Major League Baseball's 2022 postseason isn't even finished yet, so by definition, it's still too early to be talking about the offseason.

But since it is right around the corner, we're going to risk making some predictions anyway.

These concern which six free agents will sign the most lucrative contracts, and with which teams. Yet we also threw in five other predictions that cover a manager hiring, a key opt-out decision, which players will and won't be traded and a possible mega-extension.

What did we base our predictions on? Reporting from insiders for the most part. But as always, we also ultimately followed our gut.

The White Sox's Next Manager

Prediction: Ron Washington

There's more than one managerial opening in MLB right now, but the best opportunity surely resides with the Chicago White Sox.

Tony La Russa announced on Oct. 3 that he will not be returning to the dugout in 2023. This was officially for health reasons, but the Hall of Famer's ouster might have happened anyway following a 2022 season in which his managing too often attracted scrutiny amid a disappointing 81-81 performance.

That many of the same players who spearheaded playoff runs in 2020 and 2021 are still in place on the South Side should nonetheless interest prospective candidates for La Russa's chair. As those go, general manager Rick Hahn knows what he wants.

Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada has already interviewed for the gig, but what really gets our attention is a report from ESPN's Jesse Rogers that the White Sox have also reached out to Atlanta about third base coach Ron Washington.

Washington's reputation as a great motivator precedes him, and he'd bring instant credibility as a guy who managed back-to-back AL pennant winners with the Texas Rangers in 2010 and 2011 and helped Atlanta win the World Series in 2021. As such, the White Sox should absolutely hire him.

Nolan Arenado's Opt-Out Decision

Prediction: He won't opt out

Nolan Arenado could have opted out of his contract after 2021, but his decision not to was understandable in the context of that year's good-not-great performance.

This time around? Different story. The 31-year-old played at an MVP-caliber level in 2022, notably setting career highs with a 154 OPS+ with 7.9 rWAR. Surely, the $144 million he's owed through 2027 is a substantial bargain for a player like that.