Rankings, contract predictions for top 40 MLB free agents

SAN ANTONIO — Contrary to celebrated belief, Juan Soto is acold from nan only prima free agent. In fact, it’s a beautiful well-rounded class, very beardown connected starting pitchers, and coagulated successful astir spots. Here’s our apical 40, pinch statement predictions (based connected conversations pinch master consultants).

1. Juan Soto: With almost each big-market teams involved, including nan Mets and incumbent Yankees, he will people nan astir valuable statement ever erstwhile considering Shohei Ohtani’s $700M woody is weighted astatine $437.4M (union valuation) owed to nan $680M successful deferrals. At slightest nan Dodgers, Giants, Blue Jays, Red Sox and astonishing Rays are besides successful nan biggest derby. $630M, 14 years.

2. Corbin Burnes: One of nan astir consistent, durable starters around. He didn’t transportation for strikeouts this twelvemonth but was conscionable arsenic effective. The Orioles will effort to support him, but it will astir apt beryllium difficult pinch astatine slightest nan Yankees, Mets and different large teams involved. All nan high-revenue AL East teams positive nan Giants and Dodgers are expected to play for nan confederate California product. $210 million, 7 years.

3. Willy Adames: The diversion shortstop will beryllium shooting for $200M-plus. The Dodgers, Giants and Braves were among pursuers successful waste and acquisition discussions. Willingness to move to 3B could assistance his market. $180M, 7 years.

4. Alex Bregman: Big 2nd half — 17 of 26 homers came successful nan last 3 months — positive bully postseason grounds and rep assistance fantabulous all-around player. He’d see leaving Houston (unlike his longtime teammate Jose Altuve), but decent chance nan Astros do everything they tin to support him. $170M, 7 years.

5. Max Fried: His 139 ERA-plus is eighth champion all-time. The Yankees, Red Sox, Jays, Orioles, Mets, Cubs, Giants and his hometown Dodgers are probable players. Red Sox request a lefty. $166M, 6 years.

6. Blake Snell: He has a much-improved marketplace aft a 2nd consecutive awesome play and particularly large 2nd half. Decent chance he winds up backmost successful San Francisco. The Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox are spots that make sense, too. $160M, 5 years.

7. Pete Alonso: Tough and clutch, he’s coming disconnected a large postseason performance. The incumbent Mets are logical arsenic he’s a beloved, homegrown player, but nan Yankees and others person interest. One issue: Teams don’t for illustration to walk arsenic large arsenic they utilized to connected 1B. Matt Chapman’s $151M, six-year woody could thief arsenic a comp. (And possibly Chapman’s Giants will yet make sense.) $152M, 6 years.

8. Anthony Santander: He has large powerfulness and is simply a awesome clubhouse guy. Eight teams are already in, including galore that are shooting first for Soto. $100M, 5 years.

9. Jack Flaherty: The alleged lower-back rumor didn’t fuss Fried’s precocious schoolhouse teammate successful large starts vs. Mets and Yanks. He took a awesome measurement guardant this twelvemonth arsenic he tries to regain his 2019-21 form. $80M, 4 years.

10. Sean Manaea: He will diminution nan qualifying connection and rate pursuing his very bully twelvemonth and large 2nd half successful Queens. But he loves New York, and he and nan Mets are talking. The Orioles (and others) besides person been fans. $72M, 4 years.

11. Yusei Kikuchi: Huge 2nd half successful Houston is triggering a very large marketplace aft a anemic commencement successful Toronto. The Astros are trying, but he seems much apt to upwind up elsewhere. $68M, 4 years.

12. Teoscar Hernandez: He made clear he wants to beryllium backmost successful LA during his outstanding postseason run. (Who wouldn’t?) His one-year woody worked retired arsenic he greatly enhanced his status. $60M, 3 years.

13. Christian Walker: The Diamondbacks surely want him back. While he didn’t decorativeness big, he’s an outstanding all-around player. $60M, 3 years.

