MLB Free Agency 2015-16: Early Look at One Realistic Fit for Every Team

There is still an exciting month of playoff baseball separating us from what promises to be another busy offseason around the league, but it's never too early to start looking ahead at how free agency might play out.

The crop of pitching talent is deep once again, headlined by a handful of aces in David Price, Johnny Cueto, Jordan Zimmermann and Zack Greinke, assuming he opts out of his contract as expected.

Behind them, second-tier guys such as Jeff Samardzija, Scott Kazmir, Ian Kennedy, Yovani Gallardo and Mike Leake should also be in line for sizable contracts.

Joakim Soria, Tyler Clippard and Darren O'Day top the list of relievers on the market, and all three figure to be hotly pursued with a number of teams in need of bullpen help.

On the offensive side of things, sluggers Chris Davis, Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes will receive plenty of attention, while guys such as Jason Heyward and Alex Gordon should also have no problem landing a nine-figure deal.

As a preview of sorts for the offseason ahead, let's take a look at one realistic free-agent fit for all 30 MLB teams.

These projected fits were reached with a combination of rumors from around the league and speculation on my part based on team needs and past free-agency trends. Obviously, a lot can change between now and the start of free agency.

For now, here's a look ahead at some potential offseason free-agency fits.

Note: A number of players could be considered a realistic fit for multiple teams, but for the sake of this exercise, each player was only included once.

Arizona Diamondbacks: RP Joakim Soria

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The Arizona Diamondbacks appeared to have found their long-term answer at closer when they acquired Addison Reed from the Chicago White Sox for third baseman Matt Davidson prior to the 2014 season.

Fast-forward two years, and Reed is now playing with the New York Mets after flopping in the desert, and the team has relied on 35-year-old Brad Ziegler to close out games for much of the season.

While Ziegler has done a yeoman's job (27/29 SV, 1.97 ERA) and will be back next season, the team would prefer to move him back to the eighth-inning role and find a more traditional option for the ninth inning.

They made that clear with their pursuit of Aroldis Chapman at the trade deadline, as CBS Sports' Jon Heyman noted, and while they could revisit those trade talks in the offseason, they may not be willing to part with the young talent necessary to pull off a deal.

If that winds up being the case, they'll turn their attention to the free-agent market, and Joakim Soria might be their best option.

Soria is currently pitching in a setup role for the Pittsburgh Pirates after being acquired at the trade deadline, but he was 23-of-26 on save chances with a 2.85 ERA for the Detroit Tigers prior to the deal.

The 32-year-old has 202 career saves, good for ninth among active relievers, and he's been a terrific late-inning option throughout his career as evidenced by a 2.60 ERA and 1.063 WHIP in 440 career appearances.

Atlanta Braves: C Matt Wieters

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It appeared as though catching duties for the Atlanta Braves would be turned over to prospect Christian Bethancourt after Brian McCann departed in free agency and Evan Gattis was traded to the Houston Astros.

Instead, Bethancourt struggled early in 2015, and the team wound up turning to veteran A.J. Pierzynski as its primary backstop this season.

Pierzynski has been solid, posting a .293 average, .738 OPS and 1.1 WAR, and re-signing the 38-year-old remains an option.

However, the team will still need to find more of a long-term option if it doesn't believe Bethancourt is going to be the answer, and making a run at free agent Matt Wieters could be an option.

"Matt Wieters would appear to be a natural fit for the Braves in free agency," said Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. "He attended Georgia Tech and owns a home in Atlanta."

It's been a trying season for Wieters as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, with the 29-year-old hitting just .251/.292/.397 in 239 at-bats and seeing just 50 games of action behind the plate.

However, prior to being injured, he was one of the game's elite defensive catchers, a perennial 20-home run threat and a three-time All-Star.

At 29 years old, he still has time to return to his All-Star form, and he could wind up being a solid value signing, though don't expect him to settle for a bargain contract as a Scott Boras client.

Baltimore Orioles: 1B Chris Davis

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After letting Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis walk last offseason, the Baltimore Orioles will be faced with a number of tough decisions once again this winter.

Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Wei-Yin Chen and Darren O'Day headline their free-agent class this time around, and replacing that crop of players won't be easy.

Now you could certainly make the case that improving the starting rotation is their biggest area of need, but as Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun pointed out, that's not likely to be their focus in free agency:

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Like every winter, there will be speculation about the front office going outside the organization to find another starter, but there's no logic there. The Orioles have never had an appetite for spending big free-agent dollars on pitching, and that doesn't seem likely to change while the club is still smarting from the Ubaldo Jimenez deal.

"

He won't come cheap by any means, but bringing back Davis to help anchor the middle of the lineup with Manny Machado looks like their best allocation of funds.

After a disappointing 2014 season, Davis has bounced back in a big way with a .911 OPS and an MLB-high 43 home runs. That includes a 1.073 OPS and 24 home runs in 64 games since the All-Star break, as his stock continues to rise.

