2012 MLB Free Agency: 15 Moves for NL West to Become MLB's Best Division

When the Arizona Diamondbacks won the 2011 NL West crown, some armchair analysts dismissed their journey because of the supposed cakewalk of a division they won.

Last month, I wrote why D'Backs skipper Kirk Gibson should win the NL Manager of the Year Award. Comparing Gibson with the likes of St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, I concluded Gibson and the D'Backs enjoyed a tremendous turnaround from their 2010 season.

In arguing La Russa's case, one commenter wrote: "Gibson doesn't deserve manager of the year for owning a weak and putrid division."

That hurt.

The NL West is baseball's diamond in the rough, a "weak and putrid" collection of misfits that just happened to have won the 2010 World Series.

No division has done so much with so little.

At an average of $86.5 million per team, the NL West has the lowest average payroll of any division in baseball. By comparison, the NL East spends an average of $106.9 million per team, while the NL Central spends an average of $89.4 million per team.

Predictably, the AL East earns top honors at $107.5 million per team.

So while MLB's diamond in the rough NL West is MLB's poorest division, the 2012 free agent market offers some diamonds in the rough of its own, at ideal prices for NL West teams.

These are 15 free agent moves for the NL West to become baseball's best division and recapture a splendor not seen since... two years ago.

No. 15: Milton Bradley (Colorado Rockies)

Name: Milton Bradley

Position: Left Fielder

2011 Stats: .218 AVG, 2 HR, 13 RBI

2011 Team: Seattle Mariners

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Colorado Rockies

When it comes to a real gamble, you can't get more risky than Milton Bradley.

From the Los Angeles Dodgers to the San Diego Padres and beyond, this guy has seemingly been nothing but trouble.

He's torn his ACL arguing with umpires, thrown countless baseballs and bats onto infields and has almost universally been called a clubhouse cancer.

Retirement? Only if no one else will take him.

In perhaps an attempt to throw us all off, Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter Gordon Wittenmyer tweeted that the Rockies met with Bradley's agents last week.

Could this possibly be anything but a bad idea?

The Rockies are supposedly entertaining the idea of tenuring Bradley a minor league contract. If he gets his act together and produces in AAA, the big league club might consider bringing him up.

If not, he stays away from the big leagues.

This could just be the surprise move that lands the Rockies in the 2012 postseason.

Could be.

No. 14: Craig Counsell (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Name: Craig Counsell

Position: Second Baseman / Shortstop / Third Baseman

2011 Stats: .178 AVG, 1 HR, 9 RBI

2011 Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona GM Kevin Towers has mentioned he would like to add one "veteran infielder" to the 2012 Diamondbacks squad.

Craig Counsell could be that veteran infielder.

Several teams are considering Counsell for a front office or coaching job when his playing career is over, but ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has tweeted that Counsell would like to play one more season.

Imagine Counsell, the Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series hero, returning to Arizona in 2012 to win it all once more before his retirement.

Counsell's return could be just the type of excitement Arizona needs to complete that World Series repeat performance.

No. 13: Albert Pujols (San Diego Padres)

Name: Albert Pujols

Position: First Baseman

2011 Stats: .299 AVG, 37 HR, 99 RBI

2011 Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: San Diego Padres

This move is so crazy, it simply cannot be believed.

That's too bad for San Diego, the 91-loss team that must try anything possible to regain a sense of relevancy in the National League.

Bringing Pujols aboard would be extremely costly for San Diego, but it would also revive a truly struggling franchise.

Pujols would reinvigorate the Padres offense in the cleanup role and would provide an upgrade over Jesus Guzman, the currently projected 2012 opening day starter for San Diego.

The key obstacle is whether the Padres even have enough money to pull off this kind of stunt.

Unfortunately, the answer appears to be "no."

