USA TODAY Sports

As the game's most intriguing and prized possession remains unavailable - for now - Major League Baseball's 30 franchises are prepared to jump feet-first into some 90 days of high-stakes shopping.

While Shohei Otani, a 23-year-old power hitter who also throws fastballs that exceed 100 mph, has signed with CAA and has an eye on making a leap to the major leagues from Japan, the task of unseating the Houston Astros as World Series champions begins without him.

And as the off-season begins in earnest, USA TODAY Sports takes a look at the top 73 free agents available. Rankings based on projected future performance and perceived market value:

(Age as of April 1, 2018, 2017 team)

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1. Yu Darvish (31, RHP, Dodgers): He stunk in the World Series, costing the Dodgers their first World Series title since 1988, but still is the top free-agent starter. Darvish only recorded 10 outs in his two World Series starts, which will slightly diminish his free-agent value, and only enhances his reputation of letting the pressure overwhelm him. Still, he should provide 32 to 35 starts, and at least 190 innings for the next five years. The Seattle Mariners appear to be the most likely fit. (Signed a six-year, $126 million deal with the Cubs)

2. J.D. Martinez (30, RF, Diamondbacks): Arguably the top hitter on the market, Martinez has hit .300 with 128 home runs over the past four seasons, culminating in a monster 2017 that saw him hit 29 home runs in 62 games with Arizona. He’s only 30 and should fetch the kind of nine-figure deal that Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes have signed in the past year. (Signed an five-year, $110 million deal with the Red Sox)

3. Jake Arrieta (32 RHP, Cubs): Arrieta is trending the wrong direction, as his fastball dropped 2 mph last year, he's striking out one less batter per nine innings than he did three years ago, and injuries limited him to 168 1/3 innings. Still, this is one of the game’s ultimate competitors. He won’t get the seven-year contract he was originally seeking, but his leadership and moxie will have contenders calling. The Texas Rangers may be the most logical fit. (Signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Phillies)

4. Eric Hosmer (28, 1B, Royals): Once regarded as a singles-hitting first baseman, Hosmer belted 25 homers in back-to-back seasons and posted a career-best .498 slugging percentage in 2017 despite playing in a pitchers’ park. He’s also a four-time Gold Glover coming off a season in which he batted .318 and played in at least 158 games for the fourth time in five years. At 28, Hosmer is about to cash in big-time, with the Boston Red Sox as likely suitors. (Signed an eight-year, $144 million deal with the Padres)

5. Wade Davis (32, RHP, Cubs): Davis bounced back from injury and notched 32 saves in 33 attempts. However, he posted the worst walk rate of his career and gave up twice as many homers (six) as he had in the previous three years combined. He’s the best closer on the market - one year after Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen cracked the $80 million plateau - and the Cubs will push hard to bring him back. (Signed a three-year, $52 million deal with the Rockies)

6. Mike Moustakas (29, 3B, Royals): Moustakas missed most of the 2016 season with a knee injury, but returned to everyday play in 2017 and smacked a career-high 38 homers. As one of the top power bats on the market, the lefty-swinging Moustakas should reap a four- or five-year deal in the $15-to-$20 million range this winter. Since he's only 29, his market will hardly be limited to win-now type teams. (Re-signed with the Royals for one-year, $6.5 million)

7. Lance Lynn (30, RHP, Cardinals): He bounced back nicely from Tommy John surgery to pitch 186 1/3 innings, but only twice went eight innings, and struggled down the stretch. He has the size and durability to be a consistent 200-inning pitcher, a plateau he's reached twice. The Baltimore Orioles need an innings-eater, and Lynn could be a natural choice. (Signed an one-year, $12 million deal with the Twins)

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8. Lorenzo Cain (31, CF, Royals): Cain has hit 15 homers with 25 steals in two of the past three years and is batting .300 since the 2014 season. He remains one of the game's best defensive center fielders. (Signed a five-year, $80 million deal with the Brewers)

