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Ultimate free-agent tracker: Position breakdown

Positions: SPRPPC1B2B3BSSOFUTDHAll (1-175)

Here is the free-agent class of 2012-13, ranked from Nos. 1 to 175. The rankings are based on a number of variables, including each player's history, age and potential, and are as much about predicted performance as market value, providing a general outline as free agency unfolds between now and spring training.

Bookmark this page and return frequently. As the offseason progresses, Yahoo! Sports will update it with news of signings and their impact on the other free agents, as well as a supplementary list of players who are non-tendered by their current teams.

Starting pitchers

1. Zack Greinke, SP: SIGNED  He is young (29) and throws five legitimate major league pitches (fastball and slider the two best, plus a curve, change and cutter). He didn't beat CC Sabathia's record payday, but he got $147 million over six years from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Story

4. Anibal Sanchez, SP:SIGNED With a velocity spike at the end of the season, spot-on command and a tremendous array of secondary pitches – a plus changeup, a slider that flashes similar and an adequate curveball – Sanchez might be the most underappreciated player in this class. He doesn't look the top-flight starter at a thick 6 feet tall, but with with arm problems apparently behind him, he could play it. The Tigers decided to reclaim the right-hander, agreeing to a five-year, $80 million deal. Story

5. Hiroki Kuroda, SP: SIGNED Ground balls, strikeouts, lots of innings, next to no walks and all on a one-year, low-risk deal? It's why the Yankees gave him another, this one for $15 million.   Story

9. Dan Haren, SP: SIGNED  If Haren's troublesome back stops acting the fool, he's every bit the pitcher Greinke is: devilish command, filthy stuff, pitchability out the yin-yang and durability. It's why the Washington Nationals are reportedly taking a one-year shot at Haren for $13 million. From 2005-11, only CC Sabathia threw more innings than Haren's 1,581 1/3. That was more than Roy Halladay, more than Mark Buehrle, more than Cliff Lee. The problem: Haren's fastball velocity dipped to 88.5 last season – more than 3 mph off his peak – and surviving at that velocity takes more smoke and mirrors than a Marlboro funhouse. Story

12. Edwin Jackson, SP: SIGNEDDurability matters, and Jackson is good for 30-plus above-average starts a year. Is that worth a four-year, $52 million deal with the Cubs? Of course not. But Jackson is 29, allowed fewer baserunners than ever last season and posted a career-best strikeout rate. Story

13. Brandon McCarthy, SP: SIGNED From all indications, McCarthy has recovered from the scary brain surgery following an Erick Aybar line drive to the skull. And if his arm can remain healthy, too – a tough bargain for the 29-year-old – he'll be a bonanza signing for the Diamondbacks for a fraction of top-starter price. He reportedly got a two-year deal for $15.5 million.

15. Scott Baker, SP: SIGNED Should return from Tommy John surgery early in the season for the Cubs, who signed him to a one-year deal for $5.5 million. While most first-year TJ guys struggle with command, we've seen more and more (Stephen Strasburg, Adam Wainwright) thrive in the immediate aftermath. Baker's career 3.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio portends well for his future, especially if a team can latch an option onto an incentive-filled one-year deal. Story

16. Andy Pettitte, SP: SIGNED Pitched great when he was healthy. And that, of course, is the question for someone who turns 41 in June: Can his body hold up for another season with the Yankees, where he got a one-year deal for $12 million?  Pettitte hasn't pitched 200 innings since 2008, and while that might not be the standard anymore, it is an admission that whatever team signs him is willing to tax its bullpen some. Story

17. Ryan Dempster, SP: SIGNED A rotation stalwart since his return from the bullpen in 2008, Dempster foundered after his trade to Texas, his 10 home runs in 69 innings outweighing his strikeout rate of more than one an inning. Dempster isn't as bad as he was with the Rangers, nor is he as good as he was in 2012 with the Cubs (2.25 ERA over 104 innings). The Red Sox got him for a reported $26.5 million over two years. Story

18. Kyle Lohse, SP: SIGNED While he has indeed grown into a better pitcher – his control is exquisite – Lohse is still an aging right-hander whose average fastball doesn't crack 90 mph, and that's a troublesome long-term proposition. The Brewers are taking a chance, investing $33 million over three years for Lohse, who went 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA last season with the Cardinals. Story

22. Ryu Hyun-jin, SP: SIGNED Another big free-agent catch for the Dodgers. The husky – fine, he's fat, especially for a 25-year-old – left-hander is a rarity: a top-flight pitcher from South Korea coming to MLB mid-career. Ryu starred in the World Baseball Classic four years ago and this season struck out 210 in 182 2/3 innings in the KBO.  Story

32. Jeremy Guthrie, SP: SIGNED If not for that unfortunate pit stop in Denver, Guthrie might be in Lohse's position. Instead, he's going to live down his 6.35 first-half ERA while trying desperately to point out his 3.16 with Kansas City after a trade. Guthrie struggled to strike out hitters, but he posted a career-best walk rate and kept the home runs – his Achilles – relatively under control. It was enough to earn another run with the Royals, getting a three-year deal for $25 million. Story

33. Shaun Marcum, SP: SIGNED Far lower than on other lists based on a pair of things. 1) The pain in Marcum's arm flared up throughout 2012, and the words "shoulder soreness" and "elbow tightness" are about the ugliest in baseball. 2) Right-handed pitchers whose fastballs sit at 86.5 mph tend to get pilloried. And Greg Maddux he ain't. He got a one-year, $4 million deal with the Mets. Story

39. Carlos Villanueva, SP/RP: SIGNED Starter, reliever. Reliever, starter. If he can add some sink to his fastball and keep it in the ballpark – he's got the fifth-worst homer rate among pitchers still in the big leagues with 500-plus innings since 2006 – he becomes a potential cheap starter solution for the Cubs, who signed him to a two-year $10 million deal. Otherwise, he's going to be the guy who could be something but gives up too many bombs. Story

45. Francisco Liriano, SP: SIGNED From the will-he-ever-figure-it-out-again files comes a left-hander with a 93-mph fastball, a biting two-plane slider and a distinct problem putting either in the strike zone. To anyone who saw Liriano in 2006, the prospect of him hitting free agency brought to mind $200 million jackpots. Now, he's lucky the Pirates got him for a two-year, $14 million deal if a reported arm injury doesn't hold up the bargain. Story

54. Bartolo Colon, SP: SIGNED The one-year, $3 million contract he got with Oakland will buy him 6,009,688 Dunkin' Donuts (retail price: $5.99 a dozen) and one box of testosterone patches (retail price: $163.91 for 30 days). Story

60. Joe Saunders, SP: SIGNED The sort of pitcher managers love: a guy who will take the ball, grind innings and not walk guys. It's not pretty. It's often ugly. But there is a place in the back end of even championship rotations for the Saunderses of the world. He's reportedly headed to the Mariners for a one-year deal for around $7 million. Story

63. Scott Feldman, SP/RP: SIGNED His peripherals are good, his cutter/sinker/slow curve repertoire fairly unique and his ability to move back and forth between the rotation and bullpen much appreciated. Feldman got a one-year deal with the Cubs. Story

75. Kevin Correia, SP: SIGNED Not an innings eater. (He's never reached 200.) Not a rotation stalwart. (When the Pirates temporarily booted him from theirs last season, he asked for a trade … and the market wasn't exactly bustling.) But he is a starter with some history of decency, a reason the Twins got him for two years for $10 million. Story

76. Carl Pavano, SP: If indeed it was just a bone bruise that hampered him last season, Pavano could be a cheap rotation piece who well outperforms his salary.

80. Brett Myers, SP/RP: SIGNED While his stuff immediately improved upon a move back to the bullpen, Myers dipped to a career-worst strikeout rate. Still, the potential versatility gives him more options than most.He agreed to a one-year deal with the Indians. Story

81. Carlos Zambrano, SP: Walked more than ever last season – and went to an increasingly flat splitter far too much. Maybe a move to the bullpen would mask command issues and rediscover the lost 3 mph in velocity?

88. Chris Young, SP: Started 20 games last season, the most since 2007. If Young can stay healthy – which is like saying if Pablo Sandoval can slim down – and land in a big park that plays to his extreme flyball tendency, he's worth a million-dollar flier.

93. Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP: Nobody had a worse ERA with at least 40 innings pitched than Dice-K's 8.28 last season. Since his standout second season, he has a 5.53 ERA over 296 innings. Of all the bad Red Sox contracts, you could argue his was the worst.