The team will make every effort to bring the 29-year-old slugger back, according to general manager Dan Duquette.

"We do want to sign some of our key players for the future, and Chris Davis is one of them," Duquette told Rich Dubroff of CSN Mid-Atlantic.

Boston Red Sox: SP Johnny Cueto

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After failing to land a front-line starter last offseason and watching the starting rotation post a 4.47 ERA so far in a fantastically disappointing 2015 season, the Boston Red Sox will likely change their tune this coming offseason.

David Price, Johnny Cueto and Jordan Zimmermann are expected to be the three ace-caliber arms on the market, with Zack Greinke also in the conversation, assuming he opts out of his deal and is not immediately re-signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Of that group, Cueto looks to be the most likely target for the Red Sox at this point, and according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, he's open to the idea of coming to Boston.

"Because I’m a free agent, and I’m just going to pick the best choice to go," said Cueto. "The main thing—I would like to come here because it’s a championship-caliber team."

Despite battling through a rough patch shortly after joining the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline, Cueto is once again having a terrific season at 10-12 with a 3.45 ERA, 1.095 WHIP and a .237 opponents batting average.

Obviously, that doesn't quite stack up to his 2014 performance, when he was 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA, 0.960 WHIP and an NL-high 242 strikeouts to finish second in NL Cy Young voting, but it's solid nonetheless.

The 29-year-old is more than capable of dominance going forward, and he'd give the Red Sox rotation the proven stud at the top Boston has been lacking.

Chicago Cubs: SP David Price

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Despite shelling out $155 million over six years to sign Jon Lester last offseason, the Chicago Cubs still have plenty of room to spend if they decide to make a run at another elite-level starting pitcher.

The team's payroll peaked at roughly $144 million in 2010, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts, before the team sold off its veteran pieces and started to rebuild.

After bottoming out at $92.6 million in 2014, the team's Opening Day payroll this year was $120.3 million, so there is already some wiggle room between where it's at and its previous ceiling, and with a contending team on the field, it could conceivably go even higher.

Extending Jake Arrieta will likely be among the team's top offseason priorities, as he's set for a big raise from his $3.63 million salary here in 2015 and has two years of arbitration remaining.

Lester and Arrieta give the team a dynamic one-two punch at the top of the rotation, but they have struggled to find consistency behind that duo with Jason Hammel falling off after a terrific first half and Kyle Hendricks best served as a No. 5 starter.

The team could go after more of a second-tier arm with the idea of sliding him into the No. 3 spot in the rotation, but with no real other glaring needs except maybe adding a bullpen arm or two, it can afford to splurge on another big-time starter.

David Price already has a working relationship with Cubs manager Joe Maddon, and Chicago will be an attractive free-agent destination for the foreseeable future.

Price is the same age that Max Scherzer was last offseason and has a longer track record of success, so that seven-year, $210 million deal Scherzer signed with the Nationals will likely be the starting point in negotiations.

It's a steep price to pay, but Price could be the piece that pushes the Cubs over the top.

Chicago White Sox: SP Ian Kennedy

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Finding a right-handed starter to slot between the lefty duo of Chris Sale and Jose Quintana was tops on the Chicago White Sox's to-do list last offseason, and they eventually settled on trading for Jeff Samardzija to fill that role.

With the emergence of Carlos Rodon and veteran John Danks still hanging around, the team currently projects to have four left-handed starters in its rotation next season, so finding another right-hander to replace the departing Samardzija will again be a priority.

The focus will likely be on the second tier of starting pitching options, and one name who could be a potential fit from that group is Ian Kennedy.

Kennedy, a former 21-game winner back in 2011 when he finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting, has gone 8-15 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.312 WHIP and 163 strikeouts in 162.1 innings of work.

Those numbers may not look great on the surface, but he's gone 6-10 with a 3.50 ERA in 21 starts since the beginning of June, and he may be pitching his way into a qualifying offer.

That could have an impact on the White Sox's level of interest, but he still looks like a good fit to help break up their lefty-heavy staff.

Cincinnati Reds: LF Gerardo Parra

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Two big areas of need that the Cincinnati Reds will need to address one way or another this offseason is finding a new left fielder and finding a viable leadoff hitter.

With Marlon Byrd traded to the San Francisco Giants and top prospect Jesse Winker still probably a year away in the minors, finding a stopgap option to man left field appears to be a priority.

Meanwhile, the leadoff spot in the lineup has been a mess for years now, and the hope was that speedy Billy Hamilton could grow into that role.

However, he's hit just .226/.274/.289 on the year, and that has taken a lot of the luster off his 57 stolen bases, as it's hard to trust him to get on base enough to hit leadoff.

With those two areas of need in mind, Gerardo Parra could be the perfect mid-level free-agent signing to address both issues.

