Top Free Agent Hitters

3 players signed contract extensions, otherwise they would be on this list: Bruce Berano will stay in Cleveland for 3 years and 28.5 million, a tremendous deal for a catcher who will be 36. 39 year old future Hall of Famers Kermit Holmes and Mahatma Russell signed one year deals to stay with the New York Knights.

That leaves these top players:

Catchers:

1. Chris McMullen
2. George Kird
3. Eli Moreno

Kird will likely stay in Portland for a similar contract to Berano's. McMullen should get similar money but for more years.

1st Base:
1. Hal Glover
2. Stuart Johnson
3. Joseph Greble

Glover may be the top free agent available, you can expect 200 hits, 100 runs and rbi, and gold glove defense. He should be a lock for 15 million, but might get even more.

Johnson at 38 is still an outstanding player and will get between 8 and 12 million. Greble, 29, would have a huge payday if he had a season like his 2006 (298-31-114) but slumped to .250 with 18 homers in 2007

Infield:
1. Domingo Chavez
2. Jose Isales
3. Travis Palmer

Chavez will get a huge contract thanks to his power and defense. Isales is an above average hitter at a position where offense is rare and an adequate defender. He's probably thinking about a contract in another league: Julio Lugo's 36 million for the Red Sox. Palmer doesn't stand out, but is at least average in every aspect of the game and has been durable. Lou Zamuda is not listed here as he will not see the free agent market. He will either decide to return to Utah or retire.

Outfield:
1. Dirk Lindros
2. Roy Brown
3. Carlos Merejo
4. Eddie Cedeno
5. Jose Encarnacion
6. Gabe Kotter
7. Kyle Broslofski
8. Gary Parkman

Lindros hits the free agent market for the first time. He's 35 and coming off his worst season (.242, 27 homers) but he's still likely to get one more big contract. Brown has been a solid RBI bat from centerfield and a key contributor to some good Hollywood teams, but he's lost a step in center. Merejo is weak in on-base skills, but gives you a lot of RBI, a strong arm in right, and is durable. Cedeno is the top gloveman in the group and a true leadoff man. He averaged over 100 runs scored in his 3 seasons in Alaska. The Snow Sox will let him leave as Johnny Tusken and Darnell Turner compete for the center field job.

Encarnacion would top even Lindros based on his 2007 season (.324, .587 slugging) but he's never played at this level before, in previous seasons he was barely good enough to keep a job. Broslofski, Parkman, and Kotter are solid, unspectacular corner outfielders.