Sometimes it’s best not to spend all of your money in one place. For MLB clubs, sometimes it’s best not to spend all of their money in one offseason. 

That’s starting to look like the case this year. The winter meetings are still a week away, but already the free-agent market is getting light. 

As far as impact bats are concerned, almost all of the top options have already been snatched up. Aside from Melky Cabrera, the most dangerous player yet to be signed is Chase Headley—and there’s nothing particularly dangerous about a third baseman who posted a .700 OPS in 2014. 

As for the arms, the three most prominent names—Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields—are still up for grabs. That’s a solid trio, but it’s nothing compared to the class of hurlers that is slated to hit the free-agent block after the 2015 season. 

Here’s a look at the biggest names, via MLBTradeRumors.com.

  • Johnny Cueto
  • Doug Fister
  • Hisashi Iwakuma
  • David Price
  • Jeff Samardzija
  • Jordan Zimmermann

Not all of the starters will make it to the open market. Some could still be re-signed by their respective teams. Others, like Jordan Zimmermann, could be traded and ink extensions with their new employers.

Earlier in the offseason, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo didn’t rule about the possibility of dealing a free agent-to-be like the right-hander. 

“The return has to be right,” said Rizzo, via James Wagner of The Washington Post. “The balance of the return has to be right for the player you’re giving up.”

Even if a pitcher or two drops off that list, there’s still going to a flood of big-time starters available next winter. That’s especially true because the tier below is full of quality names too. 

  • Mark Buehrle
  • Scott Kazmir
  • Ian Kennedy
  • John Lackey
  • Mat Latos
  • Mike Leake
  • Kyle Lohse
  • Rick Porcello
  • Alfredo Simon

With so many starting pitchers set to become available at the same time, there’s no question that there will be some serious bargains to be had. For that reason, it might not be so bad to miss out on aces like Lester and Scherzer, who are on the verge of cashing in. 

Lester has already received a monster offer from the Chicago Cubs, per the MLB Twitter account. 

Meanwhile, Scherzer is looking to rake in “significantly more than the six-year, $144 million deal that the [Detroit] Tigers offered” last spring, per Buster Olney of ESPN (subscription required). 

Based on the way the 2016 free-agent class is shaping up, patience is the key for teams around the league—at least for the teams seeking front-line starters. 

Waiting around for next offseason isn’t necessarily the best strategy when it comes to those teams shopping for bats. Next year’s pool of position players isn’t devoid of talent, as Yoenis Cespedes, Ian Desmond, Jason Heyward and Justin Upton headline the group. 

Still, like this year, the options are limited. That’s bad news for MLB teams in need of offense, but great news for the likes of Cespedes and Upton, who are on track for major paydays next winter. 

 

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com