2012 MLB Free Agency: 5 Stars Who Could Be Carl Crawford-Like Flops

One time of year that every baseball fan looks forward to is MLB free agency.  Every offseason, some of the game's top players make the fans cringe with anticipation as they decide which team they will play for next.

Last offseason, the man all the fans were watching was left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee, who ultimately decided to leave the Texas Rangers and return to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year deal worth $120 million.  This season, Lee has proven to be worth the money as he has gone 16-7 with a 2.38 ERA, 223 strikeouts, a remarkable 1.02 WHIP and six complete games.

The other big name on the market last year was outfielder Carl Crawford, who had established himself as a great hitter for average and base stealer in nine years for the Tampa Bay Rays.  Over that stretch, he hit .296 with 409 stolen bases.  Sure enough, the Boston Red Sox broke the bank and signed him to a seven-year contract worth $142 million.

As of now, Crawford has been the free agency flop of 2011, hitting just .255 with 18 steals in 122 games.  Here are five impending free agents who could be next year's Crawford-like flop.

No. 5: Aramis Ramirez

All season long, the Cubs tried to trade Aramis Ramirez and his soon-to-be expiring contract.  The only problem was his full no-trade clause, which he exercised.  That being said, the only way Ramirez will be in a Cubs uniform next season is if they pick up his option.

However, despite the fact that he is having a good year (.308, 25 homers, 92 RBI), suppose the Cubs were looking to trade Ramirez for more than just financial reasons?  Could it be that they know something we don't and he is on his last legs?

He may be 33 years old, but it's no secret that the Dominican third baseman will demand big money after the year he's been having.  Yet, let's not forget that his 2010 was off (.241, 25 homers, 83 RBI) in terms of what we expect from him. Considering his injury history, teams should think twice before shelling out the big bucks for Ramirez.

No. 4: David Ortiz

This year, David Ortiz appears to be back.  After getting off to horrendously slow starts in 2009 and 2010, Ortiz is batting .313 with 29 home runs and 94 RBI this season.  He is making $12.5 million this season but considering his power is slowly starting to fizzle out at age 35, the Red Sox could be hesitant to give him the contract he wants with all the other big deals they have on the books.

Even if Ortiz does hit the open market, teams should be careful about offering him big money.  It should be noted that in 2009, it was reported that Ortiz once tested positive for steroids.  Considering how slow he started the past two years and was suddenly reborn this season, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was juicing.

That being said, if Ortiz does get a gigantic contract this offseason, don't be shocked if he doesn't deliver as he has in the past.

No. 3: Prince Fielder

Considering how it is his contract year, Prince Fielder has certainly made his case for why he deserves a huge contract.  As the Milwaukee Brewers have run away with the NL Central, Fielder has hit .296 with a whopping 34 homers and 112 RBI.  Given how he is just 27 years old, teams will be lining up to make a pitch to him as to why he should play for them.

However, let's take a couple of factors into consideration.  Last season, Fielder hit just .261 with 32 home runs and 83 RBI.  On top of that, he plays in the hitter-friendly Miller Park.

Most important, however, should be how Fielder takes care of himself.  He is 5'11" and is listed at 275 pounds.  The crazy part is he claims to be a vegetarian.

That all being said, while I personally don't believe Fielder will have a horrible 2012, there are certainly factors present that could point to him having one.

No. 2: Albert Pujols

OK, I'll admit it.  Having Pujols on this list is a tremendous stretch.  Yet, considering how there are no indicators that the St. Louis Cardinals will be able to give him the contract he wants and deserves (at least in his opinion), it should be assumed that he will walk.  This season, he has hit .300 with 36 homers and 95 RBI.

Yet, though he will surely get a big contract, that doesn't mean that Pujols isn't subject to having an off year.  Let's not forget that he got off to kind of a slow start this year, and his batting average now is the lowest he has hit for his entire career.

On top of that, if he does go to a new team, he will not have the same supporting cast he has in St. Louis.  For all we know, he could end up on a worse team.  That being said, his morale could dip and his performance may suffer, perhaps badly.

No. 1: Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes is easily the top candidate to have a Crawford-like decline.  This season, his contract year, he has hit .331 with five home runs, 39 RBI and 37 steals as the leadoff man for the New York Mets.  However, he has played in just 118 games due to injury.

Simply put, Reyes' hamstrings must be made of extremely sensitive rubber bands.  For the past three years, there has always been something wrong with them.  Despite this, Reyes is a safe bet to receive a hefty contract from his next team, whomever it may be.

If Reyes does indeed get a lot of money in his next deal, I warn all fans of whichever team signs him to be patient.  While the man does play hard and is productive when healthy, his injury history speaks for itself.  To all GMs interested in him, if you're reading this, please be careful with your team's money before putting it all out on the table for Reyes.

Who knows?  Perhaps this could be another Carl Pavano contract waiting to happen.