25 MLB Players Most Desperate for Attention

We are more than halfway done with the Major League Baseball season, and even though most of the attention is focused on the upcoming playoff races, some players might be thinking about beyond that.

Once the season is over, numerous free agents are going to hit the market. All of them are going to be looking for that perfect contract that pays them the right amount of money to play for the right team in the right city.

In order to receive that offer, they are going to be playing incredibly hard, trying to receive all the attention that they can for these last few months.

In no particular order, here are the top 25 players who need to finish strong in order to receive the attention that they are going to want this winter.

Nick Swisher

It is hard to imagine any of the New York Yankees needing more attention, but Nick Swisher has quietly put together another solid season for the Bronx Bombers.

Swisher has been a pretty reliable performer throughout his career, but he has been consistently overshadowed by all of the other stars in New York. If he is able to come on really strong and play a big role in the imminent postseason drive, he could be in high demand over the winter.

Shane Victorino

Shane Victorino is having a difficult 2012, but if he comes on strong for the rest of the year, he would easily generate a lot of interest this winter.

When he is playing well, he has exceptional speed, great defense and a pretty decent attack at the plate. If he wants a long-term deal, though, he really needs to rebound with the Los Angeles Dodgers and prove that he can be the same player he has been for the past few years.

Jonathan Broxton

Jonathan Broxton burst onto the scene with the Los Angeles Dodgers and had quite a bit of initial success. However, 2010 and 2011 were not very kind to the big right-hander.

2012 is going much better for Broxton, but he needs to keep playing well in order to prove that he is back for good. Now that he is playing for the Cincinnati Reds, he's in a position to get a lot of attention as they try to hammer down the National League Central.

B.J. Upton

B.J. Upton is one of the most perplexing players in Major League Baseball right now. He has all of the athletic talent in the world and is entering his prime.

However, he has never quite lived up to the potential that we all thought he had. That being said, if he can finish the season on a great run, he could definitely get a nice deal over the winter. People pay for potential, and Upton could easily cash in on that.

Edwin Jackson

Edwin Jackson intentionally signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals last winter to be able to enter the market again this winter.

He has had a great season so far in Washington, so he should have no problem finding a long-term home. However, if he becomes one of the major contributors for the Nationals, his stock would understandably rise immensely.

Delmon Young

Delmon Young is yet another outfielder who had all the scouts amazed throughout his minor league career. We all knew that he would become something great when he lived up to his potential.

Unfortunately, we are still waiting for that to happen, for the most part. He has shown flashes of greatness, but if he is able to really turn that on right now, he will become a much more attractive target when he hits the market.

Russell Martin

Russell Martin has been a decent offensive catcher throughout his career if you don't look at 2012. He is a solid defensive catcher, though, and he does a good job handling the Yankees pitching staff.

However, even with his talents behind the plate, he will not get very much attention at all if his batting average ends up below the Mendoza line. Even though the catcher is not necessarily a huge offensive contributor most of the time, Martin does need to do a little bit more in the remainder of the season.

Bartolo Colon

Bartolo Colon might be getting older, but he is putting up yet another solid season for the Oakland Athletics.

However, like almost every other sport, people want young players. That is why Colon must be desperate for attention. He needs to prove that he still has a lot of innings left in his arm. He has been durable throughout his career, though, so he has that going for him.

Anibal Sanchez

Anibal Sanchez is already going to benefit from being traded to the Detroit Tigers. He's going to be pitching in the middle of a playoff race where he will have a chance to excel.

In particular, Sanchez could use the additional attention because his records have never been pretty. Normally, his ERA is somewhere between three and four, but he has only had double-digit wins twice in his career. A strong finish to the season would show that he can actually win baseball games.

Mike Napoli

Mike Napoli was one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, but you wouldn't know that by his performance so far this season.

Napoli is definitely not a pure catcher, but he can hit 30 home runs, and many teams would appreciate that. However, his paycheck could become much higher if he turns it around this year before he actually hits the market.

Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton has cooled off a little bit since his incredibly hot start, but he is absolutely one of the best outfielders in baseball right now.

However, for the rest of the season, if he wants to maximize his contract offers, he needs to keep producing. He is going to make a lot of money anyway, but adding some heroics en route to helping the Texas Rangers try to hold off their opponents in the American League West would definitely be helpful.

Erik Bedard

Erik Bedard has struggled with durability issues throughout his career, but when he is actually on the mound, he has shown that he has excellent stuff.

