One MLB Player Each Team MUST Re-Sign This Winter

This coming offseason a number of MLB teams will see some of their best players become free agents. These players have made large contributions to their teams over the years, and it would seem to be foolish for them not to re-sign these players.

Re-signing these players certainly will not be an easy task. A number of teams will try to make a run at many of these players, and there will be some big offers out there for players such as Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.

However, these players are integral parts of their teams, and some are even important to the whole city. Re-signing them will be high on executives' lists this offseason.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Willie Bloomquist

Willie Bloomquist may not be the most exciting player on the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he certainly has an important role on the team. Bloomquist is an outstanding utility man, a quality that is occasionally overlooked by teams.

There is a mutual option in Bloomquist's deal, and having him return certainly makes sense for both parties. If he decides to turn down his side of the option, then the Diamondbacks should look to bring him back on a new deal.

Atlanta Braves: Alex Gonzalez

Alex Gonzalez has had a bit of a down year with the bat this season.

However, he has picked things up defensively and actually has a 1.1 dWAR this season, the best total of his career.

If the Braves could bring Gonzalez back on a one or two-year deal, it would be a smart move. This would give their prospects some additional time to develop and also give them a starting shortstop for the coming future.

Baltimore Orioles: None

The reason there is no player the Baltimore Orioles must re-sign after this season is because they have already taken care of it; they extended J.J. Hardy during the middle of this season.

Hardy will be an important piece of the Orioles' middle infield and batting order during the coming years. He will be a stable bat in a lineup that should feature many young players.

Boston Red Sox: David Ortiz

After the 2008 and 2009 seasons people wondered if David Ortiz was done.

He has answered that question fairly strongly during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

The Boston Red Sox need to bring back David Ortiz and his massive bat. Ortiz has been a huge part of the Red Sox lineup, and there is no reason why he should not continue to be after the year.

Chicago Cubs: Reed Johnson

The other possible option here could have been Aramis Ramirez, but given his potential price tag if the Chicago Cubs decline his option, Chicago will get more bang for their buck with Reed Johnson.

Johnson does a great job as a fourth outfielder, and he could conceivably take on a starting role if he was given a chance.

Chicago White Sox: Mark Buehrle

Mark Buehrle has been a member of the Chicago White Sox his whole career, and there is no reason why that should change when he becomes a free agent following the 2011 season.

Buehrle has been an important part of the Chicago White Sox rotation, and the team would be stuck searching for another starter if he were to leave.

Buehrle also should have a few more strong seasons left in him.

Cincinnati Reds: Brandon Phillips

The Cincinnati Reds have a $12 million option on Brandon Phillips. The team should accept this option and bring Phillips back for the 2012 season.

Phillips is one of the best second basemen in the majors and is a key piece of the Reds' lineup. His power and speed would be difficult to replace.

Cleveland Indians: Grady Sizemore

The Cleveland Indians will likely decline their option on Grady Sizemore after the season ends.

However, that does not mean the team should not bring him back.

Sizemore might be able to get a big contract based on his history. His injury history is certainly something that will scare off a number of teams.

If Cleveland gets a hometown discount, they should certainly re-sign Sizemore.

Colorado Rockies: Jason Giambi

A good bench bat is something that is often overlooked. It can be one of the small things that makes the difference between a playoff team and one that finishes just on the outside of the postseason.

The Colorado Rockies have to make a decision on the $1 million mutual option on Jason Giambi following the season. They should certainly look to bring him back, as he will be a player who can help out their franchise next season.

Detroit Tigers: Jose Valverde

Jose Valverde is having an outstanding year as the Detroit Tigers' closer.

After the season, the team will have a decision to make, and it should be a very easy one.

The Tigers have a $9 million option on Valverde for next year. Given his performance this season, Valverde will make much more than this on the open market, so accepting the option is a no-brainer for the Tigers.

Florida Marlins: Omar Infante

The Florida Marlins have already made an offer to Omar Infante to attempt to bring him back for the 2012 season. Infante turned the deal down, but the two sides will certainly be talking to each other.

Losing Infante would create a hole for the Marlins at second base. He is one of the best second basemen who will be on the market that the Marlins will be able to afford, so retaining him makes a lot of sense.

Houston Astros: None

There is a reason that the Houston Astros are the worst team in baseball.

They have no need to retain any of the players who will become free agents after the season.

Houston needs to focus on building from within with young prospects at this point. It will be a few years before they are able to contend again.

Kansas City Royals: Bruce Chen

The Kansas City Royals have a number of young prospects who are very close to reaching the majors. Once they get there, they will need some veteran players who can teach them the ropes and be clubhouse leaders.

Bruce Chen is a perfect example of a player like this. He has been around the league for a while and could impart some of his wisdom on the Royals' rookies.

Chen can also fill out the back-end of the Royals' rotation.

Los Angeles Angels: None

The Los Angeles Angels will only have two players who will become free agents after the season, and the team should have no interest in retaining either Joel Pineiro or Fernando Rodney.

Instead, the Angels will likely be focused on bringing in a big-name free agents. They could look at Jose Reyes or Albert Pujols.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Hiroki Kuroda

Hiroki Kuroda's record has never reflected his success during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His 112 ERA+ is fairly impressive and gives the Dodgers some reason to re-sign him.

