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Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Examining the first base market

By Ben Rosener

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)
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) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 13: Ryon Healy #25 of the Oakland Athletics is safe on first base in the second inning due to a late throw to Mike Napoli #5 of the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 13, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Players are wearing pink to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend and support breast cancer awareness. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 13: Ryon Healy #25 of the Oakland Athletics is safe on first base in the second inning due to a late throw to Mike Napoli #5 of the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 13, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Players are wearing pink to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend and support breast cancer awareness. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /

It’s possible, but there are some hurdles

Mike Napoli

2017 team: Texas Rangers
2017 stat of note: .235 ISO

A prime candidate to be signed to a one-year deal and flipped for prospects in July, Mike Napoli may or may not hit the free agent market.

According to Spotrac, the 35-year-old has an $11 million option on his contract for next which Texas can either exercise or buy out for $2.5 million.

With Joey Gallo now blocking Napoli at first base, and Willie Calhoun, Nomar Mazara and Shin-Soo Choo candidates to rotate in from the outfield to designated hitter, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Rangers moved on from Napoli.

It doesn’t hurt that the veteran is a .274 hitter with a .340 on-base percentage, a .578 slugging percentage, a .918 OPS, 23 RBI and 12 home runs in 150 lifetime plate appearances at Comerica Park.

Matt Holliday

2017 team: New York Yankees
2017 stat of note: .201 ISO

While Napoli’s hurdle is whether he’ll enter the free agent market, Holliday’s would be if he’d consider signing up for part of a rebuild in the twilight of his career.

At 38, the veteran helped the Yankees back to the playoffs with a .201 ISO, 37 extra-base hits and a 98 wRC+ in 427 plate appearances.

Operating as a designated hitter and occasional first baseman, Holiday would probably need to play the field more in Detroit with Cabrera at designated hitter.

Like Napoli, he’d be a potential trade chip at the deadline.

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