2012 MLB Free Agency: 10 Top Targets to Make Arizona Diamondbacks a Favorite

For the Arizona Diamondbacks to repeat as NL West champions and to advance further in the 2012 playoffs, the club must improve on the current lineup.

From Tatman Ryan Roberts to rookie sensation Paul Goldschmidt, the Diamondbacks enjoyed some outstanding performances in 2011 that ultimately resulted in a come-from-behind first place finish in the NL West.

With manager Kirk Gibson receiving serious consideration for the NL Manager of the Year award, the Diamondbacks are in prime position to build off of last season's successful campaign.

Having already re-signed utility man Ryan Bloomquist and second baseman Aaron Hill, Arizona is already putting together the pieces to make 2012 an unforgettable year at Chase Field.

Yet, for all the success Arizona experienced in 2011, the team is going to need some help in advancing past the 2012 NLDS.

GM Kevin Towers laid it out for the media late last week, saying, "If we could add more veteran pitching to our club, we would...our primary focus has been veteran infielders."

With Towers' quote in mind, here are the top 10 free agents the Diamondbacks should target during this 2011-2012 MLB offseason.

Honorable Mention: Yu Darvish

Position: Starting Pitcher

2011 Team: Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (Japan)

2011 Stats: 16-8, 1.44 ERA, 276 K (Japanese League NPB)

2011 Salary: $4.3 million (¥300 million)

Though it hasn't yet happened, New York Magazine and other outlets have reported Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish will request to be posted by his native Nippon Professional Baseball league prior to 2012.

Darvish is known as the ace of the Fighters staff and is considered one of the best pitchers in Japanese professional baseball. He pitched in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic as a member of the champion Japanese national team.

The Diamondbacks were one of several MLB squads that scouted Darvish this past season.

The posting system is essentially a regulated job board for Japanese stars who are ready to transfer to America's Major League Baseball. Once posted, MLB administers a four-day silent auction for the rights to exclusively negotiate with the posted player.

If the winning team and the posted player are unable to come to a contractual agreement within 30 days, the player's rights are restored to their NPB team.

The first significant player to use the NPB-MLB posting system was current Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. That deal appears to have been fruitful for both Ichiro and the Mariners organization.

No. 10: Prince Fielder

Position: First Baseman

2011 Team: Milwaukee Brewers

2011 Stats: .299 BA, 38 HR, 120 RBI, .415 OBP

2011 Salary: $15.5 million

The pipe dream of all dreams, Prince Fielder would make the Arizona Diamondbacks an unstoppable force in the National League.

His 2011 triumphs of 38 HR were second in the NL to only Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Matt Kemp and his 120 RBI were second to Kemp's 126.

Wait a minute. Maybe the Diamondbacks should focus on signing Kemp instead of Fielder.

Never mind—ESPN just reported the Dodgers have locked up Kemp for eight more years with a gargantuan $160 million contract.

Fielder is considered one of the most valuable commodities this 2011-2012 MLB offseason and whoever gets him will improve their chances significantly.

If the Diamondbacks were that team, they would easily be a 2012 favorite to win it all.

No. 9: Ross Gload

Position: First Baseman / Outfielder

2011 Team: Philadelphia Phillies

2011 Stats: .257 BA, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .276 OBP

2011 Salary: $1.6 million

If Fielder is an Arizonian mirage, former Phillies first baseman and outfielder Ross Gload is a more concrete possibility.

Gload is not an All-Star, and he would not be a starter, but if the Diamondbacks are looking for depth in their infield as GM Kevin Towers has suggested, Gload would be a fine choice.

He is a solid veteran with a .281 career batting average, 34 HR and 22 RBI over 10 MLB seasons.

Gload could be a useful defensive replacement late in ballgames and would nicely compliment Paul Goldschmidt at first base—a veteran mentors the rookie type situation.

While Fielder is the fantasy, Gload is the sensible choice.

No. 8: Clint Barmes

Position: Second Baseman / Shortstop

2011 Team: Houston Astros

2011 Stats: .244 BA, 12 HR, 39 RBI, .312 OBP

2011 Salary: $3.9 million

Clint Barmes is another veteran infielder the Diamondbacks should follow.

Barmes is a player who can throw up Willie Bloomquist-type numbers and he is younger than both Bloomquist and infielder John McDonald.

By signing Barmes, Arizona would make a pedestrian move in bringing aboard yet another crafty veteran to stock up their infield.

In the end, the Diamondbacks are largely dependent on the health of injured shortstop Stephen Drew, who would be the preferable candidate up the middle.

If Drew does not wind up with a great prognosis come March, Barmes may just be what the doctor ordered.

No. 7: Todd Coffey

Position: Relief Pitcher

2011 Team: Washington Nationals

2011 Stats: 5-1, 3.62 ERA, 46 K

2011 Salary: $1.3 million

The first thing you'll notice about Justin Todd Coffey is that he full-on sprints from the bullpen when he is brought into the game.

The next thing you'll notice about Coffey is that he throws a deceitful 95-mph sinking heater and a nasty 81-mph slider; pitches which helped Coffey record 46 strikeouts over 59.2 IP in 2011.

