Major League Free Agent List 2011-12 (POSITION PLAYERS sorted by fWAR)

updated 2/21/12 6:10 PM PST
by Jason Martinez

The following list includes major league free agent position players only. Players that have signed are listed under the 'OFF THE MARKET' section at the bottom of the page. A list of minor leaguers will also be posted in the near future. For now, you can see a list of each team's 'unofficial' minor league free agents on the team pages.

This particular list is sorted by fWAR, which stands for 'Wins Above Replacement' as defined by FanGraphs.com. Below is a short description. Click HERE for FanGraphs.com's full description.

Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is an attempt by the sabermetric community to summarize a player’s total contributions to their team in one statistic. You should always use more than one metric at a time when evaluating players, but WAR is pretty darn all-inclusive and provides a handy reference point. WAR basically looks at a player and asks the question, “If this player got injured and their team had to replace them with a minor leaguer or someone from their bench, how much value would the team be losing?” This value is expressed in a wins format, so we could say that Player X is worth 6.3 wins to their team while Player Y is only worth 3.5 wins.

Click HERE for the list of PITCHERS.
Click HERE of a full list of Major League Free Agents separated by position.

FREE AGENTS
Position Players (*indicates left-handed batter **indicates switch-hitter)
fWAR between 1.5 and 2.9
DH Johnny Damon* TB (1.5)

fWAR between 0.7 and 1.4
1B Derrek Lee PIT (1.4)
SS Edgar Renteria CIN (0.9)
IF Aaron Miles** LAD (0.8)

fWAR between 0.0 and 0.6
C Ramon Castro CWS (0.4)
C Ivan Rodriguez WAS (0.4)
DH Hideki Matsui* OAK (0.3)
DH Vladimir Guerrero BAL (0.0)

fWAR below 0.0 
1B/OF Xavier Nady ARI (-0.2)
OF J.D. Drew* BOS (-0.3)
1B/OF Ross Gload* PHI (-0.3)
RF Magglio Ordoñez DET (-1.0)
C Jason Kendall KC (DNP-Injured) +

OFF THE MARKET
Position Players (*indicates left-handed batter **indicates switch-hitter)
fWAR of 3.0 or higher
SS Jose Reyes** NYM (6.2) SIGNED w/ MARLINS (6 yr, $106M)
2B Brandon Phillips CIN (6.0) $12M club option EXERCISED
2B Robinson Cano* NYY (5.6) $14M club option EXERCISED
1B Prince Fielder* MIL (5.5) SIGNED w/ TIGERS (9 yr, $214M)
1B Albert Pujols STL (5.1) SIGNED w/ ANGELS (10 yr, $254M)
OF Carlos Beltran** SF (4.7) SIGNED w/ CARDINALS (2 yr, $26M)
DH David Ortiz* BOS (4.2) ACCEPTED ARBITRATION 
C Yadier Molina STL (4.1) $7M club option EXERCISED
SS Jimmy Rollins** PHI (3.8) RE-SIGNED w/ PHILLIES (3 yr, $33M, plus option for '15)
RF Nick Swisher** NYY (3.8) $10.25M club option EXERCISED
3B Aramis Ramirez CHC (3.6) SIGNED w/ BREWERS (3 yr, $36M, plus mutual option for '14)
SS Clint Barmes HOU (3.1) SIGNED w/ PIRATES (2 yr, $10.5M)
IF/OF Michael Cuddyer MIN (3.1) SIGNED w/ ROCKIES (3 yr, $31.5M)

fWAR between 1.5 and 2.9

SS Marco Scutaro BOS (2.9) $6M club option EXERCISED
1B Casey Kotchman* TB (2.8) SIGNED w/ INDIANS (1 yr, $3M)
1B Carlos Peña* CHC (2.6) SIGNED w/ RAYS (1 yr, $7.25M)
2B Kelly Johnson* TOR (2.2) ACCEPTED ARBITRATION
IF Jamey Carroll LAD (2.2) SIGNED w/ TWINS (2 yr, $6.75M)
OF Coco Crisp** OAK (2.2) RE-SIGNED (2 yr, $14M, plus 2014 club option)
OF David DeJesus* OAK (2.2) SIGNED w/ CUBS (2 yr, $10M, plus club option for '14)
1B/OF Josh Willingham OAK (2.1) SIGNED w/ TWINS (3 yr, $21M)
C Ramon Hernandez CIN (2.0) SIGNED w/ ROCKIES (2 yr, $6.4M)
C/OF Ryan Doumit** PIT (1.8) SIGNED w/ TWINS (1 yr, $3M)
IF Nick Punto STL** (1.8) SIGNED w/ RED SOX (2 yr, $3M)
1B/3B Edwin Encarnacion TOR (1.5) $3.5M club option EXERCISED
OF Endy Chavez* TEX (1.5) SIGNED w/ ORIOLES (1 yr, $1.5M)
OF Jonny Gomes WAS (1.5) SIGNED w/ ATHLETICS (1 yr, $1M)

