2012 MLB Free Agency: Grading Every Team's Most Expensive Signing

With pitchers and catchers starting to report to camp, the offseason has officially wrapped up, and there is no shortage of new faces in each team's spring camp.

This offseason has seen a numbers of blockbuster trades, but also saw two of the biggest stars in the sport sign with new teams in free agency. Beyond those two players, the free-agent class as a whole was a fairly deep one as a number of impact players have moved to new teams.

So here is a look at the most expensive free-agent signing each MLB team has made this season, and my grade for each of those signings.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Player: LF Jason Kubel

Contract: Two Years, $15 Million (Mutual Option for 2014)

2011 Stats: .273/.332/.434, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 37 R, 1.3 WAR

Now 30 years old, Kubel is a couple years removed from the best season of his career in 2009 when he hit .300 BA, 28 HR, 103 RBI, but he has still be a solid run producer of the past two seasons for the Twins.

While he is a nice addition, the signing was a head scratcher of sorts considering the team already had 25-year-old Gerardo Parra in left field, and he was coming off a season in which he hit .292 BA, eight HR, 46 RBI and won a Gold Glove.

Grade: D+

Atlanta Braves

Player: SS Jack Wilson

Contract: One Year, $1 Million

2011 Stats: .243/.274/.285, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 25 R, 0.9 WAR

The Braves have had a fairly quiet offseason, trading Derek Lowe to the Tigers early in the offseason but doing little else in the way of adding to an already deep team.

With Alex Gonzalez departed in free agency, the team will turn starting shortstop duties over to rookie Tyler Pastornicky, and as an insurance policy the team brought back veteran Jack Wilson who was acquired at the deadline last season. He won't produce much, but he didn't cost much either so all in all it's a solid move.

Grade: C

Baltimore Orioles

Player: SP Tsuyoshi Wada

Contract: Two Years, $8.14 Million (2014 Option)

2011 Stats: 16-5, 1.51 ERA, 168 Ks, 184.2 IP (in Japan)

The Orioles have been active on the international market this offseason, signing a pair of Japanese starters to fill a pair of rotation spots. While Wei-Yen Chen is younger and may have more upside, it is Wada who would likely make the most impact right off the bat.

Both pitchers signed for a relatively reasonable price, and the Orioles are a team that are certainly in position to sign low-cost, high-upside players as they look for any way possible to get a leg up in the AL East.

Grade: B

Boston Red Sox

Player: DH David Ortiz

Contract: One Year, $14.575 Million

2011 Stats: .309/.398/.554, 29 HR, 96 RBI, 84 R, 3.8 WAR

It was just three years ago that Ortiz looked to be done as he hit just .238, but he has turned things around over the past two seasons and the Red Sox reached a one-year deal to bring him back for 2012.

The team had internal options to step in as DH, with catcher Ryan Lavarnway among the top candidates, but Oritz is a veteran leader for the team and even at 34 he is more than capable of posting a .300 BA, 30 HR, 100-RBI season hitting in the middle of the Red Sox potent lineup.

Grade: B

Chicago Cubs

Player: RF David DeJesus

Contract: Two Years, $10 Million (2014 Club Option)

2011 Stats: .240/.323/.376, 10 HR, 46 RBI, 60 R, 0.6 WAR

The first move of the Theo Epstein era was signing right fielder David DeJesus to fill the void left by the departed Kosuke Fukudome, and while his stats last year weren't great he is definitely a candidate for a bounce-back year.

In the six seasons prior to last season, he posted a WAR of at least 3.0 and seeing as he is still just 32 he should still have plenty left. He will fill the leadoff spot in the lineup, and be counted on to set the table in a lineup that will need all the help it can get scoring runs.

Grade: B-

Chicago White Sox

Player: OF Kosuke Fukudome

Contract: One Year, $1 Million (2013 Option)

2011 Stats: .262/.342/.370, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 59 R, 2.8 WAR

The White Sox were the last team to make a major league free-agent signing this offseason, as they added some depth to an outfield that will feature a pair of unproven commodities in Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo.

