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MLB Free Agency 2017: Top 5 contenders to sign Eric Hosmer

By Joshua Sadlock

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 14: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the game against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive field on Thursday, September 14, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 14: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the game against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive field on Thursday, September 14, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 23: Mitch Moreland #18 of the Boston Red Sox catches the ball at first base during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 23, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Boston defeated Cincinnati 5-0. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 23: Mitch Moreland #18 of the Boston Red Sox catches the ball at first base during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 23, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Boston defeated Cincinnati 5-0. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

4. Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox will spend big this winter, it’s just a matter of at which positions and how much. The team suffered a noticeable drop in power production in their first season without David Ortiz and was knocked out in the ALDS (although to be fair to the Red Sox, both teams they have lost to have gone on to the World Series). Dave Dombrowski will be looking to add power at first base and potentially in the outfield.

J.D. Martinez is an obvious fit for the Red Sox, and there has been no shortage of speculation projecting him to sign with them. Martinez and Hosmer are both repped by Scott Boras, and he wants $200 million for both of them. The Red Sox might not have that type of coin available to drop on Martinez, but Hosmer’s asking price will drop once reality sets in.

The Red Sox could also make a run at Giancarlo Stanton for right field, trading Jackie Bradley Jr. as part of an effort to make room for the home-run king. It’s a little too early in the offseason to predict exactly how Stanton’s situation will play out, but the Red Sox are one of the few teams in the league that can offer Miami the young players they’d seek in return for their star and afford to absorb most of his gargantuan contract.

Back to Hosmer. He could be the answer at first base the Red Sox need after another year of Hanley Ramirez injury and regression. It’s impossible to enter a regular season knowing what Ramirez will give you, and the Red Sox cannot afford to enter 2018 counting on Ramirez to better his .242/.320/.429 line. It seems like Boston has two options for their offseason — pursue Hosmer to play first base or give the job to rookie Sam Travis and make a blockbuster offer for Martinez or Stanton.

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