The 28-year-old has always been a great defender with solid on-base skills, but he took his offensive game to another level in Milwaukee this season, where he hit .328/.369/.517 over 323 at-bats before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles.

He's gone somewhat cold since the trade, hitting .221/.247/.347 in 190 at-bats, but it's fair to assume he'll land somewhere in the middle in 2016.

The Reds find themselves in a rebuilding/retooling stage of sorts, but they still have enough talent to be relevant, and signing Parra would help them plug two of their biggest holes.

Cleveland Indians: RP Antonio Bastardo

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The Cleveland Indians are rarely one to make a splash on the free-agent market, so don't expect any big-money signings on either side of the ball.

What they are likely to do is look for upgrades to their bullpen, despite the fact that it currently ranks as one of the better units in the league with a 3.24 ERA that is good for sixth in the majors.

Jeff Manship, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen give them a solid trio of right-handed relievers, and former starter Zach McAllister has found a home in the bullpen as well.

However, the team is lacking a reliable left-handed reliever it can turn to in high-leverage situations, as Kyle Crockett has struggled to duplicate his rookie success and Nick Hagadone underwent elbow surgery in July.

There are a handful of decent lefty relievers set to reach free agency, but guys such as Oliver Perez (34), Neal Cotts (36) and Matt Thornton (39) are somewhat-risky options given their age.

That could make 30-year-old Antonio Bastardo Cleveland's top target, as he's having a terrific season for the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 2.83 ERA, 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings and eight holds over 62 appearances.

Colorado Rockies: SP Mike Pelfrey

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Pitching continues to be the glaring area of need for the Colorado Rockies, and mid-level starters with high ground-ball rates remain their most likely targets on the free-agent market.

Mike Pelfrey began his season by losing out on the fifth starter's spot and essentially requesting a trade from the Minnesota Twins, according to the Pioneer Press, but he wound up spending the entire season in the rotation anyway as a result of injuries and the suspension of Ervin Santana.

The 31-year-old has gone 6-10 with a 4.16 ERA over 28 starts, and his 4.11 field independent pitching suggests that that performance is sustainable, though a move to Coors Field could certainly change that.

The big chip in his favor as a potential Rockies target is his 51.5 percent ground-ball rate, which is well above the league average and in fact good for 15th among all qualified starters, according to FanGraphs.

Now that he's proved healthy after missing significant time following Tommy John surgery, Pelfrey could be in line for another multiyear deal, and the two-year, $22 million contract Jason Hammel signed last offseason looks like a reasonable comp.

He's not the ace who is going to carry the Rockies back to relevance, but he is the kind of pitcher capable of succeeding at altitude.

Detroit Tigers: RP Tyler Clippard

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It may look like the Detroit Tigers are getting set to rebuild after they sold aggressively at the trade deadline, but this is not a team that can afford to simply phone it in for a few seasons while it reworks the roster.

With Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Anibal Sanchez, Victor Martinez and Ian Kinsler under contract for a combined $104.8 million in 2016, this team has made a significant financial investment in contending right now.

That should be motivation enough for it to try for another push at the AL Central title, and step one in doing that will be addressing a bullpen that has been a mess for years now.

Here's a quick look at where the Tigers bullpen has ranked the past three seasons:

• 2013: 4.01 ERA, 24th in MLB
• 2014: 4.29 ERA, 27th in MLB
• 2015: 4.52 ERA, 27th in MLB

As it stands right now, Alex Wilson and Bruce Rondon would likely be the leading candidates to serve as closer next season, so look for the team to target a more proven late-inning arm.

Tyler Clippard has spent more time as an eighth-inning guy than he has closing games, but he's capable of filling the ninth-inning void, and regardless of what role he serves in, he'd be a terrific addition to the pen.

The two-time All-Star won't come cheap as one of the top relievers on the market, but he would fill a significant need if the Tigers do have plans to contend again in 2016.

Houston Astros: SP Scott Kazmir

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The Houston Astros starting rotation should be a strength going forward.

The continued success of Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh, a breakout season from prospect Lance McCullers and further team control of deadline addition Mike Fiers give the team a good core and more young arms are on the way.

However, there was a clear need for another front-line arm and a veteran presence leading up to the trade deadline, and the team found just that in Scott Kazmir.

The last time the left-hander hit free agency, he was coming off a surprise comeback season with the Cleveland Indians, but there were questions about just how good he would be going forward.

He wound up signing a two-year, $22 million deal with the Oakland Athletics, and that's proved to be a steal as he's gone 22-19 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.155 WHIP since the start of 2014.

The 31-year-old is 2-5 with a 3.31 ERA and 1.255 WHIP in 11 starts since joining the Astros, and the team intends to make a run at re-signing him, according to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle.

Coming to terms on an extension for Keuchel may be the team's biggest offseason priority, but bringing back Kazmir on a multiyear deal should also be on the to-do list.

