MLB Free Agents 2012: Where Will Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Top Guys Land

2012 is set to see some of the biggest names in MLB change teams. 

Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes and many other big names could possibly hit the market. Here's a look at where the top three names could land this winter. 

Albert Pujols

One thing is certain: Some team is going to have to give him a lot money to acquire his services. So who has the necessary money to make it happen?

New York Yankees have Mark Teixeira. Unless they move him or Pujols to DH, it's not going to happen. Even if they were willing to do that, it still won't happen.

Boston Red Sox just signed Adrian Gonzalez. Not going to happen.

Philadelphia Phillies have Ryan Howard. Not going to happen.

The New York Mets are dropping a lot of salary in the winter, so they'll have room. They are a possibility.

The Detroit Tigers could probably find a way to afford Pujols, but with Miguel Cabrera in town there's no reason to.

The Chicago Cubs are a franchise with very deep pockets. They also need a first baseman.

So you have the Mets, the Cubs and the Cardinals as the three finalists. Call it a gut feeling, but I think Pujols is a Met next season. That sounds weird.

Prince Fielder

 Another star first baseman who's ready to get huge money, Fielder still probably won't get quite as much as Pujols.

I like the Seattle Mariners in the Fielder Sweepstakes. The M's have deep pockets and will have lots of cap room to spend money.

They have a log-jam at first base, but I think they'll move Justin Smoak to DH and Mike Carp to left field. No matter where they move guys, they have a desperate need for a big bat in the middle of their lineup. They'll do whatever they can to get Fielder.

On top of that, Fielder has a relationship with current Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik. It doesn't seem like he would have problems going to Seattle.

Jose Reyes

 The Phillies are likely to let Jimmy Rollins leave to free agency, so they'll have money to spend and a whole at shortstop.

Reyes' big season likely means a team will overspend for him, but the Phillies' offensive problems became apparent at the end of the season.

Now with Ryan Howard out for a chunk of 2012, the Phils can't afford to replace Rollins from the inside. That lineup would be ugly.  

I think the market will shy away from Reyes due to his injury history, but the Phillies will make a strong play for him.