MLB free agency: One free agent each team should sign

St. Louis Cardinals: Eric Hosmer

The market for Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will be strong this winter, but the Yankees and Cardinals figure to be the two most aggressive teams in pursuit of his services. At the end of the day, St. Louis may need Hosmer more than the Yankees. Try as they might, the Cardinals have not been able to give away $200 million, whiffing on David Price and Jason Heyward in free agency.

This may finally be the year the Cards are able to give away the big money. The front office certainly should have the motivation. Put a player like Hosmer on this years Cardinals team, and they are likely the NL Central champs and a World Series contender thanks to their strong rotation.

Hosmer has played his entire career in Missouri, and would fit in well with the Cardinals clubhouse. Making space for him in the starting lineup would require the Cardinals to get creative. Matt Carpenter is entrenched at first base and going nowhere. Carpenter has played other positions around the infield, but those are now being occupied by Kolten Wong, Paul DeJong and Jedd Gyorko.

The weakest spot for the Cardinals is right field, where Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk have failed to step up. Wong or Gyorko may have to pick up an outfielder’s mitt on a full-time basis if the Cardinals can reel in Hosmer and keep him in Missouri.