Daily Baseball Update Special: Hot Stove Preview: Hitters

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Those who have been on the blog for a while know my favorite posts to write are the Hot Stove posts.  Here is the one that kicks it off.  This year, there are many top tier hitters waiting to garner huge contracts.  One may even sign the largest contract in baseball history.  Now is the time where we see big name players switch cities, jerseys, and allegiances.  Below are the top free agent hitters for the 2013-2014 offseason, by position.  Their age for the 2014 season is in parentheses next to their names. 

Catchers

1. Carlos Ruiz (35)
2013 Stat Line: 5 HR, 37 RBI, .268 AVG, 1 SB.
He may be a little older, but Ruiz is the top free agent catcher on the market.  He is a top tier defender, and could have a string of Gold Gloves if it weren't for one Yadier Molina.  Despite having a rough season at the plate in 2013, he retains his status as one of the top catchers in baseball.  He only played 92 games last year, but his 2012 season showed what he is capable of.  In 114 games, he hit 16 home runs, drove in 68, and batted .325 while earning an All Star appearance.  For his eight year career, entirely with the Phillies, he has 57 home runs and a .274 batting average in 825 games.

2. Brian McCann (30)
2013 Stat Line: 20 HR, 57 RBI, .256 AVG, 0 SB.
McCann is another catcher who has spent his whole career with one NL East team.  Playing in 1105 games for his hometown Braves (he grew up just 45 minutes from Turner Field), it may be very difficult to tear him out of Georgia.  If a team is looking for a catcher with big time pop, McCann is the way to go.  He's hit 176 home runs and added 227 doubles over his nine year career, batting .277.  His best season was his first full season, 2006, when he hit 24 home runs, drove in 93, and batted .333.  He has five Silver Slugger awards (most recently 2011, when he hit 24 home runs and batted .270) and is a seven time All Star.

3. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (29)
2013 Stat Line: 14 HR, 65 RBI, .273 AVG, 4 SB.
Salty, who bears the longest surname in major league history at 14 letters long, is a young option on the market.  He won't be 29 until May, but might be a bit of a gamble.  He strikes out an average of 162 times per 500 at bats, but has also added 19.5 home runs in that sample size.  After hitting 25 home runs in 2012, he added a couple of interesting aspects to his game in 2013.  Despite seeing his home run total decline to 14, his average jumped from .222 to .273 and he crushed 40 doubles, a career high by 17.  He also finished the season on an eleven game hitting streak, batting .410 with three home runs and eleven RBI during the stretch.
Other catchers: A.J. Pierzynski, Kurt Suzuki, John Buck.

First Basemen

1.  Mike Napoli (32)
2013 Stat Line: 23 HR, 92 RBI, .259 AVG, 1 SB.
Napoli has always been known for his big bat.  He has 169 home runs in 866 career games, holding a .502 slugging percentage.  He has not hit less than 20 home runs in any season since 2007, when he played in only 75 games.  His best season came in 2011, when he hit 30 home runs and batted .320 in just 113 games.  He has struggled to keep his batting average up, hitting just .259 for his career, but he still profiles well as a four or five hole hitter.

2. Kendrys Morales (30-31)
2013 Stat Line: 23 HR, 80 RBI, .277 AVG, 0 SB.
Morales has come full circle since his devastating 2010 leg injury, fully immersing himself back into the swing of things.  Over the past two seasons, he's hit 45 home runs, driven in 143 runs, and batted .275 in 290 games.  Mainly a DH, he can play first base if needed.  One thing he must improve on is his on base percentage.  Despite batting .277 last year, he only had a .336 on base percentage due to walking only 49 times, which was actually up from 31 in 2012.  A power hitter like himself must learn to take walks.

