But they have reshaped the MLB offseason landscape, and they're redefining the nature of marquee free-agent negotiations. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing for players and front offices is a matter of some debate.
We know where Commissioner Rob Manfred stands. He thinks they're a raw deal for the teams that grant them, as he explained to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal:
The logic of opt-out clauses for the club escapes me. You make an eight-year agreement with a player. He plays well, and he opts out after three.