No. 12: Ross Gload (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Name: Ross Gload

Position: First Baseman / Outfielder

2011 Stats: .257 AVG, 0 HR, 8 RBI

2011 Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Arizona Diamondbacks

While superstars Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols try to find homes for their projected $20 million-plus 2012 salaries, first baseman and outfielder Ross Gload is a sensible choice for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Earlier in November, GM Kevin Towers mentioned he would be interested in signing one solid veteran infielder to complement an infield featuring the return of Aaron Hill, Willie Bloomquist and Stephen Drew.

If Counsell doesn't work out, Gload just might be that guy.

Gload is not just that veteran infielder, he is a cheap one at that, earning $1.6 million in 2011 from the Phillies. With a .281 career average, he would be a great complement at first base for rookie sensation Paul Goldschmidt, a defensive replacement late in ballgames or as the wily veteran mentor the young players turn to for advice.

The Diamondbacks are not projected to be big spenders or seekers this offseason because their team's core players will all be returning. They have excellent prospects in the minor leagues and ultimately do not need dramatic moves to repeat as NL West champions.

No. 11: Rafael Furcal (San Francisco Giants)

Name: Rafael Furcal

Position: Shortstop

2011 Stats: .231 AVG, 8 HR, 28 RBI

2011 Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: San Francisco Giants

Long-time Dodgers great Rafael Furcal went east last season to win a world championship with the St. Louis Cardinals and now it is time to come back to the NL West as a San Francisco Giant.

He is a shortstop and an excellent contact hitter with an on-base percentage consistently above .300, two needs the Giants desperately must fill.

He is slightly risky, having sat out several months while with the Dodgers due to various injuries, but when he is healthy, he can hit, he can run and most impressively, he can field.

Furcal might not be as reliable as he used to be injury-wise, but the Giants could use a breath of fresh air in the middle infield, something Furcal would certainly deliver.

No. 10: Aaron Harang (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Name: Aaron Harang

Position: Starting Pitcher

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

2011 Team: San Diego Padres

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Los Angeles Dodgers

Before we delve too deeply into these possible moves, there is one question that must be answered: Does it really count as a division-improving move to keep a former NL West player in the NL West, just on a different team?

Yes, absolutely.

Aaron Harang pitched a nice season for San Diego in 2011. With a better team, Harang's 14-7 record might have graced the 16-win mark and possibly could have approached 20.

The Los Angeles Dodgers could use Harang in their starting rotation. Whether through injuries or plain mediocre pitching, LAD simply cannot afford to neglect the pitching position this offseason.

With Hiroki Kuroda's 2012 in limbo, the Dodgers should actively pursue Harang and prepare to add him to the 2012 rotation, especially if Kuroda goes back overseas.

Even if Kuroda stays—which the Dodgers hope he does—Los Angeles should consider Harang as a solid replacement for the struggling Ted Lilly.

Update: The Padres have offered Harang arbitration mere hours before his article was published. Harang has until 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Dec. 7 to accept or decline arbitration. This article has been written under the assumption that any arbitration offer would be declined.

No. 9: Heath Bell (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Name: Heath Bell

Position: Relief Pitcher / Closer

2011 Stats: 43 SV, 2.44 ERA, 51 K

2011 Team: San Diego Padres

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Los Angeles Dodgers

When the Dodgers lost Jonathan Broxton to injury in early 2011, they were never completely able to fill the closer void.

Heath Bell would solve that problem and then some.

Pitching for the last-place Padres in 2011, Bell earned 43 saves for a team that finished with only 71 victories and 91 losses.

Bell's time in San Diego might have come to an end, but his time in Los Angeles should begin next year. He throws nasty pitches and is reliable when he gets more than just a one-run lead to work with.

A two-time All-Star, Bell appeared in 64 games last year, an average of once every 2.5 games.

His 51 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched in 2011 is slightly misleading as he has averaged over one strikeout per inning pitched since his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2004.

With Bell, the Dodgers gain a respected closer who has gotten the job done 134 times in his career. He is 34 years old and would add stability to the back end of a Dodgers bullpen that has gone through several remodels over the past few years.

Update: The Padres have offered Bell arbitration mere hours before his article was published. Bell has until 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Dec. 7 to accept or decline arbitration. This article has been written under the assumption that any arbitration offer would be declined.

