MLB Free Agency 2012: Predicting Destination for Top 5 Free Agents

As the World Series nears it's closure, all of the baseball world will turn to an exciting offseason.  Every offseason includes major splashes that provide insight on what's to come.  This year is no different, as some of the names hitting the market are baseball's biggest stars. 

So lets take a look at the five major players in this winter's activities.

Albert Pujols- St. Louis Cardinals

Albert Pujols is one of those once in a generation players.  With a career .328 average, 445 HRs, and 1329 RBIs, he is what is referred to as a “no doubt first ballot” guy. 

St. Louis has watched the “The Machine” hit upper deck shots for 11 great seasons.  For some reason, a deal was not met between the two during the past spring training.  However, Cardinal fans should not worry, Pujols will be back in red next season.

During his time in St. Louis, the Cards have made the postseason seven times and are currently in their second World Series—they beat the Tigers in 2006. 

It’s hard to imagine Pujols parting ways with Tony LaRussa, the only manager he has had in Major League Baseball.  Pujols will be thrown top dollar by every team in baseball, but you can’t put a price on one’s legacy, and his legacy will remain in the state of Missouri.  

Prince Fielder- Chicago Cubs

Prince Fielder is a star.  Plain and simple.  He will continue to put up monster numbers for the next five to seven years, as he’s only 27 years old. 

A few months ago, Prince was truthful to Brewer fans when he said that this was “probably the last year” he would play for Milwaukee. He will join Albert Pujols as the two Golden tickets in this year’s offseason. 

Prince will go at a record setting price to the highest bidding team.  Usually one would suspect that the two major bidders would be the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.  However, both of those franchises have given major contracts to first basemen Mark Teixeira—$180 million—and Adrian Gonzalez—$154 million.  This will allow a plethora of teams the ability to open their checkbooks this coming winter. 

Nevertheless, there can only be one winner in the Prince auction.  Expect new Cubs GM Theo Epstein to make a major statement by signing a staple guy like Fielder. 

CC Sabathia- New York Yankees

C.C Sabathia should and will opt out of the final year of his deal.  He has 59 wins in the three seasons he’s spent in the Bronx. 

But, Yankee fans shouldn’t worry about losing their valuable lefty.  Sabathia is simply doing what A-rod did after the 2007 season.  He isn’t trying to test the market with intentions of leaving, he’s just showing the New York Yankees what he should be paid.

He should expect a contract similar to what he got in 2008, when he signed a six-year, $161 million contract. 

The Yankees have dealt out four of the top seven largest contracts in sports history, no reason to think they wont put another record contract in the books this year winter.

C.J. Wilson- Texas Rangers

Given the fact that Sabathia will most surely remain in New York, 30-year-old C.J. Wilson will be the most touted pitching free agent during the offseason.  Since C.J. became a starting pitcher, he has posted two seasons of stellar pitching.

2010: 15-8, 3.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
2011: 16-7, 2.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP

There is NO chance he returns to Texas as they are deep at starting pitcher and do not need to shell out money for an ace. 

The Rangers had four other pitchers with at least 13 wins this season, three of those guys are younger than C.J.

Wilson could end up on one of the following seven teams:  the Red Sox, either Chicago team, the Mets, Twins, Dodgers, and Nationals. 

It will be a bidding war for the southpaw, since the next best pitcher after him might be an aging Roy Oswalt.  I’d like to see him go pitch in his home state behind established ace Clayton Kershaw. 

However, given the Dodgers' financial problems, I think Wilson will end up pitching somewhere in Chicago. 

Jose Reyes- New York Mets

Despite only playing in 60 percent of his team's games the last three seasons, Jose Reyes will still be a coveted free agent during this offseason. 

The team signing Reyes will hope he remains healthy and puts up numbers similar to what he did earlier in his career.  He stole 258 bases from 2002-08.  When healthy, he is the best leadoff hitter in the game. 

Reyes will not leave the NL East.  If he slips away from the Mets—as my intuition tells me he will—I expect he could end up playing for the Nationals, Marlins or Phillies (in that order). 

Washington will be extremely active this offseason as they are on the cusp of becoming a contender.  The Ian Desmond experiment might end soon if Reyes signs. 

The Marlins have a new name—Miami Marlins—stadium, and manager in Ozzie Guillen.  Signing Reyes would give the Marlins the best 1-2 hitters in baseball. Hanley Ramirez has indicated he would consider moving positions if the Marlins did in fact sign the Dominican shortstop. 

Finally, if Jimmy Rollins leaves Philadelphia, signing Reyes would instantly reignite the fire in Citizens Bank Park. 

My gut says Jose Reyes will be playing in our nation's capital next year.