3. Justin Morneau (33)
2013 Stat Line: 17 HR, 77 RBI, .259 AVG, 0 SB.
The former MVP is now up for free agency.  He has somewhat coasted off of the success of his 2006 campaign, where he hit 34 home runs, drove in 130, and batted .321 en route to winning the AL MVP award.  His production has steadily declined, but he can still provide a big bat.  An All Star as recently as 2010, he hit 17 home runs in 2013 while splitting the season between the Twins and Pirates.  He has 221 career home runs, 293 doubles, and a .277 average, making him one of the most accomplished free agents on the market.
Other first basemen: Paul Konerko, Corey Hart, James Loney

Second Basemen

1. Robinson Cano (30)
2013 Stat Line: 27 HR, 107 RBI, .314 AVG, 7 SB.
Robinson Cano is the top free agent on the market, at any position.  Earlier this fall, he stated that he was looking for ten years at $305 million, which would be the largest contract in major league history.  I believe that it is unlikely that Cano will actually sign for that figure, but there is no doubt that he will create a huge stir when he signs.  Virtually since his 2005 debut, he's been one of the top all-around players in baseball, proving to be one of the league's top hitters while playing some of the best defense at second base in recent memory.  He's four Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves while appearing in four All Star games.  He has not batted below .300 or hit less than 25 home runs in any season since 2008.

2. Omar Infante (32)
2013 Stat Line: 10 HR, 51 RBI, .318 AVG, 5 SB.
If you are looking for a dependable middle infielder but don't want to dish out the big bucks, look no further than Omar Infante.  He's batted at least .271 every season since 2006 and posted a career year in 2013.  Despite playing in only 118 games due to a July injury, he still managed to swat ten home runs and bat .318.  He rarely strikes out and has played everywhere but first base, pitcher, and catcher in his career.  His primary position is second base, where he's played 748 games, but he's also appeared in 225 games at shortstop, 107 at third base, and 101 in the outfield.

3. Kelly Johnson (32)
2013 Stat Line: 16 HR, 52 RBI, .235 AVG, 7 SB.
Johnson is no stranger to bouncing around, having played with four team in the past five seasons.  He strikes out a lot and has serious issues with getting on base, but he is a cheap option that can provide a lot of pop from a position that is not known for power hitters.  He has 124 career home runs to go with a .253 average.  His best season was 2010, when he hit 26 home runs, drove in 71, and batted .284 with 13 stolen bases for the Diamondbacks.
Other second basemen: Brian Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Nick Punto, Skip Schumaker

Shortstops

1. Jhonny Peralta (32)
2013 Stat Line: 11 HR, 55 RBI, .303 AVG, 3 SB.
In a shallow shortstop class, Peralta heads as the only starter quality player.  Despite sitting out 50 games for a Biogenesis-linked suspension, he managed to post solid numbers.  In 107 games, he hit eleven home runs, drove in 55, and batted .303 while posting 30 doubles.  2013 marked his ninth straight season with at least 25 doubles and eleven home runs.  His best season was 2011, when he hit 21 home runs, drove in 86, and batted .299 in 146 games for the Tigers.  Now a free agent at 31, he may be looking to sign a mid-length deal, probably not longer than two or three years.

2. Stephen Drew (31)
2013 Stat line: 13 HR, 67 RBI, .253 AVG, 6 SB.
Though his offensive production has dropped considerably since his days with the Diamondbacks, Drew is still a starter-quality shortstop.  He is an excellent fielder who, despite his enormous struggles at the plate during the postseason (.080 AVG in 15 games), can still hit.  He batted .367 over his final eight games, going 11-30 with a home run and five RBI.  He has 90 career home runs with a .264 average.

