Rankings/List

MLB free agency is in full swing with a lot of the top free agents already off the board.

Teams that missed out on the best available will be scouring the open market, looking for an extra bat or arm to give their team a boost. While the pickings are fairly slim at this point, there are still a couple of big names out there that could make an impact.

Of the available free agents, which are the best ones available?

Begin Slideshow

What makes a smart hitter? Well, it's a combination of things, to say the least. Power, contact, patience, batting eye, ability to hit with two strikes, ability to hit in the clutch, ability to draw a walk, longevity and consistency all play a role.

We've taken just about every aspect of hitting into account to come up with the 20 smartest hitters in MLB history!

Begin Slideshow

With ace Johan Santana out until at least the All-Star break with shoulder surgery, the New York Mets are desperately in need of starting pitching.

As it stands now, the Mets' rotation consists of Mike Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey and Jon Niese.

Pelfrey was excellent for the first half of last season but struggled down the stretch. Dickey was one of the few bright spots in another mediocre year for the Mets. Niese looked solid at times but is still young and still maturing.

MLB Free Agency is still on the minds of everyone in baseball as the Hot Stove continues to simmer.

The biggest names have already been signed to mega deals, which has left clubs around baseball looking for what's left.

But December and January are usually when the biggest free-agent bargains can be found for relatively cheap. Already there have been some great deals on some solid players so far.

Next season Pedro Feliciano will be making the short trip to the Yankees from the New York Mets. The 34-year-old lefty relief pitcher will join what is already a star-studded pitching staff.

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Yankees will finalize the contract today that would bring Feliciano to the Yankees for two years with a contract worth $8 million and an option for the 2013 season if the Yankees choose to keep the left-hander.

Carl Crawford, Cliff Lee and Jayson Werth have grabbed all the headlines with their lucrative nine-figure contracts, but many of this off-seasons free agents remain unsigned.

For some players like Adrian Beltre and Rafael Soriano, their big day is a foregone conclusion, but others won’t be so lucky. Whether due to age or declining skills, many players may have to wait until Spring Training to sign a contract, that is, if they can find work.

With that in mind, let’s examine 15 players who could have to wait until March before finding a new home for the season.

Philadelphia Phillies fans were devastated when they heard the news, especially the fact that it was so sudden.

It can also be said that it was shocking to see our everyday right fielder, Jayson Werth, be traded to a team within our own division.

Well, like normal, Philadelphia fans panicked immediately, just like every time when something like this happens.

It's hard to admit, but as a Phillies fan myself, it's true.

But let me be the first to tell you that there isn't too much to worry about.

Coming into the 2011 season, the Twins have a lot of questions marks:

Relief Pitching has been the main concern. After losing Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain out of free agency, only a few bullpen locks remain. Matt Capps was the steady closer for 2010, and Jose Mijares will most likely return with a bigger roll in 2011. Returning All-Star closer Joe Nathan should be ready for spring training, but it doesn't make sense to expect too much from him after so recently undergoing elbow surgery.

Spring training may still be two months away, but the cold winter months have had little success subduing MLB's offseason hot stove.

The fall of 2010 has been an eventful one in the baseball world, even with the free agent class being as thin as it is.

As always, there are some teams that have added tremendously to their chances of World Series title contention in 2011, and plenty more that have been set back further, whether by their own missteps or by the unexpected choices of those they pursued (cough...Cliff Lee...cough).

MLB Trade Rumors are swirling following some of the big moves the past few weeks.

The Adrian Gonzalez deal was a game-changer for the Boston Red Sox. And now that Cliff Lee has somewhat unexpectedly signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, there are going to be serious reproductions for the team's who missed out on landing an ace starter.

So who out there is most likely to make a deal?

Inside we'll power rank the top 20 team most likely to trade, either to improve their team for next season, avoid impending free agency, or prepare for the future.