2017 MLB Free Agent Signing Predictions

With the offseason looming and the Championship Series starting tonight for the AL and tomorrow for the NL, 26 teams are already prioritizing their 2017 roster and looking ahead to the incoming free agent class. Compared to the 2016 class, 2017 looks to be much weaker overall, with an exceptionally poor starting pitching market. Despite this weak class, many teams still have needs to fill and these free agents are bound to land somewhere next season. Let's begin. (I am using the Bleacher Report Top 25 Free Agent Big Board for this list) (All stats from Baseball Reference)

1. OF Yoenis Cespedes

Interested Teams: Yankees, Blue Jays, Royals, Astros, Angels, Mariners, Rangers, Mets, Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants

Prediction: Re-signs with the Mets for 5 years/115 million

The Mets' offense simply does not work without Yoenis Cespedes. He was the key to their World Series run in 2015, and remained a staple in their offense in 2016, hitting .280/.354/.530 with 31 homers. Without him, the middle of their lineup is a large question mark. The Mets will not allow themselves to be outbid for his services.

2. 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion

Interested Teams: Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, White Sox, Royals, Mariners, Rangers, Rockies

Prediction: Signs with the Rangers for 6 years/150 million

With Prince Fielder's injury resulting in his early retirement and Mitch Moreland and Carlos Beltran set to hit free agency, the Rangers will be in need of a first baseman and designated hitter to help replace the production that they are losing. Joey Gallo is likely to step into one of those roles, but that still leaves one empty. Encarnacion is a perfect fit. He would slide into the #3 slot perfectly in the Rangers' lineup, and with Adrian Beltre behind him, he would have plenty of protection to keep his production up.

3. 3B Justin Turner

Interested Teams: Braves, Dodgers

Prediction: Re-signs with the Dodgers for 4 years/52 million

After Martin Prado's contract extension with the Marlins, Justin Turner became one of only two viable starting 3B options on the free agent market (Luis Valbuena is the other). Not many teams will be looking to upgrade at 3B, as that is one of the most stacked positions in the league. It just makes sense that the team that gave Turner his first chance to blossom as a player will keep him around.

4. RP Aroldis Chapman

Interested Teams: Yankees, Angels, Rangers, Braves, Phillies, Nationals, Cubs, Reds, Brewers, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Dodgers, Padres, Giants

Prediction: Signs with the Nationals for 6 years/90 million

With Mark Melancon's contract ending after this season, the back end of the Nat's bullpen is up in the air. Shawn Kelley's injury suffered in Game 5 of the NLDS might keep him out for a prolonged period of time, meaning that a meaningful free agent signing is needed to keep their pitching staff stable. Chapman is the class of the reliever market this winter, and with the Nationals having a pronounced need, they will land his services.

5. RP Kenley Jansen

Interested Teams: Yankees, Angels, Rangers, Braves, Phillies, Cubs, Reds, Brewers, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Dodgers, Padres, Giants

Prediction: Re-signs with the Dodgers for 7 years/100 million

The Dodgers bullpen this season has been one of, if not the, best in the majors, and Jansen is a major reason why. The setup position was a question for a while, with duties moving from Chris Hatcher to Yimi Garcia to Joe Blanton. Without Jansen, the Dodgers would have no real closer, so there is no way that the team with the largest payroll in the game will let him walk.

6. OF Ian Desmond

Interested Teams: Blue Jays, White Sox, Astros, Angels, Athletics, Rangers, Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals, Giants

Prediction: Signs with the White Sox for 5 years/85 million

With an underwhelming 2016, the White Sox finished below expectations in almost every statistical category. Down years from 1B Jose Abreu and 3B Todd Frazier definitely did not help the offense. Their defense was much better than in 2015, and they likely will not want to sacrifice that in order to add a bat to their lineup next season. With Desmond, they can do that. Desmond can play a good CF, with Adam Eaton in RF and Melky Cabrera in LF. That will keep their outfield defense in good shape while also adding a bat to the top of their order.

7. OF/DH Mark Trumbo

Interested Teams: Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Royals, Reds, Giants

Prediction: Re-signs with the Orioles for 6 years/108 million

Trumbo's 2016 season was one of the keys to the Orioles finish as a wild card team. He hit 47 homers, which led the league and helped make up for Chris Davis's poor offensive season, where he hit just .221 and struck out a league leading 219 times. With Trumbo, the Orioles offense looks quite bare with Manny Machado as the lone bright spot. Baltimore would be foolish to let Trumbo go, and that means they will pile on the payroll to keep him.

8. OF Jose Bautista

Interested Teams: Red Sox, Blue Jays, Astros, Angels, Mariners, Phillies, Reds, Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants

Prediction: Re-signs with the Blue Jays for 3 years/57 million

Bautista struggled for much of 2016, hitting only .234 with 22 homers and spending time on the DL. Despite that, however, he is still a key cog in the Blue Jays' lineup that also features 3B Josh Donaldson and SS Troy Tulowitzki. With Encarnacion leaving for Texas, the Jays have to hang on to Bautista in order to keep their lineup in order, otherwise, the dip in offensive production they see might be too much to overcome, even with the superstars they already have under contract.

