Free agents who can't afford to wait
Last offseason, free-agent signings came at a snail's pace as teams opted to wait out the market and get better deals. The strategy didn't affect too many high-end free agents, as J.D. Martinez, Yu Darvish, Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain all got big money despite having to wait, and Jake Arrieta and Alex Cobb still did pretty well in March. But not all players did so well. Lance Lynn, Neil Walker, Mike Moustakas and Greg Holland were among those who had to settle for one-year deals at amounts far less than they probably expected.
With that latter group of players in mind, let's look at some who could find themselves in the same position this winter if they don't strike a deal soon.
This year, with Josh Donaldson quickly signing with the Atlanta Braves, the already small number of third-base openings got smaller. Moustakas didn't do much to change his outlook from a year ago, though this season he isn't attached to a qualifying offer, and his expectations are probably lower after last winter's experience. He's still just 30 years old and resolved some questions about poor defense last season, but he wasn't any better as a hitter. After 38 homers and a 14 percent above league average line as a hitter in 2017, he dropped to 28 homers and just 5 percent above average.
The former Royal and Brewer is a quality player, but he isn't a difference-maker. If Moustakas doesn't find an interested team soon, he might find himself in the same spot next season.
Waiting until after Bryce Harper signs might seem like a good option, but corner outfielders have been plentiful in the trade market, just like McCutchen last year, and the best contract for a second-tier outfielder might be the first one.
But due to the congestion at the position, LeMahieu might have a difficult time later this winter in free agency, after most teams have either filled their vacancies or decided to pursue potentially cheaper alternatives. Because it's not just Murphy, Lowrie and Dozier -- Asdrubal Cabrera, Ian Kinsler and Josh Harrison are also free agents, with Whit Merrifield or even Robinson Cano potentially available in trades. If a team is interested in LeMahieu but moves on, it probably won't circle back with a similar offer, given all the other options.
Although his struggles behind the plate in the playoffs might be fresh in the minds of fans, Grandal deserves a multiyear deal, though the qualifying offer could hamper him slightly even if the penalties aren't as severe as they used to be. The Astros, Angels and Red Sox all make a lot of sense for Grandal, so he should have suitors. But many thought the same about Jonathan Lucroy last winter, and he settled for a one-year deal with Oakland.
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