MLB: Ranking the top 5 free agent first basemen

Sep 9, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche (25) runs to first base during the seventh inning inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Washington Nationals defeated against the Atlanta Braves 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals*

Age: 28

2014 Stats: .264/.358/.449, 9HR, 59RBI

Billy Butler is the youngest player on this list. Surprised? To be honest I was a little bit but looking at the numbers, there are a lot of veteran first baseman, especially on the free agent market in 2015, that are aging well. We aren’t looking at catchers anymore whose careers are shorter than most position players.

Back to Butler who is 28 years old. He has a great career slash line of .294/.358/.449. Just two years ago he put up the best numbers of his career meaning that there could be better numbers to come despite the relatively average year he had in 2014 and teams should look at that, especially when they are looking at the rest of the first basemen on the list. In 2012 Butler was an All-Star for the first and only time (so far) of his career. He also won a Sliver Slugger Award that season. His best career year average wise was in 2010 he batted .318. However in 2012 he hit a career high 29 home runs.

Butler has also consistently played in a large number of games each year in his career. He played all 162 games in 2012 leading all American League first baseman. In six of his eight seasons in the big leagues Butler has played in at least 155 games each season. He does not have any postseason experience being that he has played for Kansas City his entire career but that just might change in 2014.

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