2013 MLB Free Agency: Ranking Suitors for Top Hitters Set to Hit the Market

The recent MLB trade deadline saw a very few free-agent-to-be hitters on the move, as many of the top upcoming free agents play for contending teams and a number of teams were primarily interested in players under team control beyond this year.

Shane Victorino and Ichiro Suzuki were the only big-name hitters set to hit free agency who were traded in July.

Several player who would have ranked among the top hitters on the market this winter have signed extensions, as Miguel Montero, Yadier Molina, Andre Ethier, Carlos Quentin and Edwin Encarnacion all re-upped with their current teams.

There also are a few veterans who will more than likely re-sign with their current teams, such as David Ortiz, Lance Berkman and A.J. Pierzynski.

However, there are still a number of high-profile bats set to test the waters this winter. Here is a look at the top five hitters who will hit the market and the three teams most likely to sign each of them.

Mike Napoli

Acquired from the Blue Jays prior to last season, Napoli made an already potent Rangers lineup even better with a .320 BA, 30 HR and 75 RBI during the regular season, plus he had a fantastic postseason to boot.

Always a streaky hitter, though, Napoli has struggled to get things going this season and is hitting just .232, with 17 HR and 40 RBI.

Napoli has indicated that he prefers to catch over playing first base, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, and that will no doubt factor into his decision on where to sign this offseason.

The recent contract of Victor Martinez (four years, $52 million), Miguel Montero (five years, $60 million) and Yadier Molina (five years, $75 million) show just how valuable quality catching has become.

Top Three Offseason Suitors

1. Texas Rangers

The Rangers will try their best to bring him back, and Napoli has indicated (via Jon Heyman) that he would like to stay in Texas. However, priority No. 1 for the Rangers is Josh Hamilton, and Napoli could be on his way out as a result.

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees likely will let Russell Martin and his .192 batting average walk in the offseason, and while they have some solid catching prospects, none profile as being ready to take over the big league job next season.

If they can convince Napoli to sign onto a three-year deal as opposed to the five or six years he is seeking, it'd be a no-brainer move for the Yankees.

3. Tampa Bay Rays

After a season of Jose Molina (.187 BA) and Jose Lobaton (.233 BA) behind the plate, the Rays will no doubt be looking to upgrade. They do have 27-year-old Stephen Vogt in Triple-A hitting well, but catcher is not even his natural position.

It'd be a big-money signing as far as the Rays are concerned, but Napoli would give the team a much-needed offensive boost.

Nick Swisher

Since being acquired prior to the 2009 season, Swisher has been a reliable producer for the Yankees. He has averaged 27 HR and 85 RBI over the past three seasons, and is well on his way to similar numbers this year.

That said, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, there is zero chance the Yankees bring him back if they are serious about cutting this coming offseason.

Swisher earns $10.25 million this season and the five-year, $85 million extension signed by Andre Ethier could be a jumping-off point in Swisher negotiations, according to Chad Jennings of The LoHud Yankees Blog.

If the Yankees can get him back on something like a three-year, $30 million contract, they likely will. However, anything beyond that, and Swisher is probably headed elsewhere.

Top Three Offseason Suitors

1. Atlanta Braves

Back in February, Jim Bowden of ESPN reported that the Braves will make Nick Swisher their No. 1 target this offseason. With Chipper Jones retiring, the team could slide Martin Prado in to play third base and have Swisher play left field. 

2. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds signed Ryan Ludwick to play left field this past season, and while his .260 BA, 16 HR and 57 RBI line has been a steal for $2.5 million, they could still opt to decline his $5 million option for next season to pursue a longer-term option such as Swisher.

3. Baltimore Orioles

Swisher would make a great veteran leader on a young, up-and-coming Orioles team. Left field has been a revolving door for the as team of late, and while Nolan Reimold looked good early in the season, he was sidelined following neck surgery and has been prone to injury.

Michael Bourn

Bourn has emerged as one of the game's premier leadoff hitters the past few seasons, and his 3.9 WAR so far in 2012 ranks 10th among position players in the National League.