No. 8: Jimmy Rollins (San Francisco Giants)

Name: Jimmy Rollins

Position: Shortstop

2011 Stats: .268 AVG, 16 HR, 63 RBI

2011 Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: San Francisco Giants

Former Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has always been an exciting player, whether it is making a diving catch, turning a tough double play up the middle or leading off with a seeing-eye single.

With 30 stolen bases last season, Rollins proves the true value of his speed. He is more reliable than Rafael Furcal, though the two together would be an impossible tag team of base-running beauty.

Rollins supposedly is seeking a five-year contract, a deal few—if any—teams are willing to consider for a 33-year-old speedster.

When Rollins inevitably comes off those lofty demands—when he faces reality—the Giants should be there in position to scoop him up at a bargain rate for a less lengthy service term.

He has at least two years of grade-A excitement left to offer and would be a great fit in San Francisco.

No. 7: Jonathan Broxton (San Diego Padres)

Name: Jonathan Broxton

Position: Relief Pitcher / Closer

2011 Stats: 7 SV, 5.68 ERA, 10 K (Injured Since May 4)

2011 Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: San Diego Padres

The Padres need something—anything—to jump start their team.

A gamble by name of Jonathan Broxton might be just the ticket to replace Heath Bell, who might end up leaving San Diego for good this offseason.

Broxton pitched 12.2 innings for the Dodgers in 2011 before falling prey to season-ending injury after giving up two runs in only 0.1 IP on May 3.

Prior to his injury, Broxton was lights out, saving three games in the Dodgers' opening series against San Francisco and saving two more against San Diego a week later.

He suffered only one blown save against the Florida Marlins on April 25, though some believe Broxton was already affected by his injury at that point.

In looking at Broxton, 2011 must be considered a wash. He last pitched to his ability in 2009, earning 36 saves with a 2.61 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.

He was a 2010 NL All-Star and recorded a save in that year's Mid-Summer Classic.

As a San Diego Padres closer, Broxton could prove a hidden gem, a player who fully bounces back from injury to deliver a perennially underachieving team into the postseason.

Or he could flounder and ultimately never return to 2009-2010 form.

This is a gamble the struggling Padres must be willing to take.

Update: The Padres have offered Bell arbitration mere hours before his article was published. Bell has until 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Dec. 7 to accept or decline arbitration. This article has been written under the assumption that any arbitration offer would be declined.

No. 6: Hiroki Kuroda (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Name: Hiroki Kuroda

Position: Starting Pitcher

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

2011 Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Los Angeles Dodgers

Ok, so moving players intradivisionally is fine, but does keeping a player on the same team really count?

Yes, it does.

Kuroda is a free agent having pitched for Los Angeles since 2008. Since his Dodgers debut, he hasn't shown a propensity for absolute dominance like a Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling, but he has been consistent and has worked many important games.

Unfortunately, Kuroda hasn't received much run support over his MLB service and that has factored into his 41-46 career record.

Nonetheless, Kuroda has been a vital part of the Dodgers organization for several years and his absence would throw their pitching staff into shambles and destroy whatever sense of consistency Los Angeles had coming out of their tumultuous 2011 season.

With Kuroda remaining on the mound in 2012, the Dodgers can feel more comfortable and ready to turn things around now that All-Star Matt Kemp has been touted as the face of the franchise.

No. 5: Roy Oswalt (Colorado Rockies)

Name: Roy Oswalt

Position: Starting Pitcher

2011 Stats: 9-10

2011 Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Colorado Rockies

When Roy Oswalt isn't complaining about squirrels running in front of home plate, he is a pretty decent pitcher.

Since his All-Star 2005 season, Oswalt had a great 2008 with the Houston Astros and latter half of 2010 with the Phillies. Oswalt is 34 years old and is not young—but he is not baseball old either and he still has several years of service left.

With pitching coach Bob Apodaca ready to teach, Oswalt should be ready to learn the ways of the mile-high Coors Field. Coors is a place where veteran pitchers can either excel or completely fall apart.

