Major League Baseball

Top 25 free agents

Published Nov. 2, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Here are the top free agents of the offseason. All free agents were eligible to sign with any team beginning 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 3.

Albert Pujols, 1B, shocked the baseball world, signing a contract with the Los Angeles Angels for 10 years at $240 million guaranteed. The slugger's deal includes a personal-services agreement worth at least $10 million. Pujols was the object of frenzied bidding at the winter meetings in early December.

C.J. Wilson, LHP, who spent the last seven years with the Texas Rangers, made a five-year, $77.5 million deal with the Angels, although he was overshadowed by new teammate Albert Pujols. The versatile Wilson logged back-to-back 200-plus innings as a starter after solid effort out of bullpen. With pitching a scarce commodity he found an inflated market.

Prince Fielder, 1B, agreed to a nine-year, $214 million deal with the Detroit Tigers on Jan. 24. The Tigers All-Star 1B, Miguel Cabrera, will move to third base.

Mark Buehrle, LHP, signed a four-year, $58 million deal with the Miami Marlins, who had spent his entire 12-year career with the Chicago White Sox. He has put together 11 consecutive 200-inning seasons.

Jose Reyes, SS, signed a six-year, $106 million deal with the Miami Marlins. Nagging injuries have limited him to 295 games the last three seasons. Reyes had been with the Mets since debuting in 2003.

Jonathan Papelbon, RHP, made a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies for four years at $50 million with a vesting option for a fifth year. Papelbon had been with the Boston Red Sox since his debut in 2005.

Heath Bell, RHP, signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Miami Marlins. Bell played the last five seasons with the San Diego Padres.

Roy Oswalt, RHP, remained unsigned as spring training began. On Feb. 23 Oswalt's agent issued a statement saying his client was not prepared to walk away from the game and hoped to take the mound at some during the upcoming season.

Edwin Jackson, RHP, signed a deal with the Washington Nationals for one year in the $10 million range. Jackson collected a World Series ring as a member of the Cardinals last season. The Nats are his seventh team.

Hiroki Kuroda, RHP, agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with the Yankees on Jan. 13. He had mulled returning to play in Japan.

Carlos Beltran, OF, made a deal on Dec. 22 with the Cardinals on a two-year, $26 million contract with a full no-trade clause. Beltran, 34, batted .300/.385/.525 last season with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, made a three-year, $33 million deal on Dec. 17 to remain with the Phillies. The deal has a guaranteed vesting option of $5 for 2015.

Michael Cuddyer, OF, finalized a deal on Dec. 20 with the Colorado Rockies for a three-year, $31.5 million contract.

Josh Willingham, OF, signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Minnesota Twins on Dec. 15. Willingham was traded from the Washington Nationals during the Oakland A's in the 2010 offseason.

Rafael Furcal, SS, made a deal to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team he was traded to in July 2011. The contract is in the range of $14 million over two years.

Ryan Madson, RHP, agreed to a deal with the Cincinatti Reds, effectively replacing Francisco Cordero. Madson excelled filling the Phillies ninth-inning void when Brad Lidge battled injuries

Clint Barmes, SS, signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The departure of Barmes, a Type B free agent, entitles the Houston Astros to a supplementary pick at the end of the first round next June.

Aramis Ramirez, 3B, reached a three-year, $36 million deal with the Brewers. Ramirez spent the last eight seasons with the Cubs. Ramirez gives the Brewers options in the lineup and infield should they lose Prince Fielder to another team, as expected.

Grady Sizemore, OF, re-signed with the Cleveland to a one-year, incentive-based contract. The Indians declined a $9 million option for 2012 last month on Sizemore, whose base salary in 2012 will be $5 million; he can make another $4 million based on plate appearances.

David Ortiz, DH, has accepted salary arbitration from the Boston Red Sox, ensuring that he will stay with the team for at least one more season. The decision lays the groundwork for either a one-year deal that will see the seven-time All-Star earn more than his $12.5 million salary from last season or a multi-year deal at a lower average annual salary.

Aaron Harang, RHP, signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The total value of the contract is $12 million. Harang went 14-7 with a 3.64 ERA in 28 starts for the San Diego Padres in 2011.

Francisco Rodriguez, RHP, accepted the Milwaukee Brewers' offer of salary arbitration for the 2012 season. The Brewers' move to offer their highly paid setup man arbitration to get draft picks if he signed elsewhere may have backfired. Now the Brewers must either trade him, release him or risk him coming back at an exorbitant price. Waiting on a decision from K-Rod also may have cost the Brewers valued fellow reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who has agreed to sign with the Angels.

Jonathan Broxton, RHP, signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Kansas City Royals. It remains to be seen if he will be the team's closer or setup man. In seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Broxton had 84 saves and a 3.19 ERA.

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