Predicting landing spots for top remaining MLB free agents

Free agency has begun to pick up in recent weeks after a painful months-long cold spell, but there are still plenty of talented options available for teams looking to spend.

With six weeks remaining until spring training opens, theScore's MLB editors dust off their crystal ball and predict where the rest of the marquee free agents will end up.

J.T. Realmuto

*Signed reported five-year, $115.5-million deal with Phillies

A reunion with the Phillies remains the most logical fit for the two-time All-Star catcher. If his tenure ends after two seasons without a return to the playoffs, that original blockbuster deal will age extremely poorly. Besides, Philadelphia hired Dave Dombrowski to guide the front office, and he's not an executive who gets brought in to oversee a rebuild. With the Braves and Blue Jays, among other teams, testing the waters, a deal needs to happen soon or his return will no longer be a foregone conclusion.

Kolten Wong

The Blue Jays would theoretically move Cavan Biggio to third base and keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first, but it'd be worth it to shore up their defense up the middle. Wong has proven himself to be one of the premier defenders at the keystone, leading all second basemen with 57 defensive runs saved since 2014, his first full MLB season.

Justin Turner

The Dodgers will bring Turner back into the fold. He's the best third baseman available in free agency, and he's been a key contributor for L.A. over the last seven seasons. It'd be a shame for him to leave after finally winning the big one. He wants a multi-year deal and the Dodgers don't really want to go long on the 36-year-old. Expect the two sides to find some middle ground.

Marcus Semien

*Signed reported one-year, $18.5-million deal with Blue Jays

It's hard to peg Semien's suitors. The Nationals and Dodgers already have shortstop locked down with Trea Turner and Corey Seager, respectively, so he would likely need to be shuffled off to third or second base to be a fit. The Reds are looking to upgrade at short but weighing several options. One thing seems clear, though, and it's that a return to the Athletics seems unlikely. Take his 2020 season with a grain of salt because Semien hit .285 with 33 home runs while finishing third in AL MVP voting in 2019.

Didi Gregorius

While Semien is an option in Cincinnati, Sir Didi would return to his first pro team if he signed with the Reds. He played eight games with Cincinnati in 2012 before being dealt to Arizona in a three-team trade that offseason. Gregorius has added some extra pop to his bat in the intervening years and would be a clear indication that the Reds aren't going to move forward with a rebuild, to the relief of the fanbase. Cincinnati's offense was surprisingly punchless at times in 2020 despite aggressive moves to add Nicholas Castellanos, Mike Moustakas, and Shogo Akiyama. If that was an anomaly and they add Gregorius (.827 OPS last summer), the Reds could be a force in the NL Central.

Jackie Bradley Jr.

After missing out on George Springer, Bradley offers different value to the Mets, who may be the best fit. He will command a significantly lower financial commitment, which will free up space for potential extensions for Francisco Lindor and Michael Conforto. JBJ is also about as good as it gets defensively. The Mets have plenty of thump in the lineup, so focusing on shoring up the defense needs to be the priority. The Phillies are in a similar boat with Roman Quinn projected to be the everyday center fielder, and would make for a fine alternative if the Mets go in a different direction.

Marcell Ozuna

It looks like a two-team race for the 2020 NL home run leader, according to our editors. The Braves have yet to fill the hole left by Ozuna, and slotting his bat back in the lineup next to Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman would help Atlanta keep pace with the vastly improved Mets. The Twins may not have an obvious hole in the outfield despite Eddie Rosario's departure, but Ozuna could serve as a replacement at designated hitter if Nelson Cruz signs elsewhere.

Nelson Cruz

It feels like an inevitability Cruz will return to Minnesota. He wants a two-year deal and the two sides have apparently reached an impasse; the veteran slugger wants to see if the National League brings back the DH, which would give him more leverage in contract negotiations. Yes, he's 40, but no player has hit more home runs than Cruz since 2010 (362) and he seems to only get better with age.

Trevor Bauer

No team needs Bauer - the best starter available on the open market - more than the Angels. Los Angeles should be a serial contender with Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon on the roster, and adding Bauer to the rotation would take a lot of pressure off. However, there's risk involved. Although he's coming off a remarkable season with the Reds and earned the NL Cy Young award, Bauer hasn't consistently pitched at that level throughout his career. He also makes more headlines these days for his toxic online behavior, and that may be enough for some teams to think twice.

Jake Odorizzi

The Blue Jays have been circling Odorizzi for a while. After the 2019 season, before the right-hander accepted a qualifying offer from the Twins, Toronto met with Odorizzi's reps about a potential contract. This offseason, the Blue Jays have again been linked to the 2019 All-Star. He'd be a perfect addition to the rotation alongside Hyun Jin Ryu and Nate Pearson. However, if the Blue Jays make a big trade in the coming days then another suitor may emerge.

Trevor Rosenthal

After a disastrous 2019, Rosenthal turned things around and was excellent in 2020, recording a 1.90 ERA over 23 2/3 innings. Whether or not he can keep that momentum is anyone's guess, but he may have just needed more time after missing 2018 to injury. Joining the Giants in an effort to further cement his value going forward could be good for both parties. San Francisco isn't ready to compete against the Dodgers and Padres, but Rosenthal could be an asset at the trade deadline if he plays like the 2020 version of himself.