2012 MLB Free Agency: Ranking the Depth of Talent at Each Position

The prizes of the 2011 offseason were Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth as far as position players, and Cliff Lee on the pitching side, in what was for the most part a very weak free-agent class.

The 2012 class, on the other hand, could be one of the most interesting to come around in years, and you can bet that the Albert Pujols saga will continue on into the season and into next offseason.

Beyond Pujols however, there are a number of difference makers in this class, and many teams could build for a championship run in 2012 with the guys they sign following this season.

So what follows is a ranking of the depth of each position, from weakest to strongest, in the 2012 free-agent class.

No. 8: Third Base

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MESA, AZ - MARCH 04: Aramis Ramirez #16 of the Chicago Cubs bats against the Oakland Athletics during the MLB spring training game at HoHoKam Park on March 4, 2009 in Mesa, Arizona. The Cubs defeated the A's 9-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Image

Best Available Free Agent
Aramis Ramirez

Best of the Rest
Mark DeRosa
Greg Dobbs

Players with Team Options
Casey Blake

If Ramirez can stay healthy, he still has the potential to be a legitimate run producer, and a good season in 2011 could set him up for one last big contract before his career is over.

Beyond him, Blake and DeRosa are both getting up there in age, and their production has dropped due to age and injuries in recent seasons.

No. 7: Catcher

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 15: Jorge Posada #20 of the New York Yankees bats against the Texas Rangers in Game One of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 15, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Yankees won 6-5. (Photo

Best Available Free Agent
Jorge Posada

Best of the Rest
Jason Kendall
Dioner Navarro
Ivan Rodriguez
Brian Schneider

Players with Team Options
Yadier Molina
Kelly Shoppach
Chris Snyder

The talent pool at catcher is fairly weak, as it generally is, with Posada obviously being the most recognizable name of the group. With a number of promising young prospects in the Yankees system, they could cut ties with Posada at season's end.

From there, no one is really a difference maker, with Kendall and Rodriguez entering the twilight of their careers. The Cardinals could surprise by choosing not to pick up Molina's $7 million option for 2012 in order to save money in an effort to re-sign Albert Pujols, but that seems unlikely.

No. 6: Second Base

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PHOENIX - JULY 05: Infielder Kelly Johnson #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in action during the Major League Baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on July 5, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Best Available Free Agent
Kelly Johnson

Best of the Rest
Freddy Sanchez
Clint Barmes
Jamey Carrol
Luis Castillo

Players with Team Options
Robinson Cano
Brandon Phillips
Aaron Hill

Johnson had a breakout season last year in his first year with the Diamondbacks, hitting .284 BA, 26 HR and 71 RBI, and if he can duplicate that performance, he could set himself up for a big payday, most likely somewhere other than Arizona.

Cano and Phillips will more than likely have their options picked up, but Hill could be cut loose by the Blue Jays after struggling last season. He would certainly generate some interest, as he has above average power for his position.

No. 5: Starting Pitcher

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 11: Pitcher Mark Buehrle #56 of the Chicago White Sox throws a pitch prior to the start of the spring training baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch on March 11, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevork Djanse

Best Available Free Agent
Mark Buehrle

Best of the Rest
Edwin Jackson
CJ Wilson
Paul Maholm
Jason Marquis
Zach Duke
Kyle Davies
Oliver Perez
Joel Pinero
Tim Wakefield
Brian Tallet

Players with Team Options
Chris Carpenter
Roy Oswalt
Scott Kazmir
Aaron Cook
Scott Olsen

The Sox have a pair of intriguing free agents to be in Buehrle and Jackson, and while they will most likely bring Jackson back, this could mark the end of the line for Buehrle as they have Chris Sale waiting in the wings to join the rotation.

Aside from those two, the possibility of the Cardinals not picking up Chris Carpenter's option in an effort to re-sign Albert Pujols makes him the most intriguing option on the market. Aside from those guys and the Rangers' Wilson, the rest of this group is nothing more than rotation fillers.

No. 4: Shortstop

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Shortstop Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets throws to first base during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 25, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mets won 5-2. (Photo by Hunter Ma

Best Available Free Agent
Jose Reyes

Best of the Rest
Rafael Furcal
JJ Hardy
Jack Wilson
Ramon Santiago
John McDonald
Ronny Cedeno

Players with Team Options
Yuniesky Betancourt
Marco Scutaro

As the Mets continue to rebuild, they could find themselves forced to let Reyes leave at the end of the season, as he could be looking for a contract in the neighborhood of the seven-year, $142 million contract that Carl Crawford got this past offseason.

Beyond Reyes, this is actually a fairly deep position as Furcal and Hardy are among the best at their positions, and Wilson is still a very good fielder and a veteran presence. Betancourt, part of the Greinke trade this offseason, is coming off the best season of his career and could be an interesting option.

No. 3: Outfielder

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Carlos Beltran #15 of the New York Mets in action against the Atlanta Braves during their game on September 18, 2010 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Ima

Best Available Free Agent
Carlos Beltran

Best of the Rest
Mike Cameron
JD Drew
Raul Ibanez
Michael Cuddyer
David DeJesus
Ryan Ludwick
Juan Pierre
Cody Ross
Josh Willingham
Jack Cust
Milton Bradley
Johnny Gomes
Carlos Guillen
Juan Rivera
Conor Jackson
Gabe Gross
Jason Kubel

Players with Team Options
Grady Sizemore
Nick Swisher
Bobby Abreu
Jeff Franceour
Nate McLouth

While there is no Jayson Werth or Carl Crawford this season, there are a number of attractive outfield options, although most of them are veterans on the downswing of their career.

Cuddyer could be the sleeper of the class, while playoff hero Ross could also be a difference maker if he can repeat his postseason form. All in all, it is a deep group of outfielders with a number of players capable of joining a new team and making a difference.

No. 2: Closer

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FLUSHING, NY - APRIL 13: Heath Bell #21 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the New York Mets during opening day at Citi Field on April 13, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. This is the first regular season MLB

Best Available Free Agent
Heath Bell

Best of the Rest
Jose Valverde
Jonathan Broxton
Jonathan Papelbon
Matt Capps
Ryan Franklin
Michael Wuertz
George Sherrill
Mike Gonzalez
Todd Coffey

Players with Team Options
Francisco Rodriguez
Francisco Cordero
Brad Lidge
Joe Nathan

This could be the deepest class of free-agent closers ever, as there are 10 legitimate experienced closers on the market, six of which are free agents without a team option. The best of the bunch is Bell, who will more than likely be dealt by the Padres before the season is over.

Beyond him, Valverde is also a top tier stopper, and with the Tigers still looking to win now, he could be re-signed. Papelbon and Broxton are both coming off disappointing seasons, so they could be on the move, as could Rodriguez after he fell out of favor in New York. All in all, a great year to be in the market for a closer.

No. 1: First Base

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JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals swings against the Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Best Potential Free Agent
Albert Pujols

Best of the Rest
Prince Fielder
Adrian Gonzalez
Ross Gload

Players with Team Options
None

Pujols will no doubt be the story of the 2012 free-agent class, but considering chances are he will rejoin the Cardinals, where Fielder ends up could be the most intriguing story of 2012.

While Gonzalez remains a potential free agent at this point, the Red Sox would not have traded away so many of their top prospects to get him unless they were certain they would be able to lock him up for a long-term contract.