Coming off an incredible offensive season, Matt Kemp is in line for a new contract with the Dodgers. The organization has never paid a player more than $105 million and they will need to shell out more money over the next six months or risk losing Kemp in free agency. "This is not going to be a cheap deal; you're talking about some pretty heavy dollars," said agent Dave Stewart. Kemp wants to remain with the Dodgers, but at his agent's request he will not discuss a deal once the 2012 season begins. "I know it is not a good thing to negotiate a contract during the course of the year; it's just not," Stewart said. "The player needs to be clear of mind and just do his job, and the organization also doesn't need the distraction." If Kemp doesn't sign a new deal before the 2012 season, Stewart will also suggest that he entertain offers from elsewhere next winter.

Jim Thome hasn't made a final decision, but the slugger is leaning towards a return to baseball next season. "We've talked to Jim a little bit about it," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. "He wants to take a little bit of time with his family and then assess things as the offseason progresses. The one thing that he demonstrated is that he certainly has the ability to contribute to a team, both offensively and in the clubhouse. The decision of whether or not to play next year will be Jim's." Thome, who has 604 home runs in his 21-year career, will speak to his family before making a decision.

It's too early in the offseason for the Red Sox to start considering the status of free agents David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon. Both were major contributors this season and both will be looking for multiyear deals. Whether they remain with the club remains to be seen, but GM Theo Epstein said during the team's postmortem news conference that he would like to have both back in 2012.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson plans to reach out to the representatives for free-agent-to-be Jose Reyes in the next couple of days. Alderson indicated that Mets fans should not count on the shortstop re-signing during the club's exclusive negotiating window. Open bidding begins five days after the World Series. "I don't really want to speculate on what might happen or not happen before his exclusive negotiating period expires," Alderson said Thursday, a day after the Mets finished his first season as GM with a 77-85 record and fourth-place finish. "However, if history is any guide, most players who get to this point don't see any reason to make a decision within the next 30 days. They're that close to free agency. I wouldn't want people to expect that something is going to happen in October."

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who will become a free agent this winter, is looking for a five-year contract. "Five would be great. Five would be the number," Rollins said. "I don't think I want six or seven. You start thinking about 39 (years old). Do I want to play at 39?" Rollins, 32, will provide a nice alternative to a team that misses out on Jose Reyes, or can't afford the younger option. Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, a longtime friend of Rollins, has predicted that his friend will sign with the Giants.

With Ozzie Guillen headed to the Marlins, Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez says that Florida could become an attractive destination. Ramirez is primed to become one of the top hitters on the free agent market if the Cubs don't offer him a long-term extension. "Of course," Ramirez said. "They already got better [by acquiring Guillen]. Some people might not like the way he goes about his business, but the bottom line is he's a good manager, and he's won before. He knows what it takes. "I wouldn't mind going there and playing." Ramirez may not be the only member of the Cubs headed to South Florida. Those close to Guillen say he likes Chicago manager Mike Quade enough that he's expected to try to hire him for his new coaching staff in Miami if Quade doesn't survive the Cubs' regime change.

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw is in line for a huge raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. "I've started to think about it," said Kershaw, who earned $500,000 in 2011. He'll be coming off a season in which he won the National League's pitching Triple Crown. The Dodgers would normally want to lock up a pitcher like Kershaw with a long-term contract, but the team's bankruptcy issues may get in the way. "For me," said Kershaw, "the ball is in their court. I'll listen to anything. As far as arbitration, I don't know what to expect. Never done it. I am kind of curious and excited about it, to go through the process. It's an interesting process. I'm up for anything and willing to listen to anything."

The Red Sox could acquire a starting pitcher via trade for a potential one-game playoff with the Rays for the American League Wild Card on Thursday. Boston and Tampa Bay were tied heading into the final day of the regular season on Wednesday. Acquiring a pitcher for the tiebreaker is allowed because the one-game playoff doesn't fall under Major League Baseball's postseason rules. The deal, however, would have to be made before the conclusion of the day on Wednesday.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has told general manager Ned Colletti that he will have the means to sign Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to long-term contracts this winter. The organization is currently engaged in a bankruptcy case. "Do we have the number solidified yet? No," Colletti said. "But I have a range of money that I can spend, and the conversations I've had indicate there are different ways of doing it." One of the ways is offering big-money contracts with modest first-year salaries that would escalate dramatically in later years.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is on the verge of demanding a big contract. Pittsburgh drafted McCutchen with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. Two of his classmates, Justin Upton and Jay Bruce, are also set to cash in with big deals. McCutchen turned down a long-term contract offer from the Pirates in each of the past two offseasons. Talks between general manager Neal Huntington and Steve Hammond, McCutchen's agent, are at a stalemate, but the two sides will resume discussions this offseason.