2012 MLB Free Agency: Every Team's Soon-to-Be FA They're Afraid of Losing

The 2012 free agent class is headlined by some of the biggest names in baseball, as Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, C.J. Wilson and Jose Reyes are all prepared to hit the open market.

While some teams are happy to get out from under a contract when a player hits free agency, other times they hope to bring the player back and do whatever it takes to keep rival teams from swooping in and signing him.

So here is a look at one free agent to be that each team is worried about losing this coming winter, someone they will no doubt make an effort to bring back for 2012.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Aaron Hill

The Diamondbacks made a move at the deadline to swap under performing second baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays as they acquired Aaron Hill for Kelly Johnson.

Both players have enjoyed big seasons in the past but were struggling in 2011, and the change of scenery seems to have been best for both players.

The 29-year-old Hill has been stellar since joining the team with a line of .325 BA, 2 HR, 14 RBI over 29 games and the team would be wise to bring him back next season.

Atlanta Braves: Alex Gonzalez

The 2012 free agent class is incredibly thin at the shortstop position, and unless the Braves are planning to make a run at Jose Reyes they already have the next best available free agent option on their team in Alex Gonzalez.

The team does have a solid young shortstop named Tyler Pastornicky who has posted a line of .314 BA, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 27 SB between Double-A and Triple-A this season. While he looks to be the shortstop of the future, he is still just 21 years old and the Braves may look to bring Gonzalez back for one season to bridge the gap.

Baltimore Orioles: No One

The Orioles made a splash this past off season when they added a bevy of veterans in Vladimir Guerrero, Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy and that netted mixed results. However, with many of those players on one year contracts the team could once again look to make a splash on the free agent market.

As far as free agents to be, however, the team is set to lose Vladimir Guerrero, Cesar Izturis and the injured Justin Duchscherer and there is little chance the team will attempt to bring any of those guys back.

Boston Red Sox: David Ortiz

It is hard to believe that three years ago, David Ortiz seemed to be on his way to retirement as his average plunged to .238 and he seemingly lost all of his bat speed.

However, he bounced back with a .270 BA, 32 HR, 102 RBI line last season and he has been even better this year at the age of 35 as he has a line of .310 BA, 29 HR, 96 RBI and that has all but assured that the Red Sox will bring him back for next season.

Also of note, team captain and backup catcher Jason Varitek is set to hit the market and while his numbers have declined he is still a valuable member of the clubhouse and could be brought back.

Chicago Cubs: Kerry Wood

The Cubs brought back reliever Kerry Wood this past offseason as he gave the team an extreme hometown discount and turned down some multi-year offers to come back to Chicago on a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

He was one of the team's top setup men this season, appearing in 55 games and posting a 3.35 ERA with 21 holds.

He has already stated that he will either re-join the Cubs or retire if they are not interest in bringing him back and after the season he had there is really no reason for the team not to bring him back on a similar deal.

Chicago White Sox: Mark Buehrle

Many had high hopes for the White Sox entering this season as they had perhaps the deepest rotation in all of baseball and an offense to match. However, they have fallen well short of expectations and will find themselves on the outside looking in when the postseason starts.

Starting pitcher Mark Buehrle is set to hit the market after spending the first 12 seasons of his career on the South Side, and he has had one of the best years of his career so far in 2011 with a record of 12-9 with a 3.72 in 30 starts.

He will be 33 years old next year, but he has proven to be one of the most durable starters in all of baseball making at least 30 starts every years since 2001 so there is no reason to think he will be in line for a decline.

Cincinnati Reds: No One

The Reds surprised many at the deadline this year when they did not deal catcher Ramon Hernandez as they have a pair of promising catching prospects in Yasmani Grandal and Devin Mesoraco as well as solid backup Ryan Hanigan.

Instead, he will hit free agency and the Reds will likely be compensated with a First Round Compensatory pick as he profiles as a Type A free agent.

Aside from Hernandez, the only other Reds player due to be a free agent is veteran shortstop Edgar Renteria and with Zack Cozart set to be the starting shortstop he will not be back either.

Cleveland Indians: No One

The Indians were one of the surprise teams of the year, and while they fell short of the playoffs they are clearly heading in the right direction with a bevy of talented young players.

Only three players are set to hit free agency for the team, two of whom are little more than veteran role players in outfielder Austin Kearns and reliever Chad Durbin, and then slugger Jim Thome who could be headed for retirement.

The bigger story is Grady Sizemore who will undoubtedly have his option declined and be bought out for $500,000 as he will hit the free agent market for the first time in his up-and-down career.

Colorado Rockies: No One

The Rockies only have one player hitting free agency in second baseman Mark Ellis who came over from Oakland in a mid-season deal.

Ellis has been solid since joining the team, and if he were to take a significant pay cut from the $6 million that he made this past season he could conceivably be back. However, it seems unlikely at this point that the team would stop him from hitting the open market.

Detroit Tigers: Ramon Santiago

Given the Tigers starting shortstop job as a 23-year-old in 2003, Santiago didn't hit enough to keep the job and instead assumed a utility role.

