MLB Free Agency: Top 15 Outfielders on the Market and Where They'll Go

MLB free agency began some six weeks ago, but surprisingly, many of the top available outfielders are still unsigned as 2012 approaches.

I'm prepared to identify these players and their likely destinations.

I'll admit that this isn't a star-studded group. No free agent outfielder will be getting "Carl Crawford money" (seven years, $142 million), for example.

However, all 15 of these veterans would serve as dramatic improvements over typical, home-grown replacements.

15. Corey Patterson: Oakland Athletics

Corey Patterson completely disappeared down the stretch in 2011.

He played only sporadically after being dealt from the Toronto Blue Jays to the St. Louis Cardinals in late July (56 plate appearances in 44 games).

Throughout his career, Patterson has been strikeout-prone. His lifetime OPS is a very pedestrian .690.

Still, he has enough ability to start in a major league outfield.

The Oakland Athletics will have a vacancy in center field after Coco Crisp signs elsewhere. They are in desperate need of offense.

Patterson can be acquired cheaply coming off a poor season.

14. Andruw Jones: New York Yankees

It would be fair to assume that Andruw Jones is tired of moving around.

Since choking in his contract year of 2007 with the Atlanta Braves, he has played with four different franchises for one season apiece.

His well-documented struggles against right-handed pitchers are deterring teams from considering him for a starting role. With reduced speed, his days as an everyday center fielder are similarly behind him.

Jones will return to the New York Yankees in 2012 because they reportedly have an interest in using him as a powerful alternative to Brett Gardner when opposing lefties take the mound.

13. J.D. Drew: Houston Astros

The Houston Astros would be fortunate to contend for fifth place in the National League Central division. Their roster is young, and for the most part, untalented.

Carlos Lee currently serves as the veteran presence in their lineup, but his 2012 salary of $18.5 million will make the organization desperate to trade him away.

J.D. Drew no longer has a role with the Boston Red Sox. The Astros would be glad to have an affordable left-handed hitter to mentor their younger players.

If Houston wants to sell any tickets this coming season, it will need to at least create the illusion that winning is a goal by making a splash—albeit a tiny one—in the free-agent market.

12. Hideki Matsui: Baltimore Orioles

Now that the Baltimore Orioles have non-tendered Luke Scott, they will be eager to woo a designated hitter/left fielder to Camden Yards.

Luckily, all indications are that Hideki Matsui is eager to return for a 10th MLB season.

He frightened his fans in 2011 by slumping throughout the first half of the summer. His batting average was uncharacteristically low heading into the All-Star break, and he wasn't even an afterthought in voting for the Mid-Summer Classic.

As expected, though, he rebounded in July and August.

Matsui has been consistent from year to year and unusually effective against left-handed pitching.

11. Juan Pierre: Washington Nationals

Juan Pierre did not have an ideal contract year.

He wasn't having base-stealing success as expected through the first two months and consequently lost confidence in his abilities. Following a 2010 campaign that saw him swipe 68 bags, he finished with a disappointing total of 27.

With no power and a weak throwing arm, he doesn't offer much outside of baserunning.

He certainly won't be offered a five-year deal as he was in November 2006. In fact, he'll be hard-pressed to get multiple seasons.

Surprisingly, the Washington Nationals have had a quiet offseason. Expect them to add Pierre to deepen their outfield.

10. Cody Ross: Minnesota Twins

The San Francisco Giants aren't interested in re-signing Cody Ross, and I admit it isn't easy to predict where he'll land.

The Minnesota Twins make a lot of sense as they are likely to lose corner outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel this winter.

Ross would be less expensive than Cuddyer, mainly because he isn't as versatile. However, he could provide near-identical offensive contributions.

Minnesota definitely needs a bat like him to compensate for the home runs they won't be getting from soft-hitters like Ben Revere and Denard Span.

9. Ryan Ludwick: Miami Marlins

I realize they have spent heavily on Heath Bell, Mark Buehrle and Jose Reyes, but the Miami Marlins can't stop yet.

Their outfield is chock-full of potential, just lacking experience.

Enter right-handed hitter Ryan Ludwick, who could take at-bats from Chris Coghlan and Logan Morrison in certain scenarios.

Ludwick watched his OPS drop for a third consecutive season.

However, he has been able to gain familiarity with a lot of opposing starters during his NL-only career. Hopefully this will be the year where he uses that knowledge to make adjustments.

8. Vladimir Guerrero: Seattle Mariners

Truthfully, Vladimir Guerrero shouldn't be included on this list after totaling zero defensive innings in 2011, but I doubt he's marketing himself as a full-time DH . . . even though that's exactly what he is.

