MLB Rumors: Royals, Giants, Cardinals Competing For Top Free Agents After Trades

Eric Hosmer Lorenzo Cain — Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals is congratulated by Lorenzo Cain #6 after he hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on Aug. 15, 2017 in Oakland, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The calendar has turned to 2018, and the top MLB free agents are still unsigned. Eric Hosmer, J.D. Martinez, Yu Darvish and others are still seeking lucrative contracts with spring training fast approaching.

A couple of the best names available seem to be closer to signing than others. That’s because teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants seem prepared to make a splash in free agency.

More so than any team, St. Louis might be ready to make a major move this offseason. The team already tried to trade for Giancarlo Stanton and settled for acquiring Marcell Ozuna when the 2017 NL MVP decided he didn’t want to play for the Cardinals. St. Louis is willing to spend money, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them land Hosmer.

The first baseman has received big offers from multiple teams. He reportedly can join the San Diego Padres for $140 million over seven years or return to Kansas City for the same length and $7 million more. Hosmer might hold out until he receives an eight-year contract.

St. Louis has been trying to add a power bat at one of the corner infield positions. They’ve inquired with the Toronto Blue Jays about trading for Josh Donaldson, though the team might ultimately decide to keep the star third baseman. With St. Louis first baseman Matt Carpenter able to play third base, the Cardinals have room for Hosmer in the starting lineup.

Report from @BNightengale, quoting persons close to Eric Hosmer, says #Royals have offered him 7 years, $147M while #Padres have offered 7 years, $140M. Whether Hosmer and Scott Boras jump at either number remains to be seen. Their goal likely is eight years and up; Hosmer is 28.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 3, 2018

Source: #STLCards remain involved in pursuit of Eric Hosmer, among other options to upgrade lineup. Cardinals also interested in third basemen, including Josh Donaldson in trade. Matt Carpenter’s versatility means Cardinals could add a 1B as easily as a 3B. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 2, 2018

Evan Longoria would have made sense as a target for St. Louis, but the third baseman went to San Francisco in a trade in late December. Longoria should improve a lineup that ranked dead last with just 128 home runs last season.

The Giants might not add a player that will command well north of $100 million, but they could still get an outfielder that will have a significant impact next season. Jay Bruce and Lorenzo Cain are both potential fits in San Francisco, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.

Bruce split time between the Cleveland Indians and New York Mets in 2017, hitting 36 home runs with a .508 slugging percentage. The 30-year-old has posted a slugging percentage over .500 in each of the last two years.

Cain is another free agent that played for Kansas City last year. He hit .300/.363/.440 with 26 steals for the Royals in the 2017 season.

Major league baseball