Over the past four seasons he has posted a total WAR of 6.0 as one of the best utility players in the league, and while he is 31 years old he made just $1.25 million this season and if he can be had for the same price he will likely be back.

The team will be parting ways with veterans Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez as well as one-year experiment Brad Penny and often-injured reliever Joel Zumaya.

Florida Marlins: Omar Infante

The low-budget Marlins are often forced to deal their star players when they are at their best, and that was the case with second baseman Dan Uggla as the team dealt him in his prime rather than sign him to a big money deal.

In trading him to the Braves, the Marlins got Omar Infante and Michael Dunn in return and both players proved to be valuable this season at a much lower price.

Infante made just $2.5 million last season and seeing as he will be 30 years old next season it is reasonable to expect that he will command a similar salary so he could certainly fit into the Marlins budget.

Houston Astros: No One

The Astros more or less cleaned house this season, dealing Jeff Keppinger, Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence and releasing Bill Hall.

That has left outfielder Jason Michaels and shortstop Clint Barmes as the team's only upcoming free agents and chances are that neither of those players will be back in 2012.

Kansas City Royals: Bruce Chen

Formerly a top prospect of the Atlanta Braves, Bruce Chen struggled throughout the early stages of his career but has come into his own since joining the Royals.

After a terrible first season in Kansas City, Chen went 12-7 with a 4.17 ERA and has been even better this season with a 12-8 record and 3.98 ERA. He made just $2 million this season and with so many young starters in the Royals rotation having a veteran arm at the top could be a valuable asset.

Also set to leave the team are veteran catcher Jason Kendall who missed all of this season with an injury and could miss all of next season as well, former Rockies ace Jeff Francis and backup catcher Matt Treanor and it is fair to guess that none of them will be back.

Los Angeles Angels: Fernando Rodney

The Angels have one of the best young closers in baseball in Jordan Walden, as he has filled the void left by Francisco Rodriguez. The team also has former Tigers closer Fernando Rodney on the roster, as he saved 37 games back in 2009 in his final season in Detroit.

He signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Angels and he has a 4.32 ERA and 17 saves over that span. Now 34 years old, he is no longer a closing candidate and if the Angels can bring him back for cheaper he is still a valuable, experienced late-inning arm.

The team's only other free agent is starter Joel Pinero who, after a 15-win season with the Cardinals in 2009 and a 10-7 season last year has struggled to a 5.36 ERA and just seven wins.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Mike MacDougal

The Dodgers' financial troubles have been well documented this season, and with a number of players hitting free agency it will be interesting to see who, if anyone the team attempts to bring back as Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw are all due significant raises in arbitration.

The list of free agents is sprawling, as Hiroki Kuroda, Jonathan Broxton, Rod Barajas, Jamey Carroll, Vicente Padilla, Lance Cormier, Mike MacDougal and Aaron Miles are all on their way out.

Of that group, the only two the team would likely be interested in bringing back are reliever Mike MacDougal and utility man Jamey Carroll. MacDougal in particular, as he has posted a 2.11 ERA in 67 appearances while making just $500,000.

Milwaukee Brewers: Prince Fielder

The Brewers turned heads when they chose to hold onto Prince Fielder this past offseason and instead loaded up in acquiring starting pitchers Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum in an attempt to make a postseason run in his final season.

It has worked to this point, as the team has clinched a playoff spot and sits at 94-65 on the season. Most have already ruled out the Brewers re-signing Fielder as an option, but if the team makes a postseason run it could change his mind.

Minnesota Twins: Michael Cuddyer

The Twins have a pair of talented outfielders set to hit the open market in Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel and while many believed that one or both of those players would be moved at the deadline the Twins instead held onto them and they will have to decide if they will try to retain one or both of them.

While Kubel is three years younger at 29, Cuddyer is the more versatile player capable of playing corner outfield, first base, second base, and even some third base. Not only that, but he posted the better overall numbers this season and made his first All-Star appearance.

Also on the way out is Matt Capps, and while he could end up back in Minnesota he will likely test the free agent waters first.

New York Mets: Jose Reyes

This will be a pivotal off season for the Mets, as they will be shedding tens of millions of dollars heading into the winter and the time to begin rebuilding is now.

While the team did find a taker for Carlos Beltran and got a big-time prospect in Zack Wheeler in the process, they elected to hold onto Jose Reyes in hopes of getting a jump on re-signing him as the core for their rebuilding process.

That gamble was a risky one as he would have netted a stellar prospect package, and the Mets will need to do all they can to make sure the speedy table setter is back.

New York Yankees: Luis Ayala

There are some very recognizable names hitting the free agent market this off season for the Yankees in the likes of Jorge Posada, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones.

However, the one player that the Yankees will likely try to retain above all of those guys is reliever Luis Ayala as he has been a staple in the late innings with a 1.67 ERA in 54 innings of work. At 33 years old, he undoubtedly has plenty left and could even earn himself a multi-year deal.

Oakland Athletics: Josh Willingham

While much has been made of the vast amount of money that the Mets have coming off the books this off season, the Athletics also have just five players under contract next season excluding their arbitration eligible players and could have as much as $30 million to spend.

