2011 MLB Free Agents: The Top 50

With the season wrapped up, free agency is now upon us. It's been less than a week since the Giants hoisted the World Series trophy, and with that, the Hot Stove is already beginning to heat up.

With the free-agency period kicking off, the questions kick off as well. Will Cliff Lee end up in New York? How many clubs will be bidding for Carl Crawford? These players are two of the many teams will be making decisions on as we get deeper into the offseason.

After the jump, FanHouse's in-house professional scout Frankie Piliere ranks the Top 50 Free Agents on the market this year. Get the skinny on the best talents, bargains and potential busts.

	CLIFF LEE			• 2010 Team: Rangers • 2010 Salary: $9 million • Signed With: Phillies
1
	POS	AGE	W-L	ERA	SO/BB
	LHP	32	12-9	3.18	10.28

There really is no debate about who is No. 1 in this year's class. However, despite his dominance, Lee is not as simple a decision as meets the eye. He is 32 years old, and the length of his contract may become a big issue in any negotiations.

	CARL CRAWFORD			• 2010 Team: Rays • 2010 Salary: $10 million • Signed With: Red Sox
2
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	SB
	LF	29	.307	19	47

There are plenty of teams who would love to have Crawford's services, but exactly what his price tag will be remains unknown. With the Yankees potentially out as a bidder -- they seem pleased with Brett Gardner in left -- Crawford's leverage is hurt somewhat, but he will still be atop the wish list of many a team.

	JAYSON WERTH			• 2010 Team: Phillies • 2010 Salary: $7.5 million • Signed With: Nationals
3
	POS	AGE	AVG	XBH	OPS
	RF	31	.296	75	.921

Another player who, according to reports, may not have the Yankees seeking his services, Werth's value on the open market will be fascinating to watch. The best fit for him remains in Philadelphia, but expect the Red Sox and perhaps a sleeper club to chase after him hard.

	VICTOR MARTINEZ			• 2010 Team: Red Sox • 2010 Salary: $7.7 million • Signed With: Tigers
4
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	OPS
	C	31	.302	20	.844

It's not often that an elite offensive catcher is available on the free-agent market. So, with that said, Martinez is going to rake in some serious money this offseason. Where he ends up remains to be seen, but even with his poor defense, there just aren't a lot of players who fit this profile.

	ADAM DUNN			• 2010 Team: Nationals • 2010 Salary: $12 million • Signed With: White Sox
5
	POS	AGE	OBP	HR	RBI
	1B	30	.356	38	103

There are American League clubs, namely the Yankees, who could take a long look at Dunn, but he figures to have suitors across the majors. As home runs dwindle in the big leagues, pure power threats like Dunn continue to see their value get higher and higher.

	MARIANO RIVERA			• 2010 Team: Yankees • 2010 Salary: $15 million • Signed With: Yankees
6
	POS	AGE	SV	ERA	SO
	RHP	40	33	1.80	45

Like his teammate, Derek Jeter, Rivera is going nowhere. The dominant closer continues to defy age, and, barring some radical change of heart, will be back in the Bronx in 2011.

	RAFAEL SORIANO			• 2010 Team: Rays • 2010 Salary: $7.25 million • Signed With: Yankees
7
	POS	AGE	SV	ERA	SO
	RHP	30	45	1.73	57

Clearly the top closer truly on the market, Soriano should be able to cash in this winter. A number of teams will talk with him, but fewer teams than in the past are likely to be willing to pay premium money for a reliever.

	PAUL KONERKO			• 2010 Team: White Sox • 2010 Salary: $12 million • Signed With: White Sox
8
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	RBI
	1B	34	.312	39	111

For whatever reason, Paul Konerko just never gets his due. His value on the open market will be fascinating to monitor, and whoever lands him will know exactly what they're getting. You can't ask for much more than predictability in a player, and Konerko gives you that.

	DEREK JETER			• 2010 Team: Yankees • 2010 Salary: $22.6 million • Signed With: Yankees
9
	POS	AGE	AVG	XBH	OPS
	SS	36	.270	43	.710

It's kind of hard to believe Jeter would even grace such a list, but the reality always has been if he is to hit the open market he'll still be among the best players available. The other reality is that he's going to hit the open market in name only. He and the Yankees will work out a deal, but for now this is where he stacks up with the rest of the free-agent class.

