Previewing 2017-18 MLB free agent class

A former top prospect in Cincinnati, Alonso set a career high in home runs this year by mid-May. He's well on his way to a career year with a .271-12-29 line in the middle of the Oakland batting order.

Arrieta should still get a lucrative deal this offseason, but the 2015 NL Cy Young winner doesn't look like the same pitcher that took home the hardware. He has a 4.80 ERA through nine starts, with trouble keeping the ball in the park.

Bruce was heavily involved in trade rumors during the offseason but has overcome those distractions. He's hitting .248-11-30 through 40 games and has four 30-plus home run seasons for his career.

Cabrera is in the final season of a three-year deal with the White Sox during which he's been very productive up until this season. He's hitting just .234-2-19 in 40 games so far this year.

Cain will forever be synonymous with the 2016 Royals World Series squad, but it remains to be seen if K.C. will be able to afford him. The center fielder is hitting .265 with a 12 stolen bases in 42 games.

Returning from Tommy John surgery, Cobb has a 3.67 ERA in nine starts this year for the Rays. He could be a strong value in the free agent market with two sub-3.00 ERA seasons in his career. With enviable pitching depth at Triple-A, the low-budget Rays will almost certainly allow Cobb to walk.

Davis has proved that his elbow is healthy after having some issues in Kansas City last season. The new Cubs closer hasn't allowed an earned run in 17.1 innings with 22 strikeouts.

Estrada has been an absolute steal for the Jays since arriving in 2015, now going on his third consecutive season with a sub-4.00 ERA. He has trouble keeping the ball in the park but has finally become a consistent pitcher in his 30s.

Frazier has developed into one of the premier power hitters in baseball, though he's not without his blemishes. He hit a combined 75 home runs in 2015-16 but is off to a slow start this year with only four long balls in 35 games.

CarGo is off to a rough start this season for the Rockies, hitting .234-3-13 in 41 games. While the team has been rumored to have interest in retaining him, it doesn't make much sense in the long term with David Dahl and Raimel Tapia set to man the outfield in the future.

After accepting a qualifying offer from the Phillies, Hellickson is off to another strong start with a 3.44 ERA and five wins in nine starts. He's effectively been Philadelphia's ace since arriving in 2016.

Holliday had issues staying on the field in his last two seasons with the Cardinals but is playing well in the DH role for the Yankees this year. He has an .874 OPS through 39 games.

Hosmer has been a staple in the K.C. lineup since 2011, as well as a three-time Gold Glove winner at first base. The team would certainly like to retain him, and Hosmer is off to a nice start with an .801 OPS in 44 games.

Kintzler turned himself into a strong closer with the Twins when opportunity arrived last season, and his success has continued this year. He has a 1.80 ERA and 11 saves in 19 appearances after saving 17 games last year.

Lackey is quickly nearing age 40, meaning he will likely get a short-term deal after this season. Still, there's reason to think he will get big money after posting a 3.35 ERA last season and more than one strikeout per inning early this year.

Lucroy is starting to turn his season around after a very slow start. He's hitting .277-3-12 with only eight strikeouts in 128 plate appearances. He had one of his best offensive seasons in 2016, hitting .292-24-81 between Milwaukee and Texas.

Lynn is having a great rebound from Tommy John surgery with a 2.78 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through eight starts for the Cardinals. With several top pitching prospects on the horizon, St. Louis could let Lynn walk during the offseason.

Injuries have been a hindrance for Martinez over the last year, but he's been one of baseball's most productive hitters when healthy. The 29-year-old right fielder finished with a .908 OPS last season and is off to a sizzling start this year in 10 games.

A homegrown talent of the Royals, Moustakas is returning from a major knee injury to hit 10 home runs in his first 39 games of the season. He's only had one well above-average offensive campaign, when he hit .284-22-82 in 2015, but Moustakas should find a big payday with a good 2017 season.

Pineda has shown ace ability over the last few seasons, if not for his issues keeping the ball in the park. Since 2015, he has an elite 9.8 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9. If the Yankees opt to let Pineda test the market, a team with a larger home ballpark could be a great fit.

Reed has been an elite reliever since being traded to the Mets in 2015. He had a 1.97 ERA in 80 appearances last season and has gained the closer role this year following Jeurys Familia's shoulder issue. With a solid run in the role, Reed could fetch a huge deal.

Santana has been a key part of Cleveland's lineup since 2010 and an on-base machine for his career with a .363 on-base percentage. He hit a career-high 34 home runs last season and would be a welcome addition to any lineup.

Tillman has returned from an early-season shoulder injury to be Baltimore's ace again after winning 16 games with a 3.77 ERA in 30 starts last season. If he's able to stay healthy the rest of the way, Tillman should get a multiyear deal entering a weak starting pitching market next offseason.

Walker is coming off a career year, his first in New York, when he hit .282-23-55 with an .823 OPS in only 113 games. He's off to a slow start this year but remains one of the top power-hitting second basemen in the game.

Watson has emerged as Pittsburgh's closer since the Pirates traded Mark Melancon last trade deadline. He's far from the prototype but has found success in the role with 15 saves last season and 10 more early this year.