MLB Power Rankings: The best contract extension candidate on every team

5) MLB Power Rankings: Houston Astros, Kyle Tucker

There are a couple of Houston Astros players who could be in the contract extension conversation. Jeremy Pena is someone to pay early. Alex Bregman’s free agency is coming dangerously close. For them, the selection is Kyle Tucker. He has a mix of youth and power the ball club will want to keep around. Houston hasn’t been afraid of letting many of their star players walk away as they did with George Springer and Carlos Correa. The same could happen with Bregman with someone like Tucker remaining present to pick up the pieces.

4) MLB Power Rankings: New York Mets, Pete Alonso

Speaking of Carlos Correa, Steve Cohen was willing to pay him over $300 million in free agency. The deal with the New York Mets never went through and some of that cash needs to land in the pocket of first baseman Pete Alonso. A team leader on and off the field, he’s well on his way to becoming the most prolific slugger in franchise history. His buddy Jeff McNeil received an extension this offseason. The Polar Bear is a must to get one, too.

3) MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres, Juan Soto

The San Diego Padres are trying to keep up with the Atlanta Braves with contract extensions. The Padres have been handing them out players with an All-Star resume already. Yu Darvish, Manny Machado, and Joe Musgrove each received one this offseason. Juan Soto is the next logical player to get it. Why haven’t the Padres paid him yet? The urgency isn’t quite there with two more years of control over the young outfield star. San Diego could be waiting to see if someone else ends up being a better fit for them.

2) MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians, Shane Bieber

Shane Bieber has been doing his thing for several years now. The Cleveland Guardians ace is one of those guys who should start questioning why he hasn’t received a contract extension from his ball club. We know the reason why. The Guardians don’t typically pay players. They made an exception with Jose Ramirez who appeared to take a more team-friendly deal. The Guardians might not be so lucky with Bieber. The clock is already ticking to keep him around or trade the star pitcher.

1) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani

Records will be broken when Shohei Ohtani reaches free agency. It seems inevitable at this point. Thoughts of Ohtani becoming the first $500 million player have already been buzzed about and that probably puts the Los Angeles Angels out of serious contention. Even if his deal eventually comes up short, he’ll be the most talked about free agent next offseason. If the Angels can show to him they do care about winning, maybe a hefty extension offer thrown his way during the season could be enticing enough. It’s doubtful. It doesn’t change the fact that he is the clear-cut best extension candidate in Major League Baseball.