2012 MLB Free Agents: Top 5 Bargain Deals

When the 2011 postseason comes to a close, the offices of general managers around the league will be buzzing with the hype of free agency. This MLB free-agent class is almost as star filled as the summer of 2010 NBA free-agency class.

Headlining the class are first basemen Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, closers Heath Bell and Jonathan Papelbon and a slew of starters including C.J. Wilson and C.C. Sabathia.

Given the lack of a salary cap in the MLB however, not all 30 teams have a puncher’s chance at scoring the big name stars, and the beauty of baseball (as seen in the Hollywood hit Moneyball) is finding guys that you can afford and that fit your needs.

That being said, here is a look at five under the radar, bargain free agents.

5) Center Fielder Carlos Beltran

Beltran had a bounce back 2011 season hitting .300 while smashing 22 home runs and driving in 84 runs. He made the All-Star team which was refreshing for Beltran and teams that will be interested this fall.

After going coast to coast from New York to San Francisco at the trade deadline, Beltran struggled early on with his new team but increased his market value with a strong finish to the season. He ended up hitting .378 in September with six homers and 14 RBI.

Beltran will turn 35 next season and after two seasons (2009 and 2010) in which he played less than half of the 162 games, general managers will look at the 142 he played this year and see a bargain center fielder.

4) Starting Pithcer Mark Buehrle

Buehrle will be 33 when the 2012 season starts but has told the Chicago Tribune that he doesn’t see himself pitching in his late 30s. This would most likely be Buehrle’s last contract and last run in the show.

He has a good 2011, posting a 13-9 record with a 3.59 ERA, 45 walks and 109 strikeouts. Not the most dominating stat line out there, but he improved upon his 2010 season. He had a lower ERA, fewer walks, more strikeouts and still pitched more than 200 innings.

In the right situation he could be a great number two or three starter on a potential contender next season and we’ve seen over the years that general managers with young staffs love inserting a savvy veteran into their pen. 

3) Starting Pitcher Hiroki Kuroda

Kuroda is on the wrong side of 35 as a free agent, he will be 37 when the 2012 season gets underway, but he has had nothing but solid and productive years in Los Angeles for the Dodgers.

He has never posted an ERA above 4.00 in his career and his total innings pitched increased over the past three years and this season he three more than 200 innings. With the advent of sabermetrics and advanced stats, general managers will be fond of Kuroda’s nearly 4.0 WAR, and they will surely enjoy his 1.2 WHIP.

Kuroda won’t cash in on a deal nearly as large as the deal he had in Los Angeles, but with teams looking for a veteran to slot late into their rotation, he will be picked up sooner rather than later.

2) Starting Pitcher Edwin Jackson

Jackson is a solid option for many teams this upcoming offseason. He has been on three teams in the last two seasons (the Diamondbacks, White Sox and now the Cardinals) and handled the changing scenery well.  

He is still remembered for throwing a no hitter in Arizona two seasons ago and he is hoping that general managers shopping around this offseason remember the postseason he is having now. It is no easy task pitching against the Phillies and the Brewers in the playoffs, but Jackson is doing it well. He has a sub-3.5 ERA thus far in the postseason.

He will be 28 for all of the 2012 season and has pitched 200 innings back-to-back seasons. The further into the postseason St. Louis goes, the higher his stock rises.

1) Relief Pitcher Ryan Madson

Madson may be the best closer on the market, and that's great news for teams shopping for one. He will definitely be signed at a much better value compared to San Diego Padres’ closer Heath Bell and Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Teams will like Madson because he is fairly young (only 31) and is a tall, hard throwing right-hander.

Madson had 32 saves and four wins this season posting a 2.37 ERA. His K/9 innings number was a hair under eight at 7.8. Compared to his 2010 season he improved in every statistical category.

With Jonathan Papelbon and Heath Bell on the market as well general managers will be able to steal Madson for a better value than the All-Star closers he is competing for a job with.