MLB Free Agency 2012: Ranking the Best MLB Players Still on the Market

With football come and gone, it's time for the baseball season to begin!

Spring training is just around the corner, and pitchers and position players are getting ready for the upcoming season.

However, there are still a few big free agents left on the market, just waiting for a chance to be signed.

Let's take a look at who's left and how they could still provide an impact in the league.

10. Edgar Renteria

The only shortstop remaining on the market, Edgar Renteria played last season for the Cincinnati Reds.

As backup to Paul Janish, Renteria played in 96 games, batting .251 with five home runs and 36 RBI in 299 at-bats.

Though he doesn't possess the defensive range and ability to hit for average that he did in the early 2000s, he would still provide a veteran presence to any team's bench.

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Tampa Bay Rays (a team stacked with developing talent) are interested in his services, and he would do a good job mentoring their younger players.

9. Aaron Miles

Aaron Miles probably wasn’t expecting much playing time after signing a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason.

However, thanks to injuries from Casey Blake and Juan Uribe, he got to play in 136 games.

He hit his first home run since 2008, recorded a .275 batting average and knocked in 45 runs as well.

While Miles didn’t exactly have a huge year, I think he did enough to at least earn himself one more major league contract. He lacks power, but still hits fairly well and also has a bit of speed.

His ability to play second base, third base and shortstop make him a good utility player for any team.

8. Hideki Matsui

After putting up good numbers as designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels in 2010, the Oakland Athletics signed him for $4.25 million last year.

The batting average and home runs slipped (though in the case of home runs, it’s understandable when you play at Oakland’s vacant coliseum 81 times a year), but the rest of his numbers remained steady.

He hit his 2,500th career base hit (combined in Japan and U.S.) and 500th career home run (again, combined) during the year. Also, he stole a base for the first time in four years, if that means anything to you.

While he hit only 12 home runs this season, he did have to play half the season in Oakland, so I still think some of the power is still there. He also has a knack for driving walks.

My two concerns about him though are the continuously declining batting average and the possibility of his knees completely breaking down whenever he runs.

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, the New York Yankees are supposedly interested, and Matsui certainly loved playing for them. He’ll have to be used as a full-time DH, but it would be a fitting place for him to finish out his career.

7. Mike Gonzalez

Mike Gonzalez began the 2011 season with the Baltimore Orioles, appearing in 49 games.

He was then picked up by the Texas Rangers alongside Royals catcher Matt Treanor in waiver-wide deals, and would play seven more games for the season.

His combined season totals come out to a 2-2 record with a 4.39 ERA over 53 1/3 innings. He also went 1-for-2 in save opportunities.

Though his ERA has been relatively high in recent years, the fact that he's a lefty reliever draws him a considerable amount of interest.

According to mlbtraderumors.com, the Rangers continue to be interested in re-signing him, and are trying to trade Koji Uehara in order to make payroll space for him.

6. Javier Vazquez

As a New York Yankees fan, I'm not a big fan of Javier Vazquez (BOTH of his tenures). After his 2010 season, if you told me Vazquez would lead the team in wins for the 2011 Florida Marlins, I wouldn’t have believed you.

However, thanks to a slew of injuries to both Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, Vazquez was able to do just that!

He started off the season poorly, going 3-6 with a 7.06 ERA at one point. However, he turned around it in the second half, going 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA. His season totals come out to a 13-11 record in 32 starts, with a 3.69 ERA and 162 strikeouts.

Considering that Vazquez played for a 72-90 Marlins team, that isn't too bad.

He doesn't do particularly well when playing in the American League, but when he’s pitching in the National League (see his tenure with Montreal, 2010 with Atlanta), he's pretty effective.

What makes Vazquez good is his ability to strike out batters, particularly with a curveball that has proven to be difficult for batters over the years. Will his next contract be with the Marlins? I doubt it, because the team already has a starting rotation of Johnson, Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad and newly acquired Mark Buehrle.

