Predicting where the top 15 free agents will sign
Signing a top free agent can drastically increase any team's chances of becoming a World Series contender, and the market is heating up as MLB's top executives converge in Boca Raton, Fla., for the annual GM meetings this week.
Last week, we identified the top 15 free agents for the 2015 offseason, and now theScore's MLB editors - Jonah Birenbaum, Bryan Mcwilliam, Dan Toman, Greg Warren, and Brandon Wile - predict where those top free agents will sign.
1. David Price, LHP
DOB: Aug. 26, 1985 (30 years old)
MLB service: 6.164
Projected contract: 7 years, $191 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Cubs |
| Mcwilliam | Cubs |
| Toman | Cubs |
| Warren | Cubs |
| Wile | Cubs |
2. Jason Heyward, OF
DOB: Aug. 9, 1989 (26 years old)
MLB service: 6.000
Projected contract: 8 years, $175 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Angels |
| Mcwilliam | Cardinals |
| Toman | Cardinals |
| Warren | Cardinals |
| Wile | Cardinals |
3. Zack Greinke, RHP
DOB: Oct. 21, 1983 (32 years old)
MLB service: 11.057
Projected contract: 6 years, $155 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Dodgers |
| Mcwilliam | Dodgers |
| Toman | Dodgers |
| Warren | Dodgers |
| Wile | Dodgers |
4. Yoenis Cespedes, OF
DOB: Oct. 18, 1985 (30 years old)
MLB service: 4.000
Projected contract: 6 years, $128 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | White Sox |
| Mcwilliam | Angels |
| Toman | Mariners |
| Warren | Giants |
| Wile | Giants |
5. Chris Davis, 1B
DOB: March 17, 1986 (29 years old)
MLB service: 6.061
Projected contract: 5 years, $109 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Indians |
| Mcwilliam | Orioles |
| Toman | Padres |
| Warren | Padres |
| Wile | Pirates |
6. Alex Gordon, OF
DOB: Feb. 10, 1984 (31 years old)
MLB service: 8.092
Projected contract: 5 years, $92 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Astros |
| Mcwilliam | Royals |
| Toman | Royals |
| Warren | Tigers |
| Wile | Tigers |
7. Justin Upton, OF
DOB: Aug. 25, 1987 (28 years old)
MLB service: 8.060
Projected contract: 6 years, $130 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Orioles |
| Mcwilliam | Orioles |
| Toman | Angels |
| Warren | Angels |
| Wile | Angels |
8. Johnny Cueto, RHP
DOB: Feb. 15, 1986 (29 years old)
MLB service: 8.000
Projected contract: 6 years, $116 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Red Sox |
| Mcwilliam | Red Sox |
| Toman | Tigers |
| Warren | Red Sox |
| Wile | Giants |
9. Jordan Zimmermann, RHP
DOB: May 23, 1986 (29 years old)
MLB service: 6.154
Projected contract: 6 years, $117 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Giants |
| Mcwilliam | Cubs |
| Toman | Giants |
| Warren | Giants |
| Wile | Red Sox |
10. Ian Desmond, SS
DOB: Sept. 20, 1985 (30 years old)
MLB service: 6.027
Projected contract: 4 years, $60 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Marlins |
| Mcwilliam | White Sox |
| Toman | Padres |
| Warren | Mariners |
| Wile | Padres |
11. Ben Zobrist, UTL
DOB: May 26, 1981 (34 years old)
MLB service: 8.134
Projected contract: 3 years, $46 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Nationals |
| Mcwilliam | Yankees |
| Toman | Mets |
| Warren | Royals |
| Wile | Royals |
12. Matt Wieters, C
DOB: May 21, 1986 (29 years old)
MLB service: 6.129
Projected contract: 4 years, $47 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Mariners |
| Mcwilliam | Diamondbacks |
| Toman | Rangers |
| Warren | Orioles |
| Wile | Rangers |
13. Scott Kazmir, LHP
DOB: Jan. 24, 1984 (31 years old)
MLB service: 9.119
Projected contract: 3 years, $48 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Twins |
| Mcwilliam | Blue Jays |
| Toman | Cardinals |
| Warren | Marlins |
| Wile | Cardinals |
14. Daniel Murphy, 2B/3B
DOB: April 1, 1985 (30 years old)
MLB service: 6.109
Projected contract: 4 years, $46 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Yankees |
| Mcwilliam | Rockies |
| Toman | Angels |
| Warren | White Sox |
| Wile | White Sox |
15. John Lackey, RHP
DOB: Oct. 23, 1978 (37 years old)
MLB service: 13.095
Projected contract: 2 years, $35 million
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Birenbaum | Tigers |
| Mcwilliam | Cardinals |
| Toman | Nationals |
| Warren | Astros |
| Wile | Cubs |
Contract projections listed were crowdsourced by Fangraphs, though, as noted by Carson Cistulli, respondents tend to underestimate the contracts given to elite free agents.