benito Santiago |
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES |
| Roger Clemens |
BOSTON RED SOX | |
| Darrell Whitmore | CHIBA LOTTE MARINES | |
| Mike Aldrete | NEW YORK YANKEES | |
| 1998 | Darrin Fletcher |
MONTREAL EXPOS |
| Randy Myers |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES | |
| Pat Kelly |
NEW YORK YANKEES | |
| Craig Grebeck |
ANAHEIM ANGELS | |
| Mike Stanley |
NEW YORK YANKEES | |
| Tony Fernandez |
CLEVELAND INDIANS | |
| Phil Plantier | ST. LOUIS CARDINALS | |
| Jose Canseco |
OAKLAND ATHLETICS | |
| 1999 | Joey Cora | CLEVELAND INDIANS |
| Mike Matheny |
MILWAUKEE BREWERS | |
| Willie Greene |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES | |
| Cecil Fielder |
CLEVELAND INDIANS | |
| Mark Dalesandro |
CHICAGO CUBS | |
| Geronimo Berroa |
DETROIT TIGERS | |
| 2000 | Frank Castillo |
PITTSBURGH PIRATES |
| 2001 | Jason Dickson | ANAHEIM ANGELS |
| Jeff Frye |
COLORADO ROCKIES | |
| Trenidad Hubbard | BALTIMORE ORIOLES | |
| Dan Plesac |
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | |
| Ryan Thompson | NEW YORK YANKEES | |
| Marty Cordova |
BOSTON RED SOX | |
| 2002 | Dave Berg |
FLORIDA MARLINS |
| 2003 |  Mike Bordick |
BALTIMORE ORIOLES |
| Frank Catalanotto |
TEXAS RANGERS | |
| Doug Creek |
SEATTLE MARINERS | |
| Greg Myers |
OAKLAND ATHLETICS | |
| Tanyon Sturtze |
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS | |
| Jeff Tam |
OAKLAND ATHLETICS |
.