The MLB is currently blessing us with an epic batch of playoff baseball, but us forward thinkers can't sit still without pondering the future. October will eventually end, making room for the offseason's free-agency process.
We have plenty of time before any of MLB's available stars sign the dotted line on the open market, but that won't stop the rumor mill from churning away during the postseason.
Although the hot stove isn't burning yet, it is gradually heating up as free agency inches closer to its initiation. Some buzz has emerged among a few prominent veterans, one of whom is currently trying to lead his team to the World Series.
Let's take a look at some rumors that have materialized early in the game.
Will James Shields Leave Resurgent Royals?
So what if the "Big Game James" nickname is false advertising considering his 5.19 career postseason ERA? Let's allow ESPN Stats & Info to prove that something isn't true just because it rhymes.
Still, James Shields remains one of this winter's most desirable commodities after hurling more than 200 innings in each of the past eight seasons. He leads baseball with 932.2 innings pitched over the past four seasons, accruing a 3.17 ERA over that stretch.
Add some October exposure, and he's a commendable consolation prize for teams priced out on Max Scherzer and Jon Lester.
According to the The Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough, the Boston Red Sox have the early edge on replacing Lester with Shields at the top of their rotation: "Boston has emerged as the early favorite for his services," McCullough said, "but plenty of other clubs should be in the mix."
Boston spent the July trade deadline reloading its lineup for the 2015 season, but the rotation remains bleak. Whether the squad signs one of the premier pitching free agents or finds one in a trade, expect something to get done this winter.
Yet the Red Sox will certainly have their share of competition for Shields. Although a long-term arrangement looked out of the cards when they acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays, the Royals' deep playoff run might change that.
CBS Sports' Jon Heyman said their postseason success has the Royals trying to retain their ace:
The Royals were originally believed to have a shot to keep Shields only if they went far in the playoffs, and sources say the team has decided by now, after reaching the ALCS, that they will make that effort. The Royals told Shields' agent, Page Odle, around the time of the trade deadline that they'd be back in touch after the season, which was a hopeful sign. And now with their amazing postseason run, which will bolster their revenues big-time -- they have decided they will indeed try to keep him with a new multi-year deal.
Rather than looking at him as a bitter reminder of why they no longer roster Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi, Shields is now at the forefront of Kansas City's most exciting season in 29 years.
The team's 2014 payroll of $92 million represents a club high, and a World Series appearance could cause the Royals to lock up one of their most marquee names.
The key for Kansas City is that Shields hasn't enhanced his value by allowing 10 earned runs through 16 postseason innings. With a decaying strikeout rate, he shouldn't command $20 million or more a year.
Prediction: Stays with Royals
No Room for Adam LaRoche in Washington?
Adam LaRoche enjoyed a solid bounce-back campaign for the Washington Nationals, upgrading 2013's .237/.332/.403 slash line to .259/.362/.455 with 26 home runs. He's also an aging, slow-footed first baseman, and the Nationals may have other plans for the position.
That's not to say there's no interest in a slugger with a 127 Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+), which means he was 27 percent better than an average hitter when normalizing park factors. The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo mentioned two teams that will likely eye his services:
LaRoche likely will not be re-signed by the Nationals, who could move Ryan Zimmerman to first base. But LaRoche lines up nicely as a target for the Brewers, who have toyed with the idea of Ryan Braun moving to first but will likely keep him in the outfield. LaRoche also could draw interest from the Orioles if they lose Cruz, but the Brewers right now seem like the best fit.
Zimmerman played just 61 games last season, and he's no longer a Gold Glove third baseman at age 30. More importantly, he's under contract for five more years, so the Nationals need to keep him healthy any way possible. Moving him to the less-strenuous first base could help.
LaRoche and the Brewers is a match that makes all the sense in the world. After starting the season on fire, the Brewers fell out of the playoff picture. Their first basemen—mostly Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay—hitting .208/.299/.374 certainly dampened their cause.
While their payroll expanded over $100 million in 2014, they're not in a big enough market to chase the stars. LaRoche won't come cheap, but a minus-5.0 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) along with turning 35 before next Opening Day slashes his price tag.
LaRoche can net a contract similar to the two-year, $24 million deal he signed before the 2013 season.
Prediction: Signs with Brewers
A.J. Burnett Not Burned Out Yet
Following a tremendous 2013 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, speculation circled about A.J. Burnett's future in baseball, with a consensus formed that he would stay in Pittsburgh or retire.
He instead inked a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, setting up the cycle to restart in another year.
A year removed from notching a 2.80 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) for Pittsburgh, Burnett stumbled with a 4.14 FIP in 2014. His strikeout and walk rates both dwindled during an all-around forgettable stretch concluded with a 5.83 ERA after the All-Star break.
Due to a clause in his contract, the Phillies are probably hoping he hangs up his cleats. Unfortunately for them, Heyman hinted otherwise:
Indications are that there's a good chance A.J. Burnett will return to pitch in the majors in 2015.
While nothing is set yet, people close to Burnett suggest it is more likely than not he will be back pitching. Besides his love of pitching, Burnett has a $12.75-million player option with Philadelphia. He has until five days after the World Series ends to exercise it.
Had he logged fewer than 30 starts in 2014, the Phillies could have declined a mutual option and exercised a $1 million buyout. Instead, Burnett can activate the $12.75 million player option after making 34 starts during an otherwise tumultuous campaign.
Without the safety net of that player option, retirement would make sense after his disastrous season. Yet he can re-up with Philadelphia for more money than any sensible club would award him in the open market. Hey, would you turn down $12.75 million to play baseball every fifth game for a year?
Prediction: Exercises player option with Phillies
Note: All advanced statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs. Contract information obtained via Cot's Baseball Contracts.
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