Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Examining the first base market

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KANSAS CITY, MO – JULY 18: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals tags out James McCann #34 of the Detroit Tigers during the 6th inning of the game at Kauffman Stadium on July 18, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

The free agent market

The free agent market at first base isn’t as expansive as say, the group of free agent outfielders.

Among the outfielders who could potentially hit the free agent market include J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Lorenzo Cain, Carlos Gomez, Carlos Gonzalez, Jose Bautista, Andrew McCutchen and others.

At the same time, the first base market isn’t as limited as the second base or shortstop markets, where there are few starting options.

If Cabrera is in fact moved off the position to designated hitter, the Detroit Tigers could be fits for a number of free agent first baseman.

The most unlikeliest candidates to sign with the Tigers. Probably really unlikely. Did I mention unlikely?

Eric Hosmer

2017 team: Kansas City Royals
2017 stat of note: 4.1 WAR

A quality defender, Hosmer has had solid offensive years in the past, but nothing quite like his breakout campaign of 2017.

The Royals’ first baseman hit .318 with a .385 on-base percentage, a .498 slugging percentage, a 135 wRC+, a .376 wOBA, 98 runs scored, 94 RBI, 25 home runs and six stolen bases.

He also added a .179 ISO while notching a career-high 9.8 walk percentage and a 15.5 strikeout percentage that was his lowest since the 2013 season.

At 28, he’s going to command a significant contract as the best option on the free agent market.

It remains to be seen if he returns to Kansas City or not, but Hosmer probably isn’t jumping ship to Detroit given the rebuild and the fact that the franchise probably shouldn’t sink more money into a veteran first baseman.

Carlos Santana

2017 team: Cleveland
2017 stat of note: .274 BABIP

Always a source of walks and a high on-base percentage, Santana hit .259 with a .363 on-base percentage, a .455 slugging percentage, a 117 wRC+, a .196 ISO, 90 runs scored, 79 RBI and 23 home runs in 667 plate appearances despite a .274 BABIP.

Like Hosmer, Santana probably isn’t going to move inside the division from a highly-successful club to a rebuilding Tigers team.

Stranger things have happened, but this looks unlikely.

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