While he failed to live up to the hype that accompanied him joining the Cubs from Japan back in 2008, he has been a solid defensive outfielder and displayed good on-base skills throughout his career with a .361 OBP. He was signed as a backup, but is capable of starting if needed, making him a good deal for just $1 million.

Grade: B+

Cincinnati Reds

Player: RP Ryan Madson

Contract: One Year, $8.5 Million (2013 Mutual Option)

2011 Stats: 62 G, 4-2, 32 Sv, 2.37 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 2.2 WAR

Madson has spent his entire nine seasons in the big leagues pitching for the Phillies, serving primarily as a setup man and emergency closer until last season when he stepped into the closer's role full time.

He pitched well in that role, converting 32-of-34 save opportunities and thanks to that the 31-year-old became one of the top free-agent options on the market. Unable to find a multi-year deal, he signed on with the Reds who lost closer Francisco Cordero in the offseason, and compared to what the Phillies gave Jonathan Papelbon to replace him he was a steal.

Grade: A-

Cleveland Indians

Player: CF Grady Sizemore

Contract: One Year, $5 Million ($4 Million in Incentives)

2011 Stats: .224/.285/.422, 10 HR, 32 RBI, 34 R, 0.5 WAR

Once one of the superstars of the league, and a 30-30 player as recently as 2008, Sizemore has been saddled by injuries the past three seasons, appearing in just 210 games and posting an average line of .234 BA, nine HR, 36 RBI, six SB.

The team declined his $9 million option this winter, but brought him back on an incentive-laden deal that would allow him to earn that $9 million. However, in doing so the team will once again rely on him to produce at the top of the order, as they are still relying on production from him which is a risky proposition.

Grade: C

Colorado Rockies

Player: RF Michael Cuddyer

Contract: Three Years, $31.5 Million

2011 Stats: .284/.346/.459, 20 HR, 70 RBI, 70 R, 3.0 WAR

The Twins lone All-Star representative last season, Cuddyer was among the most sought after free agents on the market this season, not only for his offensive prowess but his defensive versatility.

He can play corner outfield, corner infield and second base but he will be the starting right fielder for the Rockies this coming season. However, the Rockies paid a price to land him and while he is solid over $10 million per season seems a bit steep.

Grade: B-

Detroit Tigers

Player: 1B Prince Fielder

Contract: Nine Years, $214 Million

2011 Stats: .299/.415/.566, 38 HR, 120 RBI, 95 R, 5.2 WAR

When DH Victor Martinez when down with a season-ending injury, the Tigers needed someone to replace his production in the lineup, and they addressed that issue in a major way when they signed Prince Fielder.

Pairing him with Miguel Cabrera in the middle of the order gives the Tigers the best one-two punch in all of baseball. However, the move also shifts Miguel Cabrera to third base, a position he very well may be incapable of playing and with Martinez set to be back next season and still under contract through 2014 you have to wonder if the Fielder signing was a bit overboard.

Grade: B

Houston Astros

Player: C Chris Snyder

Contract: One Year, $1 Million (2013 Mutual Option)

2011 Stats: .271/.376/.396, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 13 R, 0.8 WAR

The Astros are in full-on rebuilding mode at this point, and the next couple seasons will be devoted to acquiring prospects for what remains of their veteran talent and assessing their internal talent to decide who will be a part of their future.

Top catching prospect Jason Castro could miss the start of the season after undergoing foot surgery, leaving veteran backup Humberto Quintero as their only internal catching option. That led to the signing of Snyder who had his $6.75 million option with the Pirates declined. He was is a double-digit home run threat, and should bring a veteran presence to a young Astros team.

Grade: A

Kansas City Royals

Player: SP Bruce Chen

Contract: Two Years, $9 Million

2011 Stats: 25 GS, 12-8, 3.77 ERA, 97 Ks, 155 IP, 2.6 WAR

Chen has been the definition of journeyman during his 13-year big league career, playing for 10 different teams after once ranking as a top prospect with the Braves in the late 1990s.

