We are more than a quarter of the way through the 2012 season, legitimizing all of the hot and cold starts Major League players have endured. With an eye on free agency this winter, here is a look at those that have increased and decreased their value on the open market. Up David Wright, 3B, Mets New York holds a $16 million team option on Wright for 2013 and given his hot first quarter, there is a significant chance that he will not hit the open market this winter. There were rumors earlier this month that the Mets might even look to extend his deal as they continue to rebuild their roster and finances. After an injury-prone 2011 season, Wright is enjoying the best year of his career. He is hitting .403/.503/.604 with 25 RBI and more walks (29) than strikeouts (25). He gets on base more than fifty percent of the time. Incredible. Josh Hamilton, CF, Rangers Chances are you are well aware of Josh Hamilton and his early-season exploits. He hit four home runs in a game against the Orioles earlier this month and could become one of the most coveted free agents of his generation a few days after the World Series. The issue, however, is compounded by a history of both injury and substance abuse. Those concerns are valid, but general managers will undoubtedly become drunk with his talent. In 41 games, the center fielder has 18 home runs and 48 RBI and a line of .376/.428/.758. Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies As things currently stand, it seems unlikely that the left-hander will receive a contract extension from the Phillies during the season. Through his first eight starts, Hamels has done nothing but increase his value with wins in six of those appearances. He has produced a quality start for Charlie Manuel in every start but his first. He is 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 54-plus innings. He is averaging a career-best 5.80 strikeouts-per-walk and has a .229 batting average against. Zack Greinke, SP, Brewers Milwaukee wants to retain Greinke, but they do not have a strong history of signing high-profile free agents (see: Prince Fielder and CC Sabathia) and the right-hander has been lights out this spring. The 28-year-old is 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 56-plus innings. He has allowed just one home run in 2012 and averages 4.92 strikeouts-per-walk and 9.37 Ks-per-nine innings. If you remove his April 12 start against the Cubs, in which he allowed eight runs in less than four innings, his ERA drops to 0.92 over 53 innings. Even Shane Victorino, CF, Phillies Victorino is believed to be seeking a five-year contract and such a deal may not come from Philadelphia. The Phillies have struggled mightily on offense and the center fielder has not been immune to those woes. He is hitting .260/.325/.412 with five home runs and 13 stolen bases in 177 at-bats. His averages are down, but his stolen base percentage, at-bats per homer and plate discipline are fairly level. He could see a spike in his numbers if Ryan Howard and Chase Utley return and are effective. Nick Swisher, RF, Yankees In the final year of a three-year deal with the Yankees, Swisher enjoyed a terrific April before coming back down to earth this month. He hit .355/.617/.972 with six home runs and 23 RBI in 81 at-bats to begin the season, but the Ohio State alum has hit poorly in May after being sidelined briefly with a hamstring injury. In his last 16 games, Swisher is hitting .219/.262/.481 and he has gone 15 games without a home run. His usually above-average eye has dropped as well. He has 16 strikeouts and just three walks this month. If he finds a midpoint, Swisher will easily get a multiyear deal worth $10 million annually. Edwin Jackson, SP, Nationals Offered a multiyear deal this past winter, Jackson opted to ink a one-year contract with Washington for 2012. He has been solid, but not dominant for the Nationals. He has the lowest WHIP (0.97) of his career and ERA (3.31) over a full season. As has been the case over his career, though, the right-hander has been inconsistent. He has yet to string consecutive above-average starts together. In 2011, he was better in the second half of the season. Down Mike Napoli, C, Rangers Napoli wants to remain with Texas and it has been rumored that he is looking for a contract in the neighborhood of a four-year, $52 million deal. He enjoyed a career-year in his first season with the Rangers, hitting .320/.414/.631 with 30 home runs and 75 RBI (113 games) in 2011. Through 39 games this season, the Florida native is struggling a bit -- .235/.327/.439 with seven home runs and 18 RBI. His home run average is not down drastically, but he is not the complete hitter he was a season ago. The real trouble for Napoli and his agent? His 2012 numbers look an awful lot like his production with the Angels two years ago. Carlos Pena, 1B, Rays Pena signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay this past winter in hopes of increasing his value on the open market. He was very poor offensively during his lone season in Chicago and really has not hit with regularity since his breakout 2007 campaign with the Rays. Instead of increasing his value, he has not produced enough to justify his $7.25 million salary. He is hitting .215/.354/.373 with six home runs and 55 strikeouts. His on-base percentage is very good given his poor average, but the reality is that he has not been a true difference maker at the plate since early 2009. Hiroki Kuroda, SP, Yankees Brian Cashman appeared to make a shrewd move when he signed Kuroda to a one-year, $10 million deal to fortify his starting rotation in January. In four seasons with the Dodgers, the Japanese right-hander won 41 games and never had an ERA above 3.76. However, his transition to the American League has been far from smooth. Kuroda has allowed more than six runs in five innings or less twice and taken the loss in six of his nine starts. He was brilliant in his three victories, but his strikeout and walk rates are all moving in the wrong direction. Jose Valverde, RP, Tigers Valverde went 49-for-49 in save opportunities with Detroit in 2011, but has not earned his $9 million salary this year. He has pitched in 17 games this season and has already blown two saves. The right-hander has the highest WHIP (1.78) of his career and his ERA (5.51) reflects all the hitters that have been on base against the Dominican pitcher. There is time for him to turn things around, but he is the latest in a long line of relievers to dominate one year and struggle the next.