Ken Davidoff

Ken Davidoff

MLB

Predicted destinations for MLB’s top 30 free agents

1. Robinson Cano

If there’s an obvious, gung-ho suitor besides the Yankees, that team is laying low.

Prediction: Yankees, eight years, $200 million.

2. Jacoby Ellsbury

He’s from Oregon, and the Mariners, who play one state north of Oregon, are desperate to add offense.

Prediction: Seattle, seven years, $133 million.

3. Shin-Soo Choo

With the ever-patient Scott Boras representing him, could he hang around until Alex Rodriguez’s suspension is resolved?

Prediction: Yankees, six years, $100 million.

4. Mike Napoli

There aren’t many big-market American League teams looking for first base/DH types.

Prediction: Boston, three years, $39 million.

5. Hiroki Kuroda

The possibility always exists he could return to Japan.

Prediction: Yankees, one year, $15 million.

6. Jhonny Peralta

He enjoyed a brief, successful, post-suspension audition in the playoffs.

Prediction: Mets, three years, $36 million.

7. Bartolo Colon

No, you aren’t reading the 2003 rankings; he has been better than any current free-agent starter besides Kuroda the prior two seasons.

Prediction: Oakland, one year, $7 million.

8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia

A well-timed breakout season, after years of his hype exceeding his results.

Prediction: Toronto, three years, $27 million.

9. Carlos Beltran

With his first visit to the World Series ending with a loss, he said his priority is to get back there.

Prediction: Philadelphia, two years, $26 million.

10. Brian McCann

The Rangers long have admired him.

Prediction: Texas, five years, $85 million.

11. Masahiro Tanaka

He isn’t a free agent in the truest sense, but the Rakuten Golden Eagles are expected to post him.

Prediction: Yankees, five years, $60 million (on top of a $60 million posting fee).

12. Joe Nathan

He inherits Mariano Rivera’s title as the most accomplished active closer, and at almost 39, he’s still pretty darn good.

Prediction: Detroit, two years, $24 million.

13. Ubaldo Jimenez

One of many young-ish, inconsistent starting pitchers in this group, he rebounded in ’13 after two lousy years.

Prediction: Angels, four years, $50 million.

14. Ervin Santana

He loved his time in Kansas City, but bigger markets and higher payrolls beckon.

Prediction: Washington, five years, $65 million.

15. Omar Infante

He’s the Yankees’ contingency plan in case they can’t agree to terms with Cano.

Prediction: Baltimore, three years, $30 million.

16. A.J. Burnett

Hey, maybe he and the Yankees could … nah.

Prediction: Pittsburgh, one year, $11 million.

17. Matt Garza

More bark than bite, yet he’ll probably get the most guaranteed money of any pitcher on the market.

Prediction: Toronto, four years, $68 million.

18. Ricky Nolasco

A back-of-the-rotation innings-eater, he helped the Dodgers after joining them in July.

Prediction: Dodgers, four years, $44 million.

19. Kendrys Morales

The Mariners’ extending him the qualifying offer definitely will hurt his market value.

Prediction: Seattle, three years, $33 million.

20. Bronson Arroyo

They don’t get any more reliable than him, although his age (37 in February) is an impediment.

Prediction: Minnesota, three years, $39 million.

21. Curtis Granderson

While the Yankees qualifying offer will be tempting, he should have suitors if he turns it down.

Prediction: Mets, three years, $36 million.

22. Stephen Drew

Another player whose market will be tempered by the qualifying offer.

Prediction: St. Louis, two years, $25 million.

23. Nelson Cruz

Like Peralta, he accepted his Biogenesis suspension in August rather than let uncertainly linger.

Prediction: Texas, two years, $30 million.

24. Marlon Byrd

The Mets’ low-budget find from a year ago is ready to cash in on his revival campaign.

Prediction: Pittsburgh, one year, $8 million.

25. Juan Uribe

Another candidate for the Timing Award, he’s probably the best third baseman on the market.

Prediction: White Sox, two years, $14 million.

26. Jason Vargas

An unheralded innings guy like Nolasco, he missed nearly two months in 2013 with a blood clot.

Prediction: Angels, three years, $30 million.

27. Mark Ellis

A very nice two-way second baseman, which is not necessarily an easy commodity to find, although his advanced age (36) will raise a caution flag.

Prediction: Detroit, two years, $10 million.

28. Carlos Ruiz

Signs of life in the second half mean he very likely could stay with the Phillies.

Prediction: Philadelphia, two years, $15 million.

29. Grant Balfour

He put up two excellent years as the A’s closer.

Prediction: Colorado, two years, $16 million.

30. Joaquin Benoit

Graduated to closer in ’13, and he pitched well enough.

Prediction: Cleveland, two years, $14 million.