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Projecting the biggest contracts on the MLB offseason
USA TODAY Sports

Projecting the biggest contracts on the MLB offseason

Heading into MLB free agency, Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, and J.D. Martinez are likely the big prizes, but there are plenty of players available for teams looking to improve. The following slideshow predicts the 25 biggest free agent contracts of the offseason.

 
1 of 25

Yu Darvish: 6 years, $160 million

Yu Darvish: 6 years, $160 million
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Darvish might have hurt his value after struggling in the World Series, but he's still one of the few aces available this winter. Still just 31, he has plenty of quality years ahead of him with the ability to pitch atop a rotation.

 
2 of 25

Jake Arrieta: 6 years, $157 million

Jake Arrieta: 6 years, $157 million
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Arrieta has a 2.67 ERA in 119 starts and one Cy Young Award under his belt since 2014. Even if the Cubs don't bring him back, Arrieta should have his fair share of suitors on the market.

 
3 of 25

Eric Hosmer: 7 years, $140 million

Eric Hosmer: 7 years, $140 million
Peter Aiken / USA Today Sports Images

Hosmer has the advantage of entering free agency before his age 28 season, making it a good possibility this his contract will be especially lengthy. He's also coming off of a career year with the Royals.

 
4 of 25

J.D. Martinez: 5 years, $125 million

J.D. Martinez: 5 years, $125 million
Matt Kartozian / USA Today Sports Images

Martinez is coming off a 45 home run season in only 119 games played and is still in his prime years at age 30. The offense he produced last season shows an elite hitter, and he will be paid like one.

 
5 of 25

Lorenzo Cain: 5 years, $100 million

Lorenzo Cain: 5 years, $100 million
Rick Osentoski / USA Today Sports Images

Cain is clearly the top center fielder on the market, and has shown consistency offensively and defensively over the last four seasons. He's likely to start slowly declining soon enough, but Cain hasn't done much slowing down so far.

 
6 of 25

Lance Lynn: 5 years, $100 million

Lance Lynn: 5 years, $100 million
Jake Roth / USA Today Sports Images

Durability in the starting rotation is worth a lot of money, and aside from missing all of 2016 to Tommy John surgery, Lynn has been quite durable for the Cardinals. His command issues last season didn't stop him from posting a 3.43 ERA in 33 starts.

 
7 of 25

Mike Moustakas: 4 years, $80 million

Mike Moustakas: 4 years, $80 million
John Hefti / USA Today Sports Images

Moose had a career-high 38 home runs with the Royals last season, making his second All-Star appearance. While his defense has been inconsistent, Moustakas is just approaching his age 29 season and should have plenty of strong years remaining.

 
8 of 25

Wade Davis: 5 years, $80 million

Wade Davis: 5 years, $80 million
Patrick Gorski / USA Today Sports Images

With several contenders desperate for a closer, there isn't a better one on the market than Davis. He's made three consecutive All-Star appearances, with a 1.45 ERA over the last four seasons.

 
9 of 25

Alex Cobb: 4 years, $68 million

Alex Cobb: 4 years, $68 million
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Cobb had a strong year returning from Tommy John surgery in 2017, with a 3.66 ERA. With outstanding control and above average groundball rates, Cobb could still be ascending at age 30.

 
10 of 25

Greg Holland: 4 years, $65 million

Greg Holland: 4 years, $65 million
Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sports Images

Holland rehabbed his value in Colorado following Tommy John surgery, and he's not far removed from being an elite closer in KC. Agent Scott Boras has his sights set on a huge deal.

 
11 of 25

Jay Bruce: 3 years, $45 million

Jay Bruce: 3 years, $45 million
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

Bruce has totaled 69 home runs over the last two seasons, and he's still near his prime at age 31. The outfielder has proven his power wasn't a produce of the Great American Ball Park, showing similar power at Citi Field and Progressive Field.

 
12 of 25

Carlos Santana: 3 years, $40 million

Carlos Santana: 3 years, $40 million
David Richard / USA Today Sports Images

Santana isn't much defensively, but stat-minded teams love his walks and power. He's walked at least 88 times in seven straight seasons, a skill that should help him age well.

