MLB Free Agency: Elite reliever David Robertson Still Unsigned, Has Given Up Millions

David Robertson is undoubtedly the top MLB free agent still on the market. And after a season in which he was dominant in a set-up role, recording a 3.00 ERA while striking out 12.4 batters per nine innings and allowing just a .202 batting average against, it seems surprising that he's still available.

Robertson is one of the few players in baseball who does not have an agent, and represents himself. Insider Robert Murray has noted on his Baseball Insiders podcast that the 40-year-old has cost himself a lot money by still being unsigned.

The fact that he's waited this long is going to make it almost impossible for him to get what he's seeking... He's obviously an impactful reliever and you'd expect him to get a pretty nice one year deal, at least early in free agency... The fact that he's still unsigned at this point, you gotta wonder what he's going to end up getting.

There weren't many comparable relievers in his class on the market this past offseason, but the ones that would be closest to him in talent level (and the contracts they signed for) included:

Tanner Scott (30 years old, 4-year, $72M deal with LAD, Jan. 23)
Jeff Hoffman (32, 3-year, $33M deal with TOR, Jan. 10)
Aroldis Chapman (37, 1-year, $10.75M with BOS, Dec. 10)
Clay Holmes (32, 3 years, $38M with NYM to be a starter, Dec. 9)
Kenley Jansen (37, 1 year, $10M with LAA, Feb. 15)

Of course, Chapman and Jansen are the closest comps in terms of age, and an expected contract, though both of them signed much earlier in the offseason (as did all other top bullpen arms), thus guaranteeing themselves a better deal.

For context, Robertson signed in 2024 with the Texas Rangers for a guaranteed $11.5M, including deferrals, with a $5M salary. Per Murray, it sounds like he may have to take a few million less, whenever he does sign with a team.

He may be 40, but Robertson has shown over the past few years that he's still an impact late-inning reliever. He has 177 career saves, and had 18 for the New York Mets and Miami Marlins as recently as 2023. He has a 2.91 career ERA with 11.8 K/9.