He would fit in well with the Seattle Mariners, regardless of whether they are actually pursuing slugger Prince Fielder.

Seattle has right field filled with Ichiro Suzuki just like Baltimore had with Nick Markakis. This would allow Guerrero to focus on his hitting.

Meanwhile, Prince Fielder could play first base and the team could deal Justin Smoak while his stock is still relatively high.

The Mariners cannot let this offseason pass by without bolstering their lineup.

7. Johnny Damon: Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians need left field help. Trevor Crowe doesn't appear to be a franchise player, and Shelley Duncan isn't even an everyday guy.

After struggling to homer with Detroit in 2010, Johnny Damon rediscovered his power with the opportunity to play home games in a regularly-sized ballpark last season as a Tampa Bay Ray.

His durability is perhaps his greatest asset. He has held up for 140-plus games in 16 consecutive seasons.

Damon could go to Cleveland if the front office is willing to offer him a competitive salary similar to the $5.25 million he earned in 2011.

6. Jason Kubel: Tampa Bay Rays

Jason Kubel is a player that I find hard to place. He has accomplished enough to command a multi-year deal, but not one comparable to what the top tier of outfield free agents will receive from big-money clubs.

Although the Tampa Bay Rays recently signed young starting pitcher Matt Moore to a contract extension, they made it "heavily backloaded."

They will still have the means to sign Kubel, who they may try to convert into a first baseman to replace Casey Kotchman.

5. Coco Crisp: New York Mets

Centerfielder Coco Crisp hasn't come up in many conversations, despite leading the American League with 49 stolen bases. His .314 on-base percentage last season is the primary reason for this.

On the other hand, imagine how many steals he could total with a respectable OBP!

If the New York Mets have the necessary funds, they will snatch Crisp off the market. Currently favored to sign him, the Detroit Tigers will move on to something a bit more substantial.

While the Mets have already acquired Andres Torres via trade, I'm sure they would rather have Jason Bay and Lucas Duda flank a more consistent player like Crisp.

4. Michael Cuddyer: Colorado Rockies

If the Minnesota Twins don't increase their offer to utility man Michael Cuddyer, he'll move on to the Colorado Rockies who evidently want him a little bit more.

It is unclear what the Rockies would do with 2011 right fielder Seth Smith.

Anyway, Cuddyer is an upgrade because he can sufficiently handle righties and lefties.

Unfortunately, the move would place him with a team that doesn't have much pitching.

3. Josh Willingham: Chicago Cubs

Josh Willingham will join fellow 2011 Oakland Athletics outfielder David DeJesus with the Chicago Cubs.

Before a deal can be struck, though, team president and general manager Theo Epstein must engineer a genius trade to get rid of Alfonso Soriano.

Ultimately, Epstein and the Cubs will be forced to eat the majority of the $54 million remaining on Soriano's contract, but it is a move that needs to be completed. Soriano cannot lead them into contention.

In return, Chicago would likely get a couple pitchers and—of course—an opening in left field.

Willingham has plate discipline that has been sorely missing from recent Cubs' teams.

2. Yoennis Cespedes: Detroit Tigers

I have a hunch that the Detroit Tigers will ease off Coco Crisp and try for one of the biggest fish in the free-agent pond, Cuban defector Yoennis Cespedes.

Cespedes would require more years and guaranteed money to commit than Crisp would, but he has been touted as a powerful hitter and polished defender. His skills appear to be well-suited for spacious Comerica Park.

As a result of this signing, the Tigers would probably trade one of their other outfielders. Either Austin Jackson or Delmon Young would go depending on whether Detroit wants Cespedes to play center field or right.

Any significant transaction this offseason will make the Tigers favorites to repeat as AL Central division champions.

1. Carlos Beltran: St. Louis Cardinals

Carlos Beltran is due for a generous payday, even with his age 35 season upcoming.

He spent all of 2011 in right field, and I suspect that he plans to stay their indefinitely. It's for his own good as recurring knee problems have compromised his speed and defensive range.

The St. Louis Cardinals took steps to solidify their starting rotation last season by extending Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia. Also, they picked up a $10 million option for Adam Wainwright for 2012.

Since the winter began, they have re-signed infielders Rafael Furcal and Skip Schumaker.

Right fielder Lance Berkman will move to first base to replace—OK, attempt to replace—the departed Albert Pujols.

If the Cardinals are willing to give Beltran a contract with the length and value he seeks, they can realistically repeat as MLB champions.