9. RP Mark Melancon

Interested Teams: Yankees, Angels, Rangers, Braves, Phillies, Cubs, Reds, Brewers, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Padres, Giants

Prediction: Signs with the Giants for 4 years/44 million

The Giants bullpen, despite league average peripherals, blew 32 saves this season, including 2 postseason blown saves, one of which ended their season when the Chicago Cubs scored 4 runs in the ninth off of 5 different relievers to win the NLDS. Melancon, on the other hand, was steady this year between the Pirates and Nationals, recording 47 saves while blowing just 4, with a 1.82 ERA. With Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo, and Santiago Casilla all hitting free agency, the Giants will look to bolster their pen with a new face to lock down the ninth inning.

10. SP Rich Hill

Interested Teams: Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, White Sox, Royals, Twins, Angels, Athletics, Rangers, Marlins, Reds, Pirates, Dodgers, Padres

Prediction: Signs with the Marlins for 3 years/54 million

With the tragic passing of Jose Fernandez in September, the Marlins rotation looks pretty bare and is left without an ace. This is where Hill steps in. When healthy this season, he was one of the most effective pitchers in the league, pitching to a 2.12 ERA between Oakland and Los Angeles and to a 1.83 ERA in 6 starts as a Dodger. He is sure to take advantage of the weak starting pitching market this offseason to get himself a deal larger than he should get.

11. OF Dexter Fowler

Interested Teams: Astros, Angels, Athletics, Rangers, Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals, Giants

Prediction: Re-signs with the Cubs for 5 years/92.5 million

The 1-4 positions of the Cubs lineup this season was arguably the best in the MLB, and Fowler was a huge part of that. He posted a .393 OBP and an .840 OPS in 2016, while also spending some time on the DL towards the beginning of the year. He has played solid defense in CF alongside Jason Heyward, a premier defender, to give the Cubs fewer question marks in a season that started off worryingly with an injury to Kyle Schwarber. Without Fowler at the top of lineup, the Cubs are not where they are right now, and there is no chance they let him put on another uniform.

12. OF Josh Reddick

Interested Teams: Astros, Angels, Athletics, Phillies, Reds, Cardinals, Giants

Prediction: Signs with the Cardinals for 7 years/126 million

With Matt Holliday and Brandon Moss both heading out via free agency this offseason, the Cardinals have an open outfield spot and room to spend. The core of their team will remain intact, which will allow them to pour the offseason budget into one or two players. Reddick fits perfectly. He plays excellent defense and hits for average and power, which is something that the Cardinals could definitely use in their lineup. The move would push Stephen Piscotty to LF, but it will be well worth it for the Cardinals to add Reddick to their team.

13. DH Carlos Beltran

Interested Teams: Orioles, Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays, White Sox, Royals, Athletics

Prediction: Signs with the Blue Jays for 1 year/16 million

With Edwin Encarnacion headed for Texas, the Blue Jays will find themselves without a DH and in need of a replacement. There is no better alternative on the market than Beltran. He has stayed productive despite his age, hitting .295 with 29 homers. He would slot in right behind Jose Bautista in the middle of the order, and provide a veteran presence to the clubhouse, which could help young hitters Kevin Pillar and Devon Travis move to the next level.

14. 1B/DH Mike Napoli

Interested Teams: Orioles, Red Sox, White Sox, Indians, Mariners, Rockies

Prediction: Re-signs with the Indians for 3 years/48 million

Napoli has set career high marks this season in several offensive categories including homers (34) and RBIs (101), while anchoring the Indians lineup. His clubhouse presence alone is too much to lose to a team that also needs his bat with Michael Brantley slated to miss more time in 2017. The Indians know that their offense is much weaker without him, and they won't let one of their best players head to a different team.

15. SP Jeremy Hellickson

Interested Teams: Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, White Sox, Royals, Twins, Angels, Athletics, Rangers, Reds, Pirates, Dodgers, Padres

Prediction: Signs with Padres for 3 years/36 million

Hellickson had a solid season in Philadelphia, and has made it known that he would like to stay there. But the Phillies like their core and will look to spend their offseason budget elsewhere, leaving Hellickson to sign with another club. The Padres are that club. With Tyson Ross and Robbie Erlin undergoing surgery, Colin Rea out with a town elbow ligament, and the rest of the rotation a huge question mark, the Padres will be in desperate need of a reliable innings eater like Hellickson.

16. Matt Wieters

Interested Teams: Orioles, Rays, White Sox, Astros, Mariners, Braves, Nationals, Brewers, Rockies

Prediction: Signs with the Braves for 4 years/60 million

After accepting a Qualifying Offer from the Orioles a year ago, Wieters didn't really alter his stock very much. He is still an excellent defensive catcher, but his offensive production has seen better days. That being said, his bat still carries some value to a team that doesn't have a great hitting catcher, and the Braves fall into that category. Tyler Flowers is projected to get the majority of at bats at the catcher position in 2017, and Wieters would provide an upgrade on both sides of the ball.

17. OF Michael Saunders

Interested Teams: Red Sox, Blue Jays, Royals, Astros, Angels, Phillies, Reds, Giants

Prediction: Re-signs with the Blue Jays for 5 years/80 million

After an All-Star first half, Saunders had a much more modest second half, where he saw his production dip significantly and also dealt with nagging injuries. The injury bug has been a concern in the past for Saunders, as he has had a few injury shortened campaigns already in his career, despite only being 30. Despite this, the Blue Jays really like Saunders' bat, despite his lackluster defense in LF. The Blue Jays could probably survive without his bat in their lineup, but that is a chance that they are not willing to take, especially with their window to win wide open right now.