9. Carlos Santana (31, 1B, Indians): The switch-hitting Santana got lost in the glow of teammates with bigger names, but he provides strong on-base skills with power. In his seven full seasons, Santana averaged 24 homers, 81 RBI and a .363 OBP despite batting just .249. He also turned himself into a terrific first baseman, tying for the league lead with 10 defensive runs saved. Santana’s biggest drawback may be that he turns 32 in April. (Signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Phillies)

10. Greg Holland (32, RHP, Rockies): After missing all of 2016 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Holland returned to save 41 games for Colorado. He looked like the Holland of old in the first half, posting a 1.62 ERA in 35 games. Holland turned down his $15 million option for 2018 and should command a multi-year deal, but his struggles down the stretch (6.38 ERA in second half) may scare some suitors off.

11. Alex Cobb (30, RHP, Rays): Cobb, who made just five starts in 2015-2016 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, went 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA, pitching in a career-high 179 1/3 innings. He relied heavily on his curveball, and it paid off. The Rays gave him a $17.4 million qualifying offer, but they don’t have the money to re-sign him. Teams may be wary of giving him a long-term contract because he's never made 30 starts a year, but certainly is at least a No. 3 starter.

12. Zack Cozart (32, SS, Reds): Undoubtedly the best true shortstop on the market, Cozart hits free agency after a 2017 campaign that saw him earn the first All-Star nod of his six-season big-league career. Cozart showed significant improvements in power and plate discipline while establishing offensive highs across the board, and he's a plus defender at shortstop even if he can't repeat his achievements in the batter's box. (Signed a three-year, $38 million deal with the Angels)

13. Jonathan Lucroy (31, C, Rockies): The two-time All-Star could not have picked a worse time to have an offensive downturn. Lucroy slumped to the lowest totals of his career for home runs (six) and RBI (40) over a full season. A July 30 trade from the Texas Rangers to the Colorado Rockies brought Lucroy’s bat to life, as usually happens when hitters get to Coors Field, but his value undoubtedly took a hit. A return to Denver would make sense. (Signed a one-year deal with the Athletics)

14. Jay Bruce (30, RF, Indians): A free agent for the first time, Bruce is coming off quite possibly the best season of his 10-year career. He can be streaky, but eventually arrives at 30 home runs. Bruce won’t have any draft compensation attached, which certainly helps his value. He’ll command a multi-year deal, likely in the range of $15-17 million annually. (Signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Mets)

15. Logan Morrison (30, 1B/DH, Rays): Set career highs with 38 homers and 85 RBI, the first time he topped 500 at-bats. Will be interesting test case on the value of 30-plus home runs after the most homer-happy season in major league history. (Signed an one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Twins)

16. Mike Minor (30, LHP, Royals): Shoulder problems cost him all of 2015 and limited him to 42 1/3 innings at Class AA and AAA in 2016. But Minor returned to the majors and was an integral part of the Royals bullpen – appearing in 65 games and tossing 77 2/3 innings. He even finished out the 2017 season as the team’s closer, converting all six of his save opportunities, and his versatility is a significant asset as the role of the relief pitcher continues to evolve. (Signed a three-year, $28 million deal with the Rangers)

17. Brandon Morrow (33, RHP, Dodgers): He went from signing a minor league deal last offseason to becoming just the second player to pitch in every game of a seven-game World Series. The converted starter did it by focusing on his two “swing-and-miss” pitches: an upper-90s fastball and a hard slider. The result was a 2.06 ERA and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. (Signed a two-year, $21 million deal with the Cubs)

18. Yonder Alonso (30, 1B, Mariners): After never hitting more than nine homers in any of his previous seven seasons, Alonso revamped his approach and cranked out 28 in an All-Star year that also included a solid .866 OPS. But he did most of his damage before the break (20 home runs, .934 OPS) and tailed off markedly. (Signed a two-year, $16 million deal with Indians)

19. Anthony Swarzak (32, RHP, Brewers): Swarzak was dominant in 2017 with the White Sox and Brewers, striking out 10.6 batters per nine innings, way up from his 6.4 career average. This coincided with Swarzak laying off the sinker and throwing his slider more often. He was a hot commodity at the trade deadline and should be again in the offseason. (Signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Mets)