Kansas City Royals: LF Alex Gordon

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While he's not technically a free agent just yet, Alex Gordon will almost certainly decline his $14 million player option this coming offseason.

Then the question becomes, will he re-up with the Kansas City Royals or take more money to sign elsewhere?

Gordon certainly sounded like he wanted to stay when talking to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star back in February: "I want to stay here. It’s close to home. Kansas City almost feels like my hometown. We love the city. We love everybody in this organization. And obviously it’s in a good place right now. It’s come a long way. And I want to be a part of the success that I think we’re still going to have."

While Gordon is not quite an elite-level player, he is the game's best defensive left fielder and brings a good mix of power and on-base skills on the offensive side of things.

He'd almost certainly top $100 million on the open market, and the seven-year, $130 million deal signed by Shin-Soo Choo a couple of years ago could be a reasonable expectation.

As it currently stands, the largest contracts in Kansas City Royals history are a pair of five-year, $55 million deals in the form of an extension for Mike Sweeney and a free-agent deal for Gil Meche.

With Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar and Wade Davis all set to hit free agency after the 2017 season and Salvador Perez deserving of a raise, the team needs to start thinking about extending some other core pieces.

Still, with no clear-cut replacement down on the farm and few viable mid-level options on the free-agent market, breaking the bank on Gordon could be money well spent.

Los Angeles Angels: 2B/OF Ben Zobrist

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There was no shortage of teams interested in Ben Zobrist at the trade deadline, and the Los Angeles Angels were among them, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

His tools make him a fit for practically every team in the league, but the Angels in particular could use his unique mix of offensive abilities and defensive versatility.

Zobrist got off to a slow start this season after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee and undergoing surgery, but he has come back strong and is hitting .306/.392/.487 in 193 at-bats since joining the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline.

Johnny Giavotella did a decent job stepping in as the Angels' primary second baseman in place of Howie Kendrick, hitting .265/.312/.350 before missing time to injury, but Zobrist would certainly be an upgrade.

Left field has also been an issue for the Angels, as well as third base where David Freese is headed for free agency, and with Zobrist capable of playing all three positions, he'd fit into the team's 2016 plans one way or another.

Left-handed hitting has also been an issue for the Angels this year, as they have hit just .235 with a .643 OPS from the left side, and the switch-hitting Zobrist would help in that department as well.

At 34 years old, he's on the downswing of his career, but Zobrist should still be able to find a three-year deal on the free-agent market.

With a strong starting rotation and a solid bullpen, the Angels' biggest need is offense, and Zobrist would be well worth the investment in more ways than one.

Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Zack Greinke

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The idea of leaving $77 million over three years on the table may seem absurd, but with Zack Greinke putting together a brilliant season this year, the decision to exercise his opt-out and search for another long-term deal is a no-brainer.

At 18-3 with a 1.65 ERA, 0.848 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 207.2 innings, Greinke is putting together a season for the ages, and he still looks like the NL Cy Young front-runner despite a strong push from Jake Arrieta and teammate Clayton Kershaw.

Greinke signed a six-year, $147 million deal when he first joined the Dodgers prior to the 2013 season, and he should be able to find a higher average annual value this time around.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports gave his take on what kind of money Greinke can expect once he opts out:

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Because Greinke turns 32 in October, the likelihood of him snagging a seven-year deal isn't nearly as high as with (David) Price. One GM, though, suggested Greinke could instead break Kershaw's record for average annual value on a deal and sign for five years and $175 million once he opts out of the final three seasons of his current contract with the Dodgers, which at this point is a formality.

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That's huge money, but at this point, money is really no object for the Dodgers, so it wouldn't be all that surprising either.

The Dodgers could opt to let Greinke walk and instead make a run at signing Price, but right now, simply re-upping with the Cy Young front-runner seems like their best course of action.

Miami Marlins: 1B Justin Morneau

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The first-base position has been quite the revolving door for the Miami Marlins, and they really have not had stability at the position since Gaby Sanchez turned in consecutive strong seasons in 2010 and 2011.

Since then, the team has trotted out the likes of Greg Dobbs, Logan Morrison, Carlos Lee, Casey Kotchman, Ed Lucas, Jeff Baker and a pair of recent free-agent signings in Garrett Jones and Michael Morse with varying levels of futility.

Credit to 27-year-old Justin Bour for providing some nice value this season with a .258/.319/.452 line and 19 home runs in 376 at-bats, but his 20.2 percent HR/FB rate (per FanGraphs) is not sustainable, and his only real value is in his power.

As the search for a viable bat to protect Giancarlo Stanton continues, the team could go the veteran-free-agent route once again and roll the dice on Justin Morneau.

After winning the NL batting title in 2014 with a .319 average that included 32 doubles, 17 home runs and 82 RBI, he's battled injuries once again this season to play just 41 games.

