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National League West Division Predictions

National League West Predictions

With the season approaching, I think it’s time to start dishing out my division predictions for 2018. I’ll go through each division looking at their pros and cons with my final standings at the end. So here we are starting off with the National League West.

I have to be honest, I was surprised when Eric Hosmer decided to sign with the San Diego Padres. Leaving Kansas City, where he was idolized as their ideal franchise player, was honestly a bold move by Hosmer. He left Kansas City to become the new golden boy of the Padres. Sorry Wil Myers. Signing Hosmer for an eight year deal is not only a great addition for San Diego, but the NL West as a whole.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are heavily favored to once again win the division with basically everyone returning, with the exception of Darvish. They bring back a young ball club lead by the likes of Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig, and reigning ROY Cody Bellinger. Their rotation once again is led by Clayton Kershaw, who is expected to be dominant once again, while reigning NL Reliever of the Year Kenley Jansen takes the helm of the bullpen.

Arizona Diamondbacks

J.D. Martinez signing with Boston was not a huge hit for the Diamondbacks. Arizona is ready to compete for another postseason berth in 2018. The rotation of Zack Greinke, Robby Ray, Taijuan Walker, Patrick Corbin, and Zack Godley will be a key component toward the team’s overall success. Archie Bradley is currently looking to contend as the team’s closer role along with Brad Boxberger and Yoshihisa Hirano. The signing of Alex Avila strengthens their catching core, while Goldschmidt and Lamb will continue to add intimidation in their lineup.

Colorado Rockies

Colorado is also looking to get another taste of the postseason in 2018. After signing CarGO to a one-year deal, the Rockies seem to be aiming to continuing to maintain power within the lineup along with Arenado, Story, and LeMahieu. The concern with the team once again will be pitching. Hopefully the team can boost their rotation before the deadline, but don’t hold your breath.

San Francisco Giants

With the additions of McCutchen and Longoria, the Giants are looking to bounce back at the top of the division after suffering a disappointing 2017. The two newcomers will definitely bring a spark to the lineup, which includes returners Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Hunter Pence. Mad Bum, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija will anchor the staff with a strong bullpen led by Mark Melancon and Hunter Strickland. Simply put, don’t sleep on San Fran in 2018.

San Diego Padres

Finally with San Diego, there’s really not much to say. Signing Hosmer, however, is a huge step forward for the ball club. The fact they posses the #1 farm system in baseball doesn’t hurt either. Freddy Galvis and Wil Myers are looking to stay consistent this season in attempting to spark the offense. The return of Chase Headley brings a familiar face to the ball club and Carter Capps is looking to continue as the anchor out of the bullpen. Don’t expect the Padres to make much noise this season, but they are going in the right direction.

Final Standing Prediction

Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Diego Padres

The Top First Basemen in Baseball

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First base is one of the deepest positions in the league. As such, there will be plenty of talented players left off this list. Also, whereas Joey Votto is arguably the best first baseman right now, at the age of 34 he drops a few spots for the purposes of my list. I factor in age and answer the question, who would I most want to start a team with? I could easily go 15 deep in this list, but sticking with the theme, here are my top 10.

1. Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt is about as steady as they come. Year in, year out, he puts up big numbers without as much publicity as the game’s top stars. Make no mistake, he is one of the top stars in the game. Goldy, as he is affectionately called, hasn’t batted below .297 since 2012 and has eclipsed 30 home runs three times during that span. 2013 was his true breakout season, leading the league with 36 home runs, 125 RBI and a .952 OPS. Two years later he was even better, batting .321 with 33 home runs and a career high 1.005 OPS. In a stat that adjusts for ballpark and other factors, Goldschmidt also posted a career best 168 OPS+. He finished 2nd in the MVP vote for the second time in three years. Last season he finished third in the vote after hitting 36 home runs.

