Free agency in MLB can be hard to predict sometimes, but as of right now, we at least have a decent idea of where some of the biggest names will land. Here’s where each of the top 20 free agents in this year’s class are most likely to end up when it’s all said and done.
20. 2B Howie Kendrick - Oakland Athletics
Getty ImagesThe Athletics have had a problem at second base for years and this offseason is finally their chance to address it. Kendrick would likely want to stay close to where he's played the rest of his career, which would make Oakland a perfect fit. Even though they're a small-market team, the need for a second baseman might make the Athletics more willing to pay Kendrick a bit more or guarantee an extra year on his contract.
19. SP John Lackey - Boston Red Sox
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Lackey showed this past season in St. Louis that he still has plenty left in the tank. At the least, he's worth a decent sized two-year deal. The veteran has already played in Boston and under new front office leadership, he could be even more successful in his second go around. On top of that, it's no secret the Red Sox could use all the pitching depth they can find.
18. IF/OF Ben Zobrist - Kansas City Royals
Getty ImagesIf the Royals can't keep Alex Gordon, which they might not be able to do, they will focus their attention on holding onto super utility man Ben Zobrist. He was an extremely valuable member of their World Series winning team and could continue to be for the next couple years. At 35, Zobrist is still producing and could be valuable for the Royals.
17. SP Scott Kazmir - Los Angeles Dodgers
Getty ImagesKazmir had a very rocky end to his season, but the beginning of his year was remarkable. Pitching for the Athletics and Astros, he posted a pretty good year. That will get him paid this offseason, but not by a team many think will be in on him. Los Angeles has shown an interest in high-upside lefty arms (see Brett Anderson from last offseason) and Kazmir fits into that mold perfectly. If he stayed healthy, he could be a perfect complement to Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.
16. 2B Daniel Murphy - New York Yankees
Getty ImagesDaniel Murphy could be staying in New York, but swapping his Mets blue for some Yankee pinstripes. He's exactly the type of player the Yankees love to bring in: he proves himself over a very short period of time and is then instantly more valuable on the open market. This isn't to say Murphy wouldn't be an upgrade at the position for the Yankees because he would. However, it is to say the Yankees are prone to signing guys like this when the chances of them living up to the life of the contract are very low.
15. OF Gerardo Parra - Washington Nationals
Kim Klement - USA Today SportsAfter breaking out offensively in 2015, Gerardo Parra will be a sought-after free agent this winter. Plenty of teams will go after him, but the Nationals might be the most motivated. They tried unsuccessfully to trade for him at this year's deadline, but now that he's a free agent, less stands in their way. Especially with Denard Span potentially leaving, they could use another outfielder.
14. SS Ian Desmond - San Diego Padres
Getty ImagesSan Diego needed a lot of things last season, but shortstop might have been their biggest position of need. While Desmond struggled in 2015, he is still an above average shortstop. If the Padres want to improve at a position of need without breaking the bank, they will pursue Desmond and lock him down long term.
13. SP Yovani Gallardo - Texas Rangers
Jake Roth - USA Today SportsAfter having a great bounce-back season for the Rangers, Gallardo is in for quite the payday. Texas realizes how valuable he is to them, so they have to be considered the favorites to sign him at this point. The prospect of having Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels and Gallardo in the same rotation might be too much for the Rangers to pass up.
12. SP Jeff Samardzija - Toronto Blue Jays
Caylor Arnold - USA Today SportsSamardzija had a disaster of a 2015 season, but he's still projected to get somewhere in the four-year, $75 million range because of the ability he's shown in the past. The chances the Blue Jays keep David Price this offseason are slim to none, so they're going to be looking to replace him. At less than half the cost over the life of a deal, Samardzija seems like a logical solution.
11. Matt Wieters - Arizona Diamondbacks
Getty ImagesGreat hitting catchers don't hit the free agent market every day, so Wieters is going to have a large group of suitors to choose from. D'Backs president Tony La Russa knows the value of a good catcher because he had one in Yadier Molina for so long in St. Louis. Expect him to make a strong push for the slugger this winter.