He has managed to hit .310/.355/.462 when he has been on the field, but chances are the Rockies will still opt for the $750,000 buyout as opposed to exercising his $9 million option.

On a one-year deal with an option for a second year, Morneau has a chance to be a nice bargain signing for a Marlins team that will once again be trying to build a contender around its solid young core.

Milwaukee Brewers: SP J.A. Happ

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The Milwaukee Brewers have a long road ahead trying to climb back into the NL Central picture, but that doesn't mean they won't be active on the free-agent market.

Filling out the roster with second-tier pieces they could potentially flip at the trade deadline may be the route they take this offseason, and one player who looks like a good fit is left-hander J.A. Happ.

For one, their current crop of starters is entirely right-handed with Taylor Jungmann, Jimmy Nelson, Wily Peralta, Zach Davies, Ariel Pena, Tyler Cravy, Tyler Wagner, Jorge Lopez and Matt Garza all in the mix for rotation spots next year.

Happ would give them a lefty option to help provide a bit of balance, and his first action in the National League since debuting with the Philadelphia Phillies has yielded some terrific results.

In nine starts with the Pirates since coming over at the trade deadline, he's gone 6-2 with a 2.28 ERA, 1.130 WHIP and 10.2 K/9.

That should help the 32-year-old Happ find plenty of interested teams on the free-agent market, but with the secondary market for pitching usually slow to develop, don't be surprised if the Brewers swoop in and sign him—similar to their unexpected additions of Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza.

Minnesota Twins: RF Torii Hunter

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The Minnesota Twins have invested heavily in mediocre starting pitching the past two years, signing Ricky Nolasco and Ervin Santana to the two largest free-agent deals in team history and giving Phil Hughes an extension that looked like a good move at the time.

Despite that unfortunate allocation of funds, the future remains bright for this team. The pitching staff even looks to be on the right track thanks to the emergence of Kyle Gibson and Tommy Milone and the impending arrival of top prospect Jose Berrios.

Looking up and down the young lineup, there is no glaring area of need as guys such as Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario continue to establish themselves as the future core of the team alongside incumbents such as Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer and Trevor Plouffe.

So with that in mind, re-signing veteran leader Torii Hunter may wind up being the team's biggest move of the offseason, provided Hunter decides to play again in 2016.

"He has said he’s going year to year, but the Twins want him back for at least one more season, according to a team official. The impact Hunter has made in the clubhouse and leading a team featuring some younger players has been off the charts," wrote Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

To his credit, the 40-year-old Hunter has been no slouch at the plate this year either.

He's obviously not the player he was in his prime, but he's still managed to post a .720 OPS with 20 doubles, 22 home runs and 76 RBI.

Another one-year, $10.5 million deal would be well worth the money.

New York Mets: LF Yoenis Cespedes

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It originally looked like the New York Mets would be unable to re-sign Yoenis Cespedes even if they wanted to.

The Cuban defector, who is still on his original contract, had a clause that required him to be released five days after the World Series following his fourth season in the league.

Under the current rules, no player who is released during the offseason can re-sign with the team that released him until May 15.

However, that clause has been modified, and the Mets will now be able to negotiate with him like everyone else, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Prior to acquiring Cespedes, the Mets had a 53-50 record, and their offense was bordering on anemic at 3.54 runs per game.

Since acquiring him, the Mets have gone 32-17 and averaged 5.55 runs per game, as the slugger has completely transformed their lineup.

The 29-year-old Cespedes has not talked much about his offseason plans since joining the Mets, but he has given an idea of what he'd be looking for in terms of length.

"My only hope is to stay healthy," he told Marly Rivera of ESPN Deportes (via Yahoo Sports). "I'm not thinking about a contract, but I do know that I will be looking for a contract that is six years or more, has to be six years or more. We'll see what happens."

There's little doubt Cespedes will get nine figures this offseason, and that's a price worth paying for the Mets given the clear impact he's had on the team's success.

New York Yankees: RP Darren O'Day

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It may seem like adding another arm to a bullpen that has been a clear strength this year would be a bit redundant for the New York Yankees, but finding another right-handed setup man does rank as a clear area of need.

Dellin Betances has been among the most dominant relievers in baseball the past two seasons with a 1.39 ERA and 13.8 K/9 over 139 appearances.

However, he's also been the most heavily used, as his 168.2 innings of work since the start of 2014 are the most by any pitcher who did not start a game during that span.

Closer Andrew Miller and fellow setup relievers Justin Wilson and Chasen Shreve are all left-handed, and the remaining spots in the bullpen have been a revolving door this year.

The Yankees have seen plenty of Darren O'Day while he's pitched for the Baltimore Orioles the past four seasons, and during that time, he's gone 23-8 with 76 holds, a 1.90 ERA, 0.935 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 in 270 appearances.

