2017 MLB Free Agents: Latest Rumors, Predictions for Top Sluggers This Winter

The 2017 MLB postseason is still underway, but the focus for some fans is already on the free-agent market this winter.

Next year's free-agent class receives a lot of attention, and rightfully so. Clayton Kershaw, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado could all hit the open market after the 2018 season. Still, more than a few impact players are available to the highest bidder this offseason.

Below are the most up-to-date rumors and predictions for two of the top free-agent sluggers and another star who could become a free agent as well.

Eric Hosmer

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Eric Hosmer picked a great time to have a career year. The Kansas City Royals first baseman had a .318/.385/.498 slash line to go along with 25 home runs and 94 RBI. His .882 OPS was over 100 points higher than his career average (.781).

Hosmer is one of four Royals players instrumental to the team's recent success entering free agency. He, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain all shared a moment at the end of Kansas City's 14-2 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks to end the regular season.

That felt like the end of an era for the Royals, but the Kansas City Star's Sam Mellinger reported the team plans on making a strong push to re-sign Hosmer. If the Royals successfully retain the 2016 All-Star, then they'd shift their focus toward re-signing Moustakas and Cain as well.

It will be interesting to see what contract Hosmer ultimately receives. He's not all that young, turning 28 Oct. 24, and he has never finished with a WAR higher than 4.1, according to FanGraphs. Between 2011 and 2017, Hosmer's 9.9 overall WAR ranks 17th among qualified first basemen, per FanGraphs.

Mellinger reported Hosmer's deal could total as much as $150 million.

Free-agent sluggers struggled to find homes last winter. Mark Trumbo got $37.5 million over three years from the Baltimore Orioles, while Edwin Encarnacion turned down a four-year, $80 million offer from the Toronto Blue Jays before signing with the Cleveland Indians for $60 million over three years.

Hosmer is seven years younger than Encarnacion and four years younger than Trumbo. Still, he hasn't displayed a ton of consistency from year to year, and asking for over $100 million could turn off some potential suitors.

At the same time, Hosmer's desire to maximize his earning power now makes sense since he's unlikely to be in a position to command a bigger contract.

The sentimental pull of staying in Kansas City could be alluring, but it's hard to see him potentially turning down more money as well as a better opportunity to contend in order to re-sign with the Royals.

Should the New York Yankees, who need a first baseman, come calling, the Royals may stand no chance of re-signing Hosmer.

Prediction: Hosmer signs with Yankees

Carlos Santana

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Few position players set to hit free agency can boast the same level of offensive consistency Carlos Santana can. Santana once again had a solid season at the plate, hitting 23 home runs, driving in 79 runs and earning 88 walks.

A few years ago, Santana leaving Cleveland would've been a foregone conclusion and the Indians may have traded him before he could see out the duration of his contract with the team. That's the approach the franchise took with CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez.

Instead, ownership showed last offseason it's willing to spend in order to capitalize on the Indians' championship window.

According to Spotrac, the Indians had the 18th-highest payroll in MLB with a little over $139 million committed in player salaries. While that still puts Cleveland in the bottom half of the league, it's a jump from 2016, when the team had a total payroll of roughly $114 million, good for 22nd.

The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners will both make a run at Santana. The ball may ultimately be in Cleveland's court, though.

"This will be tough for me after the season, but I'm going to have to make a hard decision about my career," Santana said in September, per Cleveland.com's Paul Hoynes. "I love it here. I don't want to go anywhere. Everybody knows. My teammates know. The front office knows. But that's not something I can control."

Santana is a career .249 hitter who turns 32 in April—two factors that could ensure he doesn't slip out of the Indians' price range. Cleveland may also be shedding $11 million from its payroll if it doesn't pick up Michael Brantley's $12 million option for 2018 and instead gives him the $1 million buyout.

Brantley has appeared in 101 games between 2016 and 2017 and no longer looks like the hitter who finished third in the 2014 American League MVP voting. If push comes to shove, then jettisoning Brantley to free up money to re-sign Santana would be a smart approach.

Warding off the Red Sox and Mariners won't be easy. Both teams have more financial resources at their disposal than Cleveland, and Boston can sell Santana on playing for a contender after making the playoffs the last two years.

The 2017 season shouldn't be the Indians' last real shot at a title, and that will give ownership enough incentive to sign off on an expensive extension for Santana.

Prediction: Santana re-signs with Indians

Justin Upton

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Justin Upton isn't a free agent just yet. He's signed through 2021 but can opt out at any point beginning this winter.

When a player has an opt-out clause, conventional wisdom is he'll exercise that opportunity in order to chase more money in free agency. Upton may be an exception.

Some inside the Los Angeles Angels organization told FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman they believe Upton could opt out or use the clause as leverage in order to get a better deal. Heyman added that "most see it as a very close call."

According to the Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher, Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed he had a "positive conversation" with Upton and his agent, Larry Reynolds. Eppler also said he and Upton have had an ongoing dialogue.

Following a somewhat-disappointing 2016 season, Upton returned to form in 2017. He hit 35 home runs and drove in a career-high 109 runs between his time with the Angels and Detroit Tigers. His .901 OPS was a career best as well.

Upton is set to make a little more than $22.1 million over each of the next four years.

If he's ever going to opt out, then this is likely his best opportunity. He turned 30 in August, and he's unlikely to hit any better than he did this past year.

The Angels have a strong incentive to keep him around. Mike Trout is under team control until 2020, giving Los Angeles a ticking clock that puts a premium on winning now. Having missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, the Angels can't keep wallowing in mediocrity with the best player in baseball.

Upton will opt out, but the Angels will pay what it takes to re-sign him. 

Prediction: Upton opts out; re-signs with Angels