10. Mike Leake - New York Yankees
Kelley L. Cox - USA Today SportsAside from Masahiro Tanaka two years ago, the Yankees have been relatively frugal in free agency lately. That might continue this winter, but it doesn't mean they can't add an impact arm. Leake is one of the better starting pitchers available, and he won't cost nearly as much as the David Prices and Johnny Cuetos of the world. New York is looking to build pitching depth, and they can do that with Leake.
9. 1B Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles
Kim Klement - USA Today SportsChris Davis built his stock up more than anyone else over the second half of this season, and he's pushed the Orioles to the point where they almost have no choice but to re-sign him. He will get upward of $100 million over a five or six-year deal and rightfully so. If he keeps hitting 40-plus home runs and driving in 100-plus runs a season, he will be worth every penny.
8. SP Jordan Zimmermann - Boston Red Sox
Evan Habeeb - USA Today SportsZimmermann is looked at as a consolation prize to some of the other top pitchers, but he has ace-type stuff every now and then. He's a power pitcher who still has a few years of his prime left, and that will appeal to new Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski and the front office. His top priority is to rebuild the starting rotation, and Zimmermann would be a big first step toward that goal.
7. OF Alex Gordon - Los Angeles Angels
Getty ImagesGordon might be playing his last few games in a Royals uniform during the Fall Classic this year, because the team likely won't be able to afford to keep their fan favorite this winter. He's likely to fetch near $80 million on a four-year deal, which Kansas City can't even approach. The Angels, meanwhile, have deep pockets and a need for a better outfield to surround Mike Trout. Look no further than the best defensive left fielder the game has ever seen.
6. SP Johnny Cueto - San Francisco Giants
Getty ImagesIf Cueto pitches again in the World Series and duplicates his Game 2 performance, he will be an even richer man than he's already going to be this offseason. He will have plenty of suitors, but perhaps none that make more sense than the Giants. After struggling in the AL, Cueto will likely look to move back to the softer-hitting National League. San Francisco has serious question marks in the rotation, so adding Cueto to the fold could help answer some of those.
5. OF Jason Heyward - St. Louis Cardinals
Getty ImagesJason Heyward proved just how valuable he can be on a World Series contender this season with the Cardinals. Plenty of teams recognize this, but perhaps none more so than St. Louis. Normally, when the Cardinals want someone badly, they find a way to get them. They're going to do everything in their power to keep Heyward, so unless a big-market team blows their offer out of the water, he's likely to stay in St. Louis long term.
4. OF Justin Upton - Texas Rangers
Jake Roth - USA Today SportsUpton will get overpaid this offseason because of his power numbers and the Rangers seem like a fit. Texas saw just how good they are this past season and could go after a top hitter like Upton since their pitching staff is set in stone if they're able to bring back Yovani Gallardo. With Upton in an already potent lineup, the Rangers would be the team to beat in the AL West entering 2016.
3. SP Zack Greinke - Los Angeles Dodgers
Getty ImagesWhile he opted out of the final three years of his contract, it's not likely that Greinke is going anywhere. After a season in which he might win the NL Cy Young award, it was a no-brainer to opt out and try to get more money this offseason. Los Angeles has no pitching after Clayton Kershaw without Greinke on the roster, so they will pay top dollar to retain him.
2. OF Yoenis Cespedes - Detroit Tigers
Brad Penner - USA Today SportsThe Tigers loved what Cespedes brought to the table for them and even though there's a new front office in place now, their feelings about the Cuban slugger haven't changed. They have the ability to pay a contract in the $18 million annual salary range over four or five years that Cespedes likely wants and they have a team that compete in the near future with him as a key figure.
1. SP David Price - Chicago Cubs
Brad Penner - USA Today SportsEven with four rookies regularly starting in the lineup, the Cubs won 97 games and made a surprise trip to the NLCS this season. That showed them just how close they are to competing. However, their inability to shut down the Mets in the NLCS also proved just how far away their pitching staff is. Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester form a great 1-2 punch at the top, but they need someone else. Enter David Price, the most prized possession of free agency. If the front office and ownership want to finally end the team's World Series drought, they will go all in on Price.
