It’s never too early to look ahead.

Major League Baseball teams themselves are definitely doing it, and in order to understand why certain franchises might pinch pennies in free agency this winter, you have to understand what’s potentially available a year from now.

For years, we’ve heard talk of an epic free-agent class hitting the open market in the winter of 2018, but looking into the crystal ball is much different than putting pen to paper on a megabucks contract and fitting it into a budget.

Now some 11 months from these names — or most of them anyway because there will inevitably be an extension or two — actually being available, general managers may have to decide between allocating resources for 2018 and saving for this time next year with a bigger picture in mind.

Let’s look at some names that could be set free following the 2018 season:

1. OF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

Age in 2019: 26

Based on positional value, there’s an argument that the next man on this list is actually the jewel of the position player market, but Harper is a generational talent with an MVP award already on his resume, and he might have two if it weren’t for a misstep on the first base bag costing him a third of the season. He grew up a Yankees fan so you immediately know who the favourite will be next winter.

2. 3B Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles

Age in 2019: 26

Despite a down year in 2017, Machado is still one of the best players in baseball. He comes with some upside, too, as no one is quite convinced his 37-homer, 6.6-WAR season of 2016 is the ceiling. There has been talk recently of the Orioles fielding offers for Machado this off-season, a sign they’re not at all convinced he wants to stay in the city known as Bmore. Interestingly, Machado could also bring some positional versatility. A plus-plus defender at third to start his career, Machado has also graded out well in his 52 games at short over the past two years.

3. SP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age in 2019: 31

This is where the list starts to get really interesting. One of the best starters of this generation, Kershaw signed a seven-year, $215-million deal with the Dodgers in 2014, but that pact included an opt-out clause after 2018. At this point, it’s hard to envision a way Kershaw, with two years and $65 million remaining, doesn’t opt out and find another $200-million contract on the table. It’s also hard to envision the Dodgers letting him leave town. Another key opt-out situation to keep an eye on is Boston Red Sox lefty David Price, who can leave $127 million over four years on the table if he wishes.

4. 3B Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays

Age in 2019: 33

Established stars in their mid-twenties and a Hall of Fame ace set this free-agent class apart. Once we get to Donaldson, the usual free-agent risk starts to appear when age and the decline stage become factors. Donaldson suffered through an injury-induced down year in 2017, and a healthy and productive 2018 will go a long way in determining the former MVP’s worth moving forward. How much are the latter stages of Donaldson’s prime worth? The Blue Jays are having that internal debate as you read this?

5. OF Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies

Age in 2019: 32

After finishing fifth in NL MVP voting and slashing .331/.399/.601, Blackmon probably wishes he was a free agent right about now. He’ll have the Coors Field effect to deal with and debunk, but there’s no doubting his ability to produce offensively, especially if he can put together another MVP-calibre season next summer.

6. SP Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

Age in 2019: 31

His 2015 Cy Young season might end up being the peak, but if Keuchel can put together 30 starts next season — something he hasn’t done since 2015, with 26 and 23 starts, respectively, over the 2016 and 2017 campaigns — a massive contract will be there for the lefty.

7. 2B Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins

Age in 2019: 32

Seventy-six home runs over the past two seasons is sure to get you paid. When you also play a solid second base, 76 homers will get you paid handsomely. Dozier’s well-rounded game has been worth five-plus WAR in each of the past two seasons.

8. OF Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age in 2019: 32

Over the last nine seasons, McCutchen’s Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) has been between 122 and 168 in eight of them. Simplified, that means ’Cutch has ranged from well above average with the bat to MVP candidate. The one down year was a 104 wRC+ in 2016, before a bounceback to 122 this past season. His defence is declining in centre field already, but it’s still a game-changing offensive profile.

9. OF A.J. Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks

Age in 2019: 31

Pollock has been able to stay healthy for exactly one season in his career. With health came star-level numbers, as he slashed .315/.367/.498 with 20 bombs and 39 stolen bases in 2015. The past two seasons have been injury plagued, but there have been flashes of brilliance. Pollock has a lot riding on his 2018 campaign.

10. RP Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox

Age in 2019: 31

The closer market will be flooded a year from now. Not only is Kimbrel headed to the open market for the first time, Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton and the dynamic Cleveland Indians duo of Cody Allen and Andrew Miller are also slated to become free agents. Expect at least one of these arms to be looking at a deal similar to Kenley Jansen’s five-year, $80-million commitment.

TEN NOTABLES: SS Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers (opt out); SP Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox; 2B Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals; INF Marwin Gonzalez, Houston Astros; SP Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals; 2B D.J. LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies; DH Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners; OF Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles; SP Matt Harvey, New York Mets; Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels​