MLB free agent rankings: Top 10 excellent-handed hitters at the starting up regarded on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Pink Sox indulge in two glaring needs on their roster heading into the offseason: Pitching and good-handed hitting.
We lined the top starting up pitchers and relief pitchers living to hit the free-agent market this winter, so it be time to level of curiosity on the sluggers. Several provocative excellent-handed hitters will be on hand for Pink Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Co. The supreme demand the front living of industrial will must reply to – rather than whether it genuinely wants to scream cash this year – is how any of its additions would match on the roster. The club could perchance also must receive some complex decisions with players in the in the intervening time on the crew, corresponding to living adjustments or trades.
With that in mind, here’s a stare upon the pinnacle 10 excellent-handed sluggers in the 2025 MLB free agent class.
1. Teoscar Hernandez, OF
Age: 32
2024 stats: .272/.339/.501, 33 HR, 99 RBI, 188 SO, 53 BB (154 video games)
Hernandez signed a one-year “show it” take care of the Dodgers final offseason, and “show it” he did.
He bounced support after a rough season in Seattle with a career-high 33 homers. His success has continued in the postseason, the attach he belted two grab homers in conjunction with a gigantic slam in the NLDS in opposition to the San Diego Padres.
Hernandez feasts on left-handed pitching, making him an appealing possibility for a Pink Sox club that struggled mightily in opposition to southpaws at some level of 2024.
2. Marcell Ozuna, DH/OF
Age: 34
2024 stats: .302/.378/.546, 39 HR, 104 RBI, 170 SO, 74 BB (162 video games)
Indicate: Ozuna has a $16 million club possibility with the Atlanta Braves for 2025.
Ozuna change into as soon as one of 4 MLB players to seem in all 162 traditional-season video games. The stale slugger change into as soon as a gargantuan vibrant attach for a Braves crew that change into as soon as decimated by injuries, and like Hernandez, he rakes in opposition to left-handers.
3. Anthony Santander, OF
Age: 30
2024 stats: .235/.308/.506, 44 HR, 102 RBI, 129 SO, 58 BB (155 video games)
Santander is a swap-hitter with quite even splits in opposition to lefties and righties. He had a energy surge this year with career-highs in homers, RBI, and OPS. A logjam already exists in the Pink Sox outfield, on the other hand, making him an unlikely possibility for Boston barring any adjustments to essentially the most modern roster.
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
Age: 30
2024 stats: .240/.329/.459, 34 HR, 88 RBI, 172 SO, 70 BB (162 video games)
Alonso joined Ozuna on the shortlist of players to seem in all 162 video games this season. His grab postseason moments could perchance also indulge in satisfied the Mets to pay him this offseason. But if Original York strikes on from its All-Star slugger, Boston ought to a minimal of gaze into the different of signing him as a DH with a swing tailor-made for Fenway Park. Alonso has hit a minimal of 34 homers in every season rather than the abbreviated 2020 campaign.
5. Alex Bregman, 3B
Age: 31
2024 stats: .260/.315/.453, 26 HR, 75 RBI, 86 SO, 44 BB (145 video games)
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic lately floated the opinion of the Pink Sox signing Bregman, gripping Rafael Devers from third defective to first, and trading first baseman Triston Casas for starting up pitching. Hundreds gripping parts there, however there’s little doubt Bregman would toughen Boston’s infield protection while balancing out the lineup.
The principle teach of affairs is his hefty build. The 2-time All-Star is predicted to manufacture bigger than $200 million in free company. Given his age and his corrupt match on the roster, that does now not seem to be the neatest investment.
6. Willy Adames, SS
Age: 29
2024 stats: .251/.331/.462, 32 HR, 112 RBI, 21 SB, 173 SO, 74 BB (161 video games)
Adames is the pinnacle excellent-handed-hitting shortstop on the market. In step with MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, some within the Pink Sox group “designate Adames highly and would fancy to gaze him in Boston.”
Or no longer it’s an provocative possibility for Boston, and we weighed the mavens and cons of signing Adames here. He has heaps of pop and adds designate as an above-moderate defender. The map back? His lackluster numbers in opposition to left-handed pitching.
7. Eugenio Suarez, 3B
Age: 33
2024 stats: .256/.319/.469, 30 HR, 101 RBI, 176 SO, 49 BB (158 video games)
Indicate: Suarez has a $15 million club possibility with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2025.
Suarez regained create with Arizona following a down year in Seattle. There will be heaps of strikeouts, however he’s a reasonably safe bet for 30+ homers in a season and he mashes each and every excellent-handed and left-handed pitching. As for his match with Boston, Devers would must switch off of third defective or Suarez would must resolve over for Masataka Yoshida as the crew’s designated hitter.
8. Christian Walker, 1B
Age: 34
2024 stats: .251/.335/.468, 26 HR, 84 RBI, 133 SO, 55 BB (130 video games)
Walker is one of essentially the most underrated players in on the mild time’s sport. An distinctive defender at the starting up defective with two Gold Gloves below his belt, the stale is a particular bet for roughly 30 homers when wholesome. The D’backs will seemingly construct their handiest to withhold him in Arizona, the attach he has spent the final eight seasons, however he’s made up our minds to manufacture a hefty contract on the starting up market.
9. Tyler O’Neill, OF
Age: 29
2024 stats: .241/.336/.511, 31 HR, 61 RBI, 159 SO, 53 BB (113 video games)
O’Neill gave the Pink Sox the coolest-handed pop they desperately wished in 2024 when he change into as soon as in the lineup. The grief is he neglected a third of the season on account of injuries. He has neglected essential time nearly yearly of his career.
It would no longer wound to bring O’Neill support, however Boston ought to resolve mild of tougher sluggers to catch the coolest-handed void in the lineup.
10. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
Age: 37
2024 stats: .245/.302/.414, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 173 SO, 47 BB
Maybe it change into as soon as fair a down year, however Goldschmidt showed his age in 2024 with the worst offensive season of his infamous career. Appropriate two years removed from incomes NL MVP honors, Goldschmidt tied his career-high for strikeouts while posting a .716 OPS. He never sooner than had a season with an OPS lower than .800.
Goldschmidt is a brave jump-support candidate who needs to be lifelike at this stage of his career, however there are loads better alternate choices available in the market for teams wanting for skilled excellent-handed hitting.
Honorable mentions: J.D. Martinez, Jurickson Profar, Mitch Haniger, Justin Turner, Mark Canha, Gleyber Torres, Donovan Solano, Jose Iglesias, Amed Rosario, Gary Sanchez, Adam Duvall, Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Drury, Josh Bell, Carlos Santana,
