MLB Free Agency 2011: Top 5 Potential Free Agents over 30

The 2011 MLB free agency period is going to offer up a hefty amount of old timers. Baseball players can play well into their 30s and picking up a seasoned superstar could be just enough to send some teams into the playoffs, and beyond.

Some teams are a player or two away from doing something special. A short term solution to fill a glaring hole could come available once free agency hits. Here are the top five free agents over 30.

Carlos Pena, 1B

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 04: Carlos Pena #22 of the Chicago Cubs hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Cubs defeated the Dodgers 5-1. (Photo by Jeff Gross/G

Carlos Pena will be 33 when 2011 kicks off. He's not the type of batter who is going to have a stellar on base percentage or bat .300.

He does provide some power in the lineup, however. Whatever team picks him up can rely on him to go yard around 40 times a year. Pena gives a big bat to a team in need of a first baseman. First basemen are going to be in heavy demand and short supply. Pena is the best of the bunch.

Albert Pujols, 1B

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ATLANTA, GA - MAY 01: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks back at the homeplate umpire after striking out against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on May 1, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Albert Pujols is far and away the biggest name amongst all potential free agents, not just those over 30. He is a living legend and arguably the best player in the game.

It is unclear what teams have first base needs that are going to be willing to open up their wallets and pay an arm and a leg for Pujols. The nine time All-Star isn't going to have a shortage of suitors, but he may not be on the move at all.

C.C. Sabathia, LHP

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BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 23: Pitcher CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees delivers to a Baltimore Orioles batter at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 23, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

C.C. Sabathia is locked in pin stripes for the next five years. That is, unless he elects to opt out of the contract. The monster contract he signed gives him the option of remaining a Yankee or exploring the market after the end of this season.

Why would he leave? He has a chance to compete for a World Series, be a Yankee and make an obscene amount of money. I can't see him moving on, but if he does, he's going to be in a similar boat as Pujols. The majority of MLB clubs simply can't afford to sign him.

Carlos Beltran, RF

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 03: Carlos Beltran #15 of the New York Mets homers on a line drive to right field in the bottom of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on May 3, 2011 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New

The Mets could have a lot of new faces next season with the uncertainty surrounding Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Francisco Rodriguez, to name a few.

Beltran is well into his 30s, and it's starting to show. He has been bogged down by injuries the past couple of season and whatever team picks him up is going to need to limit his role defensively. It's a shame, given his impressive Gold Glove-laden career, but his services will likely be limited to what he can do in the batter's box.

Roy Oswalt, RHP

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PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 26: Starting pitcher Roy Oswalt #44 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the Major League Baseball game at Chase Field on April 26, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Philli

The only way the Phillies don't bring back Roy Oswalt is if they get in some sort of serious financial bind. If Oswalt decides to explore his options, he may be the one to opt out of the long term deal, but it doesn't look like he would be able to find a better situation.

Even so, if Oswalt ends up slipping out of Philadelphia, teams are going to be heavily interested in bringing him in. He's going to be 34 when the season hits, but Oswalt is still a dominant pitcher. The monster bullpen in Philly would be exponentially worse without Oswalt.