Top 10 2011 MLB Free Agents

Who are the best available 2011 Free agents?

We all know about the summer of 2010 in the NBA when a smorgasbord of NBA players will become free agents, namely LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and Amar’e Stoudemire, but not a lot of people have mentioned the abundant 2011 MLB free agent crop.

Names like Joe Mauer, David Ortiz, Derrek Lee, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Josh Beckett will all be free agents, but Mauer, Jeter, Rivera, and most likely Beckett are not going anywhere.

Mauer is already in contract talks with the Twins for a possible ten-year extension, and we do not think you will ever see Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera in another uniform. Derrek Lee could be on his way out in Chicago, and there are a host of other players that might leave, including Big Papi. If Ortiz struggles like last season there is no way the Bo-Sox pick up his $12.5 million option.

Here are the top ten 2011 MLB free agents, not named Joe Mauer, Derek Jeter, Josh Beckett, and Mariano Rivera because they are likely not going anywhere.

10. Brandon Webb SP Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Webb’s career is likely headed in a different direction after last season’s shoulder surgery. Once considered one of the best pitchers in baseball, Webb has not thrown off a mound in almost a full year, and is not in any rush to get back on the bump. If Webb was fully healthy he would be landing a $100 million contract, but instead he might struggle to command a huge payday.

9. Jorge De La Rosa SP Colorado Rockies
Jorge De La Rosa is about as underrated a player can get in all of professional sports. Starting pitchers are the lifeblood of any MLB team and after starting out 0-6 last season he ended at 16-9, with a 4.38 ERA, and 193 Ks in 185 IP. De La Rosa is the Rockies’ No. 2 starter after Ubaldo Jimenez, and both were the main reasons why COL got back to the playoffs last season. De La Rosa will likely command one of the highest contracts next off-season.

8. Javier Vazquez SP New York Yankees
After getting laughed out of the south side of Chicago, Javier Vazquez came back strong compiling a 15 Ws, with a 2.87 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 238 Ks, in just over 219 IP for the Braves last season. The 34-year-old Vazquez’s numbers will likely inflate a tad in the AL, but he will likely go over the 200 IP mark for the sixth straight season and record 200+ Ks for the fourth straight season. Vazquez might be long in the tooth for a big money free agent contract, but he will definitely get an eight-figure contract for multiple years and it could be from his current employer.

7. Carlos Pena 1B/DH Tampa Bay Rays
Sure Carlos Pena hit only .227 last year, but he also blasted 39 HR, drove in 100 RBI, and scored 91 runs in only 135 games. Pena also plays great defense and is only turning 32 this May, and he will likely receive a hefty pay check from someone in need of a big time left handed power hitter, which is pretty much every MLB team.

6. Derrek Lee 1B Chicago Cubs
Derrek Lee had his best season since 2005 last year as he hit a robust .306, with 35 HR and 111 RBI, in 141 games. He turns 35 after this season, and if he has another monster season the Cubs will be lucky to re-sign him. Lee plays great defense, runs the bases well, and is an all around great ball player and he will receive another big contract this off-season.

5. Adam Dunn 1B Washington Nationals
Adam Dunn is a monster at 6’6” 275 lbs. but can flat out hit the ball out of the park. Last season was the first time since 2003 he failed to hit 40 HR, but he hit for a career high average (.267), and still got on base nearly 40% of the time. Dunn only signed a two-year deal with the Nats, who will try to sign him before, during, and after the season, but Dunn wants a lucrative long-term deal. Much like Carlos Pena, left-handed power bats are very rare and Dunn will command one of the higher contracts for a hitter this off-season.

4. Jayson Werth OF Philadelphia Phillies
After bouncing around from Toronto to Los Angeles, and now finding a home in Philly, Jason Werth has made himself some money the past two seasons. He has averaged 30 HR the last two years, including a career high 36 last season, while driving in a career high 99 RBI and scoring 98 runs. Werth also has 20 SB the last two seasons and although he does not hit for a high average, he had an OBP of .373 last season. Werth will definitely be in high demand next off-season and will likely out-price himself of the Phillies market.

3. Victor Martinez C/1B Boston Red Sox
It is said Victor Martinez can fall out of bed and hit .300 and drive in 100, and that is exactly what he did last season. It is likely Vic will remain a Red Sox, but there are plenty of teams that could use a veteran switch hitting catcher, with good receiving skills, and a big time bat. If Martinez is smart he does not sign an extension this season and milks as much money as he can out of the dozen or so teams that will want him.

2. Carl Crawford LF Tampa Bay Rays
Carl Crawford has been electrifying Tampa Bay fans since 2002 and it might be time to say goodbye. As usual, the Rays have one of the best farm systems in baseball, and OF Desmond Jennings is ready and waiting to take over LF when Crawford leaves. CC, not Sabathia, had a monster year last season hitting .305, with 60 SB, and 96 runs, but he will likely have a better year this season because he is a contract year. Look out AL East.

1. Cliff Lee SP Seattle Mariners
Cliff Lee is on his third team in two seasons after being traded in a three-way trade for Roy Halladay last off-season. The M’s made the trade thinking they now have the upper hand in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, but if they did, he would have signed already. Lee will hit the market as a former Cy Young Award winner, and will be 32 years old in late August. He will likely command a lengthy lucrative deal and the Mariners will be lucky if they re-sign him.

Matt Anaya
Twitter.com/MatAnaya