fWAR between 0.7 and 1.4
SS Ronny Cedeño PIT (1.4) SIGNED w/ METS (1 yr, $1.2M)
IF Ramon Santiago** DET (1.4) RE-SIGNED (2 yr, $4.2M)
OF Rick Ankiel* WAS (1.4) RE-SIGNED w/ NATIONALS (Minor League Deal)
OF Andruw Jones NYY (1.4) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $2M)
C Rod Barajas LAD (1.3) SIGNED w/ PIRATES (1 yr, $4M, plus club option for '13)
C Jose Molina TOR (1.3) SIGNED w/ RAYS (1 yr, $1.5M, plus club option for '13)
2B Mark Ellis COL (1.3) SIGNED w/ DODGERS (2 yr, $8.75M)
1B Jason Giambi* COL (1.3) $1M mutual option EXERCISED
1B Jim Thome* CLE (1.3) SIGNED w/ PHILLIES (1 yr, $1.25M)
C Henry Blanco ARI (1.2) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $1.2M, plus club option for '13)
IF/OF Jerry Hairston, Jr. MIL (1.2) SIGNED w/ DODGERS (2 yr, $6M)
OF Reed Johnson CHC (1.2) RE-SIGNED w/ CUBS (1 yr, $1.15)
C Kelly Shoppach TB (1.1) SIGNED w/ RED SOX (1 yr, $1.35M)
3B Wilson Betemit** DET (1.1) SIGNED w/ORIOLES (2 yr, $3.25M, plus 2014 vesting option)
3B Casey Blake LAD (1.1) SIGNED w/ROCKIES (1 yr, $2M)
SS Alex Gonzalez ATL (1.1) SIGNED w/ BREWERS (1 yr, $4.25M, plus 2013 vesting option)
OF Jason Kubel* MIN (1.1) SIGNED w/ DIAMONDBACKS (2 yr, $15M, plus mutual option for '14)
IF/OF Eric Hinske* ATL (0.9) $1.5M club option EXERCISED
OF Cody Ross SF (0.9) SIGNED w/ RED SOX (1 yr, $3M)
2B Aaron Hill ARI (0.8) RE-SIGNED (2 yr, $11M)
C Chris Snyder PIT (0.7) SIGNED w/ ASTROS (1 yr, $1.25M, plus mutual option for '13)
C Matt Treanor TEX (0.7) SIGNED w/ DODGERS (1 yr, $850K, plus club option for '13)
1B/OF Juan Rivera LAD (0.7) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $4M, plus club option for '13)
SS Ryan Theriot STL (0.7) SIGNED w/ GIANTS (1 yr, $1.25M)

