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MLB free agency: One free agent each team should sign

By Joshua Sadlock

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Kansas City Royals First base Eric Hosmer (35) during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox on September 24, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.(Photo by Jerome Lynch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Kansas City Royals First base Eric Hosmer (35) during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox on September 24, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.(Photo by Jerome Lynch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 23: Travis Shaw #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a walk off home run to beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in ten innings at Miller Park on September 23, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 23: Travis Shaw #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a walk off home run to beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in ten innings at Miller Park on September 23, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Brewers: Travis Shaw

Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw is not actually a free agent this winter. In fact, he’s not even eligible for arbitration until after the 2018 season. Shaw is completing his third season in the big leagues and first in Milwaukee. Now is the perfect time to be thinking long-term extension so that the Brewers can lock Shaw up on a team-friendly deal.

These team-friendly extensions that buy up early years of a player’s free agency are the lifeblood of small-market teams like the Brewers. The Indians are in position to go to another World Series because they have had Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez locked into cheap contracts for several years. This has allowed them to spend more for the bigger names to round out their roster like Andrew Miller and Edwin Encarnacion.

Shaw may be willing to start talking about an extension with the Brewers. His career got a late start with the Red Sox as he was already 25 when he made his MLB debut in 2015. Shaw will be entering his age-28 season next year and will not get to test the open market until his thirties. Coming off a career year with 30 doubles and 30 home runs, Shaw should cash in now before getting into arbitration.

In terms of in-house free agents the Brewers need to keep, the top priority would be reliever Anthony Swarzak who has blossomed this year after a middling start to his career.

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