MLB Free Agents: 7 Soon-to-Be Free Agents Increasing Their Leverage

Since the beginning of the invention of  free agency, players of all sports have excelled during their "contract year" or the final year of their contract.

Players can increase their value by preforming in the final year of their deal because that is the last thing teams have seen of them.

This is no different in baseball and is no different this season.

There are a lot of players in baseball this year that are having great "contract years" and here is a list of them.

7. Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman had trouble finding anyone to sign with this past Offseason until he finally found a home in St. Louis.

The Cardinals believed in Berkman even though he is 35 years old and most thought his best days were behind him.

Berkman is currently leading the National League in home runs and has been an outstanding pick up for the Cardinals.

Berkman is on a one-year deal so he will be available at the end of this season.

Berkman is old but if he continues to play this way all season he will have zero problem finding somewhere to play next year, but I see him most likely returning to St. Louis.

6. Heath Bell

It's hard to imagine Heath Bell staying with the San Diego Padres and he will most likely be traded during the season to a contending team looking to rent him for half the year.

Bell is leading the league in saves and is easily one of the best closers in baseball.

The Padres will not be able to afford Bell and should trade him by the July deadline. A team trading for him has a chance to sign Bell to an extension but Bell will most likely test the free agent market next Offseason.

Whoever ends up with Bell will have a rock solid Closer that will get a lot of saves and really help out their team.

5. C.C. Sabathia

C.C. Sabathia would be higher on this list if he was going to be a free agent this offseason but he has a player option that he will most likely pick up.

Sabathia has no reason to leave the New York Yankees and won't find more money or more of an opportunity to win in any other place.

Still, Sabathia has the option to leave so it's worth taking a look at.

Sabathia is having a great year and is the MLB wins leader and even though he was snubbed from the All-Star team, he definitely deserves to be on it.

Sabathia would have trouble making as much money as he does now on the open market because of the lucrative contract he currently has and he would be taking a pay-cut if he left.

Sabathia wouldn't need to leave the Yankees to join a contender because the Yankees are always making moves to win Word Series titles and are always in contention.

If wouldn't make sense for Sabathia to leave New York, but there is still a chance. 

4. David Ortiz

David Oritz is the second guy to make this list, who many thought, career was over. 

Ortiz struggled at times the past two years and looked to be very close to the end of his career.

Most of those thoughts are now over and Ortiz is having another great season.

Ortiz won't get a huge, long-term contract this offseason and will get a shorter front loaded deal, probably from the Boston Red Sox.

I don't think David Ortiz can even see himself in any other uniform.

3. Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols will easily be the most intriguing free agent this Offseason and while he hasn't done anything spectacular to increase his leverage or value, he doesn't have to.

While Pujols is going to get a massive contract, maybe the largest of all time, he is going to be worth it.

Pujols is one of the greatest hitters ever and is only 31 years old.

The team that ends up signing Pujols will end up over paying for him at the end of the deal but will be in World Series contention as long as he is there.

Pujols can do that much for a lineup and wherever he ends up next season, that team will be battling for its division title.

2. Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder is having an terrific season and because of that will be getting paid this winter.

Fielder is leading the National League in RBI and is in a battle for first place in home runs.

Fielder is also only 27 years old and could be just entering his prime. 

The Milwaukee Brewers don't have the funds to keep Fielder and it's more than likely he will end up on a different team next season, perhaps with the Chicago Cubs.

Fielder his a great hitter and quality defender and will be a great pickup for whoever signs him.

1. Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes is having the best year of his career and it is coming at the perfect time.

Reyes is leading the National League in batting average and his hitting an amazing .354.

Reyes has had a history of injury problems and will be a risk to whatever team decides to pay him, but it is a risk worth taking if he can play like he is playing.

Reyes is having a classic "contract year" and his numbers will probably dip slightly for the next team he signs with. That said, he will still put up great numbers which reflects on the kind of year he is having.

Reyes is going to cost a lot of money to sign but if he is added to the right team, he could work wonders for a franchise.