To put it simply, he's been one of the most durable, reliable and dominant relievers in the game, and he's been at his very best this year with a 1.44 ERA and 11.3 K/9 over 65 appearances.

He should be able to top the three-year, $18.5 million deal Luke Gregerson received from the Houston Astros last winter, despite the fact that he'll be entering his age-33 season.

It won't be the sexiest free-agent signing in Yankees history, but it could very well be the biggest they make this coming offseason.

Oakland Athletics: SP Doug Fister

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The Oakland Athletics have done a nice job buying low on veteran starters in recent years, signing Bartolo Colon and Scott Kazmir to team-friendly deals and then letting them cash in elsewhere in free agency.

With a young crop of starting pitchers led by emerging star Sonny Gray, the team will likely be in search of a low-cost veteran innings-eater with some potential upside, and Doug Fister fits that description perfectly.

One of the most underrated starters in baseball last year, Fister went 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA to finish eighth in NL Cy Young voting, but he was something of a forgotten man on his own team.

Forearm tightness cost him over a month early in the season this year, and he simply never looked comfortable in going 4-7 with a 4.60 ERA over 15 starts before finally being demoted to the bullpen.

His velocity is also down on both his fastball (87.9 mph to 86.1 mph) and slider (84.2 mph to 81.7 mph), according to FanGraphs.

With all of that said, this is still a pitcher who went 51-38 with a 3.11 ERA and 1.163 WHIP from 2011 to 2014, and with an offseason of rest and a healthy preseason, he could be a prime candidate to rebound.

Philadelphia Phillies: SP Mat Latos

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The Philadelphia Phillies are in full-on rebuilding mode, so don't expect the team to spend big in free agency this offseason or for the next few offseasons.

However, what the Phillies could do is look to target bounce-back candidates on one-year "prove it" deals whom they could then potentially flip at the trade deadline if they do in fact rebound as hoped.

The Chicago Cubs did exactly that while they were rebuilding when they signed Scott Feldman and Jason Hammel and then flipped them for Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop and part of the Addison Russell trade when they outperformed expectations.

With that in mind, one name the Phillies could target is Mat Latos, who has turned in a terrible contract year but is still only 27 years old and has a solid track record of success.

In 21 starts combined with the Marlins and Dodgers, Latos went 4-10 with a 4.95 ERA and 1.305 WHIP before being designated for assignment by the Dodgers on September 18.

However, a 3.54 FIP and .311 BABIP suggests he was the victim of some bad luck and should be in for some positive regression next season.

A one-year, incentive-laden deal would give Latos a chance to rebuild some value for another run at free agency next offseason, and it would give the Phillies an opportunity to turn a minimal investment into more young talent.

Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Neftali Feliz

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Neftali Feliz has fallen a long way from the pitcher who saved 40 games back in 2010 to win AL Rookie of the Year honors and earn a spot on the AL All-Star team.

After pitching in just 44 games combined the past three years, Feliz is finally back healthy here in 2015, but the results have not been good as he has a 6.31 ERA and 1.533 WHIP in 45.2 innings of work.

That likely means he'll have to settle for a minor league deal full of incentives in the offseason, and don't be surprised if it's the Pittsburgh Pirates who wind up taking a chance on him.

No team has had better luck with reclamation projects in recent years than the Pirates, as they've bought low on guys such as Francisco Liriano, Edinson Volquez and Vance Worley and gotten solid value.

Heck, the team has even managed to find a way to make a 34-year-old Joe Blanton a viable contributor this year as he has a 1.82 ERA in 18 appearances out of the bullpen.

For as poor as his numbers look on the surface, there is some reason for optimism that Feliz can turn things around going forward.

His 4.02 FIP suggests some positive regression is in order, and his fastball velocity (94.6 mph per FanGraphs) is still strong.

The Pirates will be in search of a right-handed setup man with Joakim Soria likely to walk in free agency for an opportunity to close somewhere, and Feliz could be the answer.

San Diego Padres: SS Ian Desmond

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Shortstop has been a clear hole for the San Diego Padres this offseason, and it's a position they may be willing to invest some significant money in this winter with no clear in-house answer.

Alexi Amarista (76), Clint Barmes (48), Jedd Gyorko (24) and Will Middlebrooks (4) have all seen time at the position, and the combined result has been a .235/.283/.380.

Gyorko and Middlebrooks both have offensive upside, but neither is a natural fit for the position defensively. Amarista and Barmes have solid gloves but provide next to nothing offensively.

With that in mind, expect the team to explore all of its options both on the trade market and in free agency, and at the end of the day, taking a chance on Ian Desmond may be San Diego's best move.

After three consecutive 20-20 seasons in which he hit .275/.326/.462 and compiled a combined 10.9 WAR, Desmond has suffered through a down season at the worst possible time.

