MLB Free Agency: 5 Most Appealing Options to Target in the Offseason

It is almost free-agency season in Major League Baseball. Players will be moving, and the money will be flowing.

However, teams are not going to try to waste money. They want to get the most bang for their buck.

There are going to be some major names on the free-agent market this winter. Let's take a look at the five most appealing options.

NOTE: I realize that different teams have different needs, but I am just trying to do an overall value-type of judgment.

5. Aramis Ramirez, Third Base

Aramis Ramirez is one of the better third basemen in baseball in terms of offensive production.

He is batting .306 with 25 home runs and 92 RBI. These numbers look relatively consistent with the rest of his career excluding 2009, which I think was a bit of a fluke.

Ramirez is really the only high-impact third baseman on the free-agent market this offseason. Because of that, this will surely raise the demand. He is 33 years old, so he will probably not get an incredibly long contract, but I think that he will be primed to make quite a bit of money over the next few years.

4. C.J. Wilson, Starting Pitcher

C.J. Wilson is having another breakout year with the Texas Rangers after last season began to raise his profile.

He is currently 16-7 with a 2.97 ERA. He is also sixth in the American League in strikeouts and in fewest walks allowed.

He is going to be 31 years old next season. That puts him right in the middle of his prime, so he will almost definitely get a raise over the $7 million he is making this year.

You will soon notice that Wilson is the only pitcher on this list. However, that is definitely not meant to downplay the southpaw. He has come into his own as a starting pitcher, and unless CC Sabathia opts out of his contract (which I don't think is likely and therefore why he is not on this list), Wilson will be best pitcher on the market.

3. Jose Reyes, Shortstop

Jose Reyes is having one of the best years of his career. He is currently batting .330 with five home runs, 39 RBI and 36 stolen bases. The reason I say this is one of the best years of his career is because his batting average is currently 40 points ahead of his career average. That's pretty significant.

Many teams need shortstops, and many teams need a leadoff hitter. Reyes is about as good as it gets in either of these categories and especially on the free-agent market this winter. Because of this, and the fact that he is just entering his prime at 28 years old, expect to see him sign a huge long-term contract.

2. Prince Fielder, First Base

I am sure you knew who the top two people on this list were going to be. To be honest, I had a very difficult time placing Prince Fielder as only the second best free-agent this winter. He is batting .293 with 34 home runs, 112 RBI and a very high .409 on-base percentage.

He is also just 27 years old. In theory, he is putting up these kind of numbers before he even hits what is supposedly his prime. That is frightening, to say the least.

Fielder is a great baseball player, and I know that he is going to make amazing money over a very long-term deal. In almost any year, he would be No. 1 on this list.

1. Albert Pujols, First Base

Albert Pujols could possibly be the best pure hitter of this generation. In his career, he has never hit under .300, under 30 home runs, or driven in under 100 RBI in a complete season. That is incredibly ridiculous if you ask me. This season, he is batting .305 with 36 home runs and 97 RBI. It seems like the trend from above will continue.

I know that he is 31 years old, but he still will be in line for a long-term contract. I would argue that Pujols is one of the safest investments in baseball right now. His consistency is unmatched.

Another reason that he should be desirable is that within two years he will probably hit his 500th home run. A few years after that he could hit his 600th home run. This would be an incredible marketing tool for whoever signs him. The revenue that he will bring in will help offset the incredibly high contract.

I think that he deserves to be the most desirable free agent this offseason, but we will see how the whole race plays out.