Goldschmidt is also perhaps the best baserunner amongst first basemen. He stole 18 bags for the second time in his career last season. The year before he had stolen a career high 32 bases! Goldschmidt isn’t fast, he is just adept at getting big leads and reading a pitcher. According to Mike Petriello of MLB.com, Goldschmidt has an average lead of nearly 15 feet when he attempts to steal a base. The average lead is less than 12 feet. In the field, Goldschmidt has a career .996 fielding percentage and has won 3 Gold Gloves. He is a very well-rounded player and my choice for the best first baseman in baseball.

2. Freddie Freeman

Freeman has always been a good player, but his game has gone to new heights the past two years. Over his first five seasons, Freeman was a .286 hitter and averaged 21 home runs per season with an .835 OPS. The beginning of 2016 was much the same, but starting in June, he changed his hitting approach. His adjustments helped him see the ball longer and to stay on the pitch. Since, he has been one of the best hitters in baseball.

Freeman wound up hitting .302 with 34 homers and a .968 OPS that season. This past year, despite missing time with an injury, Freeman hit .307 with 28 home runs and a career high .989 OPS. The OPS was the second highest among first basemen in the Major Leagues. This all led to a 4.5 WAR despite only accumulating 440 at-bats. Still just 28 years old, there is no reason Freeman shouldn’t continue this stellar play for years to come.

3. Anthony Rizzo

Anthony Rizzo has overcome a lot to get where he is now. A top prospect with the Red Sox, Rizzo had to conquer cancer at the age of 18. He was traded to San Diego and did not find immediate Major League success. Reacquired by Theo Epstein, the man who initially brought him to Boston, Rizzo started showing why he was a big prospect. For four seasons now he has been one of the better first basemen in the league.

Over these past four seasons, Rizzo has hit over 30 home runs in each season. During that time he has batted .282 with a .387/.522/.910 triple slash. There haven’t been many more consistent power threats in the game during that span. At 28 years old, Rizzo is part of the same generation as Goldschmidt and Freeman and should be hitting baseballs over the wall for plenty of years to come.

Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs hits a two run home run in the 4th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on July 7, 2017. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel)

4. Cody Bellinger

At just 22 years old last year, Bellinger led all first baseman in home runs with 39. His .933 OPS placed 4th at the position while his .581 slugging percentage was second to Freddie Freeman. At such a young age, Bellinger should have more years to offer than those above him on this list, but they are all young enough they should produce well for an entire length of a contract. I also trust the ones above him to perform more consistently. Bellinger was a top prospect, and I have no doubt he will keep performing, but I’d like to see more before elevating him above established superstars.

Bellinger has revamped his swing in recent years and gets incredible lift on the ball, so the power is likely to stay. Whereas he used to be “stiff” at the plate, Dodgers coaches worked with him through the minors to change his style. Bellinger went from hitting four home runs over 377 at-bats in 2013 and 2014, to hitting 30 homers in 2015. The one downside, if any, is that he strikes out a fair amount and doesn’t hit for as high an average as those above him. At just 22, I can see him improve that area of his game without sacrificing a great deal of power.

5. Joey Votto

As I said in the opening, Votto is arguably the best first baseman in the league. However, he is 34 years old. The guys above him likely have six or more years of star play left, Votto might have two or three before he starts to decline. Still, I will take two or three years of superstar play and then a couple more years of decent play over just good play for six years.

In Votto’s first full season he batted .297. In 2014, he missed half the season with injury and only batted .255. He has batted above .300 all of the other nine seasons in his career. He has led the league in on-base percentage six times, including each of the last two. Votto is coming off a season arguably equal to his MVP season of 2010, batting .320 with 36 home runs and a .454/.578/1.032 slash line. He is a remarkable hitter, putting up stellar numbers while rarely popping out. Over the last three seasons, Votto has batted .320 with a 1.006 OPS. He is averaging 31 home runs per season and has walked more times than he has struck out. Currently, Votto is showing no signs of slowing down, and hopefully he can continue this play for a couple more seasons.

