David Lennon's MLB free-agent predictions

Now that we're done with the whole beard thing and duck-boat parades, it's time for the part of the year everyone can get excited about. Well, almost everyone.

We're talking about the free-agent shopping season, which will begin in earnest at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. That's when the window of exclusivity slams shut on teams trying to sign their own free agents and the real party begins. But before then, there are two other important dates to keep in mind.

Tomorrow is the last chance for clubs to submit the $14.1-million qualifying offer to their own free agents, a tactic that enables a team to receive draft-pick compensation should a free agent sign elsewhere. Subsequently, those players have until Nov. 11 to accept the offer and stay put at that salary for 2014. Otherwise, they hit the open market, just in time for the start of the general manager meetings, which begin that Monday in Orlando.

Oh, and one other thing. With MLB's new TV package, each team will receive an additional $51.67 million for the coming year, which should come in handy this winter. But one caveat: With the luxury-tax threshold of $189 million kicking in for '14, it's worth keeping a running count of the tab, as the Yankees say they plan to do.

So without further ado, here's our rundown of the top free agents, where they may end up and at what price. It's just a cross-section of the market and not meant to be in any particular order.

Prediction: Yankees, eight years, $188 million.

Prediction: Yankees, six years, $65 million

Prediction: Nationals, seven years, $140 million

Prediction: Mets, six years, $105 million

Prediction: Rangers, five years, $80 million

Prediction: Tigers, two years, $30 million

Prediction: Mariners, five years, $82 million

Prediction: Red Sox, two years, $28 million

Prediction: Royals, four years, $68 million

Prediction:Phillies, two years, $24 million

Prediction: Cardinals, three years, $34 million

Prediction: Mets, two years, $19 million