The Kansas City Royals will make a serious push to retain Eric Hosmer this offseason.

They expect competition from big-market clubs, but the Royals could offer more than $100 million to re-sign the first baseman.

Kansas City has a long list of free agents among core players, but have placed importance on Hosmer.

The Royals won the World Series in 2015, but have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

As the season winds down for the Toronto Blue Jays, it's likely that Jose Bautista's run with the franchise is as well.

Bautista has hit .204/.311/.370 with 23 home runs and 165 strikeouts in 578 at-bats this season.

He signed a one-year, $18 million deal to return to the Blue Jays in January. The deal includes a mutual $17 million option for 2018 and a $20 million vesting option for 2020.

Ian Kinsler reached 600 plate appearances on Tuesday night, which means his option for next season has vested.

He will now make $11 million with the Detroit Tigers in 2018 as long as he doesn't finish the year on the disabled list. Kinsler can also boost that by another $1 million if he wins a Gold Glove.

The Tigers were expected to pick up his option anyway as it carries a $5 million buyout.

Shohei Otani has begun interviewing prospective agents as he inches closer to Major League Baseball.

Japanese outlets reported earlier this month that Otani intended to come over to the United States.

Otani has reportedly been represented by a lawyer in early meetings. He is expected to pick from a group of prominent agents, who have begun making the trip to Japan for meetings.

A source indicated that the Japanese star could begin eliminating candidates from his list as soon as next week.

The New York Yankees plan to get below the luxury tax threshold for the 2018 season, which rises to $197 million next year.

New York has a lot of money coming off the books after the year including CC Sabathia ($25 million) and possibly Masahiro Tanaka ($22 million).

Jaime Garcia ($12 million), Matt Holliday ($13 million), Todd Frazier ($12 million) and Alex Rodriguez ($20 million) also come off the books at the end of the season.

Depending on which veterans they decide to bring back and arbitration raises, the Yankees may still have close to $30 million to spend on free agents before they approach the tax line.

The Yankees have incentive to lower payroll in advance of free agency in 2018. Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Clayton Kershaw are all potential free agents after next season.

The Toronto Blue Jays have locked up Marco Estrada for next season, but they still plan to pursue starters this winter.

Ross Atkins says the club wants to have eight or nine starters capable of starting at the Major League level.

The Blue Jays will have more than $100 million committed to next year's roster after arbitration cases for Josh Donaldson, Marcus Stroman, Kevin Pillar and Roberto Osuna.

The New York Mets aren't ready to give up on Matt Harvey.

Sandy Alderson told the New York Post, "it's highly unlikely that we're not going to bring [Harvey] back next year."

The 28-year-old isn't that far removed from being one of baseball's best young starters.

Harvey is expected to receive a small raise from his $5.125 million arbitration salary.

The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year, $13 million extension with Marco Estrada for the 2018 season.

Estrada was slated to become a free agent at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old has a 4.84 ERA, 4.54 FIP and 170 strikeouts in 176.2 innings pitched this year.

Alex Cobb will be a free agent this winter and his next two starts will come on the road, which means Saturday's start was likely his last in a Tampa Bay Rays uniform at Tropicana Field.

"If it is, man, it would be sad," Cobb said going into Saturday's contest. "There's been a lot of memories in this building and through this organization. I don't really want to think about it yet. There is too much season left to go down that road yet. But it would be a tough thought if that's it."

Cobb has made 58 starts at the Trop and has known nothing but the Rays way since joining the organization in 2006 as a fourth-round pick from Vero Beach High.

"I think we've come to expect a lot from him, and deservedly so," Evan Longoria said. "In the time he's been healthy and out there, he's pitched like an ace for us. He has that mentality, too. He's a bulldog on the mound. I'm sure you've heard that from other people. He's as fierce a competitor on his start day as anybody I've ever been around. It's always nice to play behind guys like that."

Shohei Otani plans on playing in the MLB in 2018 even though he would make more money by waiting two seasons.

“It tells you that he’s serious about wanting to play against the best possible competition,” one executive said. “He’s putting his money where his mouth is.”

One talent evaluator believes Otani might be worth $200 million if he was a free agent. But due to terms of the collective bargaining agreement executed by MLB and the players' association last fall, teams will be limited on what they can pay Otani. For example, the most the New York Yankees can offer is $3.25 million.

A big market team is expected to land Otani.

“We can all pick out the five or six teams that probably have a legitimate shot,” one official said.