MLB Free Agency: Top 5 Offseason International Signings and How They'll Do

We're just days away from the first spring training game of the season. Excited yet? You should be. This offseason has been full of excitement with plenty of surprise signings and trades that have completely re-shaped some teams.

The international market has been almost as good as the players available through standard free agency but it has still been interesting to watch it play out. Whether these international players will work out for their designated teams is still to be determined. Let's look at the top five offseason international signings and whether you should buy or sell them.

Norichika Aoki, Milwaukee Brewers

2011 Stats: .292/.358/.360, 4 HR, 44 RBI

With Ryan Braun winning his appeal over Major League Baseball, Nirochika Aoki looks as if he'll start the season coming off of the bench. The Brewers signed Aoki to a two-year deal with a team option for 2014 worth $2.5 million after posting $2.5 million just to negotiate with him.

Aoki has been a solid hitter over the past few seasons and should translate well into MLB, especially since there won't be much pressure on him at first. He's a contact hitter that should be able to get on base often and then hopefully be driven home by one of the bigger Brewers bats.

Buy or Sell: Buy

Wei-Yin Chen, Baltimore Orioles

2011 Stats: 8-10, 2.68 ERA, 94 K

Despite his record, Wei-Yin Chen has been a good pitcher over his four seasons in Japan, compiling a 2.48 ERA in 631.1 innings of work. Chen received a three-year deal worth under $12 million from Dan Duquette and the Baltimore Orioles. He was ranked 19th on Keith Law's top 2012 free agents earlier this offseason.

Regardless of his ability to pitch in Japan, I think it'll be a tough transition into MLB, especially into the AL East. It won't be easy for Chen to immediately start facing the tough New York and Boston lineups that will fully take advantage of any mistakes he might make. 

Buy or Sell: Sell

Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers

2011 Stats: 18-6, 1.44 ERA, 276 K

The biggest name on the international market this offseason was easily Yu Darvish, who the Texas Rangers won the rights to after a $51-plus million bid. The Rangers then signed the right-hander to a six-year, $60 million contract. In five seasons in Japan, Darvish is 76-28 with a 1.72 ERA in over 1,000 innings, while also striking out over 1,000 batters.

Ranked the third-best free agent by Keith Law, Darvish will definitely have a lot of pressure on him in Texas. He will be filling the void left by former Ranger C.J. Wilson and will have to pitch against Angels' slugger Albert Pujols often throughout the 2012 season. All of Texas, and much of Japan, will be watching to see how Darvish transitions in MLB and if he can live up to the high expectations that he set in Japan. 

Buy or Sell: Buy

Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners

2011 Stats: 6-7, 2.42 ERA, 90 K

Hisashi Iwakuma will start the season in the starting rotation for the Seattle Mariners after signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal. When originally posted last year, the Oakland A's couldn't come to an agreement after winning the bidding that cost them $19.1 million.

Pitching in the AL West will be tough for Iwakuma, facing the powerful lineups of Los Angeles and Texas. The Mariners should have a tough time getting him the run support that he'll need which is why, in the end, his signing won't really be a factor. At best, he'll turn out to be a below average/average reliever after failing as a starter. 

Buy or Sell: Sell

Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics

2011 Stats: .333/.424/.667, 33 HR, 99 RBI

The Oakland Athletics' signing of Yoenis Cespedes shocked everyone I think. If you think about it, what do they really have to lose? They are taking a shot on a very powerful outfielder that can contribute to a team that most likely won't make any noise.

There's no doubt Cespedes had incredible numbers in Cuba. If Billy Beane is lucky they can translate into his time with Oakland. Cespedes will have four years, while earning $36 million and in a low-pressure environment, to show other general managers what he's capable of in the majors before they can make a run at him. In the end, this is basically a four-year tryout for Cespedes in Oakland to see if he can keep up what he did in Cuba.

Buy or Sell: Buy