MLB Free Agency 2013: 10 Hitters in Contract Years Looking to Cash in

The 2012 season will be underway in just a few weeks, and the players are working hard this spring to be as productive as possible in the upcoming season.

The 2013 free agent class is very strong, and there are many players who can command good money as a free agent.

Several players are looking to post solid years this season to regain some value, while others are looking to enhance their already strong resumes.

There will be a lot of money thrown around next offseason, and a lot of that money could be awarded to these 10 hitters.

Note: Players with available options after the season were not included in this list.

Miguel Montero

Miguel Montero enjoyed his best season in the majors in 2011. In 140 games, he hit .282/.351/.469 with 18 home runs and 86 RBI. 

He's had problems staying healthy in his six-year career, playing over 100 games just twice (2009 and 2011). Montero is a consistent bat when healthy and can provide a nice offensive boost to several clubs in need of a catcher.

Montero can really cash in next offseason if he can prove that he can stay healthy for back-to-back seasons. No team will want to offer him a big-money contract if he injures himself yet again in 2012.

Yadier Molina's recent contract extension could become the parameters of a new deal for Montero, and he'll most definitely use the contract as a model.

Whether he earns that contract or not remains to be seen, but Montero can establish himself as one of the best offensive catchers in the game with another solid season in 2012.

Mike Napoli

Mike Napoli may have only played in 113 games last season, but he enjoyed his best season in the league.

The Texas Rangers catcher hit .320/.414/.631 with 30 home runs and 75 RBI.

In 61 games behind the plate, Napoli threw out 36 percent of potential base stealers.

Napoli can easily cash in next offseason, but he'll need to prove to potential suitors that he can produce consistently from season to season.

His 2010 season left much to be desired. Despite 26 home runs and 68 RBI, Napoli hit .238/.316/.468 with 137 strikeouts.

Another season like that would definitely hurt his value on the open market, while a season similar to last will put Napoli in the same conversation with Montero.

James Loney

James Loney posted consecutive 13 home run, 90 RBI seasons in 2008 and 2009. Since then, though, Loney has seen a drop in his production.

His 2010 season saw him hit .267/.329/.395 with 10 home runs and 88 RBI. In 2011, he hit .288/.339/.416 with 12 home runs and 65 RBI.

For his size, Loney does not hit for the type of power you'd expect. He is a capable run producer, but has more of gap-to-gap power than home run power.

His .994 fielding percentage at first base over the course of his career is very solid, although he's never been formally recognized with a Gold Glove.

Even though Washington's Adam LaRoche has much more power, Loney probably stands to make a similar amount as him if he can produce this season. LaRoche's two-year, $16 million deal could be a fair starting point.

If he makes any more than $10 million a year, the team will have offered too much.

Brandon Phillips

Extension talks between Brandon Phillips and the Reds have been going on for several months. with the belief Phillips would offer the team a hometown discount—he did not.

Phillips wants what other second baseman got, something that most feel he deserves.

Last season, Phillips hit .300/.353/.457 with 18 home runs and 82 RBI. He also stole 14 bases and stroked 38 doubles.

His 2011 salary was just over $11 million, so he actually was the second highest paid second baseman in the league.

Phillips has proved that he can hit consistently over the course of his career, so what he's asking for his far from unfair. If the Reds approached him with a contract situation averaging about $10 annually, he's more than likely to accept.

If they don't, expect Phillips to be out for blood in 2012.

There's a team somewhere that will pay him, he just needs to do his best to attract them.

Delmon Young

Delmon Young had a solid season in 2011 with the Twins and Tigers, but it couldn't even hold a candle to his stellar 2010 season.

In 153 games in 2010, Young launched 21 home runs, drove in 112 runs and posted a line of .298/.333/.493. If he can produce like that in 2012, expect him to be rewarded with a big-money deal.

That's just it, though—finding consistent production from Young has been quite difficult.

Young has posted RBI totals of 60-69 three times in his six-year career, and 90+ RBI twice.

There's no in between.

Young has serious potential and a great skill set but, unfortunately, that's not usually enough to quantify a big contract.

This will be an extremely important season for Young in his career.

Shane Victorino

Shane Victorino is one of the best outfielders in baseball and should be compensated as such.

Unfortunately, the Phillies may have their hands full with the likes of Cole Hamels to offer Victorino the money he deserves.

Victorino is a solid bet for 15 home runs, 60 RBI, a .275 batting average, 25 steals and 10 triples, and there are teams that would kill for that type of production.

His 2012 season will basically be an attempt to maintain his value, as he really doesn't have much to fix up.

Of course, making improvements would only help his case.

Look for several teams to be in the mix if a deal with the Phillies falls through, and don't be surprised if the his average annual salary sits somewhere between $12 million and $15 million. 

B.J. Upton

Being inconsistent is something that B.J. Upton is very good at.

He had a very good season in 2011, but that was the first time Upton produced at a respectable level since 2007.

In 2011, Upton posted a line of .243/.331/.429 with 23 home runs and 81 RBI. He did strike out 161 times, though.

Upton is a five-tool player, but he has yet to put it all together on a consistent basis.

It's very unlikely that the Rays will be resigning Upton after the season, so this season will be an audition season. He may be traded at some point during the season (his trade has been rumored for each of the past two seasons), so it's likely that he'll be shopped so the Rays can get something in return.

If he produces like he did last season, even with the low batting average, Upton could command $8-$10 million in free agency.

Andre Ethier

Andre Ethier posted a down season in 2011, although the numbers weren't really all that bad.

He hit .292/.368/.421 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI. The lack of home run production was a bit surprising, as his previous three home run totals were 20, 31 and 23, respectively.

Ethier has made a name for himself as a very clutch performer, so he may attempt to use that as leverage in contract talks after the season.

The Dodgers already retained one of their strong-hitting outfielders (Matt Kemp), so it's possible that they'll attempt to negotiate a contract with Ethier.

Los Angeles may want him at a reduced price, though.

There will be many teams vying for his services, and the team with the best shot at him will most likely be asking him to replace the next man on this list.

He's a player that could easily command $10-$13 million if he can get his power numbers up back into the 20 range.

Nick Swisher

Nick Swisher has been a steady major league player since his first full season in 2005 with the Oakland Athletics.

Swisher has posted at least 21 home runs and 69 RBI each season since then, while also posting on-base percentages of at least .322.

His postseason struggles have hurt the Yankees, though, and the team may be willing to go another route this offseason (Ethier, for example).

The Braves have already said that Swisher will be their No. 1 priority next offseason, so it's likely that they'll try to woo him by overpaying.

He could probably command close to $14 million annually anyway, but the Braves may offer up to $16 million.

Either way, Swisher will be getting paid this offseason.

Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton will likely be the highest paid free agent bat in 2013.

Ever since returning from off the field issues in 2007 with the Reds, Hamilton has established himself as one of the most feared left-handed bats in the game.

In just five seasons in the league, Hamilton has hit 118 home runs, driven in 425 runs and posted a line of .308/.366/.543.

Hamilton hasn't been completely healthy in the past three seasons, though, so he'll have to prove that he's 100 percent in 2012.

Teams will have to overlook the fact that he relapsed this offseason, but it doesn't look as if that will be a big issue moving forward.

Don't be surprised if Hamilton becomes the next $100 million player, but it's more likely that he'll receive a contract around $80 million or so.