Got my eye on 2-3 of these guys...yeah, I know we have Judge, Sanchez, Seve, Bird, Torres, and some other kids on the farm but you also need to have some proven vets on your squad as well. And though he's not a FA, you can add Giancarlo Stanton to possible acquisitions. J.D. Martinez: Martinez was already going to be the most coveted position player on the market because of his relative youth (30) and recent history of All-Star-level production, including an average of 28 home runs and a .898 on-base plus slugging percentage over his last three seasons with the Detroit Tigers. Then Martinez took off upon joining the Arizona Diamondbacks via trade, banging out 25 home runs in 54 games. Granted, the hitting environment in Phoenix is highly favorable, but Martinez’s OPS-plus — which adjusts for the player’s ballpark — is 158 with the Diamondbacks and 160 for the season, well above the major league norm. Eric Hosmer: The slick-fielding Kansas City Royals first baseman has significantly boosted his power output, the one questionable aspect of his game. He entered the season with a career .428 slugging percentage but has increased that figure to .506, which helps account for his healthy .895 OPS. Hosmer turns 28 in October, brings a positive clubhouse presence and ranks third among American League batting leaders with a career-best .323 average, to go with 24 homers. He could become a new team’s foundation piece. Jake Arrieta: A strong second half has allayed some of the concerns about the Chicago Cubs right-hander, who had a 4.67 ERA in 16 starts through June but a 2.01 mark in the next 12 starts after that. Arrieta, who recently missed time with a hamstring injury, will be 32 by the time the 2018 season starts. He’s obviously not the same pitcher who won the Cy Young Award two years ago — his ERA has nearly doubled from 1.77 to 3.48 — but he can still upgrade a rotation. Yu Darvish: At 31, Darvish remains one of the game’s top strikeout artists, even if his K ratio has dipped to 27% this season. But there are questions about how else he’s going to get batters out as he ages and whether he’s worth ace money. Darvish’s tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers has been unimpressive, marked mostly by inconsistency and an inability to go deep into games, with just three outings of at least six innings in eight starts. Darvish’s free agent value might be determined by his postseason performance. Mike Moustakas: The Kansas City Royals third baseman was well on his way to shattering the franchise’s single-season record for home runs until he hit a major drought, going deep once in 28 games. Moustakas, 29, finally belted his record-setting 37th on Wednesday. He has bounced back well from a torn ACL that cost him most of the 2016 season and has put up a career-best .848 OPS. He’ll get paid this offseason. Lance Lynn: The perennially underappreciated St. Louis Cardinals right-hander hardly missed a beat after sitting out 2016 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Except for a marked increase in the number of home runs he has allowed (26, twice as many as in 2015), Lynn has put up remarkably similar numbers to his last healthy season, going 11-7 with a 3.09 ERA. At 30, he will have plenty of suitors looking for a dependable starter. Wade Davis: The top closer on the market, Davis has gone 32-for-32 in save chances for the Cubs while making his third All-Star Game in a row. Davis’ credentials are burnished by a sparkling postseason résumé (0.84 ERA in 321/3 innings) and, at 32, he’s striking out 11.6 batters per nine innings. Lorenzo Cain: Too bad for Cain his free agency didn’t roll around after his 2015 season, when he finished third in the AL MVP voting as the Royals marched to a World Series crown. Cain will still be coming off a solid offensive year, as he currently owns a .301 batting average and .807 OPS. Cain still ranks as an above-average defensive center fielder, but he turns 32 in April and might not stay there for the duration of his next contract. Carlos Santana: The switch-hitting first baseman-DH has never registered an on-base percentage below .350, and he’s at .372 this season to go along with 23 home runs. Quietly, Santana has averaged 24 homers with 81 RBI and a .821 OPS in his seven full seasons with the Cleveland Indians, including this one. He also leads American League first basemen with nine defensive runs saved. At 32 in April, Santana should have a few productive years left. Alex Cobb: Having overcome a line drive to the head in 2013 and Tommy John surgery in 2015, Cobb has set career highs for starts (28) and innings pitched (1731/3). The Tampa Bay Rays right-hander is not overpowering but doesn’t hurt himself with too many walks either (2.2 per nine innings). Cobb, who turns 30 in October, should prove an appealing option for teams seeking a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Jay Bruce: A 10-year veteran at 30, Bruce was a key contributor in some of the Indians’ biggest victories as they set an AL record with 22 consecutive wins. Bruce has emerged from a midcareer decline by averaging 34 homers, 97 RBI and a .827 OPS the last two seasons. He would seem like a particularly attractive outfield option for an AL team that can shift him to DH at times. Jonathan Lucroy: The most renowned catcher on the market, Lucroy has done himself no favors with a dismal offensive season that picked up a bit after his trade from the Texas Rangers to the Colorado Rockies. The two-time All-Star has a .680 OPS, his lowest since he was a rookie in 2010 and a whopping 175 points below his .855 mark of last year. But at 31, Lucroy still gets high marks for his defense and could be available at a reasonable price.
A while back 59, you posted that you'd like to see a DH by committee as opposed to one particular individual. I'd second that move myself which would make a sensible F/A acquisition a good move. Pretty good choices out there, like many of those players myself and if they fit the place on the team then go for it. Hosmer I'd bet will be a prime target by the Red Sox. Any of those pitchers would be a good fit though I'm still wondering if the Yankees will give Biggie another year. Got some ball players in the outfield as well , one of those guys added would prove an excellent 5 man outfield/DH/Rest crew. Going to be very interesting F/A and Winter Trade Meeting session this year.
^^^Agreed....I think Boston will definitely kick the tires on Hosmer who is also great defensively...they might look at Stanton too although I can't see Jeter doing much business with Boston. ...I like Stanton, Martinez, and Darvish.
I doubt the yanks with the possible exception of otani who will be cheap sign any free agents this off season and certainly not ant expensive ones as they are gung ho to get under the 197 mill salary cap and reset things for the major 2018 free agent market
