Predicting the 40 Best-Selling MLB Jerseys for 2012

When it comes to sports memorabilia sales, what type of market a player calls home plays into how many jerseys he sells at least as much as how good of a player he is.

In other words, players suiting up for the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies—among others—are always going to sell more jerseys than someone playing for the Athletics or Padres.

So here is a look at what I feel will be the 40 best selling MLB jerseys of the upcoming season. For a look at how the top 20 shook out last year, click here.

Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

Gonzalez earned himself a massive seven-year, $80 million extension after a breakout season in 2010, when he hit .336 BA, 34 HR, 117 RBI in his first full season as a starter.

His numbers dropped a bit last season as he was plagued by nagging injuries, but he is back to top form this year with a .323 BA, 16 HR, 48 RBI line thus far. The Rockies have struggled, but Gonzalez continues to emerge as one of the biggest producers in the game.

Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants

Cain inked a six-year, $127.5 million extension this winter that will keep him in San Francisco through 2017, and the 27-year-old is already in his eighth season with the team.

That guarantee that he'll be sticking around, coupled with the struggles of teammate Tim Lincecum, should mean a spike in jersey sales for Cain, who is off to a great start with a 7-2 record and 2.41 ERA.

Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks

In his sixth big league season, Justin Upton is still only 24 years old and is coming off his best season as a pro last year, when he hit .289 BA, 31 HR, 88 HR, 21 SB and helped lead the Diamondbacks to a division title.

His numbers are down a bit to start this season, but he should turn things around before too long. He remains the face of an up-and-coming franchise and is signed with through 2015. 

Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

Held back by a struggling team and a small market, Hernandez should nonetheless sell plenty of jerseys as he is undoubtedly one of the best young pitchers in baseball and an exciting player to watch.

Still only 26 years old, Hernandez is already in his eighth big league season, and with the Mariners slowly building one of the better farm systems in all of baseball, they could be contending before too long.

Either way, Hernandez will sell jerseys now and moving forward.

Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles

Signed to a seven-year, $91.65 million extension last month, there is no question that Jones has emerged as the face of the franchise for an up-and-coming Orioles team.

Jones has gotten better each season since coming over from the Mariners prior to the 2008 season, and he has taken the next step toward being a superstar with a .310 BA, 18 HR, 39 RBI, 9 SB line so far this season.

The upstart Orioles are the talk of the league, so his jersey sales should take off.

Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals

Generally, fans look to buy a jersey that they can wear for years to come of a player who will likely be on the team moving forward.

That is likely not the case with Beltran, who was signed to a two-year deal this offseason and is nearing the end of his career. However, he has hit .289 BA, 18 HR, 46 RBI and currently leads the NL in home runs, and the Cardinals fan base could get behind him with some major jersey sales.

Hunter Pence, Philadelphia Phillies

Acquired from the Astros at the deadline last year, Pence came to the Phillies and brought a good deal of excitement with him, as his jerseys flew off the shelves down the stretch.

In the end, he finished ranked No. 9 in total jerseys sold between his time with the Astros and Phillies. With Philadelphia struggling this season, he likely won't finish that high again, but as the team's top slugger right now, he should still rank fairly high.

Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs

With the Cubs in the midst of a wide-scale rebuild, a large percentage of their current roster will be playing elsewhere when next season rolls around. That makes buying any Cubs player's jersey a risky proposition.

Shortstop Starlin Castro is one player likely sticking around, and he's already the face of the franchise at 22 years old. The Cubs play in as big a market as anyone, and Castro should be the most frequently sold jersey for them.

Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

He's given up some of the spotlight in Detroit with the arrival of Prince Fielder, but Miguel Cabrera remains one of the best overall hitters in all of baseball.

Coming off of a batting title last season, he's hitting .316 BA, 13 HR, 51 RBI, and is a perennial Triple Crown threat. His jersey sales will no doubt take a hit with the addition of Fielder, but he will still likely sell enough to be in the top 50.