 
13 of 25

Zack Cozart: 3 years, $40 million

Zack Cozart: 3 years, $40 million
David Kohl / USA Today Sports Images

Clearly the top shortstop on the market, Cozart made his first All-Star appearance last year but is also going on age 32. That fact should limit the length of his upcoming contract.

 
14 of 25

Addison Reed: 3 years, $33 million

Addison Reed: 3 years, $33 million
Kevin Sousa / USA Today Sports Images

Reed has 125 saves over his seven-year career, and is likely to find another closer job this offseason. He's been a fantastic reliever over the last two seasons, with a combined 2.40 ERA and 9.8 K/9 in 157 appearances.

 
15 of 25

Eduardo Nunez: 3 years, $32 million

Eduardo Nunez: 3 years, $32 million
Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports Images

Nunez's ability to play just about anywhere defensively has a lot of value, as does his speed. Over the last two seasons, he's also shown some pop with a combined 28 home runs.

 
16 of 25

Andrew Cashner: 3 years, $30 million

Andrew Cashner: 3 years, $30 million
Joe Nicholson / USA Today Sports Images

A former top prospect, Cashner doesn't have the velocity that he did early in his career. It didn't stop him from finding success last season with a 3.40 ERA in 28 starts, though his 4.6 K/9 was a red flag. Cashner also has a long injury history.

 
17 of 25

Logan Morrison: 3 years, $30 million

Logan Morrison: 3 years, $30 million
Dan Hamilton / USA Today Sports Images

38 home runs are worth a lot of money in the majors, as Morrison is about to find out. Teams do have some reason to be skeptical of Morrison's breakout at age 29, but he's shown plenty of power over streaks in the past.

 
18 of 25

Jonathan Lucroy: 2 years, $28 million

Jonathan Lucroy: 2 years, $28 million
Russell Lansford / USA Today Sports Images

Lucroy's upcoming contract could go anywhere after a sub-par season. Optimists can still look at his improvement with the Rockies, as well as his career-high 24 home runs in 2016. Lucroy also still plays solid defense behind the plate.

 
19 of 25

Brandon Morrow: 3 years, $27 million

Brandon Morrow: 3 years, $27 million
John Hefti / USA Today Sports Images

Give Morrow a multi-year deal at your own risk. He has a great arm with elite velocity, but Morrow also has a long history of arm problems. Given the upside, he's almost assured a multi-year deal, however, after posting a 2.06 ERA in 45 appearances with the Dodgers.

 
20 of 25

Todd Frazier: 2 years, $26 million

Todd Frazier: 2 years, $26 million
Robert Deutsch / USA Today Sports Images

Frazier's value has declined over the last two years with his declining batting average, bottoming out at .213 last season. He still has plenty of power and is known as a clubhouse favorite.

 
21 of 25

Welington Castillo: 3 years, $25 million

Welington Castillo: 3 years, $25 million
Patrick McDermott / USA Today Sports Images

Castillo heads into free agency at the right time with a .813 OPS in Baltimore last season. With limited catching options, Castillo will easily get a multi-year offer.

 
22 of 25

Yonder Alonso: 2 years, $20 million

Yonder Alonso: 2 years, $20 million
Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports Images

Alonso hit a career-high 28 home runs last season, but the free agent market is also ripe with first basemen. While he's probably worth the risk, Alonso isn't exactly a safe signing given his history.

 
23 of 25

Neil Walker: 2 years, $18 million

Neil Walker: 2 years, $18 million
David Kohl / USA Today Sports Images

The top second baseman on the market, Walker could be limited to a short-term deal due to his recent injuries. He's averaged only 112 games over the last two seasons.

 
24 of 25

Juan Nicasio: 2 years, $16 million

Juan Nicasio: 2 years, $16 million
Jeff Curry / USA Today Sports Images

Nicasio doesn't have much closing experience, but he did handle the role well late in the year with the Cardinals. After leading the NL with 76 appearances and posting a 2.61 ERA with three teams, Nicasio should get a few multi-year offers.

 
25 of 25

Carlos Gonzalez: 1 year, $15 million

Carlos Gonzalez: 1 year, $15 million
Rick Scuteri / USA Today Sports Images

A former elite outfielder just one year removed from an NL All-Star appearance, Gonzalez makes for an interesting flier after a down season. He hit only 14 home runs with the Rockies last season, but hit .298-25-100 in 2016. 

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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