Even with Clayton Kershaw having re-upped with the Dodgers, the free-agent market remains deep in lefty starters such as Yankees favorites Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ, plus Dallas Keuchel, Gio Gonzalez, CC Sabathia, Wade Miley and Hyun-jin Ryu if he rejects the $17.9 million qualifying offer.

One of the best pitchers in Japan, Yusei Kikuchi, will soon join that list, and when he does he will be represented by Scott Boras, who also has Keuchel, Gonzalez and Ryu.

Kikuchi is expected to be posted by the Seibu Lions as soon as this week. He is 27 and is known for having an array of strong pitches as opposed to wipeout stuff. Kikuchi was 14-4 with a 3.08 ERA this past year, and for his career he is 74-48 with a 3.22 ERA.

Seth Frankoff, who pitched in one game for the 2017 Cubs, won Game 2 for Doosan in the Korean Series by allowing one earned run over 6 ²/₃ innings and striking out 10. The right-hander could see if there are major league opportunities this offseason, but also has opportunities to stay with Doosan or play in Japan in 2019.

Third baseman Brandon Laird, who played briefly for the Yankees and Astros before becoming a significant power hitter for the Nippon-Ham Fighters (131 homers the last four years), is weighing trying to return to the majors, as is Darin Ruf, the former Phillie who had 64 homers the past two years for Samsung in the Korean League.