While there is no timetable for any of the top remaining free agents to sign, MLB clubs are essentially pitting the big four of Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette and Cody Bellinger against each other to see who blinks first to set the market for the others. <\/p>\n
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney<\/a>, people around the league are describing the situation for all four of them as a “standoff” with the clubs. <\/p>\n Olney cited Bellinger as perhaps the “best working example” because there appears to be a “sizable gap” between what his camp wants and what the New York Yankees are offering. <\/p>\n It’s unclear exactly what type of offer Bellinger is seeking. MLB Trade Rumors<\/a> predicted a five-year, $140 million deal for the two-time All-Star back in November. <\/p>\n Most expectations for Tucker have him signing the richest free-agent contract this offseason, potentially up to $400 million, with the Toronto Blue Jays emerging<\/a> as a serious threat. The Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks are also believed to be in the mix. <\/p>\n Jon Heyman<\/a> of the New York Post and MLB Network added that the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Chicago Cubs are among the clubs that have shown interest in Bellinger. <\/p>\n According to Olney, Bregman remains a priority for the Boston Red Sox and they have “signaled a willingness” to pay him a deal that could be in the range of the six-year, $171.5 million<\/a> contract he was offered by the Detroit Tigers last offseason. <\/p>\n Even though Bichette is the youngest of these four free agents\u2014he will turn 28 on March 5\u2014his value could depend on which position teams want him to play. He is reportedly<\/a> willing to move to second base after starting there in the World Series with the Blue Jays. <\/p>\n The Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies are believed<\/a> to be in the mix for Bichette. <\/p>\n