MLB Free Agency Rumors 2017: Where Are Arrieta, Hosmer, Darvish, Others Headed?
While players like Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna have been traded over the last week, the best free agents of the 2017-2018 MLB offseason remain unsigned. Eric Hosmer, Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish are all looking for big contracts as teams look to improve their rosters this winter.
Here’s the latest on where the best baseball free agents might be going:
J.D. Martinez (2017 stats: .303 avg, 45 HR, 104 RBI with Detroit Tigers/Arizona Diamondbacks)
The Boston Red Sox seem like the favorite as they try to add power to a lineup that was severely lacking it in 2017. Only Mike Trout has registered a higher slugging percentage than Martinez since 2014, and the Red Sox ranked dead last in the AL with 168 homers a season ago. But Martinez remains unsigned after Boston reportedly spent most of the Winter Meetings trying to sign the slugger, and they could decide to make a trade rather than wait for the former Diamondbacks’ outfielder.
Eric Hosmer (2017 stats: .318 avg, 25 HR, 94 RBI with Kansas City Royals)
If Boston doesn’t sign Martinez, they could land Hosmer, who they are also reportedly pursuing. The San Diego Padres have interest in the first baseman, and the Royals could potentially bring him back at the right price. Agent Scott Boras' quest to reportedly get Hosmer a contract close to $200 million, however, could seemingly prevent him from joining a smaller market club.
Yu Darvish (2017 stats: 10-12, 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP with Texas Rangers/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Darvish might be the most interesting case of the top free agents. He’s got a career 3.42 ERA and pitched very well through the first two rounds of the playoffs after he was traded to L.A. The 31-year-old was awful in the World Series, potentially costing himself a lot of money, but he’s arguably the best starter on the market. The Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros are reportedly interested in Darvish.
Jake Arrieta (2017 stats: 14-10, 3.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP with Chicago Cubs)
Arrieta is another Scott Boras client that’s seeking $200 million. Since winning the NL Cy Young award in 2015, his ERA has nearly doubled to 3.30 over the last two seasons. The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies have been linked to Arrieta, while Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon told The Score 670’s “Spiegel & Parkins” earlier this month that the pitcher is “probably gone.”
Wade Davis (2017 stats: 32 saves, 2.30 ERA, 1.14 WHIP with Chicago Cubs)
Davis is the best closer on the market and another pitcher that Chicago could lose in free agency. He’s due for a big contract after posting a 1.45 ERA over the last four years. While there’s a chance Davis remains a Cub, the team has competition from the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies.
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