6. Eric Hosmer

Incredibly, Hosmer remains unsigned at the time this article was released. What a strange offseason of baseball. Hosmer doesn’t stand out across the board, but he offers production at just about every level. He’s capable of hitting for a solid average with decent pop and he plays good defense. He has had a strange career offensively, alternating good seasons with poor ones for the first five seasons. His average has still followed an up and down year-by-year course to this day. He seems to have added more power to his game though, homering 25 times in each of the past two seasons.

Defensive metrics don’t like Hosmer, giving him a negative dWAR in every season of his career. He has a .995 career fielding percentage though, and not everyone who watches him play can be wrong. Those that see him think he is a good defender and he has won four Gold Gloves. He doesn’t steal bases like he used to, stealing 22 over the past four seasons compared to the 38 during his first three seasons. However, he plays nearly every day. In fact, he did play all 162 games last season. He has only missed time with injury in one season out of seven.

7. Jose Abreu

Jose Abreu is a one-dimensional first baseman. Luckily for him, that one dimension is a pretty good one. Since coming to the states, Abreu has homered 30 times in three out of four seasons. He is a career .301 hitter with an .883 OPS. He’s not super young, having just turned 31, but he isn’t old either. He should be a fine hitter for several years to come. The question comes, when will he move to designated hitter? Abreu is a weak defender, making 35 errors and totaling a -5.3 dWAR in his four Major League seasons. He also is a slow baserunner, stealing six bases and grounding into 72 double plays to date.

8. Josh Bell

Josh Bell has been a top prospect for years. Debuting on Baseball America’s top 100 list prior to 2012, Bell spent four seasons as part of the list. Considered a polished hitter, scouts swore the power would come from the 6’2″ 230 pound Bell. He never homered more than 14 times in any minor league season. However, he batted over .300 twice while drawing a lot of walks.

Bell’s rookie season therefore came as a bit of a surprise. Bell only batted .255 last year, but homered 26 times while driving in 90 runs. This was a very different player from what we saw in the minors. They say power develops later, and he was always suspected of having it in him, so I am buying the home runs. His average though, I only see improving. Bell hit .303 with a .373 on-base percentage in the minor leagues. Maybe he will have a harder time batting .300 at the big league level, but I suspect he is capable of batting at least .280. A .280 average would likely mean a .350-.360 on-base percentage along with 25-30 home runs. Bell is still only 25 years old.

9. Matt Olson

Matt Olson has big time power. He never got quite as much publicity as Joey Gallo before last year, but he can mash a lot of home runs without threatening all-time strikeout records. Olson hit 23 and 37 home runs in 2013 and 2014 in the low minors. He fell off some in the upper minors before returning with a vengeance last season. Olson hit 23 home runs at the AAA level before homering 24 times over 189 Major League at-bats. His Major League slash line was an astounding .352/.651/1.003. He combined to hit 47 home runs over 483 at-bats between the two highest levels.

Olson has never, and never will hit for a high average. However, he isn’t likely to hit .200 either. Olson was a career .249 hitter in the minor leagues with a .360 on-base percentage. He is likely to settle in as a .240-.250 hitter with an on-base percentage roughly 100 points higher. For a guy who should hit between 30 and 40 home runs a year, that is plenty valuable. He could be an Adam Dunn type player who doesn’t walk quite as much if he continues on last year’s path. At just 23 and not even a full season in the bigs, I am more willing to bet on Olson’s upside than some other guys who just produced for the first time at the age of 30.

Matt Olson follows the flight of his homer at Detroit last week. He averaged one home run every 7.88 plate appearances.

10. Wil Myers

There were a bunch of guys jockeying for these last couple spots, but I ultimately sided with Myers. He has done more than most by the age of 27. I found myself surprised that he is still that young given how long he has been around. Myers is fast for the position, having come up as a corner outfielder. His 20 stolen bases last season led the position. He stole even more, 28, in 2016. Over these past two seasons in San Diego, Myers has hit 58 homers and stolen 48 bases. That’s a pretty good power-speed combination.

The area in which Myers could stand to improve is getting on base. He has batted just .251 over those two seasons with a middling .332 on-base percentage. His power and speed combo at 27 years old is enough to make me side with him at the 10 spot though. I also wonder if he might hit a little better elsewhere, as 22 of his 30 home runs last season came on the road. Of course, his splits for 2016 were skewered to be far more successful at home.