fWAR between 0.0 and 0.6
1B/3B Eric Chavez* NYY (0.6) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $900K)
IF Brooks Conrad** ATL (0.6) SIGNED w/ BREWERS (Minor League Deal)
IF John McDonald ARI (0.6) RE-SIGNED (2 yr, $3M)
OF Laynce Nix* WAS (0.6) SIGNED w/ PHILLIES (2 yr, $2.5M)
C Jason Varitek** BOS (0.5) RETIRED 
SS Yuniesky Betancourt MIL (0.5) SIGNED w/ROYALS (1 yr, $2M)
SS Rafael Furcal** STL (0.5) RE-SIGNED (2 yr, $14M) 
IF Craig Counsell* MIL (0.5) RETIRED 
IF/OF Greg Dobbs* FLA (0.5) RE-SIGNED (2 yr, $3M) 
LF Pat Burrell SF (0.5) RETIRED 
1B/OF Brad Hawpe* SD (0.4) + SIGNED w/ RANGERS (Minor League Deal)
2B Jeff Keppinger SF (0.4) SIGNED w/ RAYS (1 yr, $1.525M)
C Ronny Paulino NYM (0.3) SIGNED w/ ORIOLES (Minor League Deal)
1B/OF Mike Baxter* NYM (0.3) RE-SIGNED (Minor League Deal)
IF/OF Willie Bloomquist ARI (0.3) RE-SIGNED (2 yr, $3.8M)
OF Ryan Ludwick PIT (0.3) SIGNED w/ REDS (1 yr, $2M, plus 2013 mutual option) 
OF Scott Hairston NYM (0.3) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $1.1M)
C/OF Chris Gimenez SEA (0.2) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $TBD)
1B/OF Mark Kotsay* MIL (0.2) SIGNED w/ PADRES (1 yr, $1.25M)
IF Alex Cora* WAS (0.2) SIGNED w/ CARDINALS (Minor League Deal)
OF Nate McLouth* ATL (0.2) SIGNED w/ PIRATES (1 yr, $1.75M) 
OF Grady Sizemore* CLE (0.2) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $5M)
C Gerald Laird STL (0.1) SIGNED w/ TIGERS (1 yr, $1M)
C Eli Whiteside SF (0.1) RE-SIGNED w/ GIANTS (1 yr, $TBD)
IF Cesar Izturis** BAL (0.1) SIGNED w/ BREWERS (Minor League Deal)
IF/OF Mark DeRosa SF (0.1) SIGNED w/ NATIONALS (1 yr, $TBD)
C Josh Bard** SEA (0.0) SIGNED w/ DODGERS (Minor League Deal)
1B Russell Branyan* LAA (0.0) SIGNED w/ YANKEES (Minor League Deal)
IF Jack Wilson ATL (0.0) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $1M)
OF Cole Garner COL (0.0) SIGNED w/ YANKEES (Minor League Deal)
OF Corey Patterson* STL (0.0) SIGNED w/ BREWERS (Minor League Deal)

fWAR below 0.0 
1B/OF Conor Jackson BOS (-0.1) SIGNED w/ RANGERS (Minor League Deal)
1B/OF Luke Scott BAL (-0.1) SIGNED w/ RAYS (1 yr, $6M, plus 2013 club option)
2B Carlos Guillen** DET (-0.1) SIGNED w/ MARINERS (Minor League Deal)
IF Adam Kennedy* SEA (-0.1) SIGNED w/ DODGERS (1 yr, $800K)
OF Wily Mo Peña SEA (-0.1) SIGNED w/ FUKUOKA (Japan) (2 yr, $5M)
3B/2B Jose Lopez FLA (-0.2) SIGNED w/ INDIANS (Minor League Deal)
2B Will Rhymes* DET (-0.2) SIGNED w/ RAYS (Minor League Deal)
OF Kosuke Fukudome* CLE (-0.2) SIGNED w/ WHITE SOX (1 yr, $1M, plus 2013 club option) 
IF/OF Willie Harris* NYM (-0.3) SIGNED w/ REDS (Minor League Deal)

C Koyie Hill** CHC (-0.4) SIGNED w/ CARDINALS (Minor League Deal)

C Jorge Posada** NYY (-0.4) RETIRED  
LF Juan Pierre* CWS (-0.4) SIGNED w/ PHILLIES (Minor League Deal)

OF Jason Michaels HOU (-0.5) SIGNED w/ NATIONALS (Minor League Deal)
IF Omar Vizquel** CWS (-0.5) SIGNED w/ BLUE JAYS (Minor League Deal)
1B Lyle Overbay* ARI (-0.6) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $1M)
C Brian Schneider* PHI (-0.9) RE-SIGNED (1 yr, $800K)
OF Ryan Spilborghs COL (-1.1) SIGNED w/ INDIANS (Minor League Deal)
IF Orlando Cabrera SF (-1.3) RETIRED

LF Raul Ibañez* PHI (-1.3) SIGNED w/ YANKEES (1 yr, $1.1M) 
DH Manny Ramirez TB (-0.3) SIGNED w/ ATHLETICS (Minor League Deal)
International Free Agents
OF Yoenis Cespedes Cuba SIGNED w/ ATHLETICS (4 yr, $36M)






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