In addition, they have likely splurged all of their payroll money on other new additions like Jose Reyes, and have little or no money to even make Vazquez an offer.

A one or two-year contract is not out of the question for Vazquez, but he would best be suited to continue playing for a National League team.

5. Raul Ibanez

Ibanez played in 144 games for the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting .245 with 20 homers and 84 RBI, the fifth straight year he's had 80 RBI in a season, and the ninth time in 11 seasons. He also hit 31 doubles. However, he was walked just 33 times, his lowest total since 2001.

Even though Ibanez is 39 years old, he still has plenty of pop in his bat and is capable of driving in a lot of runs.

However, because of his age and limited defensive range, he should really only be used as a designated hitter. According to Ken Rosenthal, the New York Yankees are in serious discussions with Ibanez, though I think any American League team will benefit from Ibanez’s offensive production on a one-year deal.

4. Derrek Lee

Derrek Lee signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles last offseason before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates (can you believe that this team was actually buying during the trade deadline rather than selling?).

In a combined 112 games, Lee had 19 homers, 59 RBI and a .267 batting average.

Unfortunately for Lee, his value is little more than a consolation prize in the Albert Pujols/Prince Fielder sweepstakes (congratulations to the Los Angeles Angels and the Detroit Tigers for being the big winners), which is a shame because despite his age, he can still hit the ball rather well.

In fact, his batting average during his tenure with Pittsburgh was .337.

That said, he won’t be with the Pirates next year though; he’s way too expensive. In addition, the Pirates already have Garrett Jones and Steve Pearce to play at the position.

3. Johnny Damon

Damon, after one season in Detroit, signed a one-year deal with the Rays worth $5.5 million in 2011. Despite his advanced age, he did a good job with the team in 2011. He played in 150 games posting a .261 batting average with 16 home runs, 73 RBI and 19 stolen bases. He also continued to hit for extra bases, with 29 doubles and eight triples.

In addition, he played 16 games in the outfield and did not record an error.

That being said, Damon is 39 and should stick to being a designated hitter. However, he still has plenty of value for a DH, providing a little of both power and speed, even at his age.

According to mlbtraderumors.com, Damon has been pegged to have him return to the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox or the Detroit Tigers. He'd be a relatively cheap (he's wanting roughly $5 million) yet reliable source, who could be utilized in the second spot in the lineup or elsewhere. He's also durable, having played at least 141 games each year since 1996.

2. Vladimir Guerrero

Last offseason, Vladimir Guerrero signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

In 145 games, he hit. 290 with 13 homers and 63 RBI.

Though not where he was in 2010 with the Texas Rangers, Guerrero still manages to provide offensive production. He can still hit in the .290-.300 range and drive in runs and extra-base hits (in fact, he hit more doubles this year than last year).

He is probably the best designated hitter on the market left.

1. Roy Oswalt

In his first and only full season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Oswalt was somewhat of a mixed bag.

He had a strong start to the season, but took a leave of absence after a series of tornadoes hit around in Mississippi, where his family lives. He then came back, but then suffered back problems and was put on the disabled list.

He came back again at the end of the season and would start Game 4 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he gave up five earned runs and six hits in six innings. 

In 23 regular season starts, Oswalt posted a 9-10 record over 23 starts with a 3.69 ERA.

The back problem poses a big question; exactly just how serious is it? According to yardbarker.com, he's been rumored to sign with a number of teams; the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays are teams that have been rumored, but nothing has been confirmed. Even Pittsburgh has expressed interest, though I doubt they have the money to actually spend on him.

Provided that his back isn't too serious, you are looking at one of the biggest workhorses of the 2000s. He's started at least 20 games each year and has thrown in 200-plus innings in seven of his 11 seasons.

He's an aggressive pitcher who likes to throw a lot of fastballs, but also has a Vulcan changeup, slider and an overhand curveball in his repertoire.

Even if it's just a one or two-year deal, Oswalt has the ability and veteran presence to make an impact for any team in this league.