95. Roberto Hernandez, SP: SIGNED Wishes we'd just call him Fausto Carmona and pretend like he's not dreadful. He got a one-year deal with the Rays for $3.25 million.  Story

99. Kevin Millwood, SP: RETIRED Right-hander called it a career after 16 seasons. He wanted a shot to land with Tampa or Atlanta. Story

101. Jason Marquis, SP: SIGNED Of the 466 pitchers with at least 1,800 innings in their careers, Marquis' ERA+ is 445th. To survive this long being this mediocre is a skill in and of itself. He and the Padres reached a one-year deal for $3 million. Story

104. Roy Oswalt, SP: Fourth-highest hit rate among pitchers with at least 50 innings? Check. Thirteenth-highest home run rate? Check. Seventeeth-worst ERA? Check. Complaints about role? Oh, you know. The diva role didn't make sense for the 35-year-old Mississippian, but he played it well – and sunk his market for this season even though he still struck out a batter an inning and had better than a 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

106. Freddy Garcia, SP/RP: SIGNED Get him to a ballpark that swallows home runs, and he could be a mildly effective swingman type. That ballpark could be Petco as the Padres signed Garcia to a minor league deal.

108. Derek Lowe, SP/RP: Pitched well in a white-flag role for the Yankees after bombing out as a starter. Could continue into his 40s, especially if a manager keeps him away from lefties.

114. Dallas Braden, SP: What we know about Dallas Braden: He once pitched a perfect game. He has a mustache tattooed on a finger so he can be creepy. Police said after he was allegedly carjacked in his hometown of Stockton, Calif., he told them: "I'm Dallas Braden. I'm a multimillionaire and … I pay your [expletive] salary." And two shoulder surgeries make a minor league deal almost a given.

122. Jeff Francis, SP: SIGNED Excellent walk rate, solid strikeout rate but Lord is he ever hittable. Only once in Francis' seven full seasons did he allow fewer than a hit an inning. Re-signed with the Rockies for a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

124. Kevin Slowey, SP: SIGNED This nonpareil control-and-command guy is a great low-downside bet, particularly if he can figure out how to keep the ball inside the park. He signed a minor league deal with the Marlins.

154. Aaron Cook, SP: SIGNED Allowed almost as many home runs (15) as walks (21) and strikeouts (20). However you count it, that's impressive. Cook got a minor league deal with the Phillies.

164. Chien-Ming Wang, SP/RP:Turbosinker became Turbostinker.

169. Jonathan Sanchez, SP/RP: SIGNED When you thought it couldn't get worse than a 7.76 ERA over a dozen starts in Kansas City, he dropped a 9.53 in Colorado. Someone make him a reliever, please. The Pirates are taking a chance, giving Sanchez a minor league deal.

172. Randy Wolf, SP: Out for all of 2013 after Tommy John.

175. Ben Sheets, SP: RETIRED One inning, two strikeouts and off to retirement – on his terms. A classy ending for one of 2012's great stories.

Relief pitchers

10. Mariano Rivera, RP: SIGNED His arm is ageless. His right ACL proved otherwise. We'll see how the latter affects the former. He got a one-year deal with the Yankees for at least $10 million. Story

11. Rafael Soriano, RP: SIGNED The pre-eminent non-Mo closer on the market is going to the Nationals for a two-year, $28 million deal plus a vesting option.

24. Mike Adams, RP: SIGNED From 2008-11. Pitcher A: 242 2/3 innings, 266 strikeouts, 1.71 ERA, .179/.234/.275 opponent triple-slash. Pitcher B: 258 1/3 innings, 254 strikeouts, 1.71 ERA, .189/.227/.271. Pitcher A was Mike Adams. Pitcher B was Mariano Rivera. The next-best ERA among pitchers with at least 240 innings was 2.37. The only reason Adams is this low is his surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, which hindered him in 2012. If the old Adams returns in 2013 for the Phillies, he'll be worth every penny of his two-year, $12 million deal that also has a vested option for a third season. Story

25. Joakim Soria, RP: SIGNED So, that guy with the 2.37 ERA? Yeah, that's Soria. He's coming off his second Tommy John surgery, and, like those who go through it once, that's no death sentence. (See: Capuano, Chris.) If the Rangers, who signed him to a reported two-year, $8 million deal, want to get really creative, it should sell Soria on the idea of becoming a starter, which, with his four pitches, isn't all that wild.

27. Ryan Madson, RP: SIGNED Another closer coming back from Tommy John, Madson finds himself in Anaheim, where he got a one-year deal with the Angels.  Story

28. Jonathan Broxton, RP: SIGNED Strikes, ground balls and only a pair of home runs: The Jonathan Broxton 2012 keys to success (along with the biggest waistline in baseball). He'll likely close for the Reds, signing a three-year deal for $21 million. Story

31. Kyuji Fujikawa, RP: SIGNED The lockdown closer from Japan will try his hand with the Chicago Cubs, where he got a two-year, $9.5 million deal. Plenty of Japanese relievers have found success, from Takashi Saito and Akinori Otsuka to Shingo Takatsu and Shigetoshi Hasegawa. On pure stuff, Fujikawa, 32, might be better than all of them. Story

37. Jeremy Affeldt, RP: SIGNED Yes, it helps pitching at AT&T Park. Even so, since 2009, Affeldt's ERA+ – adjusted for park and against the league – is 139, or 39 percent better than average. As he showed over a scoreless 10 1/3 postseason innings, he is wizened to pressure and leverage situations. He's staying in San Francisco, getting a three-year deal for $18 million. Story

38. Koji Uehara, RP: SIGNED Since joining the bullpen in 2010, he has pitched 145 innings, allowed 95 hits, struck out 183 and walked 17. Sure, he's maddeningly homer-prone – 20 in that same time – but the tradeoff has been well worth it. He reportedly got a one-year deal with the Red Sox. Story

39. Carlos Villanueva, SP/RP: SIGNED Starter, reliever. Reliever, starter. If he can add some sink to his fastball and keep it in the ballpark – he's got the fifth-worst homer rate among pitchers still in the big leagues with 500-plus innings since 2006 – he becomes a potential cheap starter solution for the Cubs, who signed him to a two-year $10 million deal. Otherwise, he's going to be the guy who could be something but gives up too many bombs. Story

46. Joe Blanton, SP: SIGNED Workaday Joe goes to the ballyard for second shift with his lunch pail, punches in, logs a solid six (seven hits, four Ks, one walk, three runs), punches out and heads home to his slippers, newspaper and a wife who loves him. Joe Blanton, armed with a two-year deal with the Angels for $15 million, is the American Dream.  Story

47. Sean Burnett, RP: SIGNED A left-hander who can pitch to both sides – though, when it comes down to it, you want him against a lefty, against whom he struck out 28 and walked one last season. The Angels have him for at least two years for $8 million.

48. Jason Grilli, RP: SIGNED Struck out 90 hitters in 58 2/3 innings – a Chapmanian rate. Swing-and-miss rules the late innings. He'll be back in Pittsburgh for $6.75 million over two years. Story

50. Oliver Perez, RP: SIGNED An absolute bargain at $1.5 million, which the Mariners happily paid Perez after coaxing him from a career nadir to the bullpen, where he found 94 mph, scrapped his changeup and turned into a devastating reliever.

53. Joel Peralta, RP: SIGNED Proof that the splitter shouldn't die. It's the best out pitch there is, and Peralta's helped him strike out 84 in 67 innings against just 17 walks. He'll be back with the Rays after reaching a two-year deal for $6 million. Story

55. J.P. Howell, RP: SIGNED Not quite back to his '08-'09 self – the 87 percent strand rate screams regression – but still an effective piece, especially against lefties. Joins the Dodgers after signing a one-year deal for $2.85 million. Story

63. Scott Feldman, SP/RP: SIGNED His peripherals are good, his cutter/sinker/slow curve repertoire fairly unique and his ability to move back and forth between the rotation and bullpen much appreciated. Feldman got a one-year deal with the Cubs. Story

64. Jose Valverde, RP: Papa Grande means big potato. Valverde in 2011: Robuchon. Valverde in 2012: Potato flakes. Valverde in 2013? Poutine or burnt hash browns?

65. Jason Frasor, RP: SIGNED Tons of strikeouts from short right-hander who can play seventh-inning role to perfection for the Rangers, who signed him to a reported one-year, $1.5 million deal.  Story

67. LaTroy Hawkins, RP: SIGNED Old-timer turns 40 in December and still can bring gas. He got a minor league deal with the Mets.

68. Kyle Farnsworth, RP: SIGNED An elbow injury robbed him of velocity and perhaps control, which reverted to pre-2010 levels of oh-my-god-please-don't-plunk-me-because-if-I-have-to-charge-the-mound-you-might-kill-me. He got a one-year deal with the Rays for about $1.5 million.

70. Matt Lindstrom, RP: SIGNED More sinkers than straight heat these days, a good under-the-radar relief option for the White Sox, who reportedly got him on a one-year deal.

72. Brandon Lyon, RP: SIGNED One of the poster boys of excessive reliever contracts turned in another good walk year. But it only yielded a one-year deal with the Mets.

74. Francisco Rodriguez, RP: Shame that GMs don't treat him like he allegedly did his girlfriend.

78. Kameron Loe, RP: Huge groundball rates, solid strikeout rates, impressive walk rates. Not much to dislike, other than uncharacteristically high home run rate, which should come down.