20. Neil Walker (32, 2B/1B/3B, Brewers): A consistently above-average hitter with good patience, some power, and a solid glove at second whenever he's healthy, Walker appears the most compelling free-agent option at the keystone. Injuries that sidelined Walker for long stretches of 2016 and 2017 could make clubs averse to committing to the switch-hitter for three or more years. He has a career .341 on-base percentage and has hit 23 home runs in two of the past three years. (Signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Yankees)

21. Eduardo Nunez (30, 3B/SS/2B/OF, Red Sox): Last seen being carried off the field in Game 1 of the ALDS due to the aggravation of a lingering knee injury, Nunez is a manager's dream whenever he's healthy: He hits for a fairly high average with decent power, he steals bases at a great clip, and he can play just about anywhere on the field. Nunez's tantalizing value as an offensive sparkplug and super-utility player means he will likely see multi-year offers near the $10 million a year range. (Re-signed with the Red Sox for one-year, $4 million)

22. Addison Reed (29, RHP, Red Sox): One of the top setup men in the majors in 2016 with the Mets, Reed took over the closer’s job – and converted 19 of 21 save chances – before being traded to Boston. Although his 2.84 ERA was solid, he did give up 11 home runs in 76 innings. That could be an issue, depending on where he signs. (Signed two-year, $17 million deal with the Twins)

23. Bryan Shaw (30, RHP, Indians): After pitching a career-high 76 2/3 innings, Shaw has shown he can handle a setup role that could require getting more than three outs. A 3.52 ERA in 2017 was a bit higher than his career mark, but a fastball that averages 95 mph and four years of rising ground-ball rates enhance his value. (Signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Rockies)

24. Tony Watson (32, LHP, Dodgers): Although never a great fit as closer, Watson racked up 25 saves for the Pirates for parts of the past two seasons. Although he was more effective after being traded to the Dodgers, opponents hit .278 against him in 2017 – substantially higher than the .212 average they had over his first six seasons. (Signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the Giants)

25. Todd Frazier (32, 3B/1B, Yankees): Frazier, a New Jersey native who grew up a Yankee fan, swiftly proved a popular player in the Bronx after joining the Yanks in a mid-July trade. Despite low batting averages - he's hit .220 since his second of two All-Star appearances in 2015 - Frazier represents a valuable option at third thanks to consistently good power numbers and improved plate discipline, and like many right-handed power hitters, fits well at Yankee Stadium. (Signed two-year, $17 million deal with the Mets)

26. Pat Neshek (37, RHP, Rockies): Showing he still has something left, Neshek was an All-Star for the second time. He finished with a 1.59 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, despite pitching in the hitter-friendly environments of Philadelphia and Colorado. He posted an other-worldly 69:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 62 1/3 innings and held right-handed batters to a .201 average. (Signed a two-year, $16.5 million deal with the Phillies)

27. Melky Cabrera (33, OF, Royals): A durable switch hitter who began the season with the White Sox before being sent to the Royals at the trade deadline. He's disciplined at the plate and doesn't strike out a lot. Since 2014, he's batted .289 with at least 170 hits in each season.

28. Brandon Kintzler (33, RHP, Nationals): Acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline, Kintzler helped stabilize the Nats bullpen down the stretch. Although he has closing experience, his strikeout rate of 4.9 per nine innings and his heavy ground-ball rate make him more useful as a setup man. Interestingly, he’s been more effective against left-handed hitters throughout his career. (Re-signed with the Nationals for one year, $10 million)

29. Mark Reynolds (34, 1B, Rockies): The veteran first baseman struck out 175 times, the fifth time he has reached that figure in his 11-year career. And yet that didn’t seem to be nearly as big an issue this time as Reynolds enjoyed a career renaissance, belting 30 homers and driving in 97 runs. Reynolds, 34, did benefit enormously from playing at Coors Field, where he hit 21 of his homers and had a .978 OPS. On the road it was .703.

