As we reach the end of the free agency period for 2012, we begin to look ahead at the 2013 free agents-to-be. The numbers next to each player are the current ESPN Fantasy 2012 preseason rankings for each player at his primary position. This is not a comprehensive list, mind you, just the biggest names currently headed for free agency following the season.

Catchers

1. Mike Napoli, Rangers: Napoli reportedly has said he'll test the open market this fall, but given his recent production the Rangers likely will try to keep him around as long as they can.
3. Brian McCann, Braves: Unless he suffers a major injury in 2012, Atlanta will more than likely pick up his $12 million club option.
5. Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks: Apparently Montero's contract extension talks have stalled, possibly because Yadier Molina's 5-year, $75 million deal set a new baseline for top-flight players at this position. Montero is a better offensive player than Molina, and Arizona might not be able to afford him.
14. Russell Martin, Yankees: New York obviously thought enough of Martin and his 18-homer, 65-RBI season to trade away Jesus Montero. But the Yanks already have decided to wait to see how Martin does in 2012 before agreeing to the three-year, $27 million deal that Martin likely will ask for.
19. Chris Iannetta, Angels: Let's see how Iannetta does outside Coors Field for a full season. At 28 years old, he is certainly capable of playing well enough to prompt the front office to pick up his $5 million club option.
21. A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox: He's 35 right now and probably won't generate much interest at the trade deadline.
22. Ryan Doumit, Twins: A lot will depend on the health of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. If the stars can play the field, Doumit can hang around as the everyday DH.

First basemen 11. Lance Berkman, Cardinals: With Albert Pujols gone, Berkman, who turned 36 this February, should be able to man first base for the Redbirds the next couple years.
17. Carlos Lee, Astros: He's earning $18.5 million this season, so he'll likely have to take a major pay cut if he doesn't want to retire. He could stick around Houston to be the Astros' first full-time DH in 2013 as they move to the American League.
21. Carlos Pena, Rays: After hitting .196 for the Rays in 2010, Tampa Bay liked this guy enough to give him a one-year, $7.25 million deal in January to bring him back to Florida. He turns 34 in May and probably will find a way to stick around with the Rays past this season.
33. James Loney, Dodgers: Although he's only 27, the Dodgers probably won't give Loney a long-term deal, especially if he continues to struggle so badly against lefties (.561 OPS in 2011).
37. Aubrey Huff, Giants: With prospects Brandon Belt and Brett Pill on the roster, the Giants are unlikely to pick up Huff's $10 million club option (there's a $2 million buyout). He's a good candidate to be traded in late July.
40. Adam LaRoche, Nationals: He has a $10 million mutual option with a $1 million buyout. The Nationals likely will go with the latter option if he bats .172 with a .258 slugging percentage like he did in 2011.

Second basemen

1. Robinson Cano, Yankees: You gotta believe the Yankees will do everything in their power to make sure the 29-year-old Cano stays in pinstripes for at least the foreseeable future. He has a $15 million club option that likely will be picked up, and the team likely will try to ink him to a long-term deal before he hits the open market.
3. Ian Kinsler, Rangers: The Rangers figure to pick up his $10 million club option for 2013 and attempt to sign Kinsler, who turns 30 in June, to a long-term deal before next season.
6. Brandon Phillips, Reds: The front office has said the team is committed to Phillips long term, but he's making $12 million this year, and likely will want a three-year deal worth at least that much per season.
14. Kelly Johnson, Blue Jays: He's making $6.375 million in 2012 and still has the coveted power/speed combo to land on a contender, if the Jays aren't one, before this season is over.
26. Orlando Hudson, Padres: It's doubtful Hudson will be a Padre after this season; the club likely won't pick up an $8 million club option for a 35-year-old (in December) with a sub-.700 OPS last year.
31. Maicer Izturis, Angels: He'll likely test the free-agent waters after this year and probably find those waters quite frigid.

Shortstops 11. Jhonny Peralta, Tigers: His remarkable durability (140-plus games in seven straight seasons) and consistency (80-plus RBIs in each of the past four years) should make it a pretty easy decision for Detroit to pick up his $6 million option for 2013.
12. Erick Aybar, Angels: He fits well with the Angels, and the team has gotten solid production out of him. At age 28, chances are good that Aybar will sign a contract extension with the Angels before reaching the free-agent market after this season.
14. Stephen Drew, Diamondbacks: Unless he has an All-Star campaign in 2012, which isn't likely with his ankle not yet 100 percent, Arizona likely will part ways with Drew after this season and spend his $10 million mutual option on someone with fewer health question marks.
15. Marco Scutaro, Rockies: He's a free agent-to-be and will turn 37 in October, so you can figure the Rockies will try to get something for him if their playoff hopes are looking dim in late July.
20. Jason Bartlett, Padres: Bartlett has a $5.5 million club option for 2013, which is guaranteed if he reaches 432 plate appearances in 2012. As such, it's quite possible the Padres would try to trade the 32-year-old this season to avoid having to pick up the option.

Third basemen

4. David Wright, Mets: The Mets appear destined to have a sub-.500 record this season, and trading Wright, who will turn 30 in December, for some prospects likely would the serve the team well in the long run. If there are no takers, the Mets likely will pick up his $16 million option for 2013.
11. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox: Youk likely isn't going anywhere. Unless his 2012 is littered with injuries and/or ineffectiveness, he should be back in Boston in 2013 for a semi-reasonable $13 million.
12. Mark Reynolds, Orioles: Baltimore likely won't be in a playoff race anytime soon, so trading away this slugger to a contender makes sense. If the O's do hang on to Reynolds, exercising the 28-year-old's $11 million club option is at least justifiable.
17. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays: The emergence of Brett Lawrie and Jose Bautista makes Encarnacion expendable. The question will be if any other team really wants to go after him before the trade deadline.
21. Chipper Jones, Braves: Atlanta has a $7 million club option for 2013 that vests automatically at $9 million if Jones logs 123 games in 2012.
31. Placido Polanco, Phillies:...