Unfortunately, his career win-loss record doesn't really reflect his talent, and that could potentially hurt him. On top of that, 2012 has not been his best season at all. The Pittsburgh Pirates are going to need him down the stretch, so he needs to make an impression and get some attention.

Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro has consistently received a ton of attention throughout his entire career, but now he seems to be in the latter stages of it.

The past two seasons have been difficult for him, and if he is able to prove over the next few months that he can still play at a high level, that would be huge. Who knows where he will end up next season, but a strong finish would give him many more options.

Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke might sign an extension with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but if he doesn't, he could be primed for a huge contract on the open market this winter.

In fact, the former Cy Young winner could be looking at something in the Cole Hamels range with a slight discount because he is right-handed. However, he obviously needs to pitch like an ace the rest of the way to make that happen.

Michael Bourn

Michael Bourn can fly around the bases, and in a free-agent class that is crowded with outfielders, he needs to do something to stand out.

One major positive is that he has hit more home runs already this season than he has in any other complete season of his career. It is definitely a good time for a power surge, and Bourn will surely be looking for anything else he can do to enhance his position on the market.

Kelly Johnson

Second basemen with power are few and far between, and Kelly Johnson is normally one of them. He doesn't hit for a high average, but he has power.

That being said, 2012 has not been kind to Johnson, and he is going to be desperate to get something going on before the end of this year. He is an attractive commodity in a limited market, but he really needs to start turning things around as soon as possible.

Mark Teahen

I feel old when I remember the fact that Mark Teahen was a big prospect for the Kansas City Royals when I bought my first Baseball America Prospect Handbook.

That being said, Teahen has never quite lived up to all the expectations that were placed upon him. He is not a bad player, but a nice surge at the end of the season would definitely help him as he tries to find his way back to the major leagues.

Melky Cabrera

Melky Cabrera seems to be getting better every year, and 2012 has definitely been his best yet. He should be in the running for the MVP at the end of the season.

However, if there are any doubters left, a strong finish to this campaign should give him the attention of any team in baseball and make him that much more attractive as he looks for a long-term deal this coming winter.

Scott Hairston

Scott Hairston is a little bit different than all the other players on this list. He probably won't be looking for a huge deal, but if he continues doing what he does, plenty of teams will be chasing him.

Of course, what he does is dominate left-handed pitchers. His career average is roughly 50 points higher against left-handed pitchers. Even though it sometimes seems unimportant, having a solid bench can help fill many holes, and that will make Hairston a hot commodity if he keeps up his performance.

Torii Hunter

Torii Hunter has been known throughout his career for his dazzling glove in the outfield. However, as he is getting older, people obviously begin to wonder how long he can hold up.

That is why it is particularly important for him to grab some attention right now. He needs to stand out as a solid contributor in the Los Angeles Angels' fight for the American League West. With a strong performance down the stretch, Hunter will easily find a home next season.

Francisco Liriano

Getting traded to the Chicago White Sox should have some positive repercussions for Francisco Liriano. With the White Sox receiving a lot of attention, Liriano will have a chance to gain a piece of the spotlight.

He has shown flashes of brilliance at times during his career, but that has been riddled by injury and ineffectiveness. With a new start in the Windy City right in the middle of his prime, he will no doubt be looking to finish strong and cash in on a big paycheck.

Brandon McCarthy

Despite a brief intermission for an injury, Brandon McCarthy has been excellent for the Oakland Athletics in the season.

His career record is actually below .500, but his career ERA is 3.97. It is kind of interesting how he has been a solid pitcher for quite a while but hadn't been able to get the wins until this year. With a strong finish, he can prove that injuries are behind them and that he is on a path for a lot of wins in the future.

Francisco Rodriguez

Francisco Rodriguez can be brilliant at times, but he is also capable of imploding, and 2012 has definitely been less than ideal.

That being said, if he can pitch well down the stretch and show some of what made him one of the best closers in baseball for a few years, all is definitely not lost. He always had control issues, but perhaps something good can still develop for him and get him the attention that he needs.

Jonathan Sanchez

Jonathan Sanchez has had an interesting year. He was traded for Melky Cabrera over the winter, and since then was traded to the Colorado Rockies for Jeremy Guthrie.

The Colorado Rockies are not known for their great pitching this year, and that might give Sanchez the opportunity to actually do well and stand out somewhat. Of course, given the way he has been pitching so far this year, it would be a massive turnaround.

Andruw Jones

Every time I think Andruw Jones is going to finish playing professional baseball, he always seems to come back.

However, his numbers are sliding back down again, and he definitely isn't getting younger. He could use these last few months for some postseason heroics that would raise his stock. I seem to recall that he has done that before...

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