The 30-year-old is hitting .232/.287/.364 with 26 doubles, 18 home runs and 12 stolen bases, and while that still ranks as above-average production at the position, it's likely cost him a good chunk of money.

According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, Desmond turned down a seven-year, $107 million extension offer prior to the start of the 2014 season, and it's now hard to imagine him getting anywhere near that in both years and dollars.

It's worth nothing that Desmond is hitting .262/.329/.454 with 11 home runs since the All-Star break, so he's rebuilt some of his lost value here in the second half.

At any rate, he should be able to convince someone to give him decent money on a multiyear deal, and the Padres just might be that someone.

San Francisco Giants: SP Mike Leake

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The San Francisco Giants starting rotation appears to be headed for a major overhaul this offseason.

The one constant is ace Madison Bumgarner, but one great pitcher does not a starting rotation make, and there is nothing but question marks behind him.

Let's take a look:

• Matt Cain: only 53.2 IP in '15 and a 6.20 ERA
• Chris Heston: so-so second half, probably No. 4/5 guy long term
• Tim Hudson: retiring
• Mike Leake: free agent
• Tim Lincecum: free agent
• Jake Peavy: 34 and entering final year of contract
• Ryan Vogelsong: free agent

It's probably time for both Lincecum and Vogelsong to move on to another team, but re-signing Leake seems like a good start to filling things in around Bumgarner.

He's not a front-line starter, but Leake has been consistently solid throughout his six season in the big leagues, and the fact that he's still just 27 years old makes him that much more appealing of a target.

Leake is 63-51 with a 3.90 ERA and 1.276 WHIP since being taken with the No. 8 pick in the 2009 draft and jumping straight to the big leagues, as he's been durable in the middle of the rotation.

The Reds gave up one of their top pitching prospect in Keury Mella to acquire Leake, so locking him up long term would also help justify the relatively steep price they paid considering they'll miss the playoffs this year.

Something in the four-year, $50 million range seems reasonable, and that should still give the Giants enough flexibility to address other areas.

Seattle Mariners: LF Justin Upton

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Re-signing starter Hisashi Iwakuma looks to be first on the Seattle Mariners' offseason to-do list, but their biggest free-agent target could be a player they've targeted on the trade market quite a bit in recent years in Justin Upton.

The Mariners actually had a deal in place to acquire Upton when he was still with the Diamondbacks in 2013, but he refused to waive his no-trade clause, and the deal fell apart, according to Greg Johns and Thomas Harding of MLB.com.

The team was then in the running for both Matt Kemp and Justin Upton this past offseason, but an unwillingness to part with Taijuan Walker of James Paxton kept them from pulling the trigger, according to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune.

Now set to hit free agency for the first time in his career, Upton could once again be on the Mariners' radar as the team looks to plug a major hole in left field.

The team's left fielders have hit a combined .249/.316/.462 with 27 home runs and 67 RBI.

That may not seem horrible on the surface, but much of that power production has come in the form of Franklin Gutierrez's crushing left-handed pitching. He has a 1.038 OPS with 15 home runs and 35 RBI in 154 at-bats, but he is strictly a platoon player, and the other side of that platoon has been nonexistent.

At 28 years old and with another strong season in the works, Upton won't come cheap by any means, but the Mariners have spent aggressively in recent years, and he could be the piece that helps them rebound from a disappointing 2015.

St. Louis Cardinals: RF Jason Heyward

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When the St. Louis Cardinals decided to trade Shelby Miller and his five remaining years of team control for Jason Heyward last winter, the only way they were going to be able to get comparable value on their end was if they could find a way to extend Heyward.

With the emergence of Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty this season, and Matt Holliday still under contract through 2016 with a $17 million option for 2018, you could make the argument that the Cardinals don't necessarily need Heyward.

However, at 26 years old, he is the rare free agent you can sign to a six- or seven-year deal without having to worry about a steep decline at the back end of the contract, and that makes him incredibly valuable.

He has not developed into the offensive force many predicted he would become, but he is having a great second half (.311/.388/.462). With his mix of power, speed and plus-plus defense, he's still supremely valuable, and there is room for more.

It will no doubt cost well north of $100 million, and just how high the Cardinals are willing to go to keep Heyward around will be their biggest decision of the offseason.

"Both sides want to make sure everybody is happy," Heyward told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "That’s really what they’ve been asking me about the whole time. ‘Hey, you like it here? Hey, you comfortable?’ They want to make sure I feel at home, make sure I can be myself, and that’s been their focus. They’ve allowed me the time to fit in. That has meant a lot."

Tampa Bay Rays: C Alex Avila

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Catching has been an absolute black hole for the Tampa Bay Rays from an offensive standpoint for a number of years now.

