Which free agent makes the most sense for each AL team?
This is first installment in a two-part series. Click here to see which free agent makes the most sense for each National League team.
The first couple weeks of free agency have been largely uneventful, but as the saying I just made up goes: "As the weather gets colder, the Hot Stove heats up."
Right now, though, with virtually every free agent still on the board, the possibilities are theoretically endless. As such, let's try to pick out the one player that makes the most sense for each American League team.
Baltimore Orioles
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 75-87 (5th in AL East) | 72-90 | 18 |
Who should they sign? Jaime Garcia
Effectively stuck in baseball purgatory - not good enough to contend yet still unwilling to rebuild, at least for now - the Orioles should grab a veteran starter on a short(ish)-term deal, like Garcia. Best-case scenario, the 31-year-old left-hander helps the pitching-starved Orioles to a wild-card berth; worst-case scenario, he's a potential trade chip at the deadline.
Boston Red Sox
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 93-69 (1st in AL East) | 93-69 | - |
Who should they sign? Jake McGee
Seeing as they're poised to bring back virtually everyone from last year's roster except Mitch Moreland, who was worth less than one marginal win in 2017, all the Red Sox really need this winter is some left-handed relief help. McGee, who sat around 95-96 mph with his four-seamer last season and has held same-handed batters to a .298 wOBA over the last five years, fits nicely.
Chicago White Sox
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 67-95 (4th in AL Central) | 70-92 | 35 |
Who should they sign? Anthony Swarzak
He's a potential trade chip. Nothing more.
Cleveland Indians
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 102-60 (1st in AL Central) | 108-54 | - |
Who should they sign? Jay Bruce
Bruce slid perfectly into the Indians' lineup for the stretch run, managing an .808 OPS in 43 games after coming over from New York, and re-signing the 31-year-old would continue to insure against the probability of a Michael Brantley injury. He's going to command a long-term deal, but the Indians aren't in danger of being non-competitive anytime soon.
Detroit Tigers
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 64-98 (5th in AL Central) | 67-95 | 38 |
Who should they sign? Austin Jackson
Since the team is going to be a dumpster fire in 2018, the Tigers might as well try selling nostalgia.
Houston Astros
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 101-61 (1st in AL West) | 99-63 | - |
Who should they sign? J.D. Martinez
Imagine how good that Astros' offense would be with Martinez, who owns a .936 OPS over the last four seasons, at DH in lieu of Carlos Beltran.
Kansas City Royals
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 80-82 (3rd in AL Central) | 72-90 | 22 |
Who should they sign? Greg Holland
Not that their improbable run as a contender in the AL Central is officially over, the Royals don't really need an elite reliever, but elite relievers have value to every team, even bad ones, and they might be able to get a tiny discount on Holland given their history together.
Los Angeles Angels
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 80-82 (2nd in AL West) | 81-81 | 21 |
Who should they sign? Eric Hosmer
Acquiring Hosmer is the next major step in the Angels' "let's be good just once while Mike Trout is still here" plan. It may well backfire - Hosmer has been replacement-level in two of the last four seasons - but the Angels sort of have to spend to contend, now, given their unwillingness to trade Trout and rebuild.
Minnesota Twins
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 85-77 (2nd in AL Central) | 83-79 | 17 |
Who should they sign? Shohei Ohtani
Only two teams can offer Ohtani a bigger signing bonus than the Twins, who haven't made a splash in free agency in eons (apologies to Ervin Santana). With the club on the rise, though, coming off an 85-win season fueled by several promising young players, it's time for the Twins to be aggressive and get Ohtani, as difficult as that may be to reconcile with the whole "Minnesota nice" thing they got going.
New York Yankees
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 91-71 (2nd in AL East) | 100-62 | 2 |
Who should they sign? Yu Darvish
The Yankees' financial commitments for 2018, after factoring in raises for their arbitration-eligible players, amount to just north of $155 million - a pittance by their normal standards. With cash to play with, there's a strong argument to be made for replacing CC Sabathia with the best pitcher available in free agency.
Oakland Athletics
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 75-87 (5th in AL West) | 73-89 | 26 |
Who should they sign? Brandon Kintzler
If Billy Beane doesn't inexplicably sign a reliever this winter, did the offseason even really happen?
Seattle Mariners
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 78-84 (3rd in AL West) | 79-83 | 23 |
Who should they sign? Lorenzo Cain
Cain, who turns 32 in April and is coming off another strong season, makes a lot of sense for any team desperate to compete right now, and that's pretty much what the Mariners are, bless their hearts. That supposed competitive window is about to shut - Nelson Cruz is a free agent next winter, and their core players are all on the wrong side of 30 - so they might as well spend some dough to give this group one more shot.
Tampa Bay Rays
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 80-82 (3rd in AL East) | 80-82 | 13 |
Who should they sign? Zack Cozart
The Rays' strategy is always difficult to parse. If they're in talent-acquisition mode this offseason, however, shortstop is an obvious area of need - even following the addition of Adeiny Hechavarria - and with most contenders set at the position, Cozart could fall right into their lap. They should pounce.
Texas Rangers
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 78-84 (3rd in AL West) | 79-83 | 23 |
Who should they sign? Yu Darvish
They know him. They love him. He's great. And even after punting halfway through the 2017 season, the Rangers still finished within spitting distance of a wild-card berth. They have no chance of dethroning the Astros, but with Darvish back in the fold, the Rangers can definitely compete for a wild-card spot in what could be the final season of Adrian Beltre's career.
Toronto Blue Jays
| 2017 Record | Pythag Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 76-86 (4th in AL East) | 72-90 | 17 |
Who should they sign? J.D. Martinez
It really doesn't seem like Mark Shapiro wants to trade Josh Donaldson, so the Blue Jays are ostensibly going for it in 2018. Adding Martinez to revitalize an abysmal offense would get rid of that "ostensibly" right quick, though, and would also put a star in place for the competitive window - led by top prospects Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette - poised to open shortly after Donaldson signs elsewhere as a free agent next winter.
This is first installment in a two-part series. Click here to see which free agent makes the most sense for each National League team.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)