What MLB Free Agents Will Be The Highest-Paid Baseball Players In The 2018-2019 Offseason?

The free agent class of 2018-2019 is considered to be among the best in MLB history, and that means a ton of money will be given out over the course of the next few months. Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million contract is expected to be surpassed by at least one player.

Here are predictions for five highest-paid players of the MLB offseason:

1) Bryce Harper

Harper turned down a 10-year, $300 million contract offer from the Washington Nationals at the end of the regular season. He’s likely looking to set MLB records for average yearly salary and overall contract worth, which would put the starting point at 10 years, $345 million. With the Philadelphia Phillies potentially going all in on the 2015 NL MVP, don’t be surprised if the outfielder gets a deal that pays him close to $400 million.

2) Manny Machado

There’s a debate regarding how much money Machado might have cost himself with his antics and poor play in the postseason. Whether he’s going to make closer to $200 million or $300 million, the infielder will undoubtedly become one of the highest-paid players in sports history. The New York Yankees and Phillies are logical destinations, though a team like the Chicago White Sox could swoop in and make Machado an offer he can’t refuse.

3) Patrick Corbin

Between his age and production, Corbin will make more money than any starting pitcher this offseason. The left-hander is coming off the best season of his career, which earned him a fifth-place finish in the NL Cy Young race. Corbin won’t turn 30 years old until after the 2019 All-Star break. The Yankees are favored to sign him and give him a nine-figure contract.

4) Dallas Keuchel

Keuchel is the only other starting pitcher with a shot to land a $100 million contract. He’s three seasons removed from winning the AL Cy Young award with another All-Star appearance in 2017. The veteran hasn’t been quite as dominant as he was in 2015, posting a 4.55 ERA in 2016 and a 3.74 ERA in 2018. He’ll be 31 years old on opening day.

5) Craig Kimbrel

The closer turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the Boston Red Sox, and he could be looking for an even higher yearly salary over the course of a long-term deal. The Yankees set the bar two offseasons ago when they gave Aroldis Chapman a five-year, $86 million contract. Kimbrel has been an All-Star in seven of the last eight years, recording a 1.95 ERA and 108 saves in three seasons with Boston.