The 2017 MLB offseason is chock-full of good free agents that could definitely help a team reach the World Series next fall. One free agent who is getting a lot of buzz at the moment is Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer. Hosmer is being rumored to be drawing interest from a number of teams, including the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, but should a fellow AL Central team try to make a run at signing Hosmer as well?

Dombrowski at it again

Dave Dombrowski seemed to always get his man when he was the General Manager with the Detroit Tigers.

He seems to be doing the same as the man in control with the Boston Red Sox. Now the latest rumor mill has the Red Sox GM eyeing Eric Hosmer.

According to Mass Live MLB insider, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported that "there is an expectation" the Boston Red Sox will target free agent first baseman, Eric Hosmer. Hosmer is represented by Scott Boras, who has a long history of dealing with Dave Dombrowski over the years.

After a slow start in 2017, Hosmer finished the season hitting .318 with 25 home runs and 94 RBIs. He also had a .385 on-base percentage and .498 slugging percentage.

The Red Sox aren’t the only AL East team interested in Hosmer’s services. You can add the Yankees to that list as well.

New York has had their eye on Hosmer since last July, and adding the left-handed hitting slugger with power to an already strong lineup would only help out the Bombers chances of heading back to the ALCS next season.

With Greg Bird being tabbed as the future at first base in New York, it will be interesting to see if the Yankees make a run at Hosmer or not.

One thing is for sure, Hosmer would that short porch in right at Yankee Stadium.

Hosmer to Detroit?

How about Eric Hosmer signing with the Detroit Tigers? Before you scoff at that, it could happen, that is if Detroit is planning on signing a big free agent this offseason. Adding Hosmer could allow the Tigers to place Miguel Cabrera at DH, and that would definitely extend Miggy’s career.

For all the downsizing Detroit did in 2017, adding Hosmer could instantly give the Tigers one of the best infields in the AL. Hosmer is in his prime at 28 and can field with the best of them. Cabrera is now 34 and slowing down. He can still mash with the best of them, and adding someone like Hosmer to the Tigers lineup instantly makes a pitcher decide whether he wants to pitch around someone like Hosmer, Cabrera, or Nicholas Castellanos.

One more thing to keep in mind. The Royals play the Tigers a lot during the year, and Hosmer has played many games at Comerica Park - where he kills the ball! Hosmer has a stat line in his career at Comerica of .300/.358/.498 (batting average/on-base percentage/and slugging percentage). Stranger things have happened!
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