MLB free agent rumors: Next five players to sign

The MLB free agent frenzy has begun, and many top options are off the table. Here are five top free agents who could sign an MLB contract next.

The 2015 MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville have passed, and consequently, the first wave of big-name free agents have found their new homes.

The Arizona Diamondbacks sent shockwaves through the MLB community by locking up three-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million contract, swaying him away from the bright lights of Los Angeles and in exchange for a roster with a bright future.

The Kansas City Royals, fresh off a World Series victory, awarded highly-regarded closer Joakim Soria with a three-year, $25 million deal to return to the franchise that let him go just four years ago. When Soria walked in 2012, a World Series title in Kansas City appeared to be nothing more than a pipe dream. Now, it is an annual expectation.

The San Fransisco Giants handed out a six-year, $130 million contract to hard-throwing righty Johnny Cueto, who will join Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Jake Peavy and the recently-signed Jeff Samardzija to form arguably the most dangerous starting rotation in baseball.

David Price has joined the Boston Red Sox as the team’s ace after signing a record-breaking contract worth $217 million over seven years. The $31 million annual salary is the highest ever in MLB history.

And perhaps most notably, the Chicago Cubs have made a flurry of deals in hopes of ending their ever-growing World Series title drought, bringing in three-time Glove Glove-winner and All-Star outfielder Jason Heyward to accompany the recently acquired John Lackey, Adam Warren and Ben Zobrist.

While many big-name free agents may be off the table, there are still a handful of players left on the market who are capable of becoming the final piece to a team’s World Series puzzle.

Here are the top-five MLB free agents who could sign next.

Next: Yovani Gallardo