Boston Red Sox: Stay away from free agent Eric Hosmer
The Boston Red Sox have room to add a first baseman. Eric Hosmer is the best available, but is he the right match?
First base is a position the Boston Red Sox will again need to upgrade this offseason. Last winter, they signed Mitch Moreland to a team-friendly one-year deal. This offseason, they have a chance to lock up free agent Eric Hosmer long-term for a lot more money.
Despite their success, first base has not been a position of stability for the Red Sox. The last time someone started at first base for more than two consecutive Opening Day games came back in 2010. Kevin Youkilis received the start for the fifth straight season. Thereafter, we’ve seen a pair of years from Adrian Gonzalez and Mike Napoli, one from David Ortiz, an experiment with Hanley Ramirez, and last spring with Moreland.
Needless to say, the Red Sox would like to secure the position. Surely, Hosmer does this.
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However, I’m reluctant to advise the Red Sox on proceeding with the signing. They already have a lot of money wrapped up elsewhere. The David Price contract has backfired and the Rick Porcello deal might be even worse. Though they can probably find a way to afford Hosmer, the supply outweighs the demand.
This offseason features multiple first base options the Red Sox could enjoy seeing at Fenway Park. The usually consistent Carlos Santana is available and still capable of delivering good power with an even more amazing eye. Logan Morrison and Mark Reynolds are also coming off of phenomenal seasons, unlikely to return to their respective teams. Neither of them will cost nearly the same price as Hosmer.
Others are available, too. Adam Lind may have earned back the right to play first base every day in MLB. The Philadelphia Phillies would surely trade Tommy Joseph for pennies. Of course, they both come with their own uncertainties.
Considering the status of two notable Red Sox prospects, a short-term deal with a veteran first baseman might benefit them more. Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis cannot both play third base. One may inevitably move across the diamond.
Furthermore, power is what the Red Sox offense lacked most in 2017. Hosmer’s one weak point is an inability to consistently hit home runs. The 28-year-old only hit 20+ twice in his career. On the plus side, those two seasons took place in 2016 and 2017 when he mashed 25 in each.
Hosmer is coming off of a career-year with the Kansas City Royals. He deserves a lot of money and more years than most free agent first basemen available. While I have no doubt he’d help the Red Sox. this is a team needing more help elsewhere. Not many of their recent transactions have panned out so it’s important to remain cautious.
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In the first base market, Hosmer is the best player, but far from the greatest value and fit for Boston. There will always be big names available at this position. It’s a quick fix they can make at the trade deadline. Money should go toward fixing the pitching staff first, with any trades they may make assisting them in adding a bat.