79. Mike Gonzalez, RP: SIGNED Full transformation into lefty-only sort accelerated by righties hitting .297/.378/.484 off him last season. He got a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Brewers.

80. Brett Myers, SP/RP: SIGNED While his stuff immediately improved upon a move back to the bullpen, Myers dipped to a career-worst strikeout rate. Still, the potential versatility gives him more options than most.He agreed to a one-year deal with the Indians. Story

83. Randy Choate, RP: SIGNED The archetypal LOOGY held lefties to a .158 average last year and logged 38 2/3 innings over a major league-best 80 games.The Cardinals got him for a deal worth $7.5 million over three years. Story

84. Jon Rauch, RP: SIGNED Some team needs to sign him and Farnsworth, plant them on the bench, call them The Intimidators and have them stare like this and this. Rauch got a one-year deal with the Marlins for $1 million.

87. Matt Capps, RP: Arm issues shut him down in 2012, when he survived on guile and incredible control to make up for a plummeting strikeout rate and propensity to give up too many home runs.

91. Ramon Ramirez, RP: SIGNED Cut his slider use almost in half and added more than a run and a half to his ERA. More sliders, fewer changeups and Ramirez can return to his 2011 level. He returns to the Giants on a one-year deal.

92. Jamey Wright, RP: SIGNED He has pitched since 1996 (!), and for the last decade he has done so scrapping his way onto the roster through minor league deals. His latest is with the Rays.

94. Mark Lowe, RP: SIGNED Hard thrower had precipitous 3-mph velocity dip last season. Could be an anomaly. Could be a sign of something troublesome. The Dodgers will find out after signing him to a minor league deal worth $1.5 million.

98. Jose Veras, RP: SIGNED Huge hard thrower has three straight years with more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Granted, he often doesn't know where the ball is going – his walk rates are as bad as his strikeout rates are good – but plenty of value exist in an arm like his. He got a one-year deal with the Astros. Story

103. Joey Devine, RP: Two Tommy John surgeries later, one can only hope his arm stays healthy, because it's positively electric when it is.

105. Chad Durbin, RP: SIGNED Looky here, Chad. You give up too many home runs. You stranded an excessive amount of runners. You played in front of a great defense in Atlanta. You probably are not gonna pop a 3.10 ERA this year. So hope for good fortune after getting a one-year deal with the Phillies.

106. Freddy Garcia, SP/RP: Get him to a ballpark that swallows home runs, and he could be a mildly effective swingman type.

108. Derek Lowe, SP/RP: Pitched well in a white-flag role for the Yankees after bombing out as a starter. Could continue into his 40s, especially if a manager keeps him away from lefties.

111. Brian Fuentes, RP: RETIRED Four-time All-Star called it quits after 12 seasons. The left-hander ended his career with 204 saves, 48 of them in 2009 with the Angels.

116. Vicente Padilla, RP: SIGNED Take away the home runs and he's a pretty good late-inning relief option. Yeah, and take away Bartolo's donuts and all he's got left are his testosterone patches. Padilla reportedly got a one-year deal to play in Japan for $3.25 million for the Softbank Hawks. Story

117. Shawn Camp, RP: SIGNED Workhorse reliever didn't make it until his late 20s but has hung around for a decade now, his best seasons coming in his mid-30s. He's staying with the Chicago Cubs for a one-year, $1.35 million deal. Story

118. Tim Byrdak, RP: SIGNED Did a better impersonation of Hulk Hogan than he did of a pitcher last year. The Mets are still bringing him back after signing Byrdak to a minor-league deal. Story

127. Guillermo Mota, RP: First he got busted for steroids. Then it was children's cough medicine. Next on the culprit list: tainted Flintstone vitamins, huffing hairspray and snorting Fun Dip.

130. Miguel Batista, RP: SIGNED Amazing that he is just 43 2/3 innings shy of 2,000 for his career considering his mediocre stuff, ERA, walk rate, etc. He got a minor league deal and invitation to spring training with the Rockies.

138. Takashi Saito, RP: With his 43rd birthday arriving before the season, could retire or return to Japan following a pair of injury-starved seasons.

139. Chad Gaudin, RP: Climbing up the most-teams-played-for list. At eight (Tampa Bay, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Miami, Oakland, Washington, San Diego, Toronto). Another five to catch Octavio Dotel.

142. Jeremy Jeffress, RP: SIGNED He throws really hard. And he throws really hard. And he throws really hard. And. Uh. Not much more to say other than he's now with the Blue Jays.

143. Jason Isringhausen, RP: Three Tommy Johns later, his career may be over with 300 saves and just as many equipment managers vexed by having to stitch his last name onto his uniform without missing a letter.

144. Pedro Feliciano, RP: SIGNED Of all the great accomplishments in Yankees history, perhaps none is better than pocketing $8 million to spend the entirety of a two-year contract on the disabled list. Mount Yankmore: Ruth, Gehrig, Jeter and Feliciano. He'll stay in town, this time with the Mets, after securing a minor league deal.

151. Chad Qualls, RP: SIGNED A mess in Philadelphia, a mess in New York, a mess in Pittsburgh. At least he was consistent.Will he be a mess in Miami, where he got a minor league deal?

155. George Sherrill, RP: SIGNED Lefty, pulse, etc. Enters next season a Royal.  Story

160. Zach Duke, RP: SIGNED Recast as a reliever, he's still a soft-tossing lefty who doesn't strike out nearly enough guys to subsist in the big leagues. He re-signed with the Nationals, getting a reported one-year deal.

161. Hisanori Takahashi, RP: SIGNED Signed a two-year, $8 million contract last time he hit free agency. Ended up with a minor league deal with the Cubs.

162. Brad Penny, RP: It takes skill to out-Feliciano Feliciano, but Penny might have done it. He was so bad in Japan, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks cut him after one start despite guaranteeing him $4 million, the largest sum ever for an American pitcher – and then he went on post a 6.11 ERA for the Giants while doubling up with a paycheck from them. Impressive swindling, Penny. Impressive.

164. Chien-Ming Wang, SP/RP: Turbosinker became Turbostinker.

168. Yoshinori Tateyama, RP: SIGNED If someone throws 61 innings in the major leagues and no one notices, did he really throw 61 innings in the major leagues? He got a minor league deal with the Rangers. Story

169. Jonathan Sanchez, SP/RP: SIGNED When you thought it couldn't get worse than a 7.76 ERA over a dozen starts in Kansas City, he dropped a 9.53 in Colorado. Someone make him a reliever, please. The Pirates are taking a chance, giving Sanchez a minor league deal.

170. Brian Bruney, RP: Led baseball with a 0.00 ERA in 2012. Did not lead baseball with one inning pitched. Also had season-ending hip surgery after one scoreless inning.

171. Juan Oviedo, RP: SIGNED Underwent Tommy John surgery in September. Or at least thought he did until revelations that Tommy John's real name was Bocephus Jones, an amateur softball player with chronic gout.Oviedo signed a minor league deal with the Rays.

173. Jose Contreras, RP: Career likely over after – you guessed it – Tommy John. Proof that not even the old guys are exempt from elbows going kablooey.

Pitchers

1. Zack Greinke, SP: SIGNED  He is young (29) and throws five legitimate major league pitches (fastball and slider the two best, plus a curve, change and cutter). He didn't beat CC Sabathia's record payday, but he got $147 million over six years from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Story

4. Anibal Sanchez, SP:SIGNED With a velocity spike at the end of the season, spot-on command and a tremendous array of secondary pitches – a plus changeup, a slider that flashes similar and an adequate curveball – Sanchez might be the most underappreciated player in this class. He doesn't look the top-flight starter at a thick 6 feet tall, but with with arm problems apparently behind him, he could play it. The Tigers decided to reclaim the right-hander, agreeing to a five-year, $80 million deal. Story

5. Hiroki Kuroda, SP: SIGNED Ground balls, strikeouts, lots of innings, next to no walks and all on a one-year, low-risk deal? It's why the Yankees gave him another, this one for $15 million.   Story

9. Dan Haren, SP: If Haren's troublesome back stops acting the fool, he's every bit the pitcher Greinke is: devilish command, filthy stuff, pitchability out the yin-yang and durability. From 2005-11, only CC Sabathia threw more innings than Haren's 1,581 1/3. That was more than Roy Halladay, more than Mark Buehrle, more than Cliff Lee. The problem: Haren's fastball velocity dipped to 88.5 last season – more than 3 mph off his peak – and surviving at that velocity takes more smoke and mirrors than a Marlboro funhouse. Story

10. Mariano Rivera, RP: SIGNED His arm is ageless. His right ACL proved otherwise. We'll see how the latter affects the former. He got a one-year deal with the Yankees for at least $10 million. Story

11. Rafael Soriano, RP: SIGNED The pre-eminent non-Mo closer on the market is going to the Nationals for a two-year, $28 million deal plus a vesting option.