30. CC Sabathia (37, LHP, Yankees): The veteran no longer can overpower hitters with his fastball, but has learned to be a finesse pitcher. He was limited to just 148 2/3 innings, but still went 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA, his lowest ERA in five years. Gone are the days when he was one of the highest-paid pitchers in baseball, but he proved he can still pitch effectively, and is a clubhouse leader. He could be a bargain on a one- or two-year deal. (Re-signed with Yankees for one year, $10 million)

31. Carlos Gonzalez (32, RF, Rockies): Gonzalez had a mostly dreadful 2017 but did straighten things out a bit down the stretch, hitting .314 with a .921 OPS in the second half. Aside from the sudden drop-off in production, there’s always been concern that Gonzalez’s numbers have been exaggerated by Coors Field – .323/.383/.593 at home in his career vs. .252/.308/.427 on the road. (Re-signed with the Rockies for one-year, $8 million)

32. Tyler Chatwood (28, RHP, Rockies): Chatwood posted a 4.69 ERA in 33 games - 25 starts - but perhaps a change of venue, at least closer to sea level, should help him. He was 3-8 with a 6.01 ERA at Coors Field, 5-7 with a 3.49 ERA on the road, with a 2.57 road ERA the past two seasons. Lefties batted .270 off him with a .373 on-base percentage and .464 slugging percentage. His age should help his value. (Signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Cubs)

33. Jon Jay (33, OF, Cubs): Jay is a .288 career hitter with a .355 on-base percentage. In his lone season with the Cubs, he batted .296 and played all three outfield positions without committing an error. Jay would prefer to return to the Cubs -- where he had a tremendous clubhouse presence -- but that seems unlikely with Albert Almora, Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ and Ben Zobrist all under contract. (Signed an one-year, $3 million deal with the Royals)

34. Juan Nicasio (31, RHP, Cardinals): Nicasio thrived as a reliever and led the National League with 76 appearances. In three seasons since leaving Colorado, he has a 3.81 ERA in 248 ⅔ innings. Even if Nicasio can’t replicate his 2017 performance, worst-case scenario is that he’s a useful veteran swingman. (Signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Mariners)

35. Jhoulys Chacin (30, RHP, Padres): Chacin pitched well last season for the Padres, going 13-10 with a 3.89 ERA. He’s a finesse pitcher who gave up just 157 hits while striking out 153 in 180 1/3 innings. It had been four years since he pitched that many innings, and his 32 starts was a career-high. He certainly will earn more than the $1.75 million he made last season. (Signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Brewers)

36. Welington Castillo (30, C, Orioles): Castillo may finally find some stability after playing for four teams in the last five years. He set a personal high of 20 home runs while improving significantly as a receiver, placing second in Fangraphs.com’s defensive rankings of AL catchers. He also threw out 49% of attempted stealers. (Signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the White Sox)

37. Steve Cishek (31, RHP, Rays): The sidearming Cishek has a career 2.73 ERA and has held righties to a .205 average. He’s bounced around over the past few years, but should be able to secure a multi-year deal. (Signed a two-year deal, $13 million deal with the Cubs)

38. Andrew Cashner (RHP, 31, Rangers): The Rangers gambled on Cashner with a one-year contract, and won. Cashner stayed relatively healthy and went 11-11 with a 3.40 ERA in 28 starts. It was the first time since 2013 he made enough starts to even qualify for the ERA title. Yet, the Rangers decided it wasn’t worth the gamble to give him a $17.4 million qualifying offer. Despite diminished velocity, he proved he can stay healthy, and when healthy, can still be quite effective. (Signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Orioles)

39. Carlos Gomez (32, OF, Rangers): Gomez joins a crowded group of center fielders on the market. He had a solid 2017 campaign, batting .255 with 17 homers -- despite injuries limiting him to 105 games. (Signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Rays)

40. Jaime Garcia (31, LHP, Yankees): He has undergone three surgeries in the last 10 years, but stayed healthy since May 2016. He hardly has dominant stuff, but he has four pitches that he can throw at any time. He can be a nice fill-in for the back end of a rotation. (Signed one-year, $8 million deal with the Blue Jays)

