MLB Free Agents 2013: Bold Predictions for Top Superstars on the Market

As sad as it is to think about, the 2012 Major League Baseball season is going to end in just over two months. While we anxiously await the postseason, there is always that feeling of emptiness because there are no more games. 

However, one of the great things about baseball is, the offseason takes on a life of its own. It really is a mini-season to get fans through the three dark months leading up to spring training. 

Free agency is the big-ticket item, with teams trying to figure out their holes and plug them up with a player. 

Here are our predictions for where the top free agents will land this offseason. 

Zack Greinke, Starting Pitcher

Greinke was always going to be one of the big-ticket pitchers on the market, but with Cole Hamels re-signing with Philadelphia, he became the big-ticket item. 

His negotiations are going to be interesting. Greinke has social anxiety disorder, which actually caused him to seek help and miss virtually the entire 2006 season. 

That is going to have to factor into the way teams approach him this offseason. Given that we don't have enough of a sample to judge his Angels career by, I don't know how enamored the franchise is with him, especially given its pitching depth. 

Of course, with the Angels giving up three of their top prospects to acquire him from Milwaukee, it would make sense for them to do everything they can to keep him. If you are asking me today, I will bet he returns to Los Angeles. 

Prediction: Los Angeles Angels

Josh Hamilton, Outfielder

If Hamilton hit the open market in May, when he had 21 home runs and was being talked about as a triple-crown winner, who knows how much money he could have gotten?

Now, just three months later, no one knows what to make of Hamilton. He has seen his average slide to .223 in June and .177 in July. Plus, there is the whole mystery surrounding a "personal issue," which Jon Heyman of CBS Sports revealed to be chewing tobacco.

Hamilton's future is going to come down to his asking price. He is 32 years old, been injury-prone and the world knows about his past issues with drugs and alcohol. If he thinks he is going to get a deal longer than five years, you could see a lot of teams balk at that. 

I really don't know where to put Hamilton next year. Maybe the Yankees get involved, but they reportedly want to keep their payroll down—at least by their standards—so Hamilton's price could put them out of the mix. 

A sleeper team to keep in mind is Detroit. The Tigers will spend money and have the need for a corner outfield bat. I don't love the idea of Hamilton playing defense in Comerica's spacious outfield, but the Tigers have proven they don't really care about what you can do with the glove. 

Prediction: Detroit Tigers

Michael Bourn, Outfielder

To me, Bourn is the prize position player on the market this offseason. As a speed-based player who will turn 30 in December, he could hit his decline faster than a power hitter. 

But given Bourn's consistency, both at the plate and in the field, over the last four years, I would have little problem giving him a five-year contract.

Bourn has never been a walk machine, though his approach and plate coverage are so good that he can consistently put up a .340-.350 on-base percentage. He will steal 30-35 bases even with some loss of speed because he is such a good baserunner. 

If you like defense in center field, which everyone should, Bourn is the best in the business. He has saved at least 10 runs in three of the last four seasons (per Fangraphs). 

He is a prototypical leadoff hitter, so a team in need of help at the top will have to at least be enticed by him. The Reds are a great fit, as long as Dusty Baker understands that Zack Cosart's .293 on-base percentage is actually not productive. 

They did spend a lot of money to keep Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, so I am not sure how much more they have left in the budget for free agents. 

The Giants need all sorts of help with their lineup. They do have Gary Brown in Double-A right now, but we know how Bruce Bochy feels about playing young guys. 

So, almost begrudgingly, I will say that the team Bourn ends up with is the team most people are talking about luring him in right now: Philadelphia. 

Buster Olney of ESPN spoke to someone regarding the Phillies who said, ""You know who they want, right? They love Michael Bourn." 

Given their lack of depth in the lineup, no obvious centerfielder and some of the money coming off the books, Bourn is as good an option as anyone for the Phillies to pursue. 

Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies

Follow @adamwells1985