Outfielder Michael Saunders is a Toronto Blue Jays fan favorite this season for not only his offensive success, but also for his Canadian heritage (a peek at his All-Star final vote numbers should make that clear).

But could the native of Victoria, British Columbia, be headed stateside in the offseason?

Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball writes that the belief is Saunders, an impending free agent, will play for another team in 2017. The same goes for Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, who will also be free agents this winter.

Heyman writes that Saunders has been "tempororaily displaced" by Melvin Upton Jr., whom the Jays acquired from the San Diego Padres in late July. Saunders has had 122 at-bats following the All-Star break compared to 305 in the first half of the season.

Saunders was traded to the Blue Jays prior to the 2015 season in a deal that sent current Toronto pitcher J.A. Happ to the Seattle Mariners. Saunders is signed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract this season; he's on track to eclipse career highs in RBIs and doubles after already doing so with 23 home runs.