MLB Free Agency: Top Foreign Stars Who Could Be Next Offseason's Yu Darvish

This past offseason saw two of the most-hyped international prospects of all time make their way to the major leagues where they are already making an impact.

Yu Darvish signed a six-year, $60 million contract with the Texas Rangers after they paid a $51.7 million posting fee for the rights to negotiate with him. He has rewarded them with a 4-1, 2.54 ERA, 44 K, 39 IP start to his big league career.

Yoenis Cespedes signed a four-year, $35 million contract with the Oakland Athletics after establishing citizenship following his defecting from Cuba. He has a .245 BA, five HR, 21 RBI line to this point as the A's top power threat.

While international talent on the level of those two does not come around too often, that does not mean that there won't be plenty of teams scrambling to sign the top names on the international market this offseason. Here is a look at eight guys who could make their way to the states in 2013.

Hiroyuki Nakajima

Age: 29

Position: SS

2011 Stats: .297/.354/.433, 16 HR, 100 RBI, 82 R, 21 SB

Coming off of a down season last year for the most part, Nakajima was posted and the Yankees won the rights to negotiate with him with a $2 million bid.

However, the two sides were unable to reach a deal and Nakajima re-signed with the Seibu Lions on a one-year, $3.64 million contract. He will not need to be posted this coming offseason and can choose to sign with whoever he wants.

With numbers of .310/.381/.479, 91 HR, 440 RBI, 405 R, 90 SB over the past five seasons, he has some offensive ability for a middle infielder. While it is hard to project how much of that will translate to the MLB game he could very well find a starting job with someone next offseason.

Matt Murton

Age: 30

Position: OF

2011 Stats: .311/.339/.423, 13 HR, 60 RBI, 66 R

Once the every day left fielder for the Cubs, Murton struggled to find a big league job following a 2009 season spent mostly in Triple-A for the Rockies.

He signed with the Hanshin Tigers after being released by the Rockies, and in his first season in Japan he set the single-season hits record with 214 in 144 games. He was just the fourth player to top 200, and broke the previous record of 210 held by Ichiro.

Many believed he would use that season as his ticket back to the majors, but he will be back for his third season with the Tigers in 2012. That said, it's likely he'll try to make a comeback at some point and there would undoubtedly be at least a few teams interested in adding him.

Kenta Maeda

Age: 24

Position: RHP

2011 Stats: 10-12, 2.46 ERA, 192 Ks, 216 IP

While he is undersized at just 6'0" and 160 pounds, Maeda has been terrific over the past four seasons for the Hiroshima Carp, displaying terrific command surrendering just 1.9 BB/9.

He won the Sawamura award, Japan's version of the Cy Young, in 2010 when he went 15-8 with a 2.21 ERA, 174 Ks and 215.2 IP. While he does not have the dominant stuff to command Darvish-like posting money he could be a solid back-of-the-rotation starter and garner a deal similar to what Tsuyoshi Wada signed with the Orioles.

Gustavo Cabrera

Age: 16

Position: OF

2011 Stats: N/A

Cabrera was ranked No.1 on MLB.com's list of the top 20 international prospects earlier this spring, and teams will be lining up for a chance to sign him come July when the signing period starts.

He is still incredibly raw, but scouts rave about his tremendous bat speed that should lead to some serious power once he fills out and refines his approach at the plate.

He won the MVP of the RBI World Series, a highly regarded showcase tournament, as he hit .412 with a home run and seven RBI.

Kyuji Fujikawa

Age: 31

Position: RHP

2011 Stats: 56 G, 41 Sv, 1.24 ERA, 80 Ks, 51 IP

The premier closer in Japan, Fujikawa has racked up 178 saves over the past five seasons with a 1.37 ERA and 12.6 K/9 as he has been absolutely dominant.

His fastball sits in the mid-90s and can reach 97, but it has great late movement in the zone allowing him to throw it by hitters on a regular basis. 

He could have an impact similar to that of Kazuhiro Sasaki, who signed with the Mariners as a 31-year-old back in 2000 and saved 37, 45 and 37 games over three terrific seasons as the team's closer before returning to Japan.

Jorge Soler

Age: 20

Position: OF

2011 Stats: N/A

Soler was mentioned alongside Yoenis Cespedes much of the offseason, and at one point it looked as though he had agreed on a $27.5 million deal to join the Chicago Cubs, but at this point he has yet to be ruled a free agent.

Still incredibly raw, some believe he could hit for more power than Cespedes once he develops, but he will undoubtedly require some minor league time before he makes his way to the majors.

At this point, Soler is among the biggest mysteries in baseball and signing him comes with some risk, especially at the price rumored to be thrown out by the Cubs. Still, if he can fulfill his vast five-tool potential it would be well worth it.

Suk-Min Yoon

Age: 25

Position: RHP

2011 Stats: 17-5, 2.45 ERA, 178 Ks, 172.1 IP

Many expected Yoon to be posted this past season, as he hired Scott Boras as his agent and seemed to have everything in place to join a big league team for 2012.

Instead, he returned to the Kia Tigers and he will not need a posting fee next season as he will simply be a free agent.

With a fastball that tops out at 93 and a good slider and changeup he has the stuff to succeed in the MLB. He was impressive in the World Baseball Classic (4 G, 2-0, 1.13 ERA, 13 Ks, 16 IP) playing against top talent.

Masahiro Tanaka

Age: 23

Position: RHP

2011 Stats: 19-5, 1.27 ERA, 241 Ks, 226.1 IP

The winner of the Sawamura award last season, Japan's version of the Cy Young, Tanaka actually had more wins and a better ERA than Yu Darvish last season while pitching the most complete games (14) the league had seen since 2005.

Still just 23, he already has five years of pro ball under his belt pitching for the Rakuten Golden Eagles and holds a 65-31, 2.61 ERA, 886 Ks, 930 IP career line.

He is the closest thing to Darvish the international market currently has to offer, and while there is no guarantee as to when or even if he will be posted, it would likely result in a big payday.