	ADRIAN BELTRE			• 2010 Team: Red Sox • 2010 Salary: $9 million • Signed With: Rangers
10
	POS	AGE	AVG	RBI	OPS
	3B	31	.321	102	.919

You have to love what Beltre did in 2010, but you also have to question the consistency over his career. He'll ask to be paid for what he did with Boston, but whether he can repeat that remains to be seen. He makes for a difficult free-agent case for teams to evaluate.

	ANDY PETTITTE			• 2010 Team: Yankees • 2010 Salary: $11.75 million • Retired
11
	POS	AGE	W-L	ERA	SO
	LHP	38	11-3	3.28	101

Andy Pettitte may be a free agent by definition, but the only way New York could lose him is to retirement. Pettitte clearly has plenty left in the tank, but whether he's willing to put up with nagging injuries is the big question at hand.

	CARL PAVANO			• 2010 Team: Twins • 2010 Salary: $7 million • Signed With: Twins
12
	POS	AGE	W-L	ERA	IP
	RHP	34	17-11	3.75	221

Fans in New York may not like to hear it, but aside from his years there he's been nothing short of a very reliable big-league pitcher over the course of his career. He won't get the premium, multi-year type contract he once got from the Yankees but he'll do very well and give a team a solid innings-eater.

	JORGE de la ROSA			• 2010 Team: Rockies • 2010 Salary: $5.6 million • Signed With: Rockies
13
	POS	AGE	W-L	ERA	SO
	LHP	29	8-7	4.22	113

This isn't a great year for free agent starters, and typically de la Rosa wouldn't rank this high. He should not be paid like an elite starter, but what he does give a club is a pitcher in his prime who will perform well in the middle of a rotation.

	VLADIMIR GUERRERO			• 2010 Team: Rangers • 2010 Salary: $5.5 million • Signed With: Orioles
14
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	RBI
	DH	35	.300	29	115

At this stage in his career teams will have to decide year to year how much Vlad has left in the tank. He still looks more than capable offensively, but teams would be taking a risk to sign him for more than one year.

	AUBREY HUFF			• 2010 Team: Giants • 2010 Salary: $3 million • Signed With: Giants
15
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	OPS
	1B	33	.290	26	.891

For a guy struggling to find a job last winter, Huff has certainly done well to up his value this season. The Giants look like a great fit for him, but there are plenty of clubs who could use his veteran left-handed bat.

	HIROKI KURODA			• 2010 Team: Dodgers • 2010 Salary: $15.4 million • Signed With: Dodgers
16
	POS	AGE	W-L	ERA	SO
	RHP	35	11-13	3.39	159

Kuroda is not a spring chicken, but he looks like one of the safer bets in terms of arms in this free agent class. He has the plus stuff that make him a fit in the American League as well. Teams like the Yankees will keep him in mind as a secondary rotation option.

	MAGGLIO ORDONEZ			• 2010 Team: Tigers • 2010 Salary: $17.8 million • Signed With: Tigers
17
	POS	AGE	AVG	XBH	OPS
	OF	36	.303	30	.852

If he's healthy, Ordonez is a guy who is probably going to hit. He's not going to make big money on his next contract, but he has a lot left in the tank as an offensive force. If he can be had on a short-term deal, he's an excellent investment.

	JOAQUIN BENOIT			• 2010 Team: Rays • 2010 Salary: $800,000 • Signed With: Tigers
18
	POS	AGE	ERA	IP	SO
	RHP	33	1.34	60 1/3	75

You almost can't have as good a year as Benoit had for the Rays out of the bullpen. Sometimes finding good relievers is about catching lightning in a bottle, but Benoit's stuff is just so good that he should be able to repeat what he did.

