MLB Rumors: Arrieta To Milwaukee, Martinez To Boston, Hosmer To Royals Are Best Fits

MLB teams have reported to spring training ahead of the 2018 season, and three players in the league’s top tier of free agents are still without a home. Jake Arrieta, J.D. Martinez and Eric Hosmer are all looking for nine-figure contracts just weeks away from Opening Day.

Sorting through all of the rumors and the needs of teams that have money to spend, there are logical destinations for all three players.

Jake Arrieta: Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are making a serious push to try and win the NL Central. They were one of MLB's biggest surprises in 2017, finishing just a game out of the final NL wild-card spot.

No team has been more active or been mentioned in more rumors this offseason than Milwaukee. Not only did the team trade for Christian Yelich and sign Lorenzo Cain, but they reportedly made runs at both Yu Darvish and Shohei Otani. Adding Arrieta could be the final piece of the puzzle that gives them a serious chance to knock off the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago remains the heavy favorite, having reached the NLCS in three straight years. The Cubs beat out the Brewers for Darvish, adding another borderline ace to one of the best rotations in baseball. Milwaukee needs to respond by improving their starting staff, which doesn’t exactly look like a championship rotation on paper.

Two-thirds of the league has a higher payroll than Milwaukee, according to Spotrac, and Arrieta is a former Cy Young winner that’s been one of MLB’s elite pitchers over the last four years. The Brewers might have to pay Arrieta more money than they’d like, but it’s a risk worth taking.

J.D. Martinez: Boston Red Sox

It’s hard to believe a deal hasn’t happened yet. Boston has remained the most logical destination for Martinez since the World Series ended, and they’ve reportedly offered the outfielder a five-year contract worth $125 million. The Arizona Diamondbacks, who acquired Martinez before the trade deadline, seem to be Boston’s only competition, but they can’t match the Red Sox’s offer.

Martinez reportedly wants a longer contract, and he was seeking a deal worth close to $200 million when the offseason began. He’s the best hitter on the market after smashing 45 home runs with a 1.066 OPS in 119 games last year. Since 2014, Martinez has averaged 40 home runs per 162 games with a .300 batting average.

The Red Sox and Martinez both need each other. Boston has to make a deal for a slugger after finishing last in the American League in home runs, especially because the New York Yankees added Giancarlo Stanton to become the World Series favorites. Martinez will turn 31 years old this season, and he probably isn’t getting a nine-figure deal anywhere else.

Eric Hosmer: Kansas City Royals

If the reports from January are correct, it’s a two-team race in the bidding for Hosmer. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, both the Royals and San Diego Padres offered Hosmer contracts worth close to $140 million over seven years.

With Hosmer still unsigned as players report to spring training, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Padres are optimistic about their chances to land the first baseman. San Diego wants to make Hosmer the cornerstone of their rebuilding process. It would mark the organization’s biggest free agent signing after seven straight losing seasons.

Maybe Hosmer could help turn around MLB’s most beleaguered franchise, but he’s got a better chance to win in Kansas City. The Royals are just two years removed from consecutive World Series appearances, winning their first championship in 30 years. Following a decade of losing seasons, Kansas City hasn’t won fewer than 80 games since 2012.

The Royals won’t be among the league’s top spenders, but they do have money to spend. Lorenzo Cain left for Milwaukee, and Mike Moustakas is likely either gone or returning on a team-friendly contract. Nineteen teams have a higher payroll than Kansas City, and they should be doing whatever it takes to keep their best player.