Honorable Mentions:

Justin Bour, Justin Smoak, Matt Carpenter, Joey Gallo, Logan Morrison, Carlos Santana, Yulieski Gurriel

Featured picture from zimbio.com

Hosmer and JD Still Don’t Have Homes

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Three Weeks ‘Til Pitchers and Catchers Report

Put yourselves in the shoes of JD Martinez. You have been presented with an offer by the Red Sox for a whopping five years, $125 million. Not many teams have shown that much interest in JD, but he was given an offer he and Boras shouldn’t refuse.

Now you’re in the mind of Eric Hosmer. You have two seven year deals awaiting you. The Padres offering seven years for $140 million, and Kansas City is matching their offer but for $147 million.

Life is looking pretty good right? The only issue with these offers is that Hosmer and Martinez have yet to sign.

There are three weeks until pitchers and catchers report, and the top two hitters in the free agent market have yet to sign with a club. For JD’s case, this guy should just sign already. His bat speaks for himself. He’s coming off a season compiling an average of .303, mashing 45 homers, tallying 104 RBI’s and a slugging of .690. Needless to say, this guy can rake. Aside from his lower expected fielding percentage throughout his career (.980 lifetime), JD should definitely be able to believe he’s worth the amount he’s asking. JD willing to hold out until Spring Training may end up causing a team to jump out and give him a deal, but teams may want to really consider what he’s worth.

For Hosmer, it’s only a matter of time he finally decides what $140+ million dollar deal he chooses. If he chooses wisely he’ll go back to KC. Coming off a season hitting .318 with twenty-five homers, and 94 RBI’s, Hosmer is deserving to earn a big contract by KC. By simply “one-upping” the Padres deal, Kansas City do not want to lose Hosmer. His positive impact towards the community and his leadership role also seems to make the most sense on why he would return as their franchise guy. They also won a World Series and a few pennants with him.

So please, Eric and JD just sign already. End this horrifically boring offseason and just find a place to play for like the next five or seven years.

The Red Sox Should Not Trade for Stanton

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The Boston Red Sox should not trade for Giancarlo Stanton. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy. Stanton is a pleasure to watch. He hits the ball harder than anyone I have seen. I’ve sent many videos of his home runs to my brothers over the years. With all the following aspects considered however, the Red Sox have better options available to them.

The Money

The Sox would owe Stanton fat stacks. Yes, Stanton is an all-world talent and worth a lot of money. Yes, he is still only 27 years old. But other options can be had much cheaper that aren’t much worse at the plate. Giancarlo Stanton will get $285M over the next 10 seasons. He then has a team option in 2028 for $25M. If one assumed that wouldn’t be picked up, the team would still owe him $10M as a buyout of his contract. Bare minimum. For the $295M owed to Stanton, JD Martinez could be had for half of that, maybe even less than half. Is Stanton really worth that much more than Martinez? That answer is no.

The Cost of Trade

If you do believe Stanton is worth all that much money, how about the trade aspect? JD Martinez is a free agent. No players would have to be given up to acquire him. Stanton would cost players, and good ones at that, in addition to the near $300M. How could someone justify spending $150-$175M more and good players on top of it for Stanton as opposed to Martinez? Who would it take to acquire Stanton? A centerpiece of Jackie Bradley Jr. or Xander Bogaerts along with a couple prospects? Or maybe all of them. In theory Stanton would be worth such a package, but considering all angles that’s not the case.

The Statistics

Giancarlo Stanton catches the third out in the second inning during game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 25, 2015 (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Stanton is actually a better defender than Martinez. He is surprisingly solid for someone his size, but unless we move Bradley neither of these guys would be acquired to play the field. If they are designated hitters, defense is a moot point. So let’s just focus on the offense.

