The 15 Smartest MLB Free-Agency Signings Ever

With the Detroit Tigers waiting for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants to duke it out for a chance at a World Series title, 27 other teams are already well into their offseason and slowly preparing for 2013.

During every MLB offseason, a team can turn to its farm system or look outside at top talent that may be available.

In this slideshow, I have picked out 15 free-agent signings who significantly helped the team they joined.

Barry Bonds: San Francisco Giants

After the Pittsburgh Pirates declined to retain their two-time MVP Barry Bonds, the San Francisco Giants saw an opportunity and acted on it.

They signed Bonds to a six-year, $43.75 million contract, and he picked up right where he left off. He hit .336 with 46 home runs in his first season with the Giants, earning him MVP honors.

In the 14 years following the 1993 season, Bonds hit 540 more home runs, surpassing Hank Aaron atop the all-time home run list.

Cecil Fielder: Detroit Tigers

After spending four seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Cecil Fielder took a one-year hiatus from MLB and spent a season in Japan.

Upon returning to America, Fielder signed a two-year, $3 million deal with the Detroit Tigers.

In his first season in the Motor City, Fielder hit 51 home runs and followed it up with 44 home runs the following season, coming up second in MVP voting both years.

CC Sabathia: New York Yankees

In just four seasons with the New York Yankees, CC Sabathia has a 74-29 record with a 3.22 ERA.

Striking out nearly nine batters per nine innings while walking just two, he's one of the most dominant pitchers in the game today and clearly the ace of the Yankees staff.

At just 32 years old, Sabathia has plenty of good baseball ahead of him, and despite this year's early exit from the postseason, he will no doubt continue to be a perennial Cy Young contender.

David Ortiz: Boston Red Sox

After non-tendering David Ortiz following the 2002 season, the Minnesota Twins essentially gave up on the slugger that failed to produce up to their expectations.

Signing a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz set out to prove the league wrong.

In his first season with the Red Sox, Ortiz hit 31 home runs and finished fifth in MVP voting. Since then, he's hit over 23 home runs in each season with the team, once hitting over 50.

Goose Gossage: New York Yankees

In his third major league stop, Goose Gossage made a name for himself as he became one of the best relievers to don the pinstripes.

Gossage was a four-time All-Star with the Yankees and a part of the 1978 World Series championship team.

On top of that, he didn't once have an ERA above 2.75 in a season with the Yankees (first stint, between 1978-1983) and saved over 150 games in the process.

Greg Maddux: Atlanta Braves

Coming off a Cy Young season in 1992, Greg Maddux was due a big payday. He got it with the Atlanta Braves when they signed him to a five-year, $28 million deal.

The Braves got the most out of their investment; he won 194 games in 11 seasons, winning three more Cy Young Awards and participating in six All-Star games.

Ichiro Suzuki: Seattle Mariners

With an initial concern of his ability to handle the transition to playing in MLB, it was somewhat of a risk for the Seattle Mariners to sign Ichiro Suzuki to a $27 million deal.

The move went well. He won both MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in his rookie season and has batted over .300 and had 200 hits in every season with the exception of the past two years.

Jack Morris: Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins' worst-to-first turnaround in 1991 certainly wouldn't have been possible without the offseason acquisition of Jack Morris.

Morris won 18 games during the 1991 season, throwing nearly 250 innings and leading the Twins to a matchup with the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

It was then that Morris turned in one of the best pitching performances of all time in Game 7, leading the Twins to victory in extra innings.

Ken Caminiti: San Diego Padres

After spending his first eight major league seasons with the Houston Astros, Ken Caminiti signed with the San Diego Padres prior to the 1995 season.

Some of his best years came with the Padres, as he would win three Gold Gloves, one MVP trophy and make two All-Star appearances during his four-year stay.

His best individual season came during his 1996 MVP campaign, but he also contributed 29 home runs and 82 RBI during the 1998 season, in which the Padres would reach the World Series.

Kirk Gibson: Los Angeles Dodgers

Kirk Gibson's heroics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series were just one part of a remarkable first season with the Dodgers.

His limp-off home run against Dennis Eckersley was the momentum-changer that led to the team knocking off the heavily favored Athletics in five games.

Gibson batted .290 in 1988 with a .377 on-base percentage and a .860 OPS, good for MVP honors.

It proved to be the most productive of his three seasons with the team, as he finished his tenure in Los Angeles with a .264 average and .353 OBP.

Manny Ramirez: Boston Red Sox

Manny Ramirez was an immensely talented offensive player before leaving the Cleveland Indians prior to the 2001 season.

The Boston Red Sox rewarded him with an eight-year, $160 million contract, and he wouldn't disappoint.

He may have had some "unique" tendencies, but his bat did the bulk of the talking, as he batted .312 with 274 home runs and drove in nearly 900 runs for the Sox.

Pete Rose: Philadelphia Phillies

It's hard to consider a four-year contract handed out to a 38-year-old as a blockbuster, but when you're talking about Pete Rose, it's a little different.

Rose Batted .331 in the first year of his contract and showed tremendous durability while playing every game that season. Just a year later, the Phillies would celebrate their first World Series championship.

Randy Johnson: Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks made a relatively bold move in signing Randy Johnson to a four-year, $53 million deal.

The young franchise was clearly in it to win it, as they would acquire Curt Schilling just a year later, proving to be a move that got them over the hump as they went on to win the 2001 World Series.

He won Cy Young Awards in his first four years with the team, winning more than 80 games with an ERA below 2.75 in each season.

Reggie Jackson: New York Yankees

Reggie Jackson had already established himself as a star in the league with the Oakland Athletics, but he was ultimately traded away.

It was prior to the 1977 season that the New York Yankees would add Jackson to the roster, a move that proved to complete their World Series puzzle. He would then be dubbed "Mr. October" thanks to his Game 6 performance in which he went deep three times.

Vladimir Guerrero: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

After eight productive seasons with the Montreal Expos, Vladimir Guerrero signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Anaheim Angels prior to the 2004 season.

The Angels were rewarded with an MVP season from Guerrero in which he led the team to the ALDS thanks to his 39 home runs, 126 RBI and .337 batting average.

Guerrero enjoyed three more All-Star seasons with the Angels before signing with the Texas Rangers in 2010.