| The first base class in free agency is Adam LaRoche and everyone else. (US Presswire) |
Last season Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder signed free-agent deals worth a combined $468 million. That's not going to happen with the first base position this year. In fact, it would be surprising if the accumulated free-agent class could match the 19 years on the contracts of Fielder and Pujols -- or even the 17 remaining years. The free-agent first base class has more players on it who could never see another big-league pitch than it does everyday starters.
So, with that overwhelming endorsement, let's take a look at the top 10 first basemen available in free agency:
1. Adam LaRoche | 2012 team: Nationals
2012 stats: .271/.343/.510, 33 HR, 100 RBI, 35 2B, 76 R
LaRoche will likely turn down his part of a $10-million mutual option and be the top first baseman -- and perhaps top infielder -- on the market. Both LaRoche and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo have expressed interest in keeping the soon-to-be 33-year-old a National, but that doesn't mean he won't listen to other offers. His free agency couldn't come at a batter time. Not only did LaRoche hit .271/.343/.510 with 33 homers and 100 RBI, but he also picked up his first career Gold Glove.
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2. Lance Berkman | 2012 team: Cardinals
2012 stats: .259/.381/.444, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 97 PA
A year ago, Berkman parlayed his rebound season into a one-year, $12-million deal. He ended up earning $123,711.34 each time he stepped to the plate in the big leagues last season. Nice work if you can get it. Berkman had two different knee surgeries during the season and also spent time on the disabled list with a calf issue. St. Louis has already said it doesn't expect to have a place for Berkman and he's hinted at retirement. If healthy, Berkman can still hit, but it's possible he may just hang 'em up instead of doing some kind of retirement victory lap. If he does decide on a nostalgia tour, a DH stint with the Astros would be possible.
3. James Loney | 2012 teams: Dodgers, Red Sox
2012 stats: .249/.293/.336, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 20 2B, 28 BB, 51 SO, 465 PA
For a first baseman to hit six home runs and drive in 41, you'd think he'd been injured and played just part of a season. Or you'd say he's James Loney. The 28-year-old once looked like he'd be one of the bright young stars of the game. And then … well … he's just stopped hitting. Loney was the unwanted part of the Dodgers side of the big trade that sent Boston's unwanted contracts to Los Angeles. One of the reasons the Red Sox agreed to take him on was they knew they wouldn't have to keep him past the 2012 season.
4. Carlos Pena | 2012 team: Rays
2012 stats: .197/.330./354, 19 HR, 61 RBI, 182 SO, 87 BB, 600 PA
At the 2010 winter meetings, Pena's agent, Scott Boras, called Pena's one-year deal with the Cubs a "pillow deal." Well, it was a soft landing for Pena, that's for sure. Afterward it was a thud. The market was nowhere near as nice to him, even after he hit 28 home runs. His return to Tampa Bay in 2012 was nowhere near as productive as either team had hoped it would be. Pena is just 34, but it appears his career as an everyday player is over.
5. Ty Wigginton | 2012 team: Phillies
2012 stats: .235/.314/.375, 11 HR, 43 RBI, 81 SO
Never a defensive stalwart, Wigginton may see DH in his future, even though he's not exactly getting it done with the bat anymore. Wigginton made 49 starts at first base in 2012, 21 at third base and seven in the outfield. He's also played second base in his career, but not since 2010. Wigginton's slugging percentage was a career-worst .375 last season. He'll likely find a home somewhere, but he may have to go the route of a minor-league contract with an invite to big-league camp.
6. Casey Kotchman | 2012 team: Indians
2012 stats: .229/.280/.333, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 49 SO, 26 BB
Kotchman managed just a one-year, $3 million deal after a breakout 2011. Following a rough 2012 season, it'll be tougher to Kotchman to find a job. A fantastic defensive first baseman, Kotchman didn't provide the Indians with the offense they'd wanted, and the bad news for him is that not many teams build around a glove-first first baseman.
7. Jason Giambi | 2012 team: Rockies
2012 stats: .225/.372/.303, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 20 BB, 24 SO, 113 PA
The sad fact is Giambi is in more demand as a manager than he is a player. Giambi started just 18 games last season and is more or less limited to pinch-hitting duties in the National League. He hit just one home run last season in 113 plate appearances, but he made it count, as it was a walk-off. Giambi has already interviewed for the vacant Rockies managerial position and reportedly impressed. Managing seems to be much more of a part of his future than playing. If he retires, he'd finish with a .280/.403/.522 line and 429 home runs. One thing to keep in mind, he's 32 hits from 2,000, but he had just 20 last season, so it'd take some real favoritism from his manager to get enough at-bats to get to 2,000. Once common, baseball hasn't had a player-manager since Pete Rose stopped playing in 1986.
8. Lyle Overbay | 2012 teams: Diamondbacks and Braves
2012 stats: .259/.331/.397, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 10 2B, 110 PA, 13 BB, 34 SO
The journeyman had a nice start to the season with the Diamondbacks, where he pushed for playing time with Paul Goldschmidt, at least on a platoon basis. He was hitting .366/.446/.5777 through his first 31 games -- and the team's first 68, but then he went just 2 for 25 over his last month-plus with the team. After the Diamondbacks couldn't find a taker for him at the trade deadline, he was designated for assignment. The Braves signed him to a minor-league deal and called him up at the end of the season. He had just two hits in 21 plate appearances as a pinch-hitter for the Braves.
9. Eric Hinske | 2012 team: Braves
2012 stats: .197/.272/.311, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 14 BB, 41 SO
The Braves went out to get Overbay because Hinske was so bad. So, you know the pickings are slim at this point. The 35-year-old may be nearing the end of a career that started with so much promise. The 2002 American League Rookie of the Year never again managed to replicate the 24 homers he hit for the Blue Jays in his first season in the big leagues. Although he had a mini-resurgence in Atlanta, that time seems to be done.
10. Xavier Nady | 2012 teams: Nationals and Giants
2012 stats: .184/.253/.316, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 13 BB, 37 SO
Nady actually didn't play first base this past season, but it may be his best position remaining. He played both left field and right field and was actually decent as a pinch-hitter in a very limited role with six hits in 15 plate appearances, including two home runs and a double. So maybe he still has value based on his versatility and as a veteran off the bench who can also play a couple of positions. Nady was on the Giants' postseason roster, but didn't appear in either the NLCS or World Series.
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