9 upcoming free agents who need to finish '23 strong

Even with his elbow injury, Shohei Ohtani is likely on his way toward signing the largest free-agent contract in MLB history. But many other top names are still trying to solidify their values before they get a chance to test the open market this offseason.

That includes the stars below. Here are nine walk-year players who have a lot riding on the final weeks of this season as they look to maximize their earning potential.

All stats below are through Wednesday.

Cody Bellinger, OF, Cubs
Bellinger went from hoisting the 2019 NL MVP Award to being non-tendered by the Dodgers in a matter of three years, but he’s having a stellar bounceback season for the Cubs after signing a one-year deal worth $17.5 million guaranteed (plus a 2024 mutual option). If the 28-year-old can put the finishing touches on a campaign in which he has hit .321 with 24 homers, 86 RBIs, 19 steals and a .920 OPS while playing superb defense in center field, he will likely be the most coveted position player not named Ohtani on the free-agent market. The last thing he needs now is to have a cold spell that reminds teams of how much he struggled in 2021-22 (.611 OPS).

Matt Chapman, 3B, Blue Jays
After fellow All-Star third basemen Manny Machado and Rafael Devers signed extensions, Chapman should receive plenty of interest this offseason as the best hot-corner man on the market. That said, the two-time Gold Glove Award winner’s value is a bit up in the air given his so-so offensive production over the past three years (109 OPS+). Chapman, who is currently out with a sprained right middle finger, has hit just .209 with 10 home runs and a .664 OPS over his past 90 games after a sizzling start to the season.

Lucas Giolito, SP, Guardians
Giolito’s season has gone south in a hurry after he was dealt from the White Sox to the Angels at the Trade Deadline. The right-hander ended up posting a 6.89 ERA over six starts with the Halos before being waived and claimed by the Guardians, and his first start with Cleveland saw him allow nine runs in a pivotal game against the AL Central-leading Twins. Giolito now has a 4.89 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, a 4.61 FIP and a 2.85 K/BB ratio since the beginning of 2022, a far cry from his 2019-21 performance (3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 3.54 FIP, 3.84 K/BB).

Teoscar Hernández, OF, Mariners
Hernández has turned around his season since the start of August, hitting .367 with nine homers, 27 RBIs and a 1.055 OPS to help Seattle get back in the AL West race. His production of late has been more in line with what he did for the Blue Jays from 2020-22 (.283 BA, .852 OPS) than his performance over his first 108 games with the Mariners in 2023 (.238 BA, .694 OPS). If he can keep it up, the 30-year-old will cement himself as one of the best available hitters in a free-agent class that isn’t exactly brimming with right-handed power bats.

Aaron Nola, SP, Phillies
After finishing August with back-to-back seven-inning starts in which he allowed a total of two runs, Nola gave up seven runs in his first September outing, which really describes the righty’s season in a nutshell. After finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young race in 2022, Nola hasn’t been able to build any sort of positive momentum this year, leading to a 4.55 ERA over 28 starts -- up from 3.48 across 2017-22. On the plus side, Nola is on pace for his fifth 200-strikeout season since 2018, as well as his fifth year in that span making at least 32 starts. He still has time to show potential suitors that he’s worth a sizable investment in free agency.

Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Tigers
Rodriguez can opt out of his contract to become a free agent this offseason, but it’s uncertain if he’ll do so with three years and $49 million left on his deal. For one, he made his fondness for Detroit quite clear when he blocked a deal to the Dodgers at the Trade Deadline. Moreover, while the lefty has a 3.11 ERA on the season, he has pitched to a 4.29 ERA -- albeit with a 3.49 FIP -- over 10 starts after missing more than a month with a left index finger injury. Rodriguez's performance the rest of the season could ultimately make the decision for him -- if he doesn’t finish strong, he might opt for the security of his current deal rather than taking the risk of opting out.

Hyun Jin Ryu, SP, Blue Jays
It typically takes some time for pitchers to get back on track after returning from Tommy John surgery, but not Ryu. The left-hander has made seven starts since coming off the injured list and owns a sparkling 2.65 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP across 34 innings, filling Toronto’s No. 5 starter void after Alek Manoah was sent to the Minors for the second time this season amid continued struggles on the mound. Now 36, Ryu isn’t going to get a deal like the four-year, $80 million contract he signed the last time he reached free agency. However, if he keeps rolling like this he could put himself in line for a lucrative multiyear pact, which seemed unlikely a month ago.

Luis Severino, SP, Yankees
Little has gone right for Severino in 2023, with a 6.75 ERA and a 6.18 FIP over 85 1/3 innings. The right-hander is still throwing hard, but he’s not missing bats or putting away batters like he used to, as evidenced by his career-low 20.4% whiff rate and 18.5% strikeout rate. The 29-year-old did show some positive signs at the end of August, holding the Nationals and Tigers to a combined six hits over 13 2/3 scoreless innings, but his struggles returned in his first start of September against the Astros. A half-decade removed from earning consecutive All-Star appearances in 2017-18, Severino is now just trying to prove he still belongs in a big league rotation heading into free agency.

Blake Snell, SP, Padres
Snell has already ensured himself a healthy free-agent market, but his performance the rest of the season could determine how close he gets to the six-year, $162 million deal fellow lefty Carlos Rodón signed with the Yankees last offseason. The NL Cy Young Award race is also incredibly close, giving Snell little margin for error down the stretch. The 30-year-old leads the Majors in ERA (2.50) and has struck out 201 batters in 155 innings, but he has also issued more free passes (89) than any other pitcher. As a result, his FIP (3.69) is more than a run higher than his ERA.