12. Edwin Jackson, SP: SIGNEDDurability matters, and Jackson is good for 30-plus above-average starts a year. Is that worth a four-year, $52 million deal with the Cubs? Of course not. But Jackson is 29, allowed fewer baserunners than ever last season and posted a career-best strikeout rate. Story

13. Brandon McCarthy, SP: SIGNED From all indications, McCarthy has recovered from the scary brain surgery following an Erick Aybar line drive to the skull. And if his arm can remain healthy, too – a tough bargain for the 29-year-old – he'll be a bonanza signing for the Diamondbacks for a fraction of top-starter price. He reportedly got a two-year deal for $15.5 million.

15. Scott Baker, SP: SIGNED Should return from Tommy John surgery early in the season for the Cubs, who signed him to a one-year deal for $5.5 million. While most first-year TJ guys struggle with command, we've seen more and more (Stephen Strasburg, Adam Wainwright) thrive in the immediate aftermath. Baker's career 3.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio portends well for his future, especially if a team can latch an option onto an incentive-filled one-year deal. Story

16. Andy Pettitte, SP: SIGNED Pitched great when he was healthy. And that, of course, is the question for someone who turns 41 in June: Can his body hold up for another season with the Yankees, where he got a one-year deal for $12 million?  Pettitte hasn't pitched 200 innings since 2008, and while that might not be the standard anymore, it is an admission that whatever team signs him is willing to tax its bullpen some. Story

17. Ryan Dempster, SP: SIGNED A rotation stalwart since his return from the bullpen in 2008, Dempster foundered after his trade to Texas, his 10 home runs in 69 innings outweighing his strikeout rate of more than one an inning. Dempster isn't as bad as he was with the Rangers, nor is he as good as he was in 2012 with the Cubs (2.25 ERA over 104 innings). The Red Sox got him for a reported $26.5 million over two years. Story

18. Kyle Lohse, SP: SIGNED While he has indeed grown into a better pitcher – his control is exquisite – Lohse is still an aging right-hander whose average fastball doesn't crack 90 mph, and that's a troublesome long-term proposition. The Brewers are taking a chance, investing $33 million over three years for Lohse, who went 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA last season with the Cardinals. Story

22. Ryu Hyun-jin, SP: SIGNED Another big free-agent catch for the Dodgers. The husky – fine, he's fat, especially for a 25-year-old – left-hander is a rarity: a top-flight pitcher from South Korea coming to MLB mid-career. Ryu starred in the World Baseball Classic four years ago and this season struck out 210 in 182 2/3 innings in the KBO.  Story

24. Mike Adams, RP: SIGNED From 2008-11. Pitcher A: 242 2/3 innings, 266 strikeouts, 1.71 ERA, .179/.234/.275 opponent triple-slash. Pitcher B: 258 1/3 innings, 254 strikeouts, 1.71 ERA, .189/.227/.271. Pitcher A was Mike Adams. Pitcher B was Mariano Rivera. The next-best ERA among pitchers with at least 240 innings was 2.37. The only reason Adams is this low is his surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, which hindered him in 2012. If the old Adams returns in 2013 for the Phillies, he'll be worth every penny of his two-year, $12 million deal that also has a vested option for a third season. Story

25. Joakim Soria, RP: SIGNED So, that guy with the 2.37 ERA? Yeah, that's Soria. He's coming off his second Tommy John surgery, and, like those who go through it once, that's no death sentence. (See: Capuano, Chris.) If the Rangers, who signed him to a reported two-year, $8 million deal, want to get really creative, it should sell Soria on the idea of becoming a starter, which, with his four pitches, isn't all that wild.

27. Ryan Madson, RP: SIGNED Another closer coming back from Tommy John, Madson finds himself in Anaheim, where he got a one-year deal with the Angels.  Story

28. Jonathan Broxton, RP: SIGNED Strikes, ground balls and only a pair of home runs: The Jonathan Broxton 2012 keys to success (along with the biggest waistline in baseball). He'll likely close for the Reds, signing a three-year deal for $21 million. Story

31. Kyuji Fujikawa, RP: SIGNED The lockdown closer from Japan will try his hand with the Chicago Cubs, where he got a two-year, $9.5 million deal. Plenty of Japanese relievers have found success, from Takashi Saito and Akinori Otsuka to Shingo Takatsu and Shigetoshi Hasegawa. On pure stuff, Fujikawa, 32, might be better than all of them. Story

32. Jeremy Guthrie, SP: SIGNED If not for that unfortunate pit stop in Denver, Guthrie might be in Lohse's position. Instead, he's going to live down his 6.35 first-half ERA while trying desperately to point out his 3.16 with Kansas City after a trade. Guthrie struggled to strike out hitters, but he posted a career-best walk rate and kept the home runs – his Achilles – relatively under control. It was enough to earn another run with the Royals, getting a three-year deal for $25 million. Story

33. Shaun Marcum, SP: Far lower than on other lists based on a pair of things. 1) The pain in Marcum's arm flared up throughout 2012, and the words "shoulder soreness" and "elbow tightness" are about the ugliest in baseball. 2) Right-handed pitchers whose fastballs sit at 86.5 mph tend to get pilloried. And Greg Maddux he ain't.

37. Jeremy Affeldt, RP: SIGNED Yes, it helps pitching at AT&T Park. Even so, since 2009, Affeldt's ERA+ – adjusted for park and against the league – is 139, or 39 percent better than average. As he showed over a scoreless 10 1/3 postseason innings, he is wizened to pressure and leverage situations. He's staying in San Francisco, getting a three-year deal for $18 million. Story

38. Koji Uehara, RP: SIGNED Since joining the bullpen in 2010, he has pitched 145 innings, allowed 95 hits, struck out 183 and walked 17. Sure, he's maddeningly homer-prone – 20 in that same time – but the tradeoff has been well worth it. He reportedly got a one-year deal with the Red Sox. Story

39. Carlos Villanueva, SP/RP: SIGNED Starter, reliever. Reliever, starter. If he can add some sink to his fastball and keep it in the ballpark – he's got the fifth-worst homer rate among pitchers still in the big leagues with 500-plus innings since 2006 – he becomes a potential cheap starter solution for the Cubs, who signed him to a two-year $10 million deal. Otherwise, he's going to be the guy who could be something but gives up too many bombs. Story

45. Francisco Liriano, SP: SIGNED From the will-he-ever-figure-it-out-again files comes a left-hander with a 93-mph fastball, a biting two-plane slider and a distinct problem putting either in the strike zone. To anyone who saw Liriano in 2006, the prospect of him hitting free agency brought to mind $200 million jackpots. Now, he's lucky the Pirates got him for a two-year, $14 million deal if a reported arm injury doesn't hold up the bargain. Story

46. Joe Blanton, SP: SIGNED Workaday Joe goes to the ballyard for second shift with his lunch pail, punches in, logs a solid six (seven hits, four Ks, one walk, three runs), punches out and heads home to his slippers, newspaper and a wife who loves him. Joe Blanton, armed with a two-year deal with the Angels for $15 million, is the American Dream.  Story

47. Sean Burnett, RP: SIGNED A left-hander who can pitch to both sides – though, when it comes down to it, you want him against a lefty, against whom he struck out 28 and walked one last season. The Angels have him for at least two years for $8 million.

48. Jason Grilli, RP: SIGNED Struck out 90 hitters in 58 2/3 innings – a Chapmanian rate. Swing-and-miss rules the late innings. He'll be back in Pittsburgh for $6.75 million over two years. Story

50. Oliver Perez, RP: SIGNED An absolute bargain at $1.5 million, which the Mariners happily paid Perez after coaxing him from a career nadir to the bullpen, where he found 94 mph, scrapped his changeup and turned into a devastating reliever.

53. Joel Peralta, RP: SIGNEDProof that the splitter shouldn't die. It's the best out pitch there is, and Peralta's helped him strike out 84 in 67 innings against just 17 walks. He'll be back with the Rays after reaching a two-year deal for $6 million. Story

54. Bartolo Colon, SP: SIGNED The one-year, $3 million contract he signed with Oakland will buy him 6,009,688 Dunkin' Donuts (retail price: $5.99 a dozen) and one box of testosterone patches (retail price: $163.91 for 30 days). Story

55. J.P. Howell, RP: SIGNED Not quite back to his '08-'09 self – the 87 percent strand rate screams regression – but still an effective piece, especially against lefties. Joins the Dodgers after signing a one-year deal for $2.85 million. Story

60. Joe Saunders, SP: SIGNED The sort of pitcher managers love: a guy who will take the ball, grind innings and not walk guys. It's not pretty. It's often ugly. But there is a place in the back end of even championship rotations for the Saunderses of the world. He's reportedly headed to the Mariners for a one-year deal for around $7 million. Story

63. Scott Feldman, SP/RP: SIGNED His peripherals are good, his cutter/sinker/slow curve repertoire fairly unique and his ability to move back and forth between the rotation and bullpen much appreciated. Feldman got a one-year deal with the Cubs. Story

64. Jose Valverde, RP: Papa Grande means big potato. Valverde in 2011: Robuchon. Valverde in 2012: Potato flakes. Valverde in 2013? Poutine or burnt hash browns?

