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Top Free Agent Hitters By OPS+

The 2011 MLB season is a little more than a month complete, so let's take a quick look and see which free agent positions players have been the most productive at the plate using OPS+...

• Lance Berkman, Cardinals - .392/.462/.775 (239 OPS+) - Puma's been the best hitter in the NL so far, enjoying a career resurgence in St. Louis.
• Jeff Francoeur, Royals - .303/.343/.598 (163 OPS+) - Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote about the success of Dayton Moore's free agent signings yesterday.
• Russell Martin, Yankees - .276/.382/.540 (154 OPS+) - The former Dodger has already hit more homers this year (six) than he did last year (five).
• Paul Konerko, White Sox - .288/.358/.517 (140 OPS+) - Konerko didn't change teams, but he was on the open market and several other teams had interest.
• Jack Hannahan, Indians - .264/.350/.440 (130 OPS+) - The only player here signed to a minor league deal, Hannahan's been worth every penny for the surging Tribe.
• Pat Burrell, Giants - .239/.356/.443 (118 OPS+) - Another re-signing, at least one other team had interest in Pat The Bat this offseason.
• Melky Cabrera, Royals - .285/.308/.453 (114 OPS+) -The Melkman has delivered for KC so far, giving Lorenzo Cain time to hone his skills in Triple-A.
• Johnny Damon, Rays - .261/.292/.435 (107 OPS+) - Has stepped in as DH and been an above-average contributor after Manny Ramirez called it quits.
• Adrian Beltre, Rangers - .238/.279/.460 (102 OPS+) - He's been a little inconsistent at the plate, but that brilliant defense at the hot corner is still very much there.

That's it, just eight free agents from this past offseason have been better than league average with the stick so far this season. Jayson Werth and Rod Barajas are just below that mark; they each check in at 99 OPS+. Orlando Cabrera and John Buck aren't far behind them at 97 and 96 OPS+, respectively.

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