The Rockies are in a great position to teach Oswalt, a pitcher who has enjoyed success in the past and is primed to return to late-2010 form.

Manager Jim Tracy might also have a note or two for Oswalt, having already commented on Oswalt's mistakes against his team in a previous game: "Command wise he was not sharp."

Tracy might know something we don't that could work to Colorado's advantage next year.

No. 4: Coco Crisp (San Francisco Giants)

Name: Coco Crisp

Position: Center Fielder

2011 Stats: .264 AVG, 8 HR, 54 RBI

2011 Team: Oakland Athletics

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: San Francisco Giants

Crisp won't have to make a huge transition in coming across the bay from Oakland to San Francisco.

At the age of 31, Crisp stole a remarkable 49 bases in 2011, a career high. He is still very fast, a valuable asset both on the bases and in the demanding position of center field.

The Giants need a speed demon on the team. With baseball relying more heavily on small ball and stolen bases, Crisp could be the difference-maker between finishing second in the NL West and possibly winning the division outright.

Since falling off the national radar upon his departure from Boston, Crisp has built a quiet yet steady career in Oakland and it is time to seriously consider him for a Giants starting role.

Crisp would be a perfect fit for AT&T Park's crazy power alleys and askew right-center padding surfaces.

No. 3: Carlos Beltran (San Francisco Giants)

Name: Carlos Beltran

Position: Right Fielder

2011 Stats: .300 AVG, 22 HR, 84 RBI

2011 Team: San Francisco Giants

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: San Francisco Giants

When most players hit .300 with 22 HR and 84 RBI, that is considered solid—a great season.

However, when Carlos Beltran hits .300/22/84, it is a slight disappointment.

Beltran is a six-time All-Star, having made the team in 2011. His storied career has included Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers, but those days were confined to his tenure with the New York Mets.

Since joining the Giants in 2011, Beltran hit .319 with five home runs, three triples, five doubles and 14 RBI.

The Giants must find a way to bring Beltran back. He has power and is a consistent presence on the basepaths.

In short, the Giants must resign Beltran simply because they would be a significantly worse team without him. They were privileged with a mere glimpse at his ability over the course of two months and should bring him back for the full 2012 term.

No. 2: Bruce Chen (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Name: Bruce Chen

Position: Starting Pitcher

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

2011 Team: Kansas City Royals

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks could use one more solid starter to complement their fine pitching staff. When GM Kevin Towers mentioned he would like to add one veteran pitcher, it was a de facto admission that Ian Kennedy simply cannot be expected to win 21 games again in 2012.

Chen is an underrated free agent out of Kansas City. He has played 14 MLB seasons on 10 different teams and managed to post a winning record for a team that finished 20 games under .500.

Like Ross Gload as a veteran infielder, Chen is a sensible choice as a veteran pitcher for the young Arizona club.

No. 1: Aramis Ramirez (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Name: Aramis Ramirez

Position: Third Baseman

2011 Stats: .306, 26 HR, 93 RBI

2011 Team: Chicago Cubs

Team He Should Sign With in 2012: Los Angeles Dodgers

With Casey Blake out of Los Angeles, the Dodgers must find a way to fill the third base position.

When Manny Ramirez was ultimately kicked out of LA, the Dodgers experienced a palpable flaw in the left fielder position. It took some time and some doing, but the Dodgers brought in Juan Rivera to plug the hole.

He and Jerry Sands are the present and future of the Dodgers' left field position, a location left in ruins by a retired Ramirez.

With third base, the Dodgers have a chance to get it right. Rather than letting the position linger as a glaring defect in the Chavez Ravine defense, GM Ned Colletti has a great opportunity to seal third base by signing Aramis Ramirez.

For the Cubs, Ramirez was a real hot corner power who fell prey to injuries. Now that he appears healthy, the Dodgers should swoop in and pick him up before it's too late.

For all the veterans over the years that never quite panned out for Los Angeles, Ramirez is one 33-year-old who should provide some much-needed consistency to a Dodgers team still trying to get on the right track.