65. Jason Frasor, RP: SIGNED Tons of strikeouts from short right-hander who can play seventh-inning role to perfection for the Rangers, who signed him to a reported one-year, $1.5 million deal.  Story

67. LaTroy Hawkins, RP: SIGNED Old-timer turns 40 in December and still can bring gas. He got a minor league deal with the Mets.

68. Kyle Farnsworth, RP: SIGNED An elbow injury robbed him of velocity and perhaps control, which reverted to pre-2010 levels of oh-my-god-please-don't-plunk-me-because-if-I-have-to-charge-the-mound-you-might-kill-me. He got a one-year deal with the Rays for about $1.5 million. 

70. Matt Lindstrom, RP: SIGNED More sinkers than straight heat these days, a good under-the-radar relief option for the White Sox, who reportedly got him on a one-year deal.

72. Brandon Lyon, RP: One of the poster boys of excessive reliever contracts turned in another good walk year and could accordingly find another multi-year deal.

74. Francisco Rodriguez, RP: Shame that GMs don't treat him like he allegedly did his girlfriend.

75. Kevin Correia, SP: SIGNED Not an innings eater. (He's never reached 200.) Not a rotation stalwart. (When the Pirates temporarily booted him from theirs last season, he asked for a trade … and the market wasn't exactly bustling.) But he is a starter with some history of decency, a reason the Twins got him for two years for $10 million. Story

76. Carl Pavano, SP: If indeed it was just a bone bruise that hampered him last season, Pavano could be a cheap rotation piece who well outperforms his salary.

78. Kameron Loe, RP: Huge groundball rates, solid strikeout rates, impressive walk rates. Not much to dislike, other than uncharacteristically high home run rate, which should come down.

79. Mike Gonzalez, RP: SIGNED Full transformation into lefty-only sort accelerated by righties hitting .297/.378/.484 off him last season.He reportedly got a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Brewers.

80. Brett Myers, SP/RP: SIGNED While his stuff immediately improved upon a move back to the bullpen, Myers dipped to a career-worst strikeout rate. Still, the potential versatility gives him more options than most.He agreed to a one-year deal with the Indians. Story

81. Carlos Zambrano, SP: Walked more than ever last season – and went to an increasingly flat splitter far too much. Maybe a move to the bullpen would mask command issues and rediscover the lost 3 mph in velocity?

83. Randy Choate, RP: The archetypal LOOGY held lefties to a .158 average last year and logged 38 2/3 innings over a major league-best 80 games.

84. Jon Rauch, RP: Some team needs to sign him and Farnsworth, plant them on the bench, call them The Intimidators and have them stare like this and this.

87. Matt Capps, RP: Arm issues shut him down in 2012, when he survived on guile and incredible control to make up for a plummeting strikeout rate and propensity to give up too many home runs.

88. Chris Young, SP: Started 20 games last season, the most since 2007. If Young can stay healthy – which is like saying if Pablo Sandoval can slim down – and land in a big park that plays to his extreme flyball tendency, he's worth a million-dollar flier.

91. Ramon Ramirez, RP: SIGNED Cut his slider use almost in half and added more than a run and a half to his ERA. More sliders, fewer changeups and Ramirez can return to his 2011 level. He returns to the Giants on a one-year deal.

92. Jamey Wright, RP: Will this finally be the year Wright gets a major league contract? He has pitched since 1996 (!), and for the last decade he has done so scrapping his way onto the roster through minor league deals.

93. Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP: Nobody had a worse ERA with at least 40 innings pitched than Dice-K's 8.28 last season. Since his standout second season, he has a 5.53 ERA over 296 innings. Of all the bad Red Sox contracts, you could argue his was the worst.

94. Mark Lowe, RP: SIGNED Hard thrower had precipitous 3-mph velocity dip last season. Could be an anomaly. Could be a sign of something troublesome. The Dodgers will find out after signing him to a minor league deal worth $1.5 million.

95. Roberto Hernandez, SP: SIGNED Wishes we'd just call him Fausto Carmona and pretend like he's not dreadful. He got a one-year deal with the Rays for $3.25 million.  Story

98. Jose Veras, RP: SIGNED Huge hard thrower has three straight years with more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Granted, he often doesn't know where the ball is going – his walk rates are as bad as his strikeout rates are good – but plenty of value exist in an arm like his. He got a one-year deal with the Astros. Story

99. Kevin Millwood, SP: RETIRED Right-hander called it a career after 16 seasons after missing shots to land with either Tampa or Atlanta. Story

101. Jason Marquis, SP: SIGNED Of the 466 pitchers with at least 1,800 innings in their careers, Marquis' ERA+ is 445th. To survive this long being this mediocre is a skill in and of itself. He and the Padres reached a one-year deal for $3 million. Story

103. Joey Devine, RP: Two Tommy John surgeries later, one can only hope his arm stays healthy, because it's positively electric when it is.

104. Roy Oswalt, SP: Fourth-highest hit rate among pitchers with at least 50 innings? Check. Thirteenth-highest home run rate? Check. Seventeeth-worst ERA? Check. Complaints about role? Oh, you know. The diva role didn't make sense for the 35-year-old Mississippian, but he played it well – and sunk his market for this season even though he still struck out a batter an inning and had better than a 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

105. Chad Durbin, RP: SIGNED Looky here, Chad. You give up too many home runs. You stranded an excessive amount of runners. You played in front of a great defense in Atlanta. You probably are not gonna pop a 3.10 ERA this year. So hope for good fortune after getting a one-year deal with the Phillies.

106. Freddy Garcia, SP/RP: Get him to a ballpark that swallows home runs, and he could be a mildly effective swingman type.

108. Derek Lowe, SP/RP: Pitched well in a white-flag role for the Yankees after bombing out as a starter. Could continue into his 40s, especially if a manager keeps him away from lefties.

111. Brian Fuentes, RP: RETIRED Four-time All-Star called it quits after 12 seasons. The left-hander ended his career with 204 saves, 48 of them in 2009 with the Angels.

114. Dallas Braden, SP: What we know about Dallas Braden: He once pitched a perfect game. He has a mustache tattooed on a finger so he can be creepy. Police said after he was allegedly carjacked in his hometown of Stockton, Calif., he told them: "I'm Dallas Braden. I'm a multimillionaire and … I pay your [expletive] salary." And two shoulder surgeries make a minor league deal almost a given.

116. Vicente Padilla, RP: SIGNED Take away the home runs and he's a pretty good late-inning relief option. Yeah, and take away Bartolo's donuts and all he's got left are his testosterone patches. Padilla reportedly got a one-year deal to play in Japan for $3.25 million for the Softbank Hawks. Story

117. Shawn Camp, RP: Workhorse reliever didn't make it until his late 20s but has hung around for a decade now, his best seasons coming in his mid-30s.

118. Tim Byrdak, RP: SIGNED Did a better impersonation of Hulk Hogan than he did of a pitcher last year. The Mets are still bringing him back after signing Byrdak to a minor-league deal. Story

122. Jeff Francis, SP: SIGNED Excellent walk rate, solid strikeout rate but Lord is he ever hittable. Only once in Francis' seven full seasons did he allow fewer than a hit an inning. Re-signed with the Rockies for a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

124. Kevin Slowey, SP: SIGNED This nonpareil control-and-command guy is a great low-downside bet, particularly if he can figure out how to keep the ball inside the park. He signed a minor league deal with the Marlins.

127. Guillermo Mota, RP: First he got busted for steroids. Then it was children's cough medicine. Next on the culprit list: tainted Flintstone vitamins, huffing hairspray and snorting Fun Dip.

130. Miguel Batista, RP: SIGNED Amazing that he is just 43 2/3 innings shy of 2,000 for his career considering his mediocre stuff, ERA, walk rate, etc. He got a minor league deal and invitation to spring training with the Rockies.

138. Takashi Saito, RP: With his 43rd birthday arriving before the season, could retire or return to Japan following a pair of injury-starved seasons.

139. Chad Gaudin, RP: Climbing up the most-teams-played-for list. At eight (Tampa Bay, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Miami, Oakland, Washington, San Diego, Toronto). Another five to catch Octavio Dotel.

142. Jeremy Jeffress, RP: SIGNED He throws really hard. And he throws really hard. And he throws really hard. And. Uh. Not much more to say other than he's now with the Blue Jays.

143. Jason Isringhausen, RP: Three Tommy Johns later, his career may be over with 300 saves and just as many equipment managers vexed by having to stitch his last name onto his uniform without missing a letter.

