Looking Ahead: The Top MLB Free Agents For 2009

With the season two months from being over, some teams are in the heat of a pennant race, some seasons are over (i.e. Pirates, Nationals), and every GM is starting to sketch out their plans for life after the 2009 season.

The trade deadline showed us the direction many teams intend on taking.

The Pirates and Indians are having the fire sales to end all fire sales and the Phillies are stacking themselves up for the here-and-now, grabbing Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco in a steal of a deal.

Free agency is just as much a part of the game as the game itself.

Some teams look to shore up the holes on their roster while others try to put fans in the seats with a flashy signing.

It's like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get.

There are as many Russell Branyan-like success stories (26 HR's with the Mariners in his first season as a starter) as their are $45 million dollar Jason Schmidt flops.  

With the economy in its $13 trillion downturn, it's no surprise we saw some low contracts dolled out last winter.

The Yankees and Manny aside, not many players hit the jackpot.

Raul Ibanez received the top deal money-wise with a $31.5 million deal over three years with the Phillies.

Let's take a look at the top infielders who will hit the free agent market and where they might end up (speculation, based on team needs more then anything).

Catcher

Rod Barajas

The cupboard is pretty bare at catcher in this free agent class, unless someone gets cut before free agency roles around.

Barajas is a solid starting option for teams in need of a serviceable backstop.

He is on pace for 19 home runs and 85 RBIs, a quality stat line for a position not renowned for it's offense.

At 33, he still has some gas in the tank and could be some team's starter for the next three to four seasons.

Plausible Destination: Seattle Mariners

Rob Johnson is a good defensive catcher but his batting is atrocious.

The defensive trade off is minor in favor of Johnson, while the offensive upgrade is more then double the RBI, ten times the HR, and a better batting average.

Johnson has been on a roll lately, but he still sports a low average at .231 and doesn't produce a lot of runs and can't hit for power.

Bengie Molina

The 35-year-old is nothing more then a stopgap option at this point in his career, should he choose to leave the Bay Area.

Not many catchers hit cleanup but he's an exception to the rule.  

He also is a solid defensive catcher and will surely be someone's starter if signed on the open market.

Plausible Destination: Tampa Bay Rays

Dioner Navarro has been dreadful this season, batting one point above the Mendoza Line.

The Rays are a young contending team, but even a young team needs to infuse some savvy veteran talent.

Molina offers them a fixture at catcher for a couple seasons at reasonable cost.

To keep pace with the Yankees and Red Sox they need to be consistently addressing issues on their roster, and catcher is one of them.

First Base

Russell Branyan

The 33-year-old is having a career year in his first full season as a starter, blasting a career high 26 home runs.

He's due for a raise from his $1.3 million contract and, depending on the market, could parlay his 2009 season into a contract upwards of $8-10 million.

His name came up in trade rumors often in Seattle, so I would put his chances of staying at 60/40.

Plausible Destination: San Francisco Giants

They need offense badly and, although Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Garko were solid pickups, Garko is not the answer at 1B.

Branyan would give them a power threat capable of hitting 40 home runs (he's on pace for 46) for the next three to four seasons and adding him would ease the pressure from their elite pitching staff.

Adam LaRoche

He has been the victim of some bad Pirates squads but still averaged 26 home runs a season over the last three years.

He is a well-rounded player who can knock in 30 home runs and 100 RBI.

If he were to leave the Braves, he would garner some serious attention on the open market and, at 29, offers a long term option at 1B

Plausible Destination: Toronto Blue Jays

He is better than what they have and would cost a lot less than the horribly overpaid Lyle Overbay.

Kevin Millar is getting up there and it would not surprise me to see them address the position in the off-season.

Second Base

Freddy Sanchez:

The biggest name analyzed so far. He is a great defender and swings for a .300 average. He is a former batting champion, and a three-time all-star selection.

How things turn out with the G-Men will dictate whether he goes or stays.

He will likely test the free agent waters like many players do.

He recently rejected a two year, $10 million extension from his former team, the Pirates.

Plausible Destination: Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have been playing musical chairs at the second base in 2009 and grabbing Sanchez would be a great move for them.

An infield of Derek Lee, Sanchez, Ryan Theriot, and Aramis Ramirez is as solid as it gets.

He would be both an offensive and defensive upgrade over Jeff Baker, Aaron Miles, and Mike Fontenot.

Placido Polanco:

The reliable veteran will draw some significant interest on the open market.

He is on pace for a career high in RBI (81) and displays a consistent glove on the defensive side. He offers someone three to four years of quality production as a starter. 

Plausible Destination: Atlanta Braves

Kelly Johnson has a lot of improving to do, and the Braves would do themselves no harm by bringing aboard a quality veteran like Polanco.

He would provide an instant upgrade on offense and defense, and would solidify a good infield for the Braves.

Shortstop

Marco Scutaro

He is having a breakout season and has already tied his personal career high in home runs (9), and remains on pace to break his best RBI total (60).

He carries a good glove and should be able to turn his career best season into a decent contract.

Plausible Destination: Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are slumping, but don't be fooled—they have a stacked roster and are one of the best teams in baseball.

After adding all-star catcher Victor Martinez, the only hole on the roster is at shortstop.

Adding Scutaro would give them a reliable veteran starter and allow them to push Nick Green back into a utility role where he is better suited. 

Miguel Tejada

The 36 year-old is tearing it up this season and is likely going to get a nice chunk of change on the open market if he leaves the Astro's for a contender.

He has a .317 average and is on pace for his best RBI total (101) since 2004 (150).

He is not someone's future, he's 36, but he could perform at or close to an all-star level for the next four seasons. 

Plausible Destination: Detroit Tigers

Their shortstops are less then impressive.

The combined numbers between Adam Everett and Michael Hollimon (.252 BA, 3 HR, 34 RBI) barely add up to half of Tejada's RBI total and are completely inferior in every other aspect of the game.

Detroit is built to win now, and taking care of their one hole on the infield is a must if they want to keep ahead of the White Sox and the Twins in the future.

Third Base

Adrian Beltre

As a Mariners fan I would hate to see him go.

He may not be the 48 home run threat they signed him to be but he is the top defensive third baseman in the game.

Injuries have slowed him in 2009 but he has played well since coming of the DL.

I see him staying in Seattle though, as Jack Zdruiencik will entice players to stay.

At 31, he offers a great fixture at third base for years to come.

He won't be getting the $12 million plus he has been earning, but he will likely garner a contract in the $7 million range. 

Plausible Destination: Milwaukee Brewers

Even in an "off" season for Beltre, he still has better numbers than the current third basemen on the roster by a wide margin.

He brings a top flight glove to a team that plays in a division with the Cubs and Cardinals, two of the best teams in the game.

On offense you know what you're getting: around 25 HR and 90-95 RBI.

This is not the guy who hit 148 RBI's for the Dodgers, but he displays a decent bat.

Chone Figgins

I was torn between him and the Phillies Pedro Feliz, but I went with Figgins because of the all-star nod, superb defense, and age (he's three years younger).

He doesn't bat fourth in the lineup, so his offensive numbers are not great. But he does sport a .301 BA, 36 RBI, and 33 SB. 

Plausible Destination: Los Angeles Angels

I do not see him leaving one of baseballs best teams in his prime.

In my next article I will take a look at the top OF's and DH's that will be able to hit the market after this season.

You can follow me on Twitter here