Wild Winter Ahead

Now that the World Series is over and the Braves have been crowned champions, we turn our attention to baseball's Hot Stove season.  And this winter's Hot Stove season should be one of the wildest ever.  Because there are a lot of big name free agents who'll be available, but there's only so much money to go around.  The list is seriously ridiculous!

Throw in the fact that the CBA expires on December 1 and a lockout seems likely, and you've got even more uncertainty.  Nobody's gonna sign until the new CBA is done.  And who knows when that's gonna be?  So, it really could end up being a case of who strikes first.  Both for the players and the teams.

There's another reason why they have to wait for the CBA, too, and it's an important one.  The universal DH.  After taking it for a test run during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, most people agree that it's a near-certainty the universal DH will be back to stay in 2022.  Which means there will be 15 additional DH jobs that need to be filled...and NL teams will need to know that, since it'll obviously influence their free agent decisions.

For the purposes of this exercise, I'm gonna assume the universal DH is a go for next season.  I'm also gonna assume that several of the "available" free agents aren't going anywhere.  Because there's no chance Freddie Freeman's leaving Atlanta, and it's impossible to even think about Clayton Kershaw in another uniform.  I think Anthony Rizzo will return to the Yankees, too.  As for the other free agents, here's my best guess as to where some of them land...

Carlos Correa, Angels: You know the Angels are gonna throw money at somebody.  Likely one of the plethora of All-Star shortstops available.  They have a real need at that position and should move to fill it with their latest high-priced free agent signee.  The guy who's been tormenting them in the division for so long figures to be a good bet.  Now, if they only realize they need to get some pitching, too...

Corey Seager, Yankees: Seager returning to LA is still a realistic possibility, but it seems more likely the Dodgers will move Trea Turner to short and have Gavin Lux play second.  And if Seager were to move, switching coasts from one marquee franchise to another make a whole lot of sense.  He'd look awfully good in pinstripes!  Especially since the Yankees don't seem willing to commit to Gleyber Torres at short.

Max Scherzer, Nationals: Max is gonna have a Nationals hat on his plaque in Cooperstown, and I think he reunites with the franchise after just a few months away.  After all, he was the Face of the Nationals until his brief stint with the Dodgers.  Dealing him at the deadline made sense, seeing as Washington was in full-blown sell mode.  Part of the reason for that was to free up money for free agency.  So, expect them to be big players for more than a few names.

Trevor Story, Nationals: Washington's shortstop choice should likely come down to Story and Baez.  they may make a run for Correa, too, but I don't think there's any question he'll be the first shortstop off the board.  And Seager will be second.  Which will leave everyone else in the shortstop market looking for their second- and third-choices.  Trevor Story isn't a bad second or third choice, though!

Starling Marte, Nationals: Can the reigning MLB stolen base champ make it 3-for-3 for the Nationals?  After playing in Pittsburgh, Miami and Oakland, Marte stands to finally cash in as a free agent.  And he figures to have plenty of suitors.  But, if the Nationals are willing to invest in a rebuild the way I think they might be, a leadoff hitting center fielder is something they'd likely be very interested in.

Nick Castellanos, Cubs: Castellanos joining the free agency fun was definitely a surprise.  And he immediately jumps to the top of the list of available outfielders.  I'm not sure how much the Cubs will be willing to spend this offseason, but you've gotta figure they'll at least try to get somebody worthwhile.  And Castellanos would be such a great fit at Wrigley!

Nelson Cruz, White Sox: Chicago's other team doesn't need to do much.  They'll be huge favorites to repeat in the AL Central even if they stand pat.  But they won't.  And they shouldn't.  Because adding Nelson Cruz's bat to the middle of their lineup makes it that much more scary.  Although, Cruz and Kyle Schwarber will be the biggest beneficiaries of the universal DH.  Because the market for them will double.

Javier Baez, Guardians: Man, it's weird to write that!  Cleveland knew they weren't gonna have the money to keep Francisco Lindor, so they traded him to the Mets last winter while they could still get something for him.  So how do I think they'll have the money to sign Baez?  Because he won't be as expensive as Lindor!  The Guardians also know they're not that far away from competing, so shelling out a little bit on a position of need and giving Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes some protection in the lineup isn't that big of a stretch.

Kris Bryant, Mets: I'll be honest.  I have absolutely no idea where Kris Bryant's going to end up.  Or what position he'll end up playing.  Will he sign as a third baseman or as an outfielder?  When he went to the Giants, it was partially because of his desire to be on the West Coast.  Will that also be the case with his free agency?  If so, that limits his options.  Money talks too, though.  And the Mets will be willing to shell out a lot of it for one of the best all-around players in the game.

Marcus Semien, Astros: Assuming they lose Correa, the Astros will likely grab one of the other free agent shortstops as his replacement.  Again, this could come down to who's willing to move first and who's left when the wheel stops spinning.  Semien played second base in Toronto last season, but he came up as a shortstop, and I can easily see him signing with Houston and swinging back to the left side of the infield.

Wow, that was a lot!  And, other than Scherzer, I didn't even get a chance to talk about any of the pitchers.  That market's nearly as rich on that front, with guys like Robbie Ray, Noah Syndergaard, Kevin Gausman and Marcus Stroman available.  None of them are front of the rotation starters like Scherzer, but they're all arms any team would love to have.

Let's not forget about trades, either.  Because I have a feeling there will be a lot of those.  Especially if the Yankees re-sign Rizzo and/or sign a free agent shortstop, making Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres expendable.  To name just one team and two guys.  So, as I said (and you can see), this offseason is gonna be wild!