He seems to have found a home in Kansas City though, winning 12 games in each of the past two seasons and after earning $2 million on a one-year contract last season he earned a raise in 2012 and a multi-year deal. While the Royals still lack a true frontline starter, they do have a solid veteran they can rely on in Chen.

Grade: B+

Los Angeles Angels

Player: Albert Pujols

Contract: 10 Years, $240 Million 

2011 Stats: .299/.366/.541, 37 HR, 99 RBI, 105 R, 5.4 WAR

Pujols is coming off the worst season of his career, a season that by anyone else's standards would have been a career year, and despite that "decline" he was still the most coveted player on the market this offseason.

While the signing makes the Angels an immediate contender in the American League, the team back-loaded his contract so that he will make just $28 million over the first two seasons of the contract, but he will make $40 million at the age of 41 in 2021 to finish out the deal. While the contract will be good now, it could turn into an albatross within four or five seasons.

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Dodgers

Player: SP Aaron Harang

Contract: Two Years, $12 Million (2014 Mutual Option)

2011 Stats: 28 GS, 14-7, 3.64 ERA, 124 Ks, 170.2 IP, 1.9 WAR

While the move of the offseason for the Dodgers was locking up Matt Kemp, who signed an eight-year, $160 million extension, the team also added a handful of solid veterans who should help make them competitive in 2012.

Chief among that group was 34-year-old right-hander Aaron Harang, who enjoyed a bounce-back season with the Padres last year after going a combined 18-38 with a 4.71 ERA in the previous three seasons with the Reds. He will be the team's fourth starter, so the team is not relying on him for much, but he should prove to be a solid addition for the price.

Grade: B

Miami Marlins

Player: SS Jose Reyes

Contract: Six Years, $106 Million (2018 Team Option)

2011 Stats: .337/.384/.493, 7 HR, 44 RBI, 101 R, 39 SB, 5.8 WAR

Set to open a new stadium this coming season, the Marlins have had a busy offseason, trading for a new manager in Ozzie Guillen, dealing for Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano and signing Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell to bolster their staff.

However, their biggest move was the signing of shortstop Jose Reyes who is coming off a season in which he won the NL batting title. That said, he has been injury prone throughout his career and investing $100 million someone like his is risky to say the least. Still the move provides the splash the team was looking to make.

Grade: B

Milwaukee Brewers

Player: 3B Aramis Ramirez

Contract: Three Years, $36 Million (2015 Mutual Option)

2011 Stats: .306/.361/.510, 26 HR, 93 RBI, 80 R, 3.6 WAR

Losing Prince Fielder was a big blow to the Brewers, but in a wide-open NL Central they could still compete thanks to the fact that Ryan Braun has won his suspension appeal and adding Aramis Ramirez to play third base should offset some of the offense lost with Fielder's departure.

Ramirez managed to stay healthy for the first time since 2008 last year and he posted good enough offensive numbers to win the Silver Slugger. Stealing him from the division rival Cubs is also a coup for the team, as it was a relatively low-cost option given what they added.

Grade: A

Minnesota Twins

Player: RF Josh Willingham

Contract: Three Years, $21 Million

2011 Stats: .246/.332/.477, 29 HR, 98 RBI, 69 R, 1.8 WAR

A solid power hitter throughout his career, Willingham had a breakout year of sorts last year as he set career highs for HR and RBI despite playing in pitcher-friendly Oakland and hitting in the middle of a dismal lineup.

He was especially good in the clutch with a .313 batting average with runners in scoring position, and while losing Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer was a blow to the Twins, adding Willingham certainly helps to offset those losses and at $7 million per year he was a relative steal.

Grade: A

New York Mets

Player: RP Frank Francisco

Contract: Two Years, $12 Million

2011 Stats: 54 G, 1-4, 17 Sv, 3.55 ERA, 9.4 K/9, 1.1 WAR

With Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez gone, the Mets will have a new look in 2012 as they move on past their high-priced stars.