	ADAM LaROCHE			• 2010 Team: Diamondbacks • 2010 Salary: $4.5 million • Signed With: Nationals
19
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	RBI
	1B	31	.261	25	100

LaRoche is another very solid run producer that very quietly goes about his business. He'd be a very affordable option for a lot of teams to slide into the middle of their order and drive in 100 runs.

	JAKE WESTBROOK			• 2010 Team: Cardinals • 2010 Salary: $9 million • Signed With: Cardinals
20
	POS	AGE	W-L	ERA	IP
	RHP	33	10-11	4.22	202 2/3

If you're looking for some solid middle- to back-end-of-the-rotation type starters this winter, you do have some options. Westbrook is one of them. He's a proven innings-eater, and he probably fits best in the National League at this stage.

	JON GARLAND			• 2010 Team: Padres • 2010 Salary: $4.7 million • Signed With: Dodgers
21
	POS	AGE	W-L	ERA	IP
	RHP	31	14-12	3.47	200

Make no mistake, part of Garland's success last year was a product of his home ballpark. He's proven over the course of his career that he'll be consistent year in and year out. His good sinking fastball profiles well anywhere.

	KERRY WOOD			• 2010 Team: Yankees • 2010 Salary: $10.5 million • Signed With: Cubs
22
	POS	AGE	SV	ERA	SO
	RHP	33	8	3.13	49

The Yankees would probably love to hold onto Wood, but the reality is he will seek closer money and a closer's role on the free-agent market. New York has moved away, in some cases, from giving setup relievers big money, but it'll do its best to convince Wood to return if the money is right.

	MANNY RAMIREZ			• 2010 Team: White Sox • 2010 Salary: $18.7 million • Signed With: Rays
23
	POS	AGE	AVG	RBI	OPS
	LF	38	.298	42	.870

Ramirez is absolutely a declining player, and that makes his personality issues even more of a burden. Some evaluators around baseball still contend, however, that Ramirez might have another big year left in him. He's a big gamble, but there may be something left in the tank to make the headaches worth it.

	CARLOS PENA			• 2010 Team: Rays • 2010 Salary: $10.1 million • Signed With: Cubs
24
	POS	AGE	OBP	HR	RBI
	1B	32	.325	28	84

Pena is somewhat of an oddball player. He does tremendous things defensively at first base and does provide production offensively. But, what to make of his sinking batting average and OBP is another question. A change of scenery and a new voice in terms of a hitting coach could do wonders for him.

	A.J. PIERZYNSKI			• 2010 Team: White Sox • 2010 Salary: $6.75 million • Signed With: White Sox
25
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	RBI
	C	33	.270	9	56

There are some catchers to choose from in this free-agent class, and Pierzynski has one of the best track records in that group. His best offensive years may be behind him, but he still can provide above-average offense at this position.

	JAVIER VAZQUEZ			• 2010 Team: Yankees • 2010 Salary: $11.5 million • Signed With: Marlins
26
	POS	AGE	W-L	ERA	SO
	RHP	34	10-10	5.32	121

Vazquez is one of the strangest cases in this free-agent class. His time in New York was clearly a disaster, but most people around baseball feel confident that a return to the National League would do wonders for the right-hander. If his 2009 form shows up again, he is still one of the best starters in this class.

	JUAN URIBE			• 2010 Team: Giants • 2010 Salary: $3.25 million • Signed With: Dodgers
27
	POS	AGE	HR	RBI	OPS
	IF	31	24	85	.749

Uribe's postseason heroics sure don't hurt his free-agent hopes. But let's also not forget that Uribe continues to be a very solid everyday performer. He'll provide some pop, has good hands, and can give a club some versatility on the left side of the infield.

	ORLANDO HUDSON			• 2010 Team: Twins • 2010 Salary: $5 million • Signed With: Padres
28
	POS	AGE	AVG	SB	OPS
	2B	32	.268	10	.710

You know what you're going to get from Hudson defensively, and that's a big plus. He's not a particularly potent offensive threat, but he's a solid performer who can hit above-average pitching.