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

If it weren't for Bryce Harper, the ridiculous numbers that Mike Trout is putting up for the Angels would get even more publicity than they already are.

The 20-year-old is hitting .345 BA, 6 HR, 26 RBI and has an AL-high 15 stolen bases, as his call-up and the Angels turning around their season went hand in hand. Pujols is the big name, but Trout is the jersey to own if you're an Angels fan.

Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

After leading the American League in home runs back-to-back seasons, and given his late-blooming back story, it is easy to understand why Jose Bautista is a fan favorite.

He was the leading vote getter for the All-Star game last season, so he has plenty of fans outside of Toronto. Whether or not those fans want a Blue Jays jersey remains to be seen, but he should be able to crack the top 50 on the strength of a competitive Blue Jays team and the league-wide appeal of being a slugger.

Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

If he played in a larger market, Tulowitzki may rank as the biggest superstar in the game given his overall skill set, consistent production and marketable personality.

Instead, he has to settle for being baseball's best all-around shortstop, and while a groin injury has him on the shelf right now, he is known for strong second-half performances.

Either way, his jersey is among the most popular of any small market player.

David Freese, St. Louis Cardinals

The surprise member of baseball's top 20 highest jersey sellers list last season, when he came in at No. 20, Freese likely sold a good deal of those during the postseason and on into the winter after his playoff heroics.

He's been solid again this season, with a .271 BA, 12 HR, 40 RBI line so far, as he has managed to stay relatively healthy for the first time in his short career. With Albert Pujols gone, Freese's jersey may very well wind up being the most popular among what is a large Cardinals fan base.

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

The Reds locked up star first baseman Joey Votto this offseason with a 10-year, $225 million extension, as he is now set up to play his entire career with the Reds.

That makes his jersey as safe a one to buy for fans as there is in all of baseball, and with the Reds in a position to contend now and moving forward, his jersey should continue to move up this list.

Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies

Ranked No. 5 in jerseys sold last season, Halladay is currently shelved with a strained right lat and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks as a result.

Even with that, he is among the most well-liked and respected players in the entire league, and he sells plenty of jerseys outside of Philadelphia as a result.

The injury will hurt his final season total, but he'll still sell a good amount.

C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees

The Yankees starting rotation has been a major question mark the past two seasons, but the one constant has been C.C. Sabathia anchoring the staff. 

The definition of an ace and a workhorse, Sabathia has won at least 19 games and pitched at least 230 innings in each of his three seasons with the Yankees. He's off to an 8-3 start again this season and will be in New York through 2016, so there's no reason not to go buy his jersey if you're a Yankees fan.

Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

The face of the Rays franchise, Longoria has been sidelined with injuries this season, but nonetheless is the most identifiable player on the team for Rays fans and outside observers alike.

Playing in a small market hurts his jersey sales, or he would be higher on this list, but seeing as he is a 26-year-old superstar with plenty of endorsement-related exposure, he should sell plenty of jerseys outside of the Tampa area as well and make his way onto this list.

Jose Reyes, Miami Marlins

While I personally would prefer a Giancarlo Stanton jersey, the Marlins' big-ticket offseason signing was Jose Reyes. He will likely lead the team in jerseys sold, as the excitement surrounding his addition was huge.

He got off to a rough start, but has turned things around of late and is now hitting .278 with 16 stolen bases. The new Marlins have a completely new-look jersey this season, so they should sell plenty of jerseys because of that alone.

Expect Reyes to crack the list because of that.

Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

After ranking in the top 20 in jersey sales in 2010, Strasburg fell out of the top 20 last season, when he missed almost the entire year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

Strasburg is as exciting as any pitcher in the league, and with the Nationals playing terrific baseball, the 23-year-old will have as popular a jersey as any pitcher in the game.

In 12 starts so far, he's 7-1 with a 2.41 ERA and 11.7 K/9.

David Wright, New York Mets

After a rough season last year in which Wright hit .254 BA, 14 HR, 61 RBI, it was up in the air as to whether the Mets would re-sign the third baseman, who is a free agent at season's end.