41. Adam Lind (34, 1B, Nationals): Playing for his fourth team in four years, Lind adjusted quite well to the role of part-time starter and pinch-hitter. He batted .303 with 14 homers, 59 RBI and an .875 OPS in 301 plate appearances and hit four pinch-hit homers. Lind, 33, started 25 games in left field and figures to earn quite a bit of interest as a role player and perhaps even land a regular job. (Signed a minor league deal with the Yankees)

42. Yusmeiro Petit (33, RHP, Angels): After a rocky 2016 in Washington, Petit bounced back to have the best year of his career, striking out 101 in 91 ⅓ innings with a 2.76 ERA in 2017. Petit has been dominant against right-handed hitters in recent years and his versatility may be his biggest selling point. (Signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Athletics)

43. Brian Duensing (35, LHP, Cubs): The veteran is coming off a good year in Chicago and he can certainly help fill out a bullpen. Duensing isn’t exactly a lefty specialist (career .239 BAA) but he’s one of the better southpaws on the market and could fetch a team-friendly multi-year deal. (Re-signed with Cubs for two years, $7 million)

44. Tommy Hunter (31, RHP, Rays): Hunter has been one of the more reliable relievers in baseball over the past five years, with a 3.12 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 280 games since 2013. He’s a good option for teams trying to solidify their middle innings and – while he’s never had the chance to close full time – could be a cheaper late-inning alternative. (Signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the Phillies)

45. Howie Kendrick (34, 2B/LF, Nationals): He may not be an everyday starter, but Kendrick’s versatility will earn him regular at-bats somewhere and could be a key contributor for a contender. While another good season could theoretically lure a multiyear offer, Kendrick's age may compel teams to wait and aim for a bargain buy late in the winter. (Re-signed with Nationals for two years, $7 million)

46. Austin Jackson (31, OF, Indians): The versatile veteran played all three outfield positions in 2017. While in center field, he made the catch of the year when he robbed Hanley Ramirez of a home run and flipped over the wall at Fenway Park on Aug. 1. Offensively, he finished with a slash line of .318/.387/.482 and hit .352 against left-handed pitchers. (Signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Giants)

47. Jake McGee (31, LHP, Rockies): A potential closer when he was acquired from the Rays in 2016, McGee had a disastrous first season in Colorado. He took a back seat to All-Star Greg Holland this season and performed much better as a setup man, posting a 3.61 ERA and 1.10 WHIP – while striking out a batter per inning. (Re-signed with the Rockies for three years, $27 million)

48. Trevor Cahill (30, RHP, Royals): There’s debate whether Cahill will be pursued as a starter or a reliever, which will obviously impact his value. He had multiple offers last winter, but wanted to start and took a one-year deal from the San Diego Padres. Cahill is relatively young, so it’s certainly a possibility he will bet on himself again as a starter.

49. Mitch Moreland (32, 1B, Red Sox): Known for his slick glove, Moreland delivered only so-so offensive production in his one season with the Red Sox, posting a .769 OPS with 22 homers. That will likely result in an uncertain market as he hits free agency again at 32. (Re-signed with the Red Sox for two years, $13 million)

50. Alcides Escobar (31, SS, Royals): Escobar has appeared in all 162 games in three of the past four regular seasons, but the value of his ability to play everyday is significantly mitigated by the fact that it means carrying him in the lineup everyday. Escobar's .294 career OBP has shown no signs of uptick as he ages - it dropped to .272 in 2017. Clubs like the Reds, Rays and Padres might appreciate his glove as they try to develop young pitching, but Escobar seems just as likely to return on an inexpensive one- or two-year deal to Kansas City, where he remains a favorite of manager Ned Yost. (Re-signed with the Royals for one year, $2.5 million)