JD Martinez had his breakout four seasons ago. Over that four-year span, how much better has Stanton been than Martinez? In the last four years Giancarlo Stanton has batted .271 with a .939 OPS. JD Martinez in those same four years has hit for a .300 average with a .936 OPS. Martinez hits for a much higher average, but Stanton walks a lot more so their on base percentages are very similar — .366 for Stanton to .362 for Martinez. That actually leaves Martinez with the very slight edge in slugging, .574 to .573. Surprise!

When it comes to home runs, Giancarlo Stanton has averaged 38 home runs over those four seasons. That number jumps to 49 per 162 games due to injuries. Martinez lags behind, but not so far behind that Stanton becomes worth that much more than him. Martinez has averaged 32 home runs per year, or 40 home runs per 162 games played. The reason his slugging is higher is he gets more hits and a lot more doubles. Their triple slash lines are nearly identical.

Giancarlo Stanton vs JD Martinez

Stanton takes aim at the ugly sculpture in center field.

Year	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2014	MIA	NL	145	638	539	31	1	37	105	.288	.395	.555	.950
2015	MIA	NL	74	318	279	12	1	27	67	.265	.346	.606	.952
2016	MIA	NL	119	470	413	20	1	27	74	.240	.326	.489	.815
2017	MIA	NL	159	692	597	32	0	59	*132*	.281	.376	.631	1.007

Year	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2014	DET	AL	123	480	441	30	3	23	76	.315	.358	.553	.912
2015	DET	AL	158	657	596	33	2	38	102	.282	.344	.535	.879
2016	DET	AL	120	517	460	35	2	22	68	.307	.373	.535	.908
2017	TOT	MLB	119	489	432	26	3	45	104	.303	.376	.690	1.066
2017	DET	AL	57	232	200	13	2	16	39	.305	.388	.630	1.018
2017	ARI	NL	62	257	232	13	1	29	65	.302	.366	.741	1.107

I’m not saying Martinez is better than Stanton, though the numbers show the difference might not be so large. All I’m saying is, there isn’t even close to a $150M gap between them, let alone some good players on top of it.

JD Martinez hits a 3-run home run off of Matt Wisler (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Why not add them both?

Hey, I’d be all for adding them both. If the Sox were to sign JD Martinez and then trade, say, Jackie Bradley Jr. and a prospect or two for Stanton they could slide Betts to center, put Stanton in right and DH Martinez. That is one heck of a lineup. How do you pay both of them though? The Red Sox would soar well past the luxury tax and be stuck above it for years to come. With Chris Sale, Mookie Betts and others needing to be paid in a couple years the payroll is going to rise, not decrease.

And if we miss on JD Martinez?

If we were to whiff on JD Martinez, then I would more seriously explore trading for Stanton. There is no other bat available that can compare. Eric Hosmer is available and has a solid bat, but he is no true power threat like the Red Sox need. They need a thumper, someone opposing pitchers should fear. Hosmer is an up and down offensive player with 20-25 home run power. There are also rumors he is looking for 200 million dollars which borderlines on the absurd.

I would definitely pay Stanton his contract and give up something to get him before entertaining that. Just no trading Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi or Rafael Devers. If we were to acquire him without giving up any of them would I be upset? Probably not. Like I said, I love Stanton, he is one of my favorite players. The Red Sox just better let us in to watch our home team take batting practice.

Does Giancarlo Stanton already “Win-Dance-Repeat”?

The Red Sox Need A Big Bat

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The Red Sox are coming off another good season, but one that ultimately fell short. There are many factors that play into why, but the lineup is a big one. The Red Sox lost legend David Ortiz, and didn’t replace his bat. As a result, the lineup faltered. This offseason they need to rectify the situation.

Red Sox Lineup

Without the presence of David Ortiz in the lineup this season, many players regressed. They may have been pressing more to try and fill the void. In past seasons, pitchers didn’t want to face Big Papi, which gave the other batters better pitches to hit. This cannot be understated. Mookie Betts dropped off considerably, most notably his batting average. Xander Bogaerts went from a near .300 average with 21 home runs, to .273 with 10 homers. After hitting 30 home runs in 2016, Hanley Ramirez may have been the one most expected to fill the void left by Ortiz. He disappointed, and only batted .242. The Red Sox need a legitimate power hitter, a threat to go yard every time.