He's stepped his game up in a contract year, however, as he is hitting .352 BA, 8 HR, 34 RBI on the season. That has led the Mets to lean toward doing what it takes to re-sign Wright at season's end, and with that probability he's coming back Mets fans likely won't hesitate to keep buying up his jerseys.

Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox

Acquired from the Padres prior to last season and signed to a seven-year, $154 million contract that will keep him in Boston through 2018, Gonzalez ranked No. 14 in jersey sales last season.

He's off to a slow start this year, with a .260 BA, 5 HR, 33 RBI line, but given his track record and the fact that he will be with the team for the foreseeable future, his jersey should remain a fairly hot buy.

Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees

Granderson started his Yankees career with a thud in 2010, hitting .247 BA, 24 HR, 67 RBI, as he immediately made fans wonder if they gave up too much to get him.

Those worries were decisively put to rest last season, though, as he tapped into some previously unseen level of power and hit .262 BA, 41 HR, 119 RBI. He's off to another strong start this year and should continue to move up the Yankee jersey totem pole, considering A-Rod and Mariano Rivera aren't likely to crack the list this year.

R.A. Dickey, New York Mets

A cult-hero of sorts among Mets fans before the season started, Dickey has been a truly impressive story, as he came out of no where to go 11-9 with a 2.84 ERA in 2010 as a 35-year-old.

That alone likely would have been enough for him to crack the list, but with the way he has started the season his jersey sales have no doubt shot up over the past few months. In 12 starts, he has gone 9-1 with a 2.44 ERA and what is by-far a career-high 8.7 K/9.

David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Even at 36 years old, "Big Papi" continues to be an offensive force for the Red Sox, as he has put together a line of .301 BA, 14 HR, 38 RBI so far this season.

Add to that the fact that he will go down as a legend in Red Sox history for his clutch play during the Red Sox's two World Series runs, and his jersey should continue to be a big seller.

Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

Posey burst onto the scene in 2010 to help lead a scuffling Giants offense to a World Series title, but he was unable to build off of that success when he broke his leg in a home plate collision in 2011.

He's bounced back from that injury nicely this season, with a .291 BA, 7 HR, 33 RBI line. The Giants fan base remains enamored with the slugging catcher, as his jersey should continue to be the team's hottest after ranking No. 10 overall last season.

Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers

The positive-PED test and subsequent over-turning of results that Braun endured this offseason was a hit to his reputation, and he has been booed in visiting parks throughout the season as a result.

At the same time, he currently ranks third in All-Star voting among NL outfielders, so clearly fans are still willing to recognize what he is doing on the field. Still, he won't see as many jerseys as last season when he ranked No. 8 overall.

Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers

Playing for the most dynamic offense in all of baseball, Kinsler brings a bit of everything to the plate, as he has gone 30-30 in two of the past three seasons.

He ranked No. 16 in jerseys sold last season, and while he is not quite a superstar, he is a fan favorite and should continue to sell a ton of jerseys playing for the odds on AL favorites.

Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies

Lee was the runner-up to Derek Jeter in jerseys sold last season, as he rejoined the Phillies in free agency, and fans scooped up his jerseys as a result.

So far this season, he has missed some time with injury and has yet to win a game despite a 3.18 ERA through 10 starts, as the Phillies have struggled as a whole. Still, he's a fan favorite pitching in a major market, so he shouldn't drop too far down the list.

Also, Roy Halladay's injury makes his jersey more appealing for a Phillies fan looking to rep a pitcher.

Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers

Nothing sells jerseys like a superstar player signing with a new team, and that is exactly what Fielder did this winter when he left Milwaukee for Detroit.

He's quietly having a good season with a .315 BA, 10 HR, 40 RBI line, but the Tigers have been a massive disappointment so far this year. Still, on the strength of the excitement his signing caused he's already sold plenty of jerseys.

Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

A fan-favorite since breaking into the league, Pedroia has endeared himself to the Boston faithful for his scrappy play and impressive offensive numbers in spite of his small stature.