144. Pedro Feliciano, RP: SIGNED Of all the great accomplishments in Yankees history, perhaps none is better than pocketing $8 million to spend the entirety of a two-year contract on the disabled list. Mount Yankmore: Ruth, Gehrig, Jeter and Feliciano. He'll stay in town, this time with the Mets, after securing a minor league deal.

151. Chad Qualls, RP: SIGNED A mess in Philadelphia, a mess in New York, a mess in Pittsburgh. At least he was consistent.Will he be a mess in Miami, where he got a minor league deal?.

154. Aaron Cook, SP: SIGNED Allowed almost as many home runs (15) as walks (21) and strikeouts (20). However you count it, that's impressive. Cook got a minor league deal with the Phillies.

155. George Sherrill, RP: SIGNED Lefty, pulse, etc. Enters next season a Royal.  Story

160. Zach Duke, RP: SIGNED Recast as a reliever, he's still a soft-tossing lefty who doesn't strike out nearly enough guys to subsist in the big leagues. He re-signed with the Nationals, getting a reported one-year deal.

161. Hisanori Takahashi, RP: SIGNED Signed a two-year, $8 million contract last time he hit free agency. Ended up with a minor league deal with the Cubs.

162. Brad Penny, RP: It takes skill to out-Feliciano Feliciano, but Penny might have done it. He was so bad in Japan, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks cut him after one start despite guaranteeing him $4 million, the largest sum ever for an American pitcher – and then he went on post a 6.11 ERA for the Giants while doubling up with a paycheck from them. Impressive swindling, Penny. Impressive.

164. Chien-Ming Wang, SP/RP: Turbosinker became Turbostinker.

168. Yoshinori Tateyama, RP: SIGNED If someone throws 61 innings in the major leagues and no one notices, did he really throw 61 innings in the major leagues? He got a minor league deal with the Rangers. Story

169. Jonathan Sanchez, SP/RP: When you thought it couldn't get worse than a 7.76 ERA over a dozen starts in Kansas City, he dropped a 9.53 in Colorado. Someone make him a reliever, please.

170. Brian Bruney, RP: Led baseball with a 0.00 ERA in 2012. Did not lead baseball with one inning pitched. Also had season-ending hip surgery after one scoreless inning.

171. Juan Oviedo, RP: Underwent Tommy John surgery in September. Or at least thought he did until revelations that Tommy John's real name was Bocephus Jones, an amateur softball player with chronic gout.

172. Randy Wolf, SP: Out for all of 2013 after Tommy John.

173. Jose Contreras, RP: Career likely over after – you guessed it – Tommy John. Proof that not even the old guys are exempt from elbows going kablooey.

175. Ben Sheets, SP: One inning, two strikeouts and off to retirement – on his terms. A classy ending for one of 2012's great stories.

Catchers

6. Mike Napoli, C/1B: SIGNED Yes, a silly .344 average on balls in play fueled his superb 2011 season. Still, 2012 was far from a failure. Plenty of walks, a great slugging percentage for a catcher – even a part-time one – and positional value more than make up for his low batting average and high strikeout totals. Hip issues downgraded an initial Red Sox contract offer of three years, $39 million to a one-year, $5 million deal.  Story

35. A.J. Pierzynski, C: SIGNED He's this high strictly on positional value. Pierzynski is not going to hit 27 home runs again, and he'll go back to what he was: a low-on-base guy whose propensity not to walk borders on historic. In Pierzynski's 12 seasons with at least 400 plate appearances, not once has he exceeded 30 walks. Only two players have more such seasons: Hal Chase early in the 20th century (with 14) and Bill Buckner (13). He got a one-year deal with Texas.  Story

40. Russell Martin, C: SIGNED If he were named Rusty Martino and played for the Mets instead of the Yankees, would anyone even think of giving him a three-year deal for more than $7 million a season? Beyond the home runs and positional scarcity, there isn't enough substance to warrant it.The Pirates disagree, signing him to a two-year deal for $17 million. Story

115. David Ross, C: SIGNED Welcome to the backup-catcher portion of the program! This is the point when we begin to marvel that amid a deluge of minor league deals, guys with C next to their names somehow end up with major league contracts. Ross is the best of the bunch, with a league-average career OPS+. He's leaving Atlanta for Boston, to the tune of a reported $6.2 million over two seasons. Story

120. Kelly Shoppach, C: SIGNED Calls a decent game, can hit home runs and has very talented thumbs. He got a $1.5 million deal with the Mariners for one season.

137. Gerald Laird, C: SIGNED This is where it starts to get bad. Laird got a two-year deal with Atlanta. Story

141. Miguel Olivo, C: SIGNED In a career full of vomitous on-base percentages, Olivo outdid himself in 2012: .239 over 323 plate appearances, or, as it's now known in Seattle legal circles, baseball malpractice. He got a minor league deal with the Reds.

146. Rod Barajas, C: SIGNED Was paid $4 million in 2012 to hit .206/.283/.343. Got a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks.

149. Dioner Navarro, C: SIGNED Hit .290 in 69 at-bats last year. Hit .207 in 676 at-bats his previous three. His reward: a one-year deal for $1.75 million with the Chicago Cubs. Story

150. Henry Blanco, C: SIGNED OPS+ in 2011: 132. OPS+ in 2012: 33. Got a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Blue Jays. Story

153. Chris Snyder, C: SIGNED His 2012 line: .176/.295/.308. And he lasted a full season. Fathers, forget about that teach-your-kid-to-throw-left-handed adage. Teach your kid to be a catcher. Snyder got a minor league deal with the Nationals.

159. Aubrey Huff, C: Profited more off of a thong than Sisqo.

163. Nick Johnson, 1B: RETIRED Reportedly called it a career after 10 injury-plagued seasons.

165. Brian Schneider, C: RETIRED The "Gigli" of backup catchers called it a career after 13 seasons in the bigs.

First basemen

6. Mike Napoli, C/1B: SIGNED Yes, a silly .344 average on balls in play fueled his superb 2011 season. Still, 2012 was far from a failure. Plenty of walks, a great slugging percentage for a catcher – even a part-time one – and positional value more than make up for his low batting average and high strikeout totals. Hip issues downgraded an initial Red Sox contract offer of three years, $39 million to a one-year, $5 million deal.  Story

7. Nick Swisher, OF/1B: SIGNED  After thriving for four seasons in New York, Swisher, 32 at the end of November, got one final big contract: four years, $56 million with the Indians As solid as his regular-season stats were – .268/.367/.483 for the Yankees – it's impossible to ignore his playoff numbers. Over six seasons and 181 plate appearances, Swisher is at .169/.283/.305 with nearly as many strikeouts (46) as total bases (47). Story

14. Adam LaRoche, 1B: SIGNED First basemen who have their best season in six years at age 32 aren't the sort of which free-agent dreams are made. And yet among those out there, only Hamilton beat LaRoche's 291 total bases last season – the same number as Buster Posey and seventh in the NL. He re-signed with the Nationals to a two-year deal.  Story

26. Lance Berkman, 1B/OF: SIGNED Puma will be able to rake when he's 50. It's more a matter of his body's lower half cooperating, and considering he was close to fit for a World Series run, Berkman should be all systems go come 2013 for the Rangers, who reportedly got him for a one-year, $10 million deal.  Story

29. Kevin Youkilis, 3B/1B: SIGNED No longer Prime Youk – one of the AL's most devastating and underrated hitters – he became crucial for the Yankees after Alex Rodriguez's hip injury. He'll reportedly get $12 million for one season. Story

56. Eric Chavez, 3B/1B: SIGNED More than filled in for A-Rod during his absence. While he's not an everyday guy anymore, he can thrive in a 250-plate appearance role, especially vs. righties, against whom he hit .298/.365/.543. Reportedly got a one-year deal for $3 million.

58. Carlos Pena, 1B: SIGNED Batting average certainly isn't everything, but four straight years of .227 or lower is unacceptable for an everyday player. He got a reported one-year deal with the Astros for at least $2.9 million. Story

89. James Loney, 1B: SIGNED As bad as he was for the Dodgers, he was even worse with the Red Sox. The Rays will take a chance on him – one-year deal for $2 million – because he's just 28, and maybe he turns into a useful pinch-hitter sort, but even that's a long shot at this point. Story

90. Carlos Lee, 1B/OF: From $100 million – yes, the Astros actually paid him that, putting him in the pantheon of Hampton, Wells and Zito as history's worst nine-figure deals – to $1 million. No team should pay El Caballo any more than that, his bat flaccid and his fielding laughable.

100. Jason Giambi, 1B/DH/MAN: SIGNED This is all you need to know about the Colorado Rockies organization: At the beginning of spring training in 2009, when asked how much longer he expects to play, Giambi told reporters: "What else am I going to do? Seriously. Maybe bouncer at a strip joint? That's about all I'm qualified to do." Less than four years later, he was a finalist for the Rockies manager job. He ended up with a minor league deal with the Indians.

