2012 MLB Free Agency: 10 Players the Phillies Wish They Could Sign, but Can't

With free agency in full gear, Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. has already made a quick splash, signing former Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon to a $50 million deal over four years. If Amaro had his way, I'm positive he'd make even more big signings. But with hefty commitments and only so many roster spots to go around, Amaro becomes handcuffed.

There are still tremendous free agents on the market that Amaro would love to sign but has virtually no chance at.

Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols

It's not often a once-in-a-generation player still near the top of his game hits free agency. As mentioned earlier, if Amaro didn't handcuff himself with Ryan Howard's contract, you can bet he'd be in on the Pujols sweepstakes.

However, that is all a pipe dream. One can only imagine how much better this team would be both offensively and defensively with Pujols manning first base.

Despite a career-worst year, he still hit .299/.366/.541 to go along with his good defense. He's expected to rebound and will remain a great player for a longer period of time because of his skill set.

A contract approaching $200 million is not out of the question. 

Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder

Like Pujols, if Amaro's hands weren't tied by his short-sighted extension of Ryan Howard, the Phillies would certainly be attracted to Fielder. Coming off a terrific offensive year (.299/.415/.566) while still in his prime years (turns 28 in May), Fielder will demand big bucks. 

If Pujols, Howard and Fielder were all free agents, Fielder would most likely be Amaro's second choice. Like Howard, his value only comes from hitting. The difference being that he's a lot better at the plate than Howard and over three years younger. 

C. J. Wilson

C.J. Wilson

It's no secret Ruben Amaro loves starting pitching. With the departure of Roy Oswalt, C.J. Wilson would look awfully nice as the Phillies' fourth starter over Vance Worley and Joe Blanton.

However, adding another high-priced starter would be overkill, especially when the Phillies already have options for the last two spots in the rotation and needs elsewhere. Tack on the impending extension for Cole Hamels (hopefully) and there's zero chance of signing Wilson. 

Hiroki Kuroda

Hiroki Kuroda

Like C.J. Wilson, Kuroda would be an unnecessary luxury. While he won't command the same contract Wilson gets, Kuroda should still get over $10 million per year for at least two or three years. 

Since debuting with the Dodgers in 2008, Kuroda has been remarkably consistent. He's not quite the 3.07 ERA pitcher he showed last year and is going on 37, but many teams would love to have a 3.50 ERA-type pitcher for 200 innings. 

Aramis Ramirez

Aramis Ramirez

What a difference a year makes. After 2010, many people thought Aramis Ramirez was becoming washed up and injury-prone. Fortunately for him, he bounced back just in time for free agency. 

Many people believe the Phillies are in desperate need of an upgrade at third base, but for the amount of money and years at his age, it would not be worth it. Yes, he's an offensive upgrade over Polanco, but what Polanco lacks in offense, he makes up for in defense and at a fraction of the cost. 

I'm actually surprised Amaro has not been aggressive with Ramirez considering his persistence of signing position players past their prime to large, multi-year deals. Fortunately, I think Amaro has come to the realization there are more pressing needs than third base and the money would be better spent elsewhere. 

Michael Cuddyer

Michael Cuddyer

This may be surprising to some, considering the rumors of Cuddyer and Philadelphia this offseason, but I believe if Amaro truly believed he could fit Cuddyer in the budget, he would have already overpaid for him. In my opinion, like with Aramis Ramirez, I believe Amaro came to the realization that a large, multi-year deal for Cuddyer would not be much of an upgrade, if at all, over Polanco and John Mayberry, Jr.

Cuddyer certainly is a better offensive player than Polanco, but his defense is not close to the same level. Tack on the possibility of him being unable to play third base or left field at all, and too many warning signs are abound. And $10 million per year is too much for a first base, second base and right field utility player.  

Roy Oswalt

Roy Oswalt

Amaro would love to have Oswalt back, but not at the price he'll likely get. After all the four aces hype in the preseason, Oswalt failed to live up to expectations. It was probably unfair to put the "ace" tag on him to begin with. His true skill set was not of the 2.74 ERA pitcher from 2010, but rather that of a second or third pitcher. Throughout the course of the season, durability issues because of his back plagued him and the Phillies.

However, even with his injury history, a team will take a chance on him. I'm sure Amaro would love him back for $5 to $7 million, but that's not happening.  

Ryan Madson

Ryan Madson

Considering the drama that may have went down in the Madson and Papelbon ordeal, there's a significant chance the Madson bridge is burned. With the Marlins signing Heath Bell, it's only a matter of time before Madson becomes locked up as well.

Madson's contract will be somewhere between Bell's and Papelbon's, making any chance of Madson setting up Papelbon about as likely as a Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty Rockers reunion happening.  

Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes

For a brief time, I actually thought Ruben Amaro was going to pull a stealth signing out of nowhere similar to last year's signing of Cliff Lee. However, I believe they are focused on a cheaper Jimmy Rollins rather than splurging for Reyes. 

Even though Reyes is younger and a better player at this point than Rollins, question marks still surround him. Like Rollins, his durability is a huge question mark after missing almost 200 games the past three seasons. In addition, any team banking on Reyes repeating anything close to hitting .330 will be sorely mistaken.

Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran

I can't but help think of Amaro eating away on the inside wanting to give another outfielder on his last legs a three-year deal. Hopefully he learned his lesson from jumping the gun on Raul Ibanez. A team will take a chance on Beltran, but at his likely price, it won't be the Phillies. Instead, Amaro should be focusing on slightly younger, cheaper options.