On top of his terrific speed and solid average, Bourn is a Gold Glove defender, and at 29 years old, he is in the prime of his career.

Bourn earns $6.845 million this year in his final season of arbitration, and Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution put his likely asking price at 5-6 years and $15 million per season.

Top Three Offseason Suitors

1. Atlanta Braves

After giving up four players to acquire him from the Astros at the deadline in 2011, the Braves will try to retain their speedy leadoff hitter.

With the team already looking to upgrade left field in anticipation of Martin Prado shifting to third base, they won't want to lose Bourn as well.

2. Washington Nationals

The Nationals have been in search of a long-term answer in center field for some time now, and Bourn would certainly fit the bill.

Signing him would crowd things a bit, as Michael Morse, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper are already in the fold. The team could decline their $10 million option on Adam LaRoche and shift Morse to first, or pick up that option and look to deal LaRoche, who is having a solid year. 

3. San Francisco Giants

While re-signing Melky Cabrera will likely be the first order of business, and the team recently acquired Hunter Pence (who is under team control through 2013), the Giants still could have interest in Bourn to round out their outfield.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com named the Giants as a potential suitor in early July, pointing to the importance of having a plus defensive center field patrol the spacious center field at AT&T Park.

Melky Cabrera

After enjoying a breakout year in 2011, the Royals attempted to sell high on Melky Cabrera and shipped him to the Giants for left-hander Jonathan Sanchez.

Sanchez has been nothing short of horrible and has since been traded again to the Rockies.

Cabrera, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the best hitters in all of baseball this season. He's hitting .352, with 11 HR, 56 RBI and 11 SB. He leads the NL with 74 runs and leads all of baseball with 147 hits.

Cabrera earns $6 million this season in what was his final year of arbitration eligibility, and the 27-year-old is no doubt headed for a monster payday this winter.

Top Three Offseason Suitors

1. San Francisco Giants

The Giants will no doubt try their best to re-sign Cabrera, and according to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea, the team has the payroll flexibility to re-sign both Cabrera and recent acquisition Hunter Pence.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers acquired Shane Victorino at the deadline, but they likely will let him walk in free agency and make a run at a younger, higher-impact bat to play left field alongside Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

Cabrera will be the top option, and while pitching is expected to be the Dodgers' main focus, they'll likely go after Cabrera as well.

3. Boston Red Sox

With the departure of Dice-K, Kevin Youkilis and Bobby Jenks, the Red Sox will have nearly $30 million freed up on their payroll. The team needs pitching, but there also is a hole of sorts in right field, and they will undoubtedly at least explore the option of signing Cabrera to play there.

Josh Hamilton

Without question, Josh Hamilton is the biggest name of the 2013 free-agent class, especially now that Matt Cain and Cole Hamels have both signed massive extensions to stay with their current teams.

When he is healthy and productive, Hamilton is in the conversation as the best hitter in baseball. However, he is a near-lock to miss 30-or-so game per season, and he is mired in the worst slump of his career right now.

That will be reason enough for teams to think twice before offering him up a $100 million contract, but in the end, someone will be willing to pay his hefty price tag.

Top Three Offseason Suitors

1. Texas Rangers

Hamilton has made a name for himself with the Rangers, and if he is truly looking for the best fit and not simply the biggest payday, expect him to stay put and play out his career with the Rangers.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Much like the deadline when they seemingly were linked to everyone on the market, the Dodgers will pursue anyone they think can improve their club this winter.

Expected to be the top suitor for Cole Hamels, the Dodgers could turn their attention to Hamilton as their top priority.

3. Chicago Cubs

After opting against making a serious push for Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols last offseason, on the surface it seems unlikely that the Cubs would make a play for Hamilton. However, building a team from within has become harder under the new CBA, as Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com pointed out in an article breaking down Hamilton's potential landing spots.  

Adding Hamilton would be the most hyped move of the offseason for the Cubs, and while it undoubtedly comes with some risk, the reward is just as big since it could mean a quick return to contention for the North Siders.