The World Series is now over and with the Boston Red Sox taking down the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park for the first championship there in nearly 100 years, that means it's getting closer to free agency and the players that will be the hottest on the market includes Robinson Cano, Mike Napoli, Nelson Cruz, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury.
There were a number of players in the World Series that will be top free agents, including Napoli and Beltran as well as Ellsbury, while Cano is considered to be the number one player out there on the market. While many think that Cano will return to the Yankees, that is no sure thing and if the rumors about his $300 million contract are true, the team may bow out before they get the chance to sign him. Cano is the best second baseman in baseball and while the Yankees don't want to sign another A-Rod style contract, they developed and brought up Cano and they want to be the team that keeps him for the long term.
Many expect the Dodgers, Phillies and Chicago Cubs to go after Cano, but Magic Johnson said the team is not planning on chasing him and with a 10-year contract a possibility, the Yankees may not sign up for the battle to sign him if it gets to be too much money. Cano wants 10 years, but it's unclear if anyone will give it to him the way A-Rod and Albert Pujols are looking and after putting up great numbers once again with a .314 average with 27 home runs and over 100 RBIs and that means he will be a prime candidate for teams looking to sign a big player.
Cano is past 30, which is always an issue and while he plays second base and his numbers are great for his position, teams may feel uncomfortable giving out that much dough. Cano has put up great numbers in his career and while he is well prepared for games, he often times can be a jogger to first base and teams won't want to dole out $300 million for a player that takes off on some plays. The Yankees may offer him the money per year he wants, but the years likely will not be for 10. Cano has over 100 RBIs in three of the past four seasons with at least 25 homes runs in the past five and he will be a prime target for teams.
Jacoby Ellsbury is another option for the Yankees as well as the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers and he could be the top outfield candidate in free agency this offseason. Ellsbury is a very solid player and he hit .298 this season with nine home runs and 53 RBIs and he was a beast on the base paths, stealing over 50 bases and putting up 172 hits. Last season he had an injury plagued year and the season before that is the one everyone will focus on, as he stole nearly 40 bases and had 32 home runs and over 100 RBIs and that is why he may command a huge contract. The Mariners will make a run since he is from the Pacific Northwest, while the Rangers and Yankees can spend money.
Other top players include Mike Napoli, Nelson Cruz, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran and the latter two should command some money. Beltran will get some attention from the Yankees, as will McCann and another player that should get looked at is Mike Napoli, as he had a solid season in 2013.