109. Travis Ishikawa, 1B: SIGNED Excellent fielding first baseman whose bat woke up last season. One of the better bench options available went to the Orioles on a minor league deal.

110. Lyle Overbay, 1B: SIGNED Solid lefty bat off the bench with a serviceable glove for the Red Sox, who signed him to a minor league deal.

112. Casey Kotchman, 1B: On the bright side: hit a dozen homers, his most since 2008. The world, of course, is a dark, sad place, and so naturally Kotchman hit .229/.280/.333 after a career year and finds himself looking at backup roles.

Second basemen

30. Marco Scutaro, SS/2B: SIGNED Since the exorcism of Rogers Hornsby from his body – because what else could explain a career .270 hitter popping off at a .362 clip for two months and following that up with a scorching postseason? – let us recognize Scutaro for what he is: a dead-eye contact hitter, a super fielder at both middle-infield position and a faster-than-he-seems runner. But he's no Rajah, let alone an All-Star. Regardless, the Giants are bringing him back with a three-year, $20 million deal. Story

51. Kelly Johnson, 2B: SIGNED At his best, he is a home run-hitting, walk-taking, adequate-fielding second baseman. We haven't seen his best for two years. He and the Rays agreed to a one-year deal.

73. Placido Polanco, IF: SIGNED Jacked-up back. Torn wrist tendon. Polanco went through the injury gantlet in 2012, and at 37 and four years removed from a .400 slugging percentage, it's a long shot things get a whole lot better in Miami, where he got a one-year deal for $2.75 million deal.  Story

113. Ryan Theriot, SS/2B: Doesn't hit particularly well, has no power, mediocre fielder, reason the acronym TOOTBLAN was invented. Has been on each of the last two world champions. Baseball is funny.

131. Freddy Sanchez, 2B: A back injury sidelined him for the season, and at 35, the former batting champ will need to play his way onto a roster.

Third basemen

29. Kevin Youkilis, 3B/1B: SIGNED No longer Prime Youk – one of the AL's most devastating and underrated hitters – he became crucial for the Yankees after Alex Rodriguez's hip injury. He'll reportedly get $12 million for one season. Story

56. Eric Chavez, 3B/1B: SIGNED More than filled in for A-Rod during his absence. While he's not an everyday guy anymore, he can thrive in a 250-plate appearance role, especially vs. righties, against whom he hit .298/.365/.543. Reportedly got a one-year deal for $3 million.

73. Placido Polanco, IF: SIGNED Jacked-up back. Torn wrist tendon. Polanco went through the injury gantlet in 2012, and at 37 and four years removed from a .400 slugging percentage, it's a long shot things get a whole lot better in Miami, where he got a one-year deal for $2.75 million deal.  Story

96. Casey McGehee, 3B: SIGNED The pop of 2009 and '10 is gone, which leaves McGehee headed to Japan for a reported one-year deal with the Rakuten Golden Eagles for $1.3 million. Story

102. Scott Rolen, 3B: Age rendered the borderline Hall of Famer a poor man's version of his prime self. Likely to retire, though if he's willing to accept a defensive-replacement and pinch-hitting role, he's still got plenty of value.

119. Brandon Inge, 3B: As a defensive replacement, right-handed power bat and emergency catcher, Inge still has baseball left in him.

Shortstop

19. Stephen Drew, SS: SIGNED The future of Drew's career depends on his ankle, which was mangled in an ugly slide in July 2011 and left him a shell of himself defensively. If the lateral mobility missing last season returns – and nearly two years separated from the injury, this should be the best indication of Drew's future – he's easily the best shortstop in this class and a potential bargain for the Red Sox, who reportedly signed him to a one-year deal for $9.5 million. Story

30. Marco Scutaro, SS/2B: SIGNED Since the exorcism of Rogers Hornsby from his body – because what else could explain a career .270 hitter popping off at a .362 clip for two months and following that up with a scorching postseason? – let us recognize Scutaro for what he is: a dead-eye contact hitter, a super fielder at both middle-infield position and a faster-than-he-seems runner. But he's no Rajah, let alone an All-Star. Regardless, the Giants are bringing him back with a three-year, $20 million deal. Story

44. Hiroyuki Nakajima, SS: SIGNED After not signing with the Yankees last season following a posting auction, Nakajima found interest from the Athletics, who signed him to a two-year deal for $6.5 million. The small-sample track record for Japanese shortstops – Kaz Matsui and Tsuyoshi Nishioka are among the two biggest busts here – is ugly. Story

62. Alex Gonzalez, SS: SIGNED Excellent defense and home run power, even after a torn ACL. He re-signed with the Brewers for one season at $1.5 million.

97. Ronny Cedeno, SS: SIGNED Excellent backup, both defensively and with a little thunder in his bat. Reached a one-year deal with the Cardinals.

113. Ryan Theriot, SS/2B: Doesn't hit particularly well, has no power, mediocre fielder, reason the acronym TOOTBLAN was invented. Has been on each of the last two world champions. Baseball is funny.

Outfielders

2. Josh Hamilton, OF:SIGNED On pure talent, Hamilton is the clear-cut No. 1. But there are the issues of his past – not the relapse concern so much as the wear and tear years of drug and alcohol abuse took on his body. And there are the baseball problems – the much-expanding strike zone, the deep slumps and the likelihood of a corner-outfield assignment. The Los Angeles Angels took the plunge for a reported $125 million over five years.   Story

3. B.J. Upton, OF: SIGNED The class takes a Felix Baumgartner-sized drop from No. 2 to 3, and Upton grabs the position more by default than deed. What he can be – a power-hitting, base-stealing, walk-taking, ball-hawking superstar – is not what he is or has been. But at 28 years old, there remains time, and this is a bet that one of these days it's all going to click in beautiful synchronicity. The Braves reportedly will take the risk for $75.3 million over five years. Story

7. Nick Swisher, OF/1B: SIGNED  After thriving for four seasons in New York, Swisher, 32 at the end of November, got one final big contract: four years, $56 million with the Indians As solid as his regular-season stats were – .268/.367/.483 for the Yankees – it's impossible to ignore his playoff numbers. Over six seasons and 181 plate appearances, Swisher is at .169/.283/.305 with nearly as many strikeouts (46) as total bases (47). Story

8. Michael Bourn, OF: SIGNED Speed players tend not to age well. Now, Bourn may be the exception, in which case he merits a higher spot. But consider: Of the hundreds of players with 80 percent or more of their games in center after age 30 – and Bourn's lack of power limits him to center – only five exceeded 172 stolen bases from then on. Just 28 played more than 800 games. Good luck, Indians. They signed him to a four-year, $48 million deal. Story

20. Melky Cabrera, OF: SIGNED A value-price and worth the investment for the Toronto Blue Jays, who signed him to a two-year, $16 million deal. He was playing MVP-caliber baseball before his positive test for testosterone. Story

21. Shane Victorino, OF: SIGNED The ugliness of Victorino's switch hitting (.323/.388/.518 vs. left-handers, .229/.296/.333 against righties) led to his dismal 2012 season. If he improves with the Red Sox, even slightly, on his left-handed swing and continues the superlative baserunning and above-average defense, Victorino, available much cheaper than expected, suddenly becomes a free-agent gem. He signed in Boston for three years and $39 million. Story

23. Torii Hunter, OF: SIGNED  While Hunter's magnificent season is a near certainty not to be repeated – a .389 average on balls in play is helium to offensive numbers – he remains an excellent outfielder and might be the game's best presence inside a clubhouse. Teams place immense value on that, a reason why he got a two-year $26 million deal with the Tigers. Story.

26. Lance Berkman, 1B/OF: SIGNED Puma will be able to rake when he's 50. It's more a matter of his body's lower half cooperating, and considering he was close to fit for a World Series run, Berkman should be all systems go come 2013 for the Rangers, who reportedly got him for a one-year, $10 million deal.  Story

34. Ryan Ludwick, OF: SIGNED Finally out of the Petco Park dungeon, Ludwick took to the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park and raked. Don't forget: He was about as good on the road (.282/.351/.505) as he was this year at home (.268/.341/.555). It's a big reason he'll be back with the Reds after getting a two-year deal for $15 million.