As a team, the Red Sox finished 27th in the league in home runs. Fenway Park is a hitters park, and while the Red Sox have often taken advantage, they failed to this season.

The Red Sox finished 22nd in the majors in the all-important OPS category. OPS is a combination of on base percentage and slugging percentage, it combines two very important skills. The Red Sox need to bring these offensive numbers back up. They aren’t a 2nd division team.

How to improve the lineup

J.D. Martinez of the Arizona Diamondback celebrates after hitting a grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Last season, the Red Sox could have signed Edwin Encarnacion to replace Big Papi. It seemed like the perfect fit, but the Red Sox passed. Passing on Encarnacion cost them this year as he hit 38 home runs, a number that would have probably increased playing at Fenway. They cannot make the same mistake in 2018.

A fix this year could come in the form of JD Martinez. He may not provide the same presence as Big Papi, but honestly, who could? Martinez’s power production would be with the best of them though. Adding him to the fold gives the Sox the home run threat, run producer in the middle of the lineup and makes things easier on the rest of the lineup. Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and company will see better pitches to hit if Martinez is looming on deck and producing. The addition would also alleviate some pressure on them. Two years ago, the Red Sox were 9th in the Major Leagues in home runs and first in OPS. Yes, they dropped from 1st in OPS to 22nd. Add that big bat, and they should be back in the top ten.

Who is JD Martinez?

J.D. Martinez of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Colorado Rockies 11-8 in the National League Wild Card game (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

JD Martinez began his career as a 4th outfielder for the Houston Astros. He was average for his three seasons in Houston before being cut prior to the 2014 season. He worked hard to revamp his swing, and it showed in his results. After he was scooped up by the Tigers (by none other than Dave Dombrowski), Martinez has been one of the better hitters in the league. He stays under the radar, but Martinez can rake. He has batted .300, with 128 home runs and a .936 OPS. Even with missed time, that’s an average of 40 home runs per season. He is 10th in the Majors in home runs and 6th in OPS during that 4 year span.

This season, Martinez had a career year at the age of 30, hitting 45 home runs despite missing roughly the first month and a half of the season. After being traded to Arizona, Martinez hit 29 home runs in 62 games. While he may not get recognition nationwide, JD Martinez is a top power hitter.

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2011	23	HOU	NL	53	226	208	29	57	13	0	6	35	.274	.319	.423	.742
2012	24	HOU	NL	113	439	395	34	95	14	3	11	55	.241	.311	.375	.685
2013	25	HOU	AL	86	310	296	24	74	17	0	7	36	.250	.272	.378	.650
2014	26	DET	AL	123	480	441	57	139	30	3	23	76	.315	.358	.553	.912
2015	27	DET	AL	158	657	596	93	168	33	2	38	102	.282	.344	.535	.879
2016	28	DET	AL	120	517	460	69	141	35	2	22	68	.307	.373	.535	.908
2017	29	TOT	MLB	119	489	432	85	131	26	3	45	104	.303	.376	.690	1.066
2017	29	DET	AL	57	232	200	38	61	13	2	16	39	.305	.388	.630	1.018
2017	29	ARI	NL	62	257	232	47	70	13	1	29	65	.302	.366	.741	1.107
7 Yr	7 Yr	7 Yr	7 Yr	772	3118	2828	391	805	168	13	152	476	.285	.342	.514	.857
162	162	162	162	162	654	593	82	169	35	3	32	100	.285	.342	.514	.857

What will it take?

Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton are comparable players who signed free agent deals in the past few years. Both players easily surpass 20 million per season. I’d take Martinez over either of them personally, with 25 million dollars per year being a reasonable expectation to shell out for his services.

