Kansas City Royals Rumors: Red Sox Expected to Pursue Eric Hosmer

Many teams will chase Eric Hosmer’s signature this offseason. The Kansas City Royals will fight many suitors, one of which looks to be Boston. A bidding war with the Red Sox wouldn’t end well.

Kansas City Royals fans will be sitting on pins and needles until the day Eric Hosmer announces where he will be playing in 2018 and beyond. At this point, nobody knows when that will be. He only just became a free agent on Thursday, meaning this saga is far from completion.

The waiting is the hardest part, especially when the names of other teams vying for Hosmer come up. It becomes increasingly harder for fans to stay positive when they hear about the possibility of their beloved first baseman leaving. When names like the Yankees and Mets are floated out there, it makes it even worse.

Unfortunately, as you probably guessed from the headline, this is one of those kinds of articles. That’s because FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman wrote about the likelihood of the Red Sox chasing Hosmer this offseason.

Why the Red Sox Make Sense

For Boston, adding Hosmer would replace Mitch Moreland. A free agent himself, Moreland seems unlikely to re-sign with the Red Sox after an uneven 2017. As Heyman mentions, Hosmer would present a clear upgrade offensively and, at worst, a lateral move defensively given Moreland ended his possible successor’s run of three straight Gold Gloves in 2016.

Heyman also noted that Hosmer’s numbers would likely increase in Fenway Park. The left-handed hitter’s ability to hook the ball around Pesky’s Pole could result in plenty of cheap home runs. (Remember Lorenzo Cain‘s 302-footer this year?) Plus, Hosmer possesses an increasingly rare ability to go the other way with power. That could lead to several doubles off the Green Monster.

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Assuming 2017 wasn’t a contract-year aberration, Hosmer should only get better in the next couple of years. He slashed his way to career-bests in batting average (.318), on-base percentage (.385) and slugging (.498). His 25 home runs and 94 RBI didn’t hurt his reputation either. However, the balance teams will need to weigh is whether the early contract production will be worth the late contract drop off.

Ideally, Hosmer is probably looking for a seven-year deal. He might have to settle for fewer years, though. His ability to stay on the field should help his chances of a long-term contract. American League teams, thanks to the designated hitter, would have more leeway when it comes to going beyond five years.

In the end, if Boston truly wants Hosmer, there’s not much the Kansas City Royals can do. They simply can’t match the money the Red Sox throw around. Those wanting Hosmer to stay in Kansas City better hope Boston looks elsewhere for a first baseman.

Next: Predicting Next Season's Starting Rotation

So, fans, what do you think? Will Hosmer be with the Royals next year? Will Boston or another huge market land him? Let us know in the comments and on social media.