Last season he ranked No. 7 on the list of top selling jerseys, and he should remain around the top 10 as one of the most well-liked players in a city that loves its baseball.

Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers

The Rangers ponied up over $100 million total to add Darvish this offseason, and along with that huge price tag comes big-time excitement and big-time expectations.

So far, he has lived up to the hype with a 7-4 record and 3.72 ERA, and given the consistent recent success of the Rangers and the fact that fans always love the new guy, Darvish jerseys should be everywhere this summer.

Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

Cano has established himself as the best overall second baseman in all of baseball, and he is in for a massive payday when his contract is up after the 2013 season.

It's hard to imagine the Yankees not ponying up whatever money it takes for them to keep him, but the remote chance remains he could play elsewhere. Regardless, that won't keep his jersey from ranking among the top 15 or so.

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

In the Dodgers rotation as a 20-year-old, Kershaw took home the NL Cy Young last season at the age of 23, when he won the Triple Crown thanks to a 21-5, 2.28 ERA, 248 K line.

The left-hander has some of the best stuff in all of baseball, and is the ace of a Dodgers team that is playing great right now. With new ownership in place, expect the Dodgers to do what it takes to lock up Kershaw long-term, as he likely won't be going anywhere soon.

That makes his jersey a good one to own for Dodgers fans.

Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins

The Twins are one of the worst teams in baseball this year, and while Mauer is finally healthy and putting up decent numbers (.305 BA, 3 HR, 29 RBI), he is by no means tearing it up.

That said, he finished No. 12 last year in most jersey's sold despite playing in just 82 games. The Twins always sell jerseys, and with Mauer back and healthy, he should have no problem cracking the top 20 at least.

Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

Verlander was without question the best pitcher in all of baseball last season, and he was rewarded with both the AL Cy Young and AL MVP awards, while ranking No. 13 in total jersey sales.

Given the excitement surrounding the Tigers heading into this season, and the fact that Verlander is once again among the best pitchers in the league and should remain at that level for the next several seasons, it should be enough for him to climb into the top 10.

Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

Matt Kemp was off to a phenomenal start that looked destined to result in a serious run at the Triple Crown before he hit the disabled list.

While that will hurt his end-of-the-year numbers, it won't hurt his standing as one of the baseball's most exciting players. Add in the fact that the Dodgers are playing great right now, and Kemp should have no trouble going from outside of the top 20 to the top 10.

Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

There may be no more hyped prospect in the history of baseball than Bryce Harper, and while many believed he would be up at some point this season, few could have guessed the impact he could make in the first half for a contending Nationals team.

In 150 at bats so far, the 19-year-old has hit .307 BA, 7 HR, 19 RBI and he helped carry the offense when Ryan Zimmerman was on the disabled list. His jersey will top this list before too long, but for now top five isn't out of the realm of possibility.

Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels

As with Prince Fielder, Pujols is an example of a superstar player who switched teams, so his jersey sales will no doubt spike this season thanks to the buzz that accompanied his signing.

He finished third in jerseys sold last year, and now that he finally looks like Albert Pujols at the plate again, he should have no problem selling a ton of jerseys. If the Angels can make a playoff run, he could make a push for the top spot on this list.

Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

Ranked fourth in jerseys sold last season, Hamilton is having a phenomenal season, as he has compiled a line of .335 BA, 22 HR, 62 RBI. Those numbers currently rank third, first and first, respectively.

While he will likely test the free agent market at the end of this season and could potentially play elsewhere, that shouldn't be enough to keep his jersey sales from ranking in the top five at least.

Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

The highest-selling jersey in all of baseball last season, Jeter is a living legend playing for one of the biggest markets not only in baseball, but in all of sports.

For a baseball fan, there may be no safer jersey purchase than Jeter, as he is going to finish his career as a Yankee and go down in history as one of the best ever at his position. That means his jersey will always be relevant, be it for a Yankees fan or otherwise.

Expect it to take the top spot again this season.