51. Jose Reyes (34, SS/3B/2B, Mets): That Reyes started 71 games at shortstop for the Mets in 2017 says more about that team than it does the player. But after a brutal start at the plate, the veteran switch-hitter posted an excellent .866 OPS from June 16 through the end of the regular season and will likely find a new home as a utility infielder. No longer the volume base-stealer he was in his prime, Reyes still stole 24 bases in 30 attempts. (Re-signed with the Mets for one year, $3 million)



52. Cameron Maybin (30, OF, Astros): Maybin provided postseason depth and speed to the outfield after the Astros' Aug. 31 waiver claim. And despite only 395 at-bats between the Angels and Astros, he finished fifth overall in steals (33). Maybin, a career .255 hitter, struggled offensively, batting .228. (Signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Marlins)

53. Lucas Duda (32, Rays, 1B): The left-handed-swinging power hitter has not been able to replicate his 30-homer, 92-RBI season of 2014, as injuries have cut significantly into his playing time. Duda still cranked out 30 homers with an .818 OPS last season, split between the New York Mets and Rays. But he bombed after the Rays acquired him and batted just .217 for the season. (Signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Royals)

54. Jarrod Dyson (33, OF, Mariners): Age could factor on whether Dyson is offered a multi-year deal this offseason. His two most valuable tools are speed and defense. In each of the last six seasons, Dyson has stolen at least 26 bases. (Signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with the Diamondbacks)

55. Mike Napoli (36, Rangers, 1B): The teams Napoli played on made it to the postseason in eight of his first 11 seasons in the majors, but 2017 marked a major comedown. In his third tour of duty with the Texas Rangers, the club finished under .500 and Napoli set career lows in batting average (.193) and OPS (.713). So there are questions about whether the party at Napoli’s has been shut down for good, but it’s worth noting he still hit 29 homers, so there’s some thunder left in his bat yet. (Signed a minor league deal with the Indians)

56. Jason Vargas (LHP, 35, Royals): He stunned everyone the first three months of the season when he returned after making only 12 starts the previous two years to yield a 2.22 ERA, then posted a 6.66 ERA over his final 16 starts. He may have difficulty garnering more than a one-year deal. (Signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Mets)

57. Doug Fister (RHP, 34, Red Sox): He was out of the game until May, and returned to the big leagues with the Red Sox in June, and performed respectively, going 5-9 with a 4.88 ERA in 18 games and 15 starts. He was strong down the stretch, going at least seven innings in four consecutive starts, yielding 14 hits and a 1.50 ERA in 30 innings. He shouldn’t have nearly the trouble as a year ago finding a team that will take him. (Signed a one-year, $4 million with the Rangers)

58. Yunel Escobar (35, 3B, Angels): Though no longer a viable shortstop, the well-traveled Cuban-born Escobar maintains some utility when he's healthy thanks to great performances against left-handed pitching in recent seasons. But Escobar missed 2 1/2 months of the 2017 season with injuries and no longer represents a reasonable everyday option as anything more than a stopgap for a rebuilding team.

59. Luke Gregerson (33, RHP, Astros): At least he has a World Series ring. Otherwise, Gregerson’s season in the Houston bullpen was less-than-memorable. He posted a career-worst 4.57 ERA, partly due to serving up 13 home runs in 61 innings. On the plus side, he did strike out 10.3 batters per nine innings. (Signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Cardinals)

60. Alex Avila (31, C, Cubs): Going back to Detroit, and feeling healthier, did wonders for Avila, whose career had been on the downswing for years. Avila produced 14 home runs and an .834 OPS for the Tigers before being dealt on July 31 to the Chicago Cubs, for whom he was a part-time starter. With his lefty bat and solid defensive reputation, Avila should land a starting job. (Signed a two-year, $8.5 million with the Diamondbacks)

61. Brett Anderson (LHP, 30, Blue Jays): Only twice has he made at least 20 starts in a season.

62. Chris Iannetta (34, C, Diamondbacks): The 12-year veteran enjoyed one of his most productive seasons with his third team in three years. Iannetta posted the second-best marks of his career in home runs (17) and OPS (.865) while sharing catching duties with Jeff Mathis. A similar arrangement could be in the offing. (Signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal with the Rockies)

63. Seth Smith (35, OF, Orioles): A reliable corner outfielder, the left-handed hitting Smith was primarily used against right-handers in 2017. He batted .258 against righties in 347 plate appearances and .250 vs. lefties in only 26 plate appearances.

