MLB Free Agents: 6 Players Who Will Be Underpaid This Offseason

Once the MLB free agent frenzy begins, who will be the most underpaid players in the free agent market?

While it is rare for baseball players to be underpaid in this day of age—mostly because they are all overpaid—they're still some exceptions to the rule.

A player can be underpaid if he is coming off of an injury, and a team doesn't want to risk am arm and a leg. Or, the player could've underperformed for the past few seasons, forcing him to settle for a contract that doesn't reflect his value. 

Either way, it happens, and the 2012 MLB free agency should be no exception.

Here's a list of six players that will be underpaid come free agency.

6. Coco Crisp

Coco Crisp will be one of the more underrated players entering the free agent market in 2012.

Although he has never earned the reputation of being an All-Star-caliber player, he's a scrappy leadoff hitter that any team would covet.

Crisp is currently having one of his best all-around seasons, which is perfect timing for the pending free agent. He is batting .267 with eight home runs and 54 RBI. He has also swiped 48 bases, and been caught only nine times.

However, what Crisp doesn't have going for him is that he isn't getting any younger. At 31 years old, teams might be a little weary of a player who is having a career year while on the wrong side of 30.

5. Josh Willingham

Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp's current teammate in Oakland, is another free agent that will likely have to settle for something less than he's actually worth.

When you look at his power numbers, 28 home runs and 94 RBI certainly jumps out at you, especially considering he is hitting in the Oakland Athletics lineup.

However, what might scare teams is his .249 batting average, which is not something Willingham would be proud to write home about. He has also struck out 145 times this year, which ranks him fifth-worst in the American League.

However, Willingham's .335 OBP is quite impressive, considering his sub-par batting average.

4. Ryan Dempster

It's safe to say that 2011 was a disappointing season for Ryan Dempster.

Only being three years removed from a 17-6 record and a sub-three ERA, Dempster has sported an ERA over four for the entire 2011 season.

Things got so bad for Dempster, that on April 28, he lasted just 0.1 innings and gave up seven earned runs. His ERA inflated to 9.58.

His ERA has been on the decline for the rest of the year, but it's not hard to lower an ERA that's a shade just below 10...

3. Javier Lopez

In the San Francisco Giants bullpen, that was one of the best in MLB during the 2011 season, Javier Lopez was arguably the most important part. And yes, even more important than the bearded one himself, Brian Wilson.

Lopez is a lefty-specialist that can come in and retire practically any left-handed hitter in baseball. Lefties are hitting an astonishing .161 against Lopez, and right-handed hitters aren't even doing much better.

Lopez will likely get a considerable amount of money for a relief specialist, but he will certainly deserve much more than what he will get.

2. Jonathan Broxton

Jonathan Broxton couldn't have gotten injured at a worse time in his career. 

Once one of the premier closers in MLB, Broxton suffered a bone-spur injury in his elbow that forced him to miss the majority of the 2011 season.

Broxton is only two-years removed from a 36 save season. Then, two sub-par seasons later and one elbow surgery, he'll be seeking his first contract in the free agent market.

Broxton will likely have to settle for a one-year contract, and use that time to prove himself worthy of a long-term deal.

1. Grady Sizemore

Grady Sizemore was once one of the best, young talents in MLB. He could run, he could hit and he could field with the best of them.

Then the injuries started to pile up, and the name Sizemore started to become a distant memory.

After three straight injury-plagued seasons with the Cleveland Indians, the club will have a decision to make this upcoming offseason: Whether to pick up the $8.5 million club option, or let their superstar walk.

If Sizemore hits the free agent market, teams will probably not be willing to offer him a long-term deal due to his injury-ridden track record.

However, if Sizemore could find a way to stay healthy, the team who signs him could have the steal of the decade when it comes to free agent signings.