3. Rafael Furcal (36)
2013 Stat Line: Missed seasonI
njuries have plagued Furcal since 2008, as he's averaged just 82 games per season in the past six years.  However, when healthy, he can still be a valuable weapon.  The 36 year old was an All Star as recently as 2012, just as he was in 2010 and 2003.  An elbow injury knocked him out for all of 2013, but he should be healthy and ready for the 2014 season.  In 121 games in 2012, he hit five home runs, batted .264, and stole 12 bases.  As an interesting side note, he stole 154 bases in just 192 games over two minor leagues seasons (1998 and 1999), including 96 in 1999.  He has 487 stolen bases in his professional career.
Other shortstops: Clint Barmes, Brendan Ryan, Willie Bloomquist, Jamey Carroll

Third Basemen

1. Michael Young (37)
2013 Stat Line: 8 HR, 46 RBI, .279 AVG, 1 SB.
Young has no shortage of career accomplishments.  He is a career .300 hitter, having both scored and driven in over a thousand runs, has knocked 2375 hits, 441 of which have been doubles.  As tends to happen when players reach their late thirties, Young has been slowing down.  He still can hold his own with a bat, batting .277 and .279 in 2012 and 2013, his age 35 and 36 seasons, respectively.  He will be a positive veteran presence as well as a solid bat for his new team.  In both 2008 and 2011, he was voted Man of the Year by MLB players.

2. Mark Reynolds (30)
2013 Stat Line: 21 HR, 67 RBI, .220 AVG, 3 SB.
Reynolds, who has hit at least 17 home runs in each of his seven major league seasons, would be a solid offensive contribution to any team.  However, while he is a power bat, he has one major issue; he strikes out a ton.  In 2009, he set the single season major league record by striking out 223 times during what was a three year run atop the major league strikeout board.  Many teams may skip over him because of the strikeouts, but with 202 career home runs and 568 RBI, he could be a steal set for a bounce back season.  

3. Kevin Youkilis (35)
2013 Stat Line: 2 HR, 8 RBI, .219 AVG, 0 SB.
Youk, whose career has been derailed by injuries, is a free agent again.  While he hasn't played in more than 122 games in a season since 2009, he can still be a solid bat and glove.  As recently as 2010, he hit 19 home runs and batted .307 in 102 games.  He is three times an All Star, one time a Hank Aaron Award recipient, and one time a Gold Glover, so a bounce back season would render him a huge steal.  Comeback Player of the Year is a hard award to predict, but if I had to give a guess, I think Youk could win it.
Other third basemen: Juan Uribe, Placido Polanco, Casey McGehee, Eric Chavez

Outfielders

1. Jacoby Ellsbury (30)
2013 Stat Line: 9 HR, 53 RBI, .298 AVG, 52 SB.
Besides Robinson Cano, Ellsbury will garner the most attention on the market.  With a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, an All Star appearance, and a Comeback Player of the Year award (all from the same season, 2011) under his belt, combined with the fact that he is young and dynamic, he will sign a $100 million plus deal.  He can hit, run, and field excellently, and nearly won the MVP award in 2011.  That year, he finished second in the race, behind only Justin Verlander, who went 24-4 with a 2.40 ERA.  Ellsbury hit 32 home runs, drove in 105, and batted .321 with 39 stolen bases.  In 2009, he set the single season Red Sox record with 70 stolen bases.

2. Curtis Granderson (33)
2013 Stat Line: 7 HR, 15 RBI, .229 AVG, 8 SB.
Adding to the Yankees' long list of free agents to retain is Curtis Granderson, who has a chance to reach $100 million.  Injuries derailed his 2013 season, but he has given plenty of proof as to his value over the years.  As a former 20-20-20-20 player (home runs, stolen bases, triples, doubles) as well as a two time 40 home run hitter, he is one of my favorite players in the game as well as my favorite player on the hated Yankees.  His two best seasons came in 2007, when he hit 23 home runs, batted .302, stole 26 bases, and knocked 23 triples, and 2011, when he hit 41 home runs, drove in 119, and batted .262 with 25 stolen bases.

3. Shin-Soo Choo (31-32)
2013 Stat Line: 21 HR, 54 RBI, .285 AVG, 20 SB.
Choo is a solid offensive player.  He can hit for power and average and is an above average base-stealer.  He's posted three 20-20 seasons, coming in 2009, 2010, and 2013.  Despite his .288 career average, 104 home runs, and 105 stolen bases, he has never been an All Star.  One thing that really sets him apart is his incredible knack for getting on base.  He holds a .389 career OBP and finished second in the National League in that category in 2013 by posting a .423 mark.  As one of the more under the radar players in baseball, he will give the team that signs him a lot of bang for their buck.  In 2013, he scored 107 runs, a new career high. 