Francisco split time at closer for the Blue Jays last season with Jon Rauch, converting 17-of-21 save opportunities, and he represented the best option of second-tier closer on the market. He has been consistent with an ERA under 4.00 in at least 50 appearances in each of the past four seasons.

Grade: B

New York Yankees

Player: SP Hiroki Kuroda

Contract: One Year, $10 Million

2011 Stats: 32 GS, 13-16, 3.07 ERA, 161 Ks, 202 IP

After a season in which the Yankees starting rotation was a constant cause for concern, it looked as though the team would go one without addressing that issue again this offseason after they passed on the likes of C.J. Wilson, Edwin Jackson and Roy Oswalt.

However, in one day the team filled out their rotation in a big way, trading Jesus Montero to the Mariners for Michael Pineda and signing Kuroda. The 37-year-old right-hander has been solid in four seasons in the states even though his 41-46 record does not necessarily reflect it as his career 3.45 ERA should equal a lot of wins with the Yankees.

Grade: B+

Oakland Athletics

Player: CF Yoenis Cespedes

Contract: Four Years, $36 Million

2011 Stats: .333/.424/.667, 33 HR, 99 RBI, 89 R (in Cuba)

Perhaps the most hyped international position player to come to the MLB since Hideki Matsui, Cespedes defected from Cuba this offseason and became available after establishing citizenship in the Dominican Republic.

He set the single-season home run record in Cuba last season and posted ridiculous numbers over 90 games. How well and how quickly he makes the transition to the big league game remains to be seen, but for a perennially rebuilding team like the A's he is more than worth taking a chance on.

Grade: A

Philadelphia Phillies

Player: RP Jonathan Papelbon

Contract: Four Years, $50 Million

2011 Stats: 63 G, 4-1, 31 Sv, 2.94 ERA, 12.2 K/9, 2.0 WAR

With the departure of longtime closer Brad Lidge and 2011 closer Ryan Madson, the Phillies made a splash in signing Papelbon away from the only team he has ever played for in the Red Sox.

While there is no question he is among the top closer in the league, the Phillies seem to have massively overpaid for him considering how much other top closers Heath Bell (three-year, $27 million) and Ryan Madson (one-year, $8.5 million) signed for.

Grade: D

Pittsburgh Pirates

Player: SS Clint Barmes

Contract: Two Years, $10.5 Million

2011 Stats: .244/.312/.386, 12 HR, 39 RBI, 47 R, 2.9 WAR

Barmes has always had above average power for a middle infielder, and last season he posted the best dWAR of his career as a member of the Astros.

Still, it is hard to say he is worth over $5 million per season, but that price speaks to just how tired the Pirates were of watching Ronny Cedeno trot out to shortstop everyday. Barmes should help the Pirates offensively and defensively over the next two seasons but there is little question the team overpaid for him.

Grade: B-

San Diego Padres

Player: 1B/OF Mark Kotsay

Contract: One Year, $1.25 Million

2011 Stats: .270/.329/.373, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 18 R, -0.1 WAR

The Padres pulled off two of the biggest trades of the offseason, sending a pair of pitching prospects to the White Sox for Carlos Quentin and shipping Mat Latos to the Reds for four players who should all contribute this season.

However, they have been quiet on the free-agent market as their only major league signing has been Mark Kotsay who will spend time at first base and in the outfield but is little more than a veteran bat off the bench.

Grade: C-

San Francisco Giants

Player: IF Ryan Theriot

Contract: One Year, $1.25 Million

2011 Stats: .271/.321/.342, 1 HR, 47 RBI, 46 R, 0.0 WAR

Theriot fell out of favor last season in St. Louis thanks to his subpar range and arm at shortstop, as the team dealt for Rafael Furcal, and he was non-tendered by the Cardinals this winter.

