Top 20 Impact Free Agents of the 2010 Baseball Season

As the 2009 MLB season dwindles down and players start to schedule their October tee times, fans and GMs alike can look forward to baseball's 2010 free agent market. Here is a list of the top 20 impact free agents for the 2010 baseball season.

1. Jason Bay, outfielder
Age: 31
Jason Bay is regarded as the best-ranked, most attainable free agent going into the 2010 season. His 2009 season is the kind of season you want to have before going into free agency. Red Sox fans have grown to love him, so the Red Sox brass will likely pay him whatever he wants, and that price may go up dramatically if Bay struts his stuff in October.

2. Matt Holliday, outfielder
Age: 29
The Cardinals are expected to wrap up Matt Holliday in a huge multi-year deal that will make Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday the scariest one-two punch in the National League since Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds.

3. John Lackey, starting pitcher
Age: 30
As the Angels' ace and go-to guy in the postseason, Lackey's experience and talent makes him the number one rated pitching free agent going into 2010. He can bolster his worth with postseason success with the Angels.

4. Carl Crawford, outfielder
Age: 28
The Tampa Bay Rays still have an $10 million option on Carl Crawford for the 2010, and they will likely keep Crawford on. However, if they let him slip, there will be a feeding frenzy for this all-around great player.

5. Victor Martinez, catcher/first baseman
Age: 31
The Red Sox hold a $7.5 million option for 2010 for Victor Martinez. He's splitting time with Captain Jason Varitek, good for 80+ RBIs a year, and is currently in the middle of a 24-game hit streak. He will likely stay with the Red Sox.

6. José Valverde, relief pitcher
Age: 31
With 20+ saves in 2009 and 40+ saves in the two years prior, Valverde will be a top choice for any teams with a gaping hole in the closer spot.

7. Chone Figgins, third baseman
Age: 30
A third baseman with speed, with top ten numbers in stolen bases, runs scored, and triples, Chone Figgins will be heavily sought after in the free agent market, especially if he shines in the playoffs with the Angels.

8. Johnny Damon, outfielder
Age: 35
Johnny Damon is getting up there in age, and while his stats have been consistent in his years with the Yankees, there might not be enough room for Damon in the clubhouse. It might come down to either Hideki Matsui or Damon, especially if the Yankees can get their hands on a sexier free agent.

9. Hideki Matsui, outfielder
Age: 35
Even though he's aged since his major league debut, and he is more of a DH now than a left fielder, Matsui has been a big part of the Yankees' sprint to the postseason in 2009. The Yankees have a tradition of sticking with sentimental favorites, even if they are just resigned to pinch-hitting duties, but if not, he will be a great addition to most American League teams.

10. Vladimir Guerrero, outfielder
Age: 34
Vladimir Guerrero is no stranger to the free agent market. Just six years ago, he was a hot free agent. But that was six years ago. He has aged since then, and if he wants to make it to the 500 home run club, he'll need to stay in the American League and eventually settle as a DH.

11. Rick Ankiel, outfielder
Age: 30
The arrival of Matt Holliday has forced Rick Ankiel into an Cardinal outfielder platoon situation. With all the ex-pitcher-turned-slugger has been through, it's a wonder that he's only 30 years old. He will be able to help lots of teams with his youth and his offensive production.

12. Nick Johnson, first baseman
Age: 31
A solid defensive player and consistent hitter, Nick Johnson's track record of injury will keep him from being a marquee free agent signing. He's also 3 years separated from his career-high year in 2006, when he hit 23 home runs.

13. Rich Harden, starting pitcher
Age: 27
2009 was Harden's first season since 2005 where he threw for more than 80 innings. Harden's career has seemingly always been as a great prospect with huge upside. However, so was Mark Prior's career.

14. Adrian Beltre, third baseman
Age: 30
Adrian Beltre's upside is strong defense and the possibility of power, although he has been plagued by injury. His five years with Seattle was a disappointment after he was runner-up for NL MVP in the 2004 season with the Dodgers. However, a power-hitting third baseman is a rare commodity these days.

15. Trevor Hoffman, relief pitcher
Age: 41
The reigning king of saves, Hoffman continues to get it done. He currently has 36 saves with a baffling ERA of 1.80. The Brewers hold his 2010 option, but if they decline it, many teams can use the services of the future Hall of Famer.

16. Bengie Molina, catcher
Age: 35
With the Giants clearing the path for Buster Posey, Molina will likely get the boot, but he will be a decent fill-in catcher for any team that needs a catcher with a little power. His age and status as slowest man in baseball won't land him any long-term contracts.

17. Carlos Delgado, first baseman
Age: 37
Carlos Delgado, 27 home runs shy of the 500 club, sits out the remainder of the Mets season with a hip injury. Delgado's future, if any, in the MLB would likely be as a DH in the American League.

18. Freddy Sanchez, second baseman
Age: 31
Traded to the San Francisco Giants from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for top pitching prospect Tim Alderson, Sanchez now sits out the rest of the season with a knee injury. The Giants carry a $8.1 million option on Freddy Sanchez, which seems mighty risky for a troublesome injury.

19. Xavier Nady, outfielder
Age: 30
Another casualty of the Yankees machine, Xavier Nady played only 7 games in 2009 before suffering an elbow injury. With a second Tommy John surgery scheduled in 2009, he is still questionable for the 2010 season.

20. Khalil Greene, shortstop
Age: 30
Suffering from social anxiety disorder, which landed him on the DL, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is now using Khalil Greene for pinch-hits and as a defensive replacement. There's no word yet whether or not Khalil Greene will join the Cardinals' postseason roster.

MetsBlog.com, "News: Delgado is Home, Reyes is a Long Shot"
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