4. Carlos Beltran (37)
2013 Stat Line: 24 HR 84 RBI, .296 AVG, 2 SB.
Despite playing in his 16th season in 2013, Beltran still put up great numbers.  A veteran of over 2000 games, he has hit 358 home runs and stolen 308 bases while batting .283 for his career.  Last year, he posted his eleventh season of 20 plus home runs, as well as his sixth with a batting average over .290.  A three time Gold Glover, eight time All Star, and two time Silver Slugger, he will be a great pickup for any team.  However, teams need to see that he will be 37 in April and could begin to see his production trail off at any point.

5. Michael Morse (32)
2013 Stat Line: 13 HR, 27 RBI, .215 AVG, 0 SB.
A rough season for Morse hurt his free agent value, but when healthy, he is still one of the games more feared hitters.  In 2011, in fact his only full season, he hit 31 home runs, drove in 95, and batted .303 in 146 games.  Despite playing in only 102 games in 2012, he still hit 18 home runs and batted .291.  He is a great candidate for a bounce back season.

6. Nelson Cruz (33-34)
2013 Stat Line: 27 HR, 76 RBI, .266 AVG, 5 SB.
Cruz is another player whose free agent value dropped significantly in 2013.  Despite posting great numbers for the fifth straight season, he may struggle to find a large deal.  A 50 game suspension due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal leaves many teams weary of him, but he is still a great hitter that can help any team.  Despite playing in only one game after August 4th, he managed to hit 27 home runs, just six shy of a career high.  He can also run well for a 6'2", 230 pound outfielder; he stole 20 bases in 2009 and 17 in 2010.

7. Marlon Byrd (36)
2013 Stat Line: 24 HR, 88 RBI, .291 AVG, 2 SB.
Byrd bounced back from a pair of subpar seasons to post the best year of his career in 2013.  He set career highs in home runs (24), slugging percentage (.511), and OPS (.847).  It should not be a surprise if he gets a deal lower than what would seem reasonable for the kind of production that he put up, because he is 36 years old and has never produced like he did last year.  That lowers him to number eight on my list of outfielders.  He did hit .364 with a home run and five RBI in six playoff games.

8. David Murphy (32)
2013 Stat Line: 13 HR, 45 RBI, .220 AVG, 1 SB.
Murphy put together a string of good years with Texas, but slumped last year.  He held a .285 average for his career coming into 2013, but hit just .220 in 142 games.  In 2012, he hit 15 home runs and batted .304 with ten stolen bases.  He can be a fourth outfielder or start, depending on the team that signs him.  Despite his rough 2013, his power didn't suffer, and it is hopeful that he can get back to his usual self in 2014.

9. Rajai Davis (33)
2013 Stat Line: 6 HR, 24 RBI, .260 AVG, 45 SB.
Davis has developed into one of the best base stealers in baseball.  He's stolen at least 22 bases in each season since 2007, and at least 34 in each year since 2009.  He set a career high at 50 in 2010 and stole 45 last year, despite playing in just 108 games.  He holds a .268 career average, so he can get hits as well as run.  In 2012, he hit eight home runs.  The Connecticut native could be a cheap option for a good outfielder.
Other outfielders: Raul Ibañez, Chris Young, Jason Kubel, Tyler Colvin, Andres Torres, Juan Pierre, Delmon Young, Jeff Francouer

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Teams followed in this update: Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers
If your team is not included, please leave a comment.
HR: home runs.  RBI: runs batted in.  AVG: batting average.  SB: stolen bases.  ERA: earned run average. WHIP: walks/hits per innings pitched.  K's: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage
Zack Silverman