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Associated Press

Catchers

It's a near certainty that two-time All-Star Yasmani Grandal will reject his $16 million mutual option for 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers. If so, the market will welcome a talented pitch framer with 101 home runs since 2016.

Robinson Chirinos will be the next-best option on the market. He's hit 52 homers over the last three seasons and slugged three more during the Houston Astros' World Series run this season.

There will also be interest in Jason Castro and Travis d'Arnaud as platoon options as well as in Martin Maldonado as a defense-first backstop. Veterans such as Russell Martin, Alex Avila, Stephen Vogt, Nick Hundley, Jonathan Lucroy, Matt Wieters, Chris Iannetta and Austin Romine can shop their experience.

First Basemen

Three-time All-Star Jose Abreu is about to hit free agency for the first time, but the odds he will actually leave the Chicago White Sox are between slim and none.

Fortunately for clubs in need of power at the cold corner, it's unlikely the New York Yankees will pick up Edwin Encarnacion's $20 million option for 2020. He's only half-playable at first base, but his MLB-high 297 homers since 2012 nonetheless give him obvious appeal.

Ryan Zimmerman will also get some looks if the Washington Nationals decline his $18 million option. Justin Smoak, Mitch Moreland, Neil Walker and potentially Matt Adams (who has a $4 million mutual option with the Nationals) have experience and reasonably lively bats to offer.

There's also Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who ESPN's Jeff Passan reported will be posted by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. He's averaged a .402 on-base percentage and 34 homers per year since 2016.

Second Basemen

Teams that want power at second base could do worse than Brian Dozier, Jonathan Schoop and, assuming the Miami Marlins decline his $16 million option, Starlin Castro. Each topped 20 homers in 2019.

Teams that more so want versatility can look at Howie Kendrick—who's coming off a career-best offensive season—as well as Brock Holt, Eric Sogard and even Ben Zobrist if he doesn't retire. Wilmer Flores (who has a $6 million club option), Brad Miller and Jason Kipnis (whose $16.5 million option will be punted) will top the platoon options.

Scooter Gennett is the potential steal of the second base market. If he recovers from an injury-ruined 2019 season, he may reclaim the form that produced an .859 OPS and 50 homers across 2017 and 2018.

Third Basemen

This is it. The big one.

The third base market will be headlined by Anthony Rendon, who's in for a nine-figure deal after achieving career highs with a 1.010 OPS, 34 homers and 126 RBI in 2019. There will also be Josh Donaldson, who rediscovered much of his 2015 American League MVP form with a .900 OPS and 37 home runs for the Atlanta Braves.

Mike Moustakas doesn't hold a candle to those two, but his .845 OPS and 35 homers in 2019 give him an excuse to forgo his $11 million mutual option with Milwaukee. Todd Frazier and Asdrubal Cabrera will at least get looks as versatile platoon options.

Shortstops

Didi Gregorius will have this corner of the market.

He battled some rust after his June 7 return from Tommy John surgery, but shortstop-needy teams will still be drawn to his reliable defense and powerful bat. Trevor Story and Francisco Lindor are the only shortstops with more homers than Gregorius since 2016.

Otherwise, Freddy Galvis (who has a $5.5 million club option) is a decent everyday two-way shortstop, and Jose Iglesias is a defensive wizard who just set a career high with 11 home runs.

Outfielders

It isn't a given J.D. Martinez will opt out of the final three years of his $110 million contract. But after posting a .985 OPS and 79 homers in two seasons with the Boston Red Sox, he's sure to strongly consider it.

After busting out with a 1.002 OPS and 16 homers in only 51 games as a Chicago Cub, Nicholas Castellanos should have a strong market for his own offensive talents. Marcell Ozuna, Yasiel Puig and Brett Gardner, meanwhile, will be the best two-way options for left and right field.

Corey Dickerson, who's hit .301 and won a Gold Glove since 2018, and Avisail Garcia, who had an underrated 2019, will also be good buy-low options.

Teams in need of more specific goods can focus on the bats and experience of Hunter Pence, Adam Jones and Cameron Maybin and on the speed and defense of Jarrod Dyson and Billy Hamilton, the latter of whom presumably won't have his $7.5 million mutual option picked up by the Braves.

Designated Hitters

Of all the players mentioned above, Martinez, Encarnacion, Zimmerman and Pence certainly fit better at designated hitter than they do at any actual position.

There will otherwise be little to see on the DH market, though Mark Trumbo, Kendrys Morales, Mark Reynolds, Lucas Duda and even Hanley Ramirez figure to at least get consideration for minor league contracts.