36. Angel Pagan, OF: SIGNED Look, the Oxymoron is a nice player. He made a dashing drive-thru taco order taker. He is not some boffo fielder, not some power monster, not some stolen-base champ. He does a lot of things all right. And so if the Giants want to give him an Aaron Rowand contract, well, get ready for Aaron Rowand 2.0. He agreed to a four-year deal for $40 million. Story

42. Cody Ross, OF: SIGNED He was a bargain at $3 million for one year. The Diamondbacks weren't so fortunate after surrendering $26 million over three seasons. Story

43. Ichiro Suzuki, OF: SIGNED Reinvigorated? For two months, sure. Problem is, Ichiro is 39, his speed has waned and extreme groundball hitters tend not to age well. Of course, to lump Ichiro in with anything typical is a mistake waiting to happen. He got a two-year deal with the Yankees for $13 million. Story

49. Jonny Gomes, OF/DH: SIGNED Should be arrested for the crimes he commits on left-handers (.299/.413/.561 in 2012). Between the platoon advantage and a great clubhouse presence, he's a solid addition anywhere, especially for an AL team that can keep him from roaming the outfield. That team will be the Red Sox.   Story

59. Scott Hairston, OF: SIGNED Impressive power and pretty much nothing else. But his career home run rate of one every 23.1 at-bats is near the top among active players. He reportedly got a two-year deal with  the Cubs.

66. Delmon Young, DH/OF: SIGNED On the anti-Semitic, sub-.300-on-base, embarrassing-outfield-defense list, he is No. 1 – of 1. Among regular free agents, he will be the guy who thinks he's worth way more than he really is. One reason: Since 2009, Young has 83 walks in 2,140 plate appearances. The next lowest among hitters with at least that many times up: Howie Kendrick, with 110 in 2,235. Young got a one-year deal for a minimum of $750,000 with the Phillies.  Story

69. Juan Pierre, OF: SIGNED Hits .300, steals a bunch of bags, has no demonstrable power and plays mediocre in the field. Such is the story of Pierre, same as it was a decade ago. He reportedly will return to the Florida Marlins for a one-year, $1.6 million deal. Story

71. Andruw Jones, OF: SIGNED A career-worst average on balls in play accounted for much of his sub-.200 batting average. He's taking his game to Japan, where he'll play for the Ratuken Eagles.  Story

77. Grady Sizemore, OF: One of the sad stories of the last decade, a resplendent talent undone by injuries. After missing all of 2012, Sizemore, 30, will almost certainly see if a change of scenery can help.

86. Nate McLouth, OF: SIGNED Great story of a rescued career, a postseason coming out and a head full of spectacular(ly greasy) hair. McLouth got a one-year, $2 million deal to stay in Baltimore. Story

90. Carlos Lee, 1B/OF: From $100 million – yes, the Astros actually paid him that, putting him in the pantheon of Hampton, Wells and Zito as history's worst nine-figure deals – to $1 million. No team should pay El Caballo any more than that, his bat flaccid and his fielding laughable.

107. Dewayne Wise, OF: SIGNED Among the career-best eight home runs, the solid defense and well-above-average baserunning, Wise, even at 35 entering the 2013 season, is a good bet as a backup outfielder. He signed a one-year deal with the White Sox.  Story

125. Nyjer Morgan, OF: SIGNED Tony Plush is heading to Japan for a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Yokohama DeNa BayStars.  Story

126. Matt Diaz, OF: SIGNED A fourth-outfielder option with left-handed power for the Yankees, who signed him to a minor league deal. Diaz vs. righties? Let's not talk about that. (OK, let's: He was 3 for 30.)

128. Scott Podsednik, OF: Empty average, erratic baserunning, middling defense. On the other hand, he improves a team's WAGs by at least 10 percent.

129. Endy Chavez, OF: SIGNED Ranked 393rd out of 401 players with at least 150 plate appearances in OPS+ last year. Chavez got a minor league deal with the Royals.

134. Reed Johnson, OF: SIGNED High-energy guy who overcompensates for lack of tools and skills by playing with excess fervor that actually highlights his lack of tools and skills. His game can be like a bad toupee. He's staying with the Braves for at least one more season. Story

136. Austin Kearns, OF: SIGNED Perfectly useful backup outfielder getting to the point of the annual minor league contract dance. This time it's with the Marlins.

140. Bobby Abreu, DH/OF: First-ballot Hall of Nearly Great nominee stumbling toward retirement. A comeback this season has clown shoes written all over it.

148. Xavier Nady, OF: SIGNED Given name is Xavier Clifford Nady VI. The VI stands for Very Inadequate. Nady got a minor league deal with the Royals.

156. Jason Bourgeois, OF: SIGNED Well, at least he's fast. He'll be running the bases for the Rays after getting a minor league deal.

158. Brian Bogusevic, OF: SIGNED It is a testament to the Astros' futility that they somehow found more than 400 plate appearances for a guy who hit .203/.297/.299. The last outfielder with marks that low in as much playing time was Paul Blair in 1976, and before that, Charlie Jamieson in 1918. Bogusevic agreed to a minor league deal with the Cubs.

166. Scott Cousins, OF: SIGNED Two days after this picture was taken at his bachelor party, Cousins was designated for assignment by Toronto. These two things allegedly are unrelated. He's with the Mariners now, designated for assignment.

167. Vinny Rottino, OF: SIGNED Cousins. Vinny. Get it? OK, we're 167 names deep here. Give us a freaking break. Rottino reportedly got a one-year deal to play in Japan for the Orix Buffaloes for at least $350,000.

Utility players

41. Jeff Keppinger, UT: SIGNED Absolutely kills left-handed pitching (last year .376/.402/.521, career .333/.376/.487) and can play all three infield positions. Reportedly got a three-year deal with the White Sox for $12 million.

82. Maicer Izturis, UT: SIGNED Got a three-year, $10 million deal with Toronto. Versatile, speedy, rarely strikes out – the sort of utilityman a manager craves. Story

121. Jeff Baker, UT: Nice 25th man. Can play anywhere and has enough in his bat to make pitchers at least cognizant of him.

123. Adam Kennedy, UT: Veteran likely to end up with a big league job somewhere, though there are enough available utilitymen that it's a buyers' market and those who do sign are unlikely to get a McDonald deal .

132. Eric Hinske, UT: SIGNED Former Rookie of the Year had a down year, and … wait. How did Eric Hinske win Rookie of the Year? Only the worst rookie class in major league history. Seriously, check it out. The NL might be even worse than the AL. Hinske got a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks. Story

133. Orlando Hudson, UT: Guaranteed money may be tough to come by after his bat disappeared last season, but he can still pick it at second and third, and that's better than plenty of utilitymen out there.

135. Mark DeRosa, UT: SIGNED The market for 38-year-olds with one home run over the last three years wasn't hot. The result: a one-year deal with the Blue Jays for $775,000.  Story

145. Bill Hall, UT: SIGNED Anybody willing to try Bikram yoga to keep his career going is a better man than most. Hall got a minor league deal with the Angels. 

147. Don Kelly, UT:
SIGNED Little-known fact: His .256 batting average while playing left field was higher than his slugging percentages while playing first, third, center and right. Well-known fact: Guys named Don Kelly should sell cars.He got a minor league deal with the Tigers.

174. Omar Vizquel, UT: RETIRED One last hit, No. 2,877, in his final at-bat before retiring following his 23rd season. Now the question isn't where he'll sign. It's whether he'll make the Hall of Fame.

Designated hitters

49. Jonny Gomes, OF/DH: SIGNED Should be arrested for the crimes he commits on left-handers (.299/.413/.561 in 2012). Between the platoon advantage and a great clubhouse presence, he's a solid addition anywhere, especially for an AL team that can keep him from roaming the outfield. That team will be the Red Sox.   Story

52. Raul Ibanez, DH: SIGNEDShould have received at least a million dollars for each of his three postseason home runs. Instead, he reportedly got a one-year, $2.75 million deal (before incentives) from the Mariners. Story

57. Luke Scott, DH: SIGNED Pervasive fear he left the country after President Obama was re-elected was overblown. He'll return to the Rays this season.

61. Travis Hafner, DH: SIGNED Jim Thome 2.0? The 35-year-old fits with the Yankees, where he can platoon against right-handers, whom he still hammers with power and walks. Well worth a cheap flier at $2 million for a season.  Story

66. Delmon Young, DH/OF: SIGNED On the anti-Semitic, sub-.300-on-base, embarrassing-outfield-defense list, he is No. 1 – of 1. Among regular free agents, he will be the guy who thinks he's worth way more than he really is. One reason: Since 2009, Young has 83 walks in 2,140 plate appearances. The next lowest among hitters with at least that many times up: Howie Kendrick, with 110 in 2,235. Young got a one-year deal for a minimum of $750,000 with the Phillies.  Story

85. Jim Thome, DH: Still mashin' taters, even at 42.

100. Jason Giambi, 1B/DH/MAN: SIGNED This is all you need to know about the Colorado Rockies organization: At the beginning of spring training in 2009, when asked how much longer he expects to play, Giambi told reporters: "What else am I going to do? Seriously. Maybe bouncer at a strip joint? That's about all I'm qualified to do." Less than four years later, he was a finalist for the Rockies manager job. He ended up with a minor league deal with the Indians.

140. Bobby Abreu, DH/OF: First-ballot Hall of Nearly Great nominee stumbling toward retirement. A comeback this season has clown shoes written all over it.

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