MLB Free Agents 2012: 5 Most Under-the-Radar Players on the Market

With the finishing of an exciting 2011 World Series, congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals for their heroic efforts.

Now that it is over, let us look at what is in store for the 2012 season in the free-agency market.  Many teams have been thinking about what they need for their team to succeed in 2012.  Do we need a big bat? Do we need better pitchers?  Do we need both?  

Free agency is a time when players get to see how much they are really worth and teams get a chance to stock up on talent.  

However, while clubs with enormous payrolls are going after some big names, look for the under-the-radar candidates to do the most damage next year.

Grady Sizemore

For Grady Sizemore, it was more than just the numbers and hustle he put into the Cleveland Indians franchise.  He was the face of the team for multiple years and unfortunately, his injury-plagued career has officially put him on the free-agency block.

In the 2011 season, Sizemore batted .224 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI and a .285 OBP.  Overall not too bad, but significantly down from his overall career statistics of .269 and .357.

Cleveland decided to opt out of his 2012 $9 million dollar contract.  He won the Gold Glove award in both 2007 and 2008 and also won the Silver Slugger award in '08.  Sizemore is a talented player who recently had knee surgery that the Indians could not afford to wait on. 

If Sizemore can heal properly and quickly recover from his injury, he can put up some effective numbers for the next franchise he is put on.  He hustles on defense and can bat efficiently.  Look for a team to take a chance on a potential talent such as Grady Sizemore.

Jason Kubel

This year’s free agency will consist mainly of pitchers and more specifically relief pitchers.  Therefore big hitters such as Jason Kubel will be at an all-time premium in terms of market attraction.

Kubel spent his 2011 season as a Minnesota Twin.  He spent his entire career thus far as a Twin and has performed very well.  In the 2011 season, he compiled a .273 batting average while hitting 12 home runs and posting 58 RBI.  His OBP stayed steady at .332. 

Unlike many free agents out there, Kubel is one of the few to have his 2011 stats lined up fairly close to his career average, if not better.  In 2011, his .273 BA is .002 up from his career numbers of .271. 

In an age where players are getting bigger and stronger, the ability to hit the ball efficiently is at a premium.  Look for Kubel to be a steal in the free-agency market if any team is going to pick him up.

Aaron Hill

Aaron Hill had a pretty decent 2011 showing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  He batted .246 while totaling eight home runs, 61 RBI and a .299 OBP.  Granted, these averages were slightly lower than his career averages of .267 and .321, respectively. He's played exceptionally well for Arizona.

The franchise tried to keep his option for the 2012 season, however, Hill decided to test the markets on the free-agent platform. 

With an annual salary of $5,000,000 in 2011, he is fairly affordable for the numbers he is putting up.  He was awarded the Silver Slugger Award in 2009 and has shown that he can be a threat with the stick.

In that same year of 2009, he was put on the All-Star team.  It is clear that Hill has the potential to be a big free-agent pickup for teams struggling at the plate.

Heath Bell

Heath Bell is one of the National League’s best closers.  His 2011season with the Padres ended with an ERA of 2.44 and 43 saves, good for fourth in the NL. 

Bell’s WHIP and ERA were both much better than his career average, and he won the Relief Man Award in 2009 and 2010. 

At 6’3” and 260 pounds, this mountain of a man has the power and size to close out the game without fear of fatigue.  He was named to the All-Star team in 2009 and 2010 and serves as a quality reliever.

The Los Angeles Dodgers might be a team interested in picking up a solid reliever after the likely release of Jonathan Broxton. 

Rafael Furcal

Rafael Furcal has just come off an incredible season winning the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals.  During his tenure with the team in the 2011 season, he averaged .231 with eight home runs, 28 RBI and a .298 OBP. 

His BA and OBP were lower than his career averages, which is probably why the Cardinals declined his extension for the 2012 season.  Overall those statistics do not look too bad and going into free agency, Furcal looks to have a rebound year. 

It is going to be tough to prove to all the clubs that he can continue his performance from previous years due to his veteran age and fairly sizable contract.  However, his potential as an efficient batter and good fielder makes him a desirable addition to a team. 

Although his 2011 season did not live up to his standards, he still managed to help his team win the World Series.  He is a good teammate that will definitely find another place to play in 2012.