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http://nypost.com/2015/11/06/predicting-where-mlbs-top-30-free-agents-will-land/
Predicting where MLB?s top 30 free agents will land
By Ken Davidoff
November 6, 2015 | 10:33pm
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Predicting where MLB?s top 30 free agents will land
Nationals' out-of-touch hire only strengthens Mets' NL East grip
Why Mets should make harder play for Murphy than Cespedes
Matt Harvey's diva saga ends fittingly: Time to trade him?
Cespedes showing Mets fans his worst at the worst possible time
Commissioner OK with Syndergaard pitch, but the Royals aren't
It?s time for The Post?s annual Top 30 free-agent rankings and predictions.
Why 30? Because there are 30 teams.
The rankings are compiled via a mix of statistical analysis and popular demand. The predictions are formulated from background interviews with team officials, players and agents as well as an attempt to think along with clubs, the free agents and their representatives.
1. Zack Greinke, RHP
Only his age (32) prevents him from getting the most money in this robust market.
Prediction: Dodgers, six years, $180 million.
2. David Price, LHP
He loved playing for Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay.
Prediction: Cubs, eight years, $250 million.
3. Jason Heyward, OF
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Jason HeywardPhoto: AP
He?s a groundbreaker when it comes to getting paid for his defense.
Prediction: Tigers, eight years, $170 million.
4. Chris Davis, 1B-OF
The best pure power hitter in this market, and he?s a little versatile, too.
Prediction: Cardinals, seven years, $150 million.
5. Johnny Cueto, RHP
How much will his up-and-down stay with Kansas City hurt him?
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Yoenis CespedesPhoto: UPI
Prediction: Red Sox, five years, $120 million.
6. Yoenis Cespedes, OF
He?ll be remembered as the best fling in Mets history.
Prediction: Giants, six years, $150 million.
7. Justin Upton, OF
He already has made more than $50 million, and he?s only 28.
Prediction: Cubs, seven years, $161 million.
8. Alex Gordon, OF
He?s Heyward?s fellow trailblazer regarding defensive value.
Prediction: Red Sox, five years, $90 million.
9. Jordan Zimmermann, RHP
In a less pitching-rich winter, he would make even more.
Prediction: Astros, five years, $95 million.
10. Ben Zobrist, IF-OF
He can do a little of everything, but will his age (34) haunt him?
Prediction: Royals, three years, $50 million.
11. Howie Kendrick, 2B
Did he just dip at 32, or is he entering his decline phase?
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Wei-Yin ChenPhoto: AP
Prediction: Dodgers, three years, $45 million.
12. Wei-Yin Chen, LHP
Getting Baltimore?s qualifying offer could take him out of play for the Yankees.
Prediction: Phillies, five years, $85 million.
13. Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP
New Seattle general manager Jerry DiPoto has been adamant about his desire to keep Iwakuma.
Prediction: Mariners, three years, $48 million.
14. John Lackey, RHP
In what is his likely his last payday, can the native Texan make his way home?
Prediction: Astros, three years, $45 million.
15. Ian Desmond, SS
The most natural fit, the Mets, haven?t shown the inclination to raise their payroll this dramatically.
Prediction: White Sox, five years, $80 million.
16. Yovani Gallardo, RHP
He enjoyed a nice rebound season with Texas, and he lives in Fort Worth.
Prediction: Rangers, four years, $60 million.
17. Jeff Samardzija, RHP
The Yankees? See Chen.
Prediction: Tigers, three years, $50 million.
18. Marco Estrada, RHP
After emerging with a breakout season, at 32, he?ll be hurt by Toronto?s qualifying offer.
Prediction: Blue Jays, four years, $55 million.
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Scott KazmirPhoto: Getty Images
19. Scott Kazmir, LHP
The long-ago Mets prodigy is set to score like never before.
Prediction: Royals, four years, $68 million.
20. Denard Span, OF
His injury-marred 2015 really hurt his earning power.
Prediction: Mariners, three years, $42 million.
21. J.A. Happ, LHP
Pittsburgh has a history of retaining its own reclamation projects, like Francisco Liriano).
Prediction: Pirates, three years, $33 million.
22. Dexter Fowler, OF
They enjoyed a successful one-year trial, so?
Prediction: Cubs, four years, $50 million.
23. Mike Leake
San Francisco, even more than Pittsburgh, often retains its own guys.
Prediction: Giants, five years, $85 million.
24. Daniel Murphy, IF
Did you watch him in the World Series and think, ?Now there?s a DH??
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Darren O?DayPhoto: Getty Images
Prediction: Angels, four years, $50 million.
25. Darren O?Day, RHP
He pitches well against lefties, too.
Prediction: Mets, four years, $32 million.
26. Colby Rasmus, OF
Like with Fowler and the Cubs, there?s interest in extending a rental into a full-blown purchase.
Prediction: Astros, three years, $36 million.
27. Bartolo Colon, RHP
He really enjoyed his time in Flushing and is open to pitching some out of the bullpen.
Prediction: Mets, one year, $7 million.
28. Ian Kennedy, RHP
In this market, he?s going to have to wait quite a while.
Prediction: Giants, two years, $26 million.
29. Matt Wieters, C
Here?s a bet for Wieters to become the first player to accept the qualifying offer.
Prediction: Orioles, one year, $15.8 million.
30. Brett Anderson, LHP
Another guy over whom teams won?t be excited to sacrifice a draft pick.
Prediction: Dodgers, three years, $36 million.
They predict we sign Heyward and Samardzija.... I would be beyond ecstatic if we signed both of them....
