Daily Baseball Update: 11/2: Offense on the Market

Daily Baseball Updates will from the next update until Spring Training be called "Hot Stove".

Pitching on the Market coming soon.

Format for this update:

Name (2011 Team(s)): 2011 Stats, 2012 age.

Brief description.

Top Free Agents by Position:

Catchers 

Ryan Doumit (Pirates): 8 HR, 30 RBI, .303 AVG, 0 SB, 2012 age: 31.

Doumit, who accumulated 67 home runs in his seven seasons with the Pirates, could help a team's offense, but is not a superb defensive player.

Ramon Hernandez (Reds): 12 HR, 36 RBI, .282 AVG, 0 SB, 2012 age 36.

With a player who has caught as many games as Hernandez has (1,390 to be exact), you never know what you are going to get, but if healthy, Hernandez can provide consistent production and guidance to young players.

First Basemen

Albert Pujols (Cardinals): 37 HR, 99 RBI, .299 AVG, 9 SB, 2012 age: 32.

Pujols will come with an extremely heavy price tag, but if you are willing to dish out hundreds of millions of dollars, Pujols will crank up your team's offense and guide you to where you want to be.

Prince Fielder (Brewers): 38 HR, 120 RBI, .299 AVG, 1 SB, 2012 age: 28.

Fielder is another player who will earn big bucks wherever he goes and will bring fans to the park with his monster home runs and terrific all around offensive play.

Casey Kotchman (Rays): 10 HR, 48 RBI, .306 AVG, 2 SB, 2012 age: 29.

Kotchman is a question mark, as 2011 was his first stellar offensive season since 2008 and hadn't established much before that, but has the potential to add consistency to a streaky lineup.

Carlos Pena (Cubs): 28 HR, 80 RBI, .225 AVG, 2 SB, 2012 age: 34.

Pena will in no way, shape, or form help in a team's consistency department (has not batted above .230 since 2008), but carries 258 career home runs and huge power to a team in need of a run producer.

David Ortiz (Red Sox): 29 HR, 96 RBI, .309 AVG, 1 SB, 2012 age: 36.

Big Papi hits the market with plenty of walk-offs left in his tank, ready to power any team's offense: even the Yankees.

Second Basemen

Kelly Johnson (Diamondbacks/Blue Jays): 21 HR, 58 RBI, .222 AVG, 16 SB, 2012 age: 30.

Johnson has had his ups and downs over the past few years, but is a capable number five hitter who can crank a ball in the gap if you need it.
Shortstops

Jose Reyes (Mets): 7 HR, 44 RBI, .337 AVG, 39 SB, 2012 age: 29.

Reyes adds a bona fide leadoff man with impeccable consistency.  If your team is lacking a leadoff man and is willing to dish out some extra cash, Reyes is the way to go.

Jimmy Rollins (Phillies): 16 HR, 63 RBI, .268 AVG, 30 SB, 2012 age: 33.

After more than 7,000 plate appearances for the Phillies, Rollins' 12-year tenure may be coming to a close. Rollins provides a great mix of veteran presence and stellar play to a young team.

Third Basemen

Wilson Betemit (Royals/Tigers): 8 HR, 46 RBI, .285 AVG, 4 SB, 2012 age: 31.

Betemit, one of the more underrated players in the bigs, could be a bargain for a team in need of some offensive tuning.  He can play anywhere in the infield and bat anywhere in the lineup (except maybe leadoff). 

Aramis Ramirez (Cubs): 26 HR, 93 RBI, .306 AVG, 1 SB, 2012 age: 34.

Aramis has been one of the best players on the Cubs over his 8 1/2 year tenure and will certainly provide an offensive boost wherever he goes.

Outfield

Carlos Beltran (Mets/Giants): 22 HR, 84 RBI, .300 AVG, 4 SB, 2012 age: 35.

Beltran provides experience and five tool play to a team with some extra money.

Michael Cuddyer (Twins): 20 HR, 70 RBI, .284 AVG, 11 SB, 2012 age: 33.

Cuddyer has always been known for his versatility, and he added a new chapter to that when he pitched a scoreless inning in the Rangers' 20-5 blowout of the Twins.  Cuddyer can add to a team in any position or any spot in the lineup.

Josh Willingham (A's): 29 HR, 98 RBI, .246 AVG, 4 SB, 2012 age: 33.

Though his defense is not outstanding, the Hammer can provide from the fourth or fifth spot in the lineup, as he is guaranteed to put a few balls in the stands.

Juan Pierre (White Sox): 2 HR, 50 RBI, .279 AVG, 27 SB, 2012 age: 34.

MLB's active stolen base leader has hit the market, ready to give consistency and great superb in the outfield to any takers. 

Johnny Damon (Rays): 16 HR, 73 RBI, .261 AVG, 19 SB, 2012 age: 38.

There is no telling how much is left in Damon's tank, but as long as he keeps putting up the numbers he has, there would be no excuse not to exclude him as a target for teams in need of outfield help.

Coco Crisp (A's): 8 HR, 54 RBI, .264 AVG, 49 SB, 2012 age: 32 (as of yesterday).

Crisp is a switch-hitting leadoff man at a lower price, and provides speed and defense to shore up any outfield.

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Teams followed in this update: Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves

If your team is not included or you would like to be included on the original email that I send out every morning, please leave a comment and I will take care of it.

HR: home runs.  RBI: runs batted in.  AVG: batting average.  SB: stolen bases.  ERA: earned run average.  BAA: batting average against.  K's: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage

Zack Silverman