The question becomes how many years to give him. Ideally a 4 year deal around 100 million, but it will likely take a 5th year to get it done. If the Red Sox can get him for 5 years at that rate, a 5th year shouldn’t stand in the way. He’d be 35 at the end of his contract, but wouldn’t be like another Albert Pujols situation in Anaheim. For the production he has been putting up over the last 4 seasons, 5/125 is worth it. Will the market command even more, push him to 150 million? There have been reports that the up and down Eric Hosmer is looking for an obscene 200 million dollar deal. No thank you.

Where does he play?

Lou Gorman once famously passed up trading for batting title champion Willie McGee in the heat of a pennant race because he asked the question: where would he play? Gorman has been second guessed ever since.

Barring a trade, Martinez would play designated hitter. Hanley has one season left on his contract, he isn’t here for the long run, and he hasn’t been that good. Martinez could be the primary DH, while Hanley splits time at first base with Mitch Moreland (back for another season?) or Sam Travis. Hanley primarily played first base in his only good season in Boston to date. Martinez could occasionally play in the outfield to keep him up to speed, and give others a rest day. On those days, Hanley could slide to DH to get out of the field, and rest his aching shoulder from those strenuous throws he’d be making at first base.

The Red Sox might have an inside track on acquiring Martinez that some other teams do not. Dave Dombrowski is the one that gave JD Martinez another chance in Detroit following his release from the Astros. It would make sense for JD Martinez to be interested in playing for Dombrowski again.

The Red Sox have an opening for him, they have the need, all that is left to do is sign him.

Why the Red Sox Need Eric Hosmer

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We all know Eric Hosmer, the stud first basemen for the KC Royals, a key piece to their two World Series appearances in 2014 -15, and their title in 2015. A great defensive first basemen and an outstanding hitter who can hit for both power and contact, he is a special player.

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After the 2017 season, he hits free-agency, where he will definitely land a big contract. The question now is…should the Red Sox try to sign him?

Battle for first

Other 1st base options:

Mitch Moreland

Moreland has definitely had his moments this year, but only signed through this year and then hits the FA market again. Will the Soc decide to resign him? In 440 at bats this year, Moreland is hitting a measly .248 with 18 homers and 65 RBI. Not a bad season, but certainly not a great one, especially compared to the production that Hanley Ramirez brought to the team in the 2016 season. Mitch Moreland has been a nice fill-in this year, but probably not the long-term solution.

Sam Travis

Known as DoctorChill, Sam Travis has impressed this year at first base. He stands at 15-48, boasting a .313 average this year. He has shown the ability to hit the ball, but not for a lot of power to the pull side. His scouting reports that he hits a lot of balls to the opposite field, not ideal for a righty at Fenway park. Usually, you would like a Red Sox righty to pull the ball to the wall. Sam Travis presents the Sox with definitely a cheaper option than Hosmer, but he needs to work on his ability to pull the ball for power. In his own words, his six home runs in the minors this year is doesn’t cut it.

Hanley Ramirez

I know what you are thinking, and I am thinking the same thing…hell no! I figured I would just throw him on the list because there might be one percent of Red Sox Nation that would want this, and even that is a stretch. Hanley Ramirez had a monster 2016 at first base from an offensive standpoint, and was also very good with the glove. However, his numbers tanked this year, and his future as a DH even may be in question, never mind a spot in the lineup that requires him to play almost every night.

Eric Hosmer

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The moment we’ve been waiting for — the Wizard of Hoz. Eric Hosmer is easily the most well suited option on this list, and I think I can speak on behalf of most people when I say that Red Sox Nation would love to have him on board. There is nothing not to love about this guy. He seems to have great chemistry with the fans and his teammates, and appears to be a great overall guy off the field as well as on. Speaking of on, there is nothing he can’t do as a first basemen. He’s a great fielder, has legitimate pop in his bat, hits for average, as can run. In what he could consider an off-year, a year in which not many people have been talking about him, he has produced .315 with 23 homers and 82 RBI. Not only does he play great year in and year out, he has EXPERIENCE. He has played in two World Series, and has absolutely mashed in the playoffs.

Eric Hosmer represents everything that the Red Sox could use at first base to win in the future, and at a reasonable price. They should push to bring Hosmer to Beantown.