Predicting where MLB?s top 30 free agents will land
By Ken Davidoff
November 6, 2015 | 10:33pm
Modal Trigger
Predicting where MLB?s top 30 free agents will land
Nationals' out-of-touch hire only strengthens Mets' NL East grip
Why Mets should make harder play for Murphy than Cespedes
Matt Harvey's diva saga ends fittingly: Time to trade him?
Cespedes showing Mets fans his worst at the worst possible time
Commissioner OK with Syndergaard pitch, but the Royals aren't
It?s time for The Post?s annual Top 30 free-agent rankings and predictions.
Why 30? Because there are 30 teams.
The rankings are compiled via a mix of statistical analysis and popular demand. The predictions are formulated from background interviews with team officials, players and agents as well as an attempt to think along with clubs, the free agents and their representatives.
1. Zack Greinke, RHP
Only his age (32) prevents him from getting the most money in this robust market.
Prediction: Dodgers, six years, $180 million.
2. David Price, LHP
He loved playing for Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay.
Prediction: Cubs, eight years, $250 million.
3. Jason Heyward, OF
Modal Trigger
Jason HeywardPhoto: AP
He?s a groundbreaker when it comes to getting paid for his defense.
Prediction: Tigers, eight years, $170 million.
4. Chris Davis, 1B-OF
The best pure power hitter in this market, and he?s a little versatile, too.
Prediction: Cardinals, seven years, $150 million.
5. Johnny Cueto, RHP
How much will his up-and-down stay with Kansas City hurt him?
Modal Trigger
Yoenis CespedesPhoto: UPI
Prediction: Red Sox, five years, $120 million.
6. Yoenis Cespedes, OF
He?ll be remembered as the best fling in Mets history.
Prediction: Giants, six years, $150 million.
7. Justin Upton, OF
He already has made more than $50 million, and he?s only 28.
Prediction: Cubs, seven years, $161 million.
8. Alex Gordon, OF
He?s Heyward?s fellow trailblazer regarding defensive value.
Prediction: Red Sox, five years, $90 million.
9. Jordan Zimmermann, RHP
In a less pitching-rich winter, he would make even more.
Prediction: Astros, five years, $95 million.
10. Ben Zobrist, IF-OF
He can do a little of everything, but will his age (34) haunt him?
Prediction: Royals, three years, $50 million.
11. Howie Kendrick, 2B
Did he just dip at 32, or is he entering his decline phase?
Modal Trigger
Wei-Yin ChenPhoto: AP
Prediction: Dodgers, three years, $45 million.
12. Wei-Yin Chen, LHP
Getting Baltimore?s qualifying offer could take him out of play for the Yankees.
Prediction: Phillies, five years, $85 million.
13. Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP
New Seattle general manager Jerry DiPoto has been adamant about his desire to keep Iwakuma.
Prediction: Mariners, three years, $48 million.
14. John Lackey, RHP
In what is his likely his last payday, can the native Texan make his way home?
Prediction: Astros, three years, $45 million.
15. Ian Desmond, SS
The most natural fit, the Mets, haven?t shown the inclination to raise their payroll this dramatically.
Prediction: White Sox, five years, $80 million.
16. Yovani Gallardo, RHP
He enjoyed a nice rebound season with Texas, and he lives in Fort Worth.
Prediction: Rangers, four years, $60 million.
17. Jeff Samardzija, RHP
The Yankees? See Chen.
Prediction: Tigers, three years, $50 million.
18. Marco Estrada, RHP
After emerging with a breakout season, at 32, he?ll be hurt by Toronto?s qualifying offer.
Prediction: Blue Jays, four years, $55 million.
Modal Trigger
Scott KazmirPhoto: Getty Images
19. Scott Kazmir, LHP
The long-ago Mets prodigy is set to score like never before.
Prediction: Royals, four years, $68 million.
20. Denard Span, OF
His injury-marred 2015 really hurt his earning power.
Prediction: Mariners, three years, $42 million.
21. J.A. Happ, LHP
Pittsburgh has a history of retaining its own reclamation projects, like Francisco Liriano).
Prediction: Pirates, three years, $33 million.
22. Dexter Fowler, OF
They enjoyed a successful one-year trial, so?
Prediction: Cubs, four years, $50 million.
23. Mike Leake
San Francisco, even more than Pittsburgh, often retains its own guys.
Prediction: Giants, five years, $85 million.
24. Daniel Murphy, IF
Did you watch him in the World Series and think, ?Now there?s a DH??
Modal Trigger
Darren O?DayPhoto: Getty Images
Prediction: Angels, four years, $50 million.
25. Darren O?Day, RHP
He pitches well against lefties, too.
Prediction: Mets, four years, $32 million.
26. Colby Rasmus, OF
Like with Fowler and the Cubs, there?s interest in extending a rental into a full-blown purchase.
Prediction: Astros, three years, $36 million.
27. Bartolo Colon, RHP
He really enjoyed his time in Flushing and is open to pitching some out of the bullpen.
Prediction: Mets, one year, $7 million.
28. Ian Kennedy, RHP
In this market, he?s going to have to wait quite a while.
Prediction: Giants, two years, $26 million.
29. Matt Wieters, C
Here?s a bet for Wieters to become the first player to accept the qualifying offer.
Prediction: Orioles, one year, $15.8 million.
30. Brett Anderson, LHP
Another guy over whom teams won?t be excited to sacrifice a draft pick.
Prediction: Dodgers, three years, $36 million.
They predict we sign Heyward and Samardzija.... I would be beyond ecstatic if we signed both of them....
