2014 MLB Free Agents: Rumors, Predictions for Yasmany Tomas and More Top Targets

Although the World Series hunt is just starting to heat up, a majority of organizations around baseball are already looking forward to the offseason. Every front office is examining potential moves that could put its team in the mix for the 2015 season.

Of course, one of the key avenues for those upgrades is the free-agent market. The group won't be finalized until after the season, but the early outlook suggests it should be a good winter for clubs looking to fill voids, assuming they are willing to open the checkbook.

Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors provides a look at the complete list as it stands now. Let's take a look at some of the players already being bantered about and predict where they may land when the dust settles before spring training.

Yasmany Tomas

Tomas is the latest slugger from Cuba to pursue opportunities in MLB. A 23-year-old outfielder with pop, it's hard not to be intrigued by his potential. He showcased it for the national team at the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In six games, he posted an on-base percentage of .412 with two home runs.

While that's an extremely small sample size, it was at least a glimpse into his raw talent. In the same event, fellow Cuban sensation Jose Abreu had a .385 OBP with three homers. He joined the Chicago White Sox last fall and proceeded to hit 36 homers in his rookie campaign.

Abreu's ability to make an instant impact paired with Tomas' potential ensures there will be plenty of buzz in the weeks ahead. Ben Badler of Baseball America confirmed the coveted outfielder was declared a free agent and is exempt from the international bonus pools.

Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reports the Philadelphia Phillies are among the teams who are watching the situation closely:

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The Phils' interest in Tomas is said to be higher than the club's interest [in] Rusney Castillo, the Cuban outfielder who signed a seven-year, $72.5 million contract with the Boston Red Sox last month. The Phillies sent a team of scouts to watch Castillo's unveiling in Miami earlier this summer then brought the player to Clearwater for a private workout.

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The Phillies will be far from alone. Even though a fierce bidding war could develop, don't sleep on the San Diego Padres. They are in desperate need of more power in the middle of their lineup and could also benefit from making a big splash this winter. Tomas would be an ideal fit.

James Shields

Shields is focused on trying to help lead the Kansas City Royals to a championship. Yet, it's probably difficult for him to completely ignore the fact he's scheduled to become a free agent, and at age 32, it probably represents his last chance to score a big-time deal.

The reliable right-hander started at least 30 games for the eighth straight season. In an era where pitcher injuries are an enormous factor when it comes to handing out huge contracts, that is a major positive. It doesn't hurt that his ERA has been 3.52 or better each of the past four seasons, of course.

There is no shortage of teams around the league looking for that type of stability. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports one team that's been doing their homework on Shields is the Boston Red Sox, which lack MLB-ready pitching depth after being active on the trade market:

One team that should actively pursue Shields, possibly as their top overall target, is the Texas Rangers. They could really use a rock like him to bolster the staff. That said, the Red Sox seem like the rightful early favorites in the race.

J.J. Hardy

Hardy probably won't generate the same type of widespread interest as either Tomas or Shields. That said, he could be a value signing for a team willing to take a chance that his drop-off in home runs isn't a sign of things to come.

He averaged more than 25 homers over the previous three seasons before dropping to nine in 2014. Aside from the power dip, most of his other numbers stayed relatively constant. His average went up five points, and he also added a couple points to his OBP.

One potential option could lead to the toughest challenge of Hardy's career: trying to replace Derek Jeter for the New York Yankees. George A. King III of the New York Post reports he's the front-runner to fill that void, if he's healthy:

"Because Jeter hit .256 instead of .300, the next shortstop won’t be smothered by pressure to hit .320. Defensively, the 40-year-old Jeter made the plays he was expected to make. The early favorite is Baltimore free agent J.J. Hardy but late-season back issues are a red flag."

Even though Jeter's overall performance faded in his final season, the amount of pressure on whoever replaces him will still be sky-high. Hardy taking over seems like a very plausible scenario and tough to bet against at this stage.