Let's take a look:

• 2009: .233/.276/.349, 13 HR, 55 RBI
• 2010: .218/.319/.324, 10 HR, 54 RBI
• 2011: .194/.274/.333, 17 HR, 53 RBI
• 2012: .227/.300/.337, 11 HR, 59 RBI
• 2013: .245/.310/.355, 9 HR, 49 RBI
• 2014: .194/.274/.250, 5 HR, 48 RBI
• 2015: .196/.235/.357, 19 HR, 59 RBI

That takes us all the way back to 2008 when Dioner Navarro earned a spot on the AL All-Star team with a solid .295/.349/.407 line that included 27 doubles, seven home runs and 54 RBI.

While Curt Casali and J.P. Arencibia have proved small bursts of power this season, the position as a whole remains an issue, and free agent Alex Avila could be the answer.

The 28-year-old has never duplicated his huge 2011 season when he hit .295/.389/.506 with 19 home runs and 82 RBI, but he has settled in as a strong defensive backstop with solid pop.

He's battled injuries this season, but over the previous three years, he posted a .705 OPS and averaged 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 47 RBI and a 1.8 WAR.

The fact, that Avila's father is now the general manager of the Detroit Tigers is no guarantee he sticks around with James McCann stepping into the starting catching job, and the Rays could finally have the answer behind the plate if they can scoop him up in free agency.

Texas Rangers: SP Yovani Gallardo

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With Yu Darvish sidelined and Derek Holland missing most of the season, Yovani Gallardo has quietly been the Texas Rangers' best starting pitcher for most of the 2015 season.

The 29-year-old has gone 12-11 with a 3.41 ERA, 1.382 WHIP and 112 strikeouts in 174.1 innings, as he's proved to be a terrific addition after coming over in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The addition of Cole Hamels at the trade deadline gives the Rangers another legitimate ace to pair with a healthy Darvish next season, and that could be reason enough for the team to let Gallardo walk.

On the other hand, the decision to trade for Hamels in the first place represented an all-in move to win now by the Rangers, so why wouldn't they at least entertain the idea of bringing back Gallardo as well?

He'll represent one of the better second-tier arms on the market, and it's not unreasonable to think he could get something in the neighborhood of the four-year, $55 million deal Ervin Santana signed with the Minnesota Twins last offseason.

The Rangers payroll was at an all-time high of $141.7 million on Opening Day, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts, and that was before adding the $23.5 million salary of Hamels.

Still, if the Rangers are going to stay in win-now mode as expected, they won't be afraid to tack a bit more onto that total.

Toronto Blue Jays: SP Jeff Samardzija

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Expect the Toronto Blue Jays to make every effort to re-sign deadline pickup David Price, as he's transformed their starting rotation and given them the bona fide ace they've been lacking.

However, if they are unable to bring back the big left-hander, they'll have to turn their attention to finding another quality arm to pair with Marcus Stroman at the top of the staff.

Mark Buehrle and Marco Estrada are also free agents this coming offseason, so one way or another, the Blue Jays will need to add pieces to the starting rotation.

The team showed a lot of interest in Jeff Samardzija back when he was still pitching for the Chicago Cubs before he was eventually traded to Oakland, according to Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago. They were then in on him again at the deadline this year, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.

It's been an up-and-down season for Samardzija, as he's gone 10-13 with a 5.04 ERA (4.18 FIP) and 160 strikeouts in 207 inning of work.

However, he has still shown front-line stuff at times, including his last time out when he needed just 88 pitches to twirl a one-hit shutout at the Detroit Tigers.

The 30-year-old looked like a lock to land a contract north of $100 million heading into the year, but that may not be the case now, and he could provide some nice value on a four- or five-year deal.

Washington Nationals: SP Jordan Zimmermann

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While fellow free agents Doug Fister, Ian Desmond and Denard Span all look like safe bets to be playing elsewhere in 2016, the Washington Nationals have a tough decision to make on Jordan Zimmermann.

He's was the Nationals' best pitcher prior to the signing of Max Scherzer, despite not always receiving the same level of hype as teammate Stephen Strasburg.

From 2012 to 2014, Zimmermann went 45-22 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.109 WHIP, and he averaged 203 innings of work per season.

He's not been quite as good this year, going 13-8 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.196 WHIP and 157 strikeouts in 190.2 innings, but he has remained a durable front-line starter, and he'll cash in this winter one way or another as a result.

With a ton of money already committed to Scherzer and young arms such as Joe Ross, Lucas Giolito, A.J. Cole and Reynaldo Lopez representing the future, the team may be hesitant to throw down another $100 million-plus to retain Zimmermann.

On the other hand, this is still a Nationals team looking to win now, and bringing back Zimmermann would obviously make it better for 2016.

At the end of the day, the decision will likely come down to re-signing Zimmermann versus re-signing Strasburg, who is set to hit free agency himself following the 2016 season.

The safer and most likely cheaper option is Zimmermann, so bringing him back will be the Nationals' best course of action this offseason.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.