One player worth bringing back though would be outfielder Josh Willingham, as he has produced impressive numbers in one of the most anemic offenses in baseball with a line of .249 BA, 27 HR, 93 RBI and he has off set his poor average by posting a .313 clip with runners in scoring position.

He made $6 million last season and if he can be had for something similar to that over two or three years the Athletics would be wise to bring him back as they take steps towards improving their offense.

Philadelphia Phillies: Jimmy Rollins

While much has been made of the fact that Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes are going to be free agents, very rarely is Jimmy Rollins name brought up as an impact free agent to be.

That could be because of the fact that after 12 seasons as an anchor of the Phillies, most expect the team to do whatever it takes to make sure that Rollins finishes his career in Philadelphia and chances are they will.

Another key cog that the Phillies will try their hardest to bring back will be reliever Ryan Madson, as he has served as both a key setup man and as the team's closer this season tallying 31 saves.

Pittsburgh Pirates: No One

The Pirates only free agents to be are Ryan Ludwick and Derrek Lee, both of whom they acquired at the deadline in an attempt to bolster their lineup for a playoff push.

While neither of the veterans are likely to be brought back, expect the team to be a bigger player on the free agent market this off season than they have been in past years as they are close to contention.

San Diego Padres: Heath Bell

The Padres were as big of players as anyone at the deadline this season, moving slugger Ryan Ludwick and stud reliever Mike Adams. However, they elected to keep All-Star closer Heath Bell.

Bell has expressed interest in staying in San Diego and while he would represent the best closer on the market if he were to leave he may be willing to give the Padres a discount and if he does they would be wise to jump at the opportunity.

San Francisco Giants: Carlos Beltran

The Giants acquired high-priced center fielder Carlos Beltran at the deadline and it cost them their top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler.

Picked up to give the sub par offense a boost, Beltran has done just that with a line of .333 BA, 6 HR, 17 RBI over 40 games and while he was acquired to help the team make a run this season the chance remains that he could be brought back on a new deal.

Seattle Mariners: Jamey Wright

Once a can't miss starting pitching prospect in the Rockies organization, Wright has enjoyed a career renaissance since moving to the bullpen full-time for the 2008 season, and since that time he has appeared in 245 games and posted an ERA of 4.27 ERA.

This year in particular he has been great, appearing in 59 games and putting up a 3.21 ERA over 67.1 innings of work. He will be 37 next season, but his salary shouldn't go up much from the $900,000 he made this year so expect him to be back.

St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols

With the team already picking up their option on Chris Carpenter and re-signing Lance Berkman, it is clear what priority number one, two and three will be for the Cardinals this off season; bringing back Albert Pujols.

He could command $30 million per season, but the Cardinals will likely do whatever they are capable of to make sure that one of the best players of all-time doesn't walk away.

Tampa Bay Rays: Casey Kotchman

One of the top prospects in all of baseball during his time with the Angels, Kotchman was never able to put it all together at the big league level as a full-time player despite showing flashes of that potential.

After bouncing from Atlanta to Boston to Seattle over the past two seasons, Kotchman landed in Tampa Bay on a minor league contract and he has put together a very nice season with a line of .307 BA, 10 HR, 48 RBI.

Considering what a low-cost option he will still be despite those numbers, the Rays will likely try to bring the 28-year-old back for next season.

Texas Rangers: C.J. Wilson

Last season, the Rangers dealt one of the their top young player and a number of others to the Mariners to pick up left-handed starter Cliff Lee only to see him walk in free agency and join the Phillies.

They find themselves in a similar situation this off season, as ace and first time All-Star C.J. Wilson is set to hit free agency at season's end.

In a fairly weak market on starting pitchers, Wilson is near the top of the heap and a team like the Yankees could end up overpaying a bit for his services, but after 31 wins and a 3.15 ERA over the past two seasons the Rangers will certainly try to retain him.

Toronto Blue Jays: Kelly Johnson

The Blue Jays and Diamondbacks swapped second basemen at the deadline as Aaron Hill was shipped to Arizona for Kelly Johnson.

Both players were in the midst of a down year, and while Johnson has been better since joining Toronto his overall stats for the season will still be fairly poor. That could work in the Blue Jays favor as he could be in line for a nice bounce back season next year at the age of 29.

The market on second baseman is slim, and if Brett Lawrie is going to be a third baseman moving forward the team will need a second baseman for 2012.

Washington Nationals: Chien-Ming Wang

Wang came to the Yankees from Taiwan, and after a decent rookie season he reeled off back-to-back 19-win seasons in 2006 and 2007.

However, injuries took their toll after that and he missed most of the 2009 season and all of the 2010 season. That led the Yankees to cut ties with him and the Nationals took a chance on him this season with a one-year, $1 million deal.

He has been decent through 11 starts with a 4-3 record and 4.04 ERA since making his first start of the year on July 29th. He could potentially be better next year in his first full season back from shoulder surgery, so bringing him back could be a good idea.