Although the postseason has yet to even begin, many fans are already looking toward MLB free agency.
If you don't have a dog in the playoff fight, then your only source of potential optimism is envisioning how your favorite team will improve once the season ends.
The slight problem with that mindset is that using the free-agent market to find key pieces is becoming more and more difficult. Small-market teams have an easier time holding on to their homegrown talent, thus making many of the best players unavailable.
The three stars below, on the other hand, will be open to the highest bidder, as it appears unlikely they'll stay with their current teams.
Justin Upton, San Diego Padres
The upcoming offseason will likely be a stark contrast to the positive feelings surrounding the San Diego Padres last winter. General manager A.J. Preller emptied out the farm system in an effort to build a winning team, and the plan didn't exactly work out.
Now, Preller is facing a future in which he will in all likelihood lose the most prized asset he acquired during his trading frenzy, Justin Upton.
In an interview with Marty Caswell of Mighty 1090 AM in San Diego, MLB.com's Corey Brock indicated the Padres will likely let Upton walk in free agency and receive a draft compensation pick following his departure.
The 28-year-old is one of the best hitters on the free-agent market, and in terms of pure power, he may be at the top of the class. Despite playing half of his games in Petco Park, his numbers haven't dropped significantly since moving to the Padres:
Upton's standard stats—batting average, home runs and runs batted in—and advanced sabermetric totals—isolated power, weighted on-base average plus and weighted runs created plus—are all in line with his career averages.
Looking at the teams who could really use Upton in the middle of the order, the Los Angeles Angels stand out.
Mike Trout is the best player in baseball, and Kole Calhoun gives the Angels some power in right field. Over in left, Los Angeles has serious issues. The team has used Shane Victorino, Matthew Joyce and David Murphy at various points, and none of those players is any sort of long-term option.
Upton is the best left fielder on the market, and the Angels have shown in the past they won't shy away from making a big splash in the offseason.
Prediction: Upton signs with Angels
Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles
Matt Wieters has rarely hit for average over his seven-year MLB career, but you could generally count on the Baltimore Orioles catcher to deliver some power. He has provided no such thing in 2015, hitting .262 with eight home runs and 23 runs batted in.
The 29-year-old had Tommy John surgery last year, and the effects of the procedure seem to have carried over to this season.
Because of that, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported the Orioles may have second thoughts about giving Wieters a qualifying offer.
This past Monday, Wieters stated his desire to remain in Baltimore but knows he may be moving on to another team.
"I've been very fortunate being able to be here as long as I have and would love to stay here," he said, per MASN.com's Steve Melewski. "But that is all stuff that will be controlled and talked about in the offseason. What I can control now is just enjoying this last week and taking it for what it is. I've had an amazing tenure here and hopefully it continues."
Unless the Orioles can sign him on extremely favorable terms, they should let Wieters walk. Spending seven or eight figures a year on Wieters doesn't make sense when Baltimore could have Caleb Joseph play catcher until Chance Sisco takes over on a full-time basis.
The Atlanta Braves, on the other hand, might be more willing to meet Wieters' asking price. They have to put a somewhat good team together when SunTrust Park opens in 2017, so Wieters would improve the team in the short term.
Plus, they'll have a major need for a catcher in the offseason. A.J. Pierzynski is a free agent this year—not to mention he'll turn 39 in December. Meanwhile, Christian Bethancourt has yet to take major steps forward in his development in the last two years.
Prediction: Wieters signs with Braves
Doug Fister, Washington Nationals
Doug Fister picked the worst time to have a bad season. Injuries and poor performance have undoubtedly hurt the 31-year-old's value in the upcoming offseason.
Fister has made 25 appearances this year, just 15 of which were starts. His 4.19 earned run average is the highest of his career, while his 4.56 FIP is his worst since 2009. Although he is striking out more batters (5.50 K/9) this year, his walk rate (2.10 BB/9) and home runs allowed (1.22 HR/9) represent steps backward.
Still, plenty of teams will likely be interested in Fister in the hope that he can return to his old self when healthy for a full season.
Nestled deep inside his most recent column, Sportsnet's Jeff Blair reported the Toronto Blue Jays may pursue Fister to bolster the rotation.
Drew Fairservice of Ghostrunner on First is a bit skeptical as to whether Fister would improve the team:
You can at least understand why Toronto would entertain the idea. David Price is a free agent at the end of the year, and the team can't rely on older guys like R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle forever. Fister is relatively young and could possibly be a replacement for Buehrle and/or Price in the event one or both of them leave.
In the event Price re-signs with the Blue Jays, the franchise may not want to sign another high-price veteran arm. Fister won't command No. 1 starter-type money, but he'll likely earn a deal worth at least $10 million annually.
Should Toronto not enter the Fister sweepstakes, the San Francisco Giants might be a good landing spot for the right-hander. Both Tim Hudson and Mike Leake are free agents this year, so the need for another starting pitcher will be there.
Plus, Fister might welcome the chance to play in pitcher-friendly AT&T Park.
Prediction: Fister signs with Blue Jays if Toronto loses David Price; if Price stays in Toronto, Fister signs with Giants
Note: All stats are courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
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