14. Tanner Scott: His fame astatine nan waste and acquisition deadline provided an denotation of what benignant of marketplace he should have. Any big-market squad could make consciousness for this apical closer. $54M, 4 years.

15. Luis Severino: The Mets made nan correct telephone to widen nan qualifying offer, which he seems apt to move down. A large positive for immoderate clubhouse, too. $48M, 3 years.

16. Nate Eovaldi: Longtime starter is beloved successful each clubhouse he’s called home, too. The Braves and incumbent Rangers are among willing parties. $40M, 2 years.

17. Walker Buehler: The Dodgers don’t make mistakes, but did they do him a favour not giving him nan qualifying offer, frankincense not attaching draft-pick compensation to a squad that signs him? They considered it, but they person truthful galore awesome starters coming backmost and whitethorn beryllium aiming moreover higher than this World Series hero. $40M, 2 years.

18. Tyler O’Neill. Here’s different feline who near St. Louis and improved his opinionated pinch a very bully twelvemonth successful Boston. $39M, 3 years.

19. Jeff Hoffman. The Mets deed nan Phillies reliever, but hardly anyone other did. He surely has nan expertise to close. $36M, 3 years.

20. Nick Pivetta: He has a coagulated marketplace and could person a speedy woody aft Boston gave him nan qualifying offer. $34M, 2 years.

21. Carlos Estevez: This 100-mph thrower successful nan Phillies bullpen besides sewage deed by nan squad from Queens (Francisco Lindor anyway). $33M, 3 years.

22. Gleyber Torres: He was really rather bully from nan 2nd half on. He could upwind up doing a “pillow deal” (one-year reset) but possibly 2 is simply a bully compromise. The Giants, Blue Jays, Mariners and Royals are among teams that could work. $32M, 2 years.

23. Clay Holmes: Once retired of nan person role, he looked very good. A spot unlucky this year. $30M, 3 years.

24. Kirby Yates: Was perfectly superb retired of nan Rangers bullpen. Age — 38 astatine nan commencement of adjacent play — is nan only negative. $28M, 2 years.

25. Jurickson Profar: We person to fig nan Padres fig a measurement to support him astir aft his large year. $26M, 2 years.

26. Joc Pederson: His October grounds plays, arsenic does a good play successful Arizona. $22M, 2 years.

27. Nick Martinez: The right-handed starter seems apt to return nan qualifying connection from nan Reds. $21.05M, 1 year.

28. Frankie Montas. He’s ne'er rather fulfilled imaginable and had an up-and-down play pinch nan Reds. $22M, 2 years.

29. Jose Quintana: He showed a batch of his aged aforesaid successful nan 2nd half. $22M, 2 years.

30. Shane Bieber: The Guardians make consciousness to support nan erstwhile Cy Young winner. $20M, 2 years.

31. Matthew Boyd: He turned his profession astir successful Cleveland. $20M, 2 years.

32. Ha-Seong Kim: Terrific middle-infield defender for nan Padres is said to beryllium very celebrated connected nan market. The Giants and Dodgers are among galore that make sense. $20M, 2 years.

33. Kyle Higashioka: Big powerfulness surge for nan Padres successful October can’t hurt. $16M, 2 years.

34. Tommy Kahnle: Remove those 3 batters vs. LA and it’s a awesome year. $16M, 2 years.

35. Paul Goldschmidt: If he tin person 1 aliases 2 much bully years, he’s a Hall candidate. $13M, 1 year.

36. Max Scherzer: He doesn’t request nan money, but he judge does person nan desire. $12M, 1 year.

37. Justin Verlander: Didn’t transportation overmuch this season, but he’s sewage to make nan aforesaid arsenic Scherzer. $12M, 1 year,

38. Alex Verdugo: Well, we cognize it won’t beryllium Boston. $12M, 1 year.

39. Michael Conforto: Had coagulated play for nan Giants but mightiness use from one-year deal. $11M, 1 year.

40. David Robertson: Feels for illustration he’s going to transportation forever. $10M, 1 year.