MLB Free Agents 2014: Predicting Where Top Free-Agent Hitters Will Land

This year's crop of MLB free agents is a promising one. Some of this season's most impressive hitters are set to hit the market. From Toronto outfielder Melky Cabrera, to San Francisco's third baseman Pablo Sandoval, to Tigers DH Victor Martinez, the talent available this offseason is plentiful.

Let's not forget that one of the game's premier offensive shortstops—Hanley Ramirez—is also out of a contract once his season wraps up in Los Angeles.

So where could these players land?

Here are predictions for where the top free-agent hitters will wind up this offseason.

Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants

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Losing Sandoval would be a big blow to the Giants and their offense.

This year, Sandoval ranked among the Giants best hitters in nearly every offensive category for players who had at least 350 at-bats.

Batting Average	OPS	HR	RBI	BB
3rd	4th	t-3rd	3rd	5th

Yet rumors have surfaced that the big man may be on his way out of the Bay Area this offseason, with MLB Network's Peter Gammons saying that it is highly unlikely he re-signs with the Giants and that both the Red Sox and Marlins are very interested in the 28-year-old's services:

If Sandoval really is seeking a Hunter Pence-type contract—five years at $90 million—heading to a team with deep pockets like Boston may be the best bet.

After all, it's clear that they're looking to re-load and make a run again in 2015. Adding a hitter like Sandoval to their lineup would do just that. He can hit for average, as well as power, and his defensive play at the hot corner is better than you'd expect from someone his size.

Don't sleep on the Marlins either, though. After a surprisingly strong season that saw them stay competitive for longer than expected, they may look to add another bat this offseason to complement that of Giancarlo Stanton.

Perhaps that may even help convince the disgruntled superstar to stay put.

Prediction: While the Red Sox are certainly the team with more sway financially and will look for left-handed bats this offseason, their focus is likely to be on pitching, especially considering the fact that they already acquired Yoenis Cespedes and Rusney Castillo during the season to help them offensively.

The Marlins, on the other hand, still desperately need another big bat and have shown in the past that they're willing to spend money if they feel it will help them contend. Expect Sandoval to head to South Florida on a big-money but shorter term deal.

Melky Cabrera, Toronto Blue Jays

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

As a switch-hitter who hit over .300 and added 16 home runs at the top of the Blue Jays' lineup in 2014, Cabrera is sure to be one of the most coveted bats out there this winter.

According to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, Cabrera would like to stay in Toronto:

Good news, right Blue Jays fans?

Not so fast.

With a payroll already bloated to over $130 million—a franchise record—and the need to re-sign sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion after next year, it may not feasible for Toronto to bring back the Dominican native.

According to Chris Toman of The Score, Bautista himself is one of the doubters:

Even Anthopoulos' statement that the team expects to be competitive in the race for Melky's signature, per Sportsnet's Davidi, can be construed as disconcerting.

Simply being an interested party for one of your best players doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

With a team like the New York Mets needing help in the outfield, the Jays could face stiff competition in bringing him back.

Prediction: As tough as it may be to find the finances to re-sign Cabrera, the Jays already have a few holes further down their batting order and can ill-afford to lose one of their most productive hitters from 2014.

The team's need to keep their No. 2 hitter should outweigh their financial concerns. Look for Melky to remain north of the border in 2015.

Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Possibly the best hitter of all available in free agency is the Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez.

Long known for his ability to hit for average and get on base, Martinez stunned the baseball world by setting career highs at the age of 36 in just about every offensive category and leading the American League in on-base percentage (OBP) and on-base plus slugging (OPS).

Rumors have also swirled that Martinez could be leaving Detroit after this season wraps up, with Bruce Levine of 670 The Score in Chicago tweeting that the White Sox will pursue the veteran DH:

Joe Kaiser of ESPN Rumor Central (subscription required) also points to the White Sox as potential suitors, while adding a few more teams to the mix: "The White Sox are known to be one potential suitor, but if Martinez signs somewhere other than Detroit or Chicago you can expect him to also get interest from the likes of Seattle, Baltimore, Cleveland and possibly others like the Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals." 

Much of Martinez's decision could hinge on how far his Tigers squad manages to go in the postseason, as well as the club's offseason priorities.

Prediction: If the Tigers' primary concern is to bring back Max Scherzer, then you wouldn't expect Martinez to be back. Paying to keep them both won't be easy, and you can be sure that the front office has David Price's soon-to-expire contract in the back of their mind to boot. If that were the case, I'd look for a contending team like the Orioles to swoop in and snag the switch-hitter.

If they do make Martinez their No. 1 priority this offseason, it would most likely make them favorites. The fact that the club contends on an annual basis, has the resources to pay him a fair wage and the fact that they're his current team all work in their favor.

With the postseason just having gotten underway and the free-agent market certain to heat up shortly after it concludes, the next few months should be exciting ones in the world of baseball.

Jon Reid is a correspondent for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @JonReidCSM.