At 31 years of age, Coffey is a younger veteran who would fit in well with the Diamondbacks. Though admittedly rotund, Coffey is a flexible pitcher, having performed effectively for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals over the course of his seven-year MLB career.

Plus, we need Coffey on the Diamondbacks in order to complete the following phrase comprised entirely of names found on the Arizona 40-man roster—and the word, "the": 

"

The Young Cook Putz the Coffey Upton the Bauer

(The young cook puts the coffee up on the bar)

"

Awesome.

No. 6: Jonathan Broxton

Position: Relief Pitcher

2011 Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

2011 Stats: 1-2, 5.68 ERA, 10 K, Seven SV

2011 Salary: $7 million

On paper alone, former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton does not look like a good idea.

He had an abysmal 2011, heading to the disabled list with a bone chips in his throwing elbow after giving up two runs to the Chicago Cubs during a Dodgers loss on May 3.

Broxton underwent surgery to correct the problem in September and began his rehabilitation almost immediately. He should begin throwing again within a few weeks, which means he should be ready to go by April of 2012.

Broxton's draw is that he is an unknown, a wild card. After his defeating injury, it is unclear how or if Broxton will bounce back.

If this 2010 NL All-Star is able to return to pre-injury numbers such as his 36 saves and 114 K over just 76 innings pitched in 2009, the Diamondbacks should expect a solid compliment to their relief staff.

Broxton's injury could also work in the D'Backs favor by driving his projected salary down as the baseball world ponders how he will respond to missing one full year of work.

No. 5: Craig Counsell

Position: Second Baseman / Shortstop / Third Baseman

2011 Team: Milwaukee Brewers

2011 Stats: .178 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .280 OBP

2011 Salary: $1.4 million

Craig Counsell could be "that guy."

You know the one, the wily veteran who returns to a team who loves him during his final years in baseball. His mere presence sells tickets and he retires with a grand ceremony on the pitcher's mound.

In bringing Counsell back to the team he won the 2001 World Series with, the Diamondbacks would add a great clubhouse personality and some old-school character to a very new-school team.

Counsell could be Arizona's ace in the hole, called upon for the occasional pinch hit at-bat, including one World Series clinching bottom of the ninth, bases loaded appearance...

Wouldn't that be something?

No. 4: Hiroki Kuroda

Position: Starting Pitcher

2011 Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

2011 Stats: 13-16, 3.07 ERA, 161 K

2011 Salary: $11.8 million

Rumors have been circulating that the Arizona Diamondbacks may be interested in free agent Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda most recently pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008-2011 after being posted by the NPB's Hiroshima Carp in late 2007.

When GM Kevin Towers was asked about Arizona's interest in Kuroda, he ambiguously responded, "It's a scenario we've been looking at."

Kuroda is being courted by both the Dodgers and his native Hiroshima Carp. Many analysts predict Kuroda will wind up in either Los Angeles or back in Japan in 2012, making him a long-shot candidate for the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff.

Stranger things have happened.

No. 3: Aaron Harang

Position: Starting Pitcher

2011 Team: San Diego Padres

2011 Stats: 14-7, 3.64 ERA, 124 K

2011 Salary: $3.5 million

A 14-game winner for less than five million dollars doesn't come around that often and when it does, teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks should take advantage.

Harang is 33 years old and has been around MLB since 2002. He is best known for his long tenure with the Cincinnati Reds, leading the NL strikeouts, while tying for the league lead in wins in 2006, yet not receiving any votes for the NL Cy Young Award that year.

Arizona fans will recall that 16-game winner Brandon Webb was the Cy Young Award winner that year.

Harang is exactly the type of pitching veteran GM Kevin Towers is looking for. He has experience, is still relatively young and with a bit of coaching, could return to mid-2000s form.

No. 2: Freddy Garcia

Position: Starting Pitcher

2011 Team: New York Yankees

2011 Stats: 12-8, 3.62 ERA, 96 K

2011 Salary: $1.5 million

When it comes to undervalued starting pitchers, 35 year old Freddy Garcia is the cream of the crop.

He is coming off an especially productive second half of 2011, winning seven games while losing only two after the All-Star Break.

When it comes to getting a quality veteran pitcher for a bargain price, the Diamondbacks would be wise to consider Garcia, whose only flaw in New York was not being as talented as C.C. Sabathia.

Even if Arizona ends up signing Garcia to a four or five million dollar, one-year deal, the acquisition would be worth it.

No. 1: Bruce Chen

Position: Starting Pitcher

2011 Team: Kansas City Royals

2011 Stats: 12-8, 3.77 ERA, 97 K

2011 Salary: $2.0 million

While the baseball world continues to fawn over former Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle, the Arizona Diamondbacks should sweep in and sign former Royals starter Bruce Chen.

At 34 years old, Chen has played on 10 different MLB teams over 14 baseball seasons.

Nonetheless, Chen mustered a winning record with a sub-four ERA with the 2011 Kansas City Royals, a team which finished 20 games under .500, 23 games worse than the Diamondbacks.

Chen would be a perfect compliment to the Diamondbacks rotation and would effectively fulfill GM Kevin Towers' desire of signing a valuable yet sensible veteran pitcher.