64. Joe Smith (34, RHP, Indians): A 1.04 WHIP and a successful stint with Cleveland after a midseason trade from Toronto showed that Smith can still be a high-leverage option for contending teams. The sidearmer is a rare righty specialist, holding them to a .220 average and two homers in 137 plate appearances. (Signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Astros)

65. Bud Norris (33, RHP, Angels): Norris moved to the bullpen in 2017 after starting 185 games from 2009 to 2016 and notched 13 saves with a 2.23 ERA in the first half. Things went south after the break however, as Norris gave up 20 runs in 25 ⅔ innings. A one-year deal could prove to a bargain if he recaptures the first-half form. (Signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Cardinals)

66. Fernando Abad (32, LHP, Red Sox): With a 3.13 ERA over the past five seasons, Abad has been effective, but never used consistently as a high-leverage reliever and was left off Boston’s postseason roster two years in a row. As one of the few lefties on the market, he will probably have a few options. (Signed a minor league deal with the Phillies)

67. Chris Tillman (29, RHP, Orioles): Just a year ago, he was the ace of the Orioles, going 16-6 with a 3.77 ERA, only for his stock to plummet with shoulder woes. He yielded an 8.15 ERA in 15 starts, before being moved to the bullpen. The big question is who gambles that the 2013 All-Star's woes will be behind him in 2018? (Re-signed with the Orioles for one year, $3 million)

68. Jose Bautista (37, RF, Blue Jays): The aging All-Star picked a bad time to hit free agency, again. Since becoming an everyday player eight years ago, he finished 2017 with career-lows in batting (.203) and slugging percentage (.366). He also hit 23 homers and struck out a franchise-record 170 times. With his 10-career with the Jays likely over, he's best suited to move to first base or DH for an American League team.

69. Curtis Granderson (37, OF, Dodgers): Granderson doesn’t hit for average, but he gets on base at a high clip and has hit 82 homers over the past three seasons. He’s unlikely to command a multi-year deal, but his ability to play all three outfield positions and his presence in the clubhouse will be a valuable addition at a fair price point. (Signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Blue Jays)

70. Jeremy Hellickson (30, RHP, Orioles): Considered little more than a fifth starter now, hoping to rediscover his changeup next season after posting a 6.97 ERA in 10 starts with Baltimore after a trade from Philadelphia.

71. John Lackey (39, RHP, Cubs): Lackey’s teammates still believe that he will retire, but he has yet to make an announcement, waiting to see what offers may be out there. He struggled last year (12-12, 4.59 ERA), giving up a league-leading 36 homers, and was yanked from the rotation during the postseason. This likely will be a decision where Lackey sets a minimum in which he’s willing to play for in 2018, and if no one meets his price, he’ll simply walk away from the game.

72. Michael Saunders (31, OF, Blue Jays): Saunders was a bust in Philadelphia, slashing .205/.257/.360 with six home runs, 20 RBI and 51 strikeouts. He had the league's worst on-base percentage among qualified hitters (.257), a far cry from his success in 2016 with Toronto. The Phillies released him in mid-June. He returned to the Jays, but appeared in only 12 games. (Signed a minor league deal with the Pirates)

73. Chase Utley (39, 2B/1B, Dodgers): He's unlikely to see any multi-year offers at his age, but a return to the Dodgers in a part-time role complementing the righty-hitting Logan Forsythe at second base seems to make sense for the Southern California native as he looks to add a second World Series ring before retirement. (Re-signed with the Dodgers for two years, $2 million)

Contributing: Bob Nightengale, Jorge L. Ortiz, Scott Boeck, Ted Berg, Jesse Yomtov, Gabe Lacques, Steve Gardner

Gallery: Top MLB free agents