The one issue that the cash-strapped Dodgers may run into is trying to be able to afford Kuroda. If the team thinks they have a chance to contend next season, then they should bring him back.

Milwaukee Brewers: Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder has made a statement saying he believes this season could be his last in Milwaukee.

The Brewers certainly do not want to see that become a reality.

If Fielder leaves the Brewers, then his absence immediately creates a big hole in the middle of the Brewers' lineup. The team will likely pull out all of the stops to try to re-sign Fielder.

Minnesota Twins: Jason Kubel

The Minnesota Twins have two outfielders who are going to be free agents following the 2011 season. Of the two players, it should be a bigger priority to retain Jason Kubel than Michael Cuddyer.

Talent-wise, the two players are fairly similar in terms of production, but Kubel gets the slight edge because of his age and the fact that he should be just a bit cheaper than Cuddyer.

New York Mets: Jose Reyes

The New York Mets and their fans have not had much to get excited about this season.

In fact, one of the few things drawing fans to the ballpark is the fact that they can watch a star like Jose Reyes on a nightly basis.

If the team does not re-sign Reyes this offseason, then fans will become even more angered at the team's management. The Mets will be in for a long rebuilding process if they do not bring Reyes back.

New York Yankees: CC Sabathia

CC Sabathia has an an opt-out clause in his contract, and it is fairly certain he will take advantage of it. Given how well Sabathia has pitched the past few years, he could potentially make tens of millions of dollars by opting out.

There are only a few teams that would go after Sabathia, and the New York Yankees would still be the most likely landing spot for the ace.

Oakland Athletics: Josh Willingham

Josh Willingham has managed to become an offensive force for the Oakland Athletics this season. He has shown off his 25-plus home run power and his 100-RBI potential.

The Athletics would be smart to bring Willingham back after his contract expires at the end of the season. He has been one of the best players for the A's this season.

Philadelphia Phillies: Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins is no longer an MVP-quality player, but he is certainly an above-average shortstop. The Philadelphia Phillies would be foolish to let him get away after the season ends.

Rollins is still capable of having a 15/20 or even 20/20 season while playing outstanding defense at short. He also should not be too expensive, given his slight decline in recent years.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Maholm

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a $9.75 million option on Paul Maholm that they can choose to exercise after the season ends. Given Maholm's success this season, picking up the option seems like a smart move.

The early success of the Pirates this season may give the team hope that they can make a similar run next season. Maholm would be a big part of a Pirates team that could finish over .500 next year.

San Diego Padres: None

It is certainly possible to argue that the San Diego Padres should try to re-sign Heath Bell this offseason.

But there are very few reasons why they should do that.

Bell will command a massive contract for a reliever, and the Padres are not in a position to be a championship-caliber team next season. Bell will also be a Type A free agent, which would net the Padres draft picks if he signs elsewhere.

San Francisco Giants: Carlos Beltran

The San Francisco Giants gave up one of their best prospects when they traded Zach Wheeler to the New York Mets for Carlos Beltran. Beltran has played well, but the Giants will not make the playoffs this year.

Beltran still has a few good years left in him and could help the Giants in the near future.

And if they do not re-sign Beltran, it will make their trade look much worse.

Seattle Mariners: Jamey Wright

The Seattle Mariners traded away Erik Bedard, their best free agent-to-be. The next best potential free agent the Mariners would likely want to retain is Jamey Wright.

Wright has pitched fairly well out of the Mariners' bullpen this season. He will be an affordable bullpen option for the team next season as well.

St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols

There are few baseball players who mean more to a city than Albert Pujols means to St. Louis; the Cardinals must do everything in their power to re-sign him.

Pujols is the best player in the game right now and will receive massive contract offers from other teams. There will be a huge bidding war over his services, so the Cardinals should ink Pujols to a deal before he hits the open market.

Tampa Bay Rays: Casey Kotchman

The Tampa Bay Rays had one of the best free-agent signings of the past season when they inked Casey Kotchman to a minor league deal. He has rewarded the Rays by having one of the top 10 batting averages in the AL.

There is no way the Rays will be able to sign Kotchman to the type of deal they got last season, but they should definitely be interested in bringing him back.

Texas Rangers: C.J. Wilson

C.J. Wilson will be one of the best pitchers on the free-agent market in 2012. The Texas Rangers already lost one top starter last year and do not want to have the same thing happen to them again.

Wilson has emerged as one of the top starters in the American League and is a key to the Rangers' success. If he leaves, the team will be forced to use untested youngsters in their rotation.

Toronto Blue Jays: Frank Francisco

Frank Francisco has been good out of the Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen this season. He should also be a part of the team's future.

Francisco will not command a big deal and could be the the Blue Jays' full-time closer next season. He should also get more save opportunities with the team next year.

Washington Nationals: Ivan Rodriguez

Ivan Rodriguez is no longer a starting catcher in the major leagues, but there is still a lot he can offer. The Washington Nationals should bring him back next season because of the fact that he is a great team leader.

Pudge can still be productive off the bench. When he is not playing, there is a lot Rodriguez can teach to the Nationals' younger players.