	JOHNNY DAMON			• 2010 Team: Tigers • 2010 Salary: $8 million • Signed With: Rays
29
	POS	AGE	AVG	XBH	OPS
	OF	37	.271	49	.756

Damon's numbers dipped in 2010, and the Yankees ended up looking pretty smart even though ideally they would have liked to have him back before last season. The reality is that Damon doesn't have nearly the negotiating power he had last offseason. That said, he's still a fit as a regular with a number of teams who have the flexibility to use him as a DH.

	SCOTT DOWNS			• 2010 Team: Blue Jays • 2010 Salary: $4 million • Signed With: Angels
30
	POS	AGE	ERA	SO	IP
	LHP	34	2.64	48	61 1/3

Downs was an extremely hot commodity at the trade deadline and that's not going to change this winter. The market for relievers isn't as strong as it's been, but Downs is seen by many clubs as an exception to the rule. Lefties like him are at a premium and he'll get paid well.

	LANCE BERKMAN			• 2010 Team: Yankees • 2010 Salary: $14.5 million • Signed With: Cardinals
31
	POS	AGE	OBP	RBI	OPS
	1B	34	.368	58	.781

Berkman's Yankee stint didn't do much to help his value, but he did rebound well in the postseason. The reality is that Berkman looks like a diminished player, but he still has value as a patient bat with some power, particularly from the left side.

	ORLANDO CABRERA			• 2010 Team: Reds • 2010 Salary: $2.02 million • Signed With: Indians
32
	POS	AGE	AVG	XBH	RBI
	SS	36	.263	37	42

Cabrera has become an annual free agent, and once again there will be clubs that would love to have him. He does make some careless mistakes in the field, but as usual shortstop is not a deep position and he still fills that hole very neatly.

	J.J. PUTZ			• 2010 Team: White Sox • 2010 Salary: $3 million • Signed With: Diamondbacks
33
	POS	AGE	ERA	SO	IP
	RHP	33	2.83	65	54

It can't be said enough how strong a year this is for free-agent relievers, and Putz is part of that. The depth of relievers, however, may hurt guys like Putz as teams look at better options like Joaquin Benoit and Kerry Wood.

	DERREK LEE			• 2010 Team: Braves • 2010 Salary: $13.25 million • Signed With: Orioles
34
	POS	AGE	OBP	HR	RBI
	1B	35	.347	19	80

Did Derrek Lee have a down year or was 2010 the beginning of a trend? That's the question teams will have to ask themselves. Even a lesser version of Lee is still a decent regular and a solid free-agent option at first base for teams in the market for one.

	HIDEKI MATSUI			• 2010 Team: Angels • 2010 Salary: $6 million • Signed With: Athletics
35
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	OPS
	DH	36	.274	21	.820

As bad of a start as Matsui got off to in 2010, you have to give him a lot of credit for once again putting up a solid offensive campaign. Even at his age and with his health issues, Matsui offers potential suitors predictability. He'll drive in his runs and can probably still hit his 20-plus home runs.

	KEVIN GREGG			• 2010 Team: Blue Jays • 2010 Salary: $2 million • Signed With: Orioles
36
	POS	AGE	SV	ERA	SO
	RHP	32	37	3.51	58

Gregg doesn't always make it pretty in the ninth inning, but in a league full of cardiac closers, you have to give Gregg his due for a solid season in baseball's toughest division. He won't get paid like a premium reliever, but he'll do a solid job for whoever signs him.

	JOHN BUCK			• 2010 Team: Blue Jays • 2010 Salary: $2 million • Signed With: Marlins
37
	POS	AGE	AVG	HR	OPS
	C	30	.281	20	.802

Buck's value really depends on how much you buy into his 2010 season with Toronto. Odds are that he won't repeat those strong numbers, but what he has become is a very solid everyday catcher. As any GM will tell you, those still are hard to come by.

	RUSSELL BRANYAN			• 2010 Team: Mariners • 2010 Salary: $1.5 million • Signed With: Diamondbacks
38
	POS	AGE	HR	RBI	OPS
	1B	34	25	57	.810

At this stage, we have a pretty good idea of what Branyan brings to a team. The average won't be there and the strikeouts will be, but the production is still very strong. What kind of market he'll have is a difficult call, but teams always seem to need left-handed power.