The Giants signed him to compete with Brandon Crawford (.204 BA) and Mike Fontenot (.227 BA) for the starting job, but the fact of the matter is that there really is not a good option among that group as shortstop will once again be a hole in San Francisco this coming season.

Grade: D

Seattle Mariners

Player: RP George Sherrill

Contract: One Year, $1.1 Million

2011 Stats: 51 G, 3-1, 0 Sv, 3.00 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 0.7 WAR

While the Mariners were thought to be a major player for Prince Fielder, the team did little on the free-agent market this offseason, although they did address the bullpen.

The team signed Sherrill, Hong-Chih Kuo and Shawn Camp this offseason to fill out their bullpen, with Sherrill earning the biggest contract of the group. A former All-Star closer with the Orioles, he has served more as a lefty specialist over the past few seasons, but could settle into a setup role in Seattle.

Grade: B-

St. Louis Cardinals

Player: RF Carlos Beltran

Contract: Two Years, $26 Million

2011 Stats: .300/.385/.525, 22 HR, 84 RBI, 78 R, 4.4 WAR

Beltran had an up-and-down last seven years after signing a seven-year, $119 million contract with the Mets back in 2005, but he enjoyed a bounce-back season in what was a contract year.

After the Cardinals lost Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman shifted into first base and Beltran was added to help offset the lost production. As with the past several year, health will be the biggest concern surrounding Beltran, but with Allen Craig as insurance and only a two-year deal this was a relatively low-risk move for the Cardinals.

Grade: B+

Tampa Bay Rays

Player: 1B Carlos Pena

Contract: One Year, $7.25 Million

2011 Stats: .225/.357/.462, 28 HR, 80 RBI, 72 R, 2.2 WAR

Last offseason, the Rays had to deal with the losses of Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena to their offense, and as a result they dropped from third to eighth in the American League in scoring.

A year later, Desmond Jennings seems prepared to step in and replace the production of Carl Crawford and the team has brought back Pena. He likely won't hit above .230 again, but he has good pop, gets on base and plays an above average first base.

Grade: B

Texas Rangers

Player: SP Yu Darvish

Contract: Six Year, $60 Million ($51.7 Million Posting Fee)

2011 Stats: 28 GS, 18-6, 1.44 ERA, 276 Ks, 232 IP (in Japan)

Perhaps the most sought after arm on the market his offseason, Darvish cost the Rangers a ton in committed money, but he could very well prove to be worth it and then some.

In five seasons playing for the Nippon Ham Fighters, Darvish has put together a career line of 76-28, 1.72 ERA, 1,083 Ks, 1,024.1 IP, as he has simply dominated. At 25 years old, he is just entering his prime, and for a team like the Rangers with money to spend the risk is well worth the payoff.

Grade: A

Toronto Blue Jays

Player: 2B Kelly Johnson

Contract: One Year, $6.375 Million

2011 Stats: .222/.304/.413, 21 HR, 58 RBI, 75 R, 1.1 WAR

Last season at the trade deadline, the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks swapped second basemen, with Toronto shipping Aaron Hill to Arizona for Kelly Johnson.

The two players are very similar in that they are low-average, high-power second baseman who are average defensively. The pair were the best options on the market at second base, and both returned to the teams they were traded to. The Blue Jays are certainly hoping Johnson returns to his .284 BA, 26 HR, 71 RBI form of 2010.

Grade: B

Washington Nationals

Player: SP Edwin Jackson

Contract: One Year, $11 Million

2011 Stats: 31 GS, 12-9, 3.79 ERA, 148 Ks, 199.2 IP, 3.1 WAR

After playing the market looking for a big money, multi-year deal, Jackson eventually settled on a one-year deal with the Nationals, joining his seventh team in 10 big league seasons.

While Jackson is a solid pitcher, and the additions of him and Gio Gonzalez alongside Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman give the Nationals a great rotation, the team likely won't be a postseason contender this year. If they fall out of the race, Jackson will serve as a solid trade chip so it is a win-win signing .

Grade: B+