(Image source: MLB.com)

BY SAM KOROTKIN
 

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

You're watching multisource sports news analysis from Newsy.

And we are under way.

MLB free agency began Thursday at midnight and if you haven’t already heard, Albert Pujols is on the market.  He has the potential to sign the biggest contract in baseball history, but would a newly constructed statue of the slugger in St. Louis be enough for him to stay?

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Kaduk believes it is.

“…not even LeBron James would have had the temerity to watch a statue of himself erected in Cleveland before signing down in Miami. Surely Pujols wouldn't agree to this tribute if there were any chance of him leaving, right?”

Outside of Pujols, All stars Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes, and C.J Wilson headline this year’s class. But those four players aren’t enough to sell ESPN’s Keith Law on the bunch as a whole.

“This year’s free agent class is one of the thinnest that I’ve ever seen, and it’s particularly light up top in impact talent. If you’re a major league club looking for a difference maker this offseason you don’t have a lot of options available.”

Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols - a thin free agent class? C.C. Sabathia may be partly to blame for the thinness as he recently opted to remain a Yankee by extending his deal, instead of opting for free agency. But Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman says he doesn’t think the whole class is thin, only part of it.

“…the group still contains three other players with a chance to receive deals for at least $20 million per year. .. If there is a criticism of this free agent class, it's that there aren't a lot of frontline starting pitchers.”

Japanese starter Yu Darvish may thicken that group as he could draw interest if his Japanese team makes him available. But CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder says be careful with Pujols, Fielder and Reyes because you don’t always get what you pay for.

“…there's a good chance any of the three are still studs when their new contracts run out… But when you see contracts like Barry Zito, Vernon Wells and Alfonso Soriano, you have to keep in mind those guys were once elite players, too. There's risk everywhere.”

Experts, analysts, and fans across the country have made their predictions as to where the big names will end up. Cash Kruth of MLB.com offers some advice.

“Expect the unexpected. If there's anything recent offseasons have taught us, it is precisely that. That isn't only applicable to free-agent signings. It also can be said of trades. This offseason has already seen one surprising swap, as the Indians acquired veteran right-hander Derek Lowe from the Braves on Monday.”