MLB free agent rankings: Top 10 right-handed hitters initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Crimson Sox have two evident wants on their roster heading into the offseason: Pitching and right-handed hitting.
We coated the top starting pitchers and relief pitchers set to hit the free-agent market this winter, so it is time to deal with the sluggers. A number of intriguing right-handed hitters will probably be out there for Crimson Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Co.
The most important query the entrance workplace must reply – apart from whether it actually wants to spend money this offseason – is how any of its additions would match on the roster. The membership might need to make some robust selections with gamers at the moment on the workforce, akin to place adjustments or trades.
With that in thoughts, this is a take a look at the highest 10 right-handed sluggers within the 2025 MLB free agent class.
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1. Teoscar Hernandez, OF
Age: 32
2024 stats: .272/.339/.501, 33 HR, 99 RBI, 188 SO, 53 BB (154 video games)
Hernandez signed a one-year “show it” take care of the Dodgers final offseason, and “show it” he did.
He bounced again after a tough season in Seattle with a career-high 33 homers. His success has continued within the postseason, the place he belted two clutch homers together with a grand slam within the NLDS in opposition to the San Diego Padres.
Hernandez feasts on left-handed pitching, making him an interesting choice for a Crimson Sox membership that struggled mightily in opposition to southpaws all through 2024.
2. Marcell Ozuna, DH/OF
Age: 34
2024 stats: .302/.378/.546, 39 HR, 104 RBI, 170 SO, 74 BB (162 video games)
Notice: Ozuna has a $16 million membership choice with the Atlanta Braves for 2025.
Ozuna was certainly one of 4 MLB gamers to seem in all 162 regular-season video games. The veteran slugger was an enormous vivid spot for a Braves workforce that was decimated by accidents, and like Hernandez, he rakes in opposition to left-handers.
3. Anthony Santander, OF
Age: 30
2024 stats: .235/.308/.506, 44 HR, 102 RBI, 129 SO, 58 BB (155 video games)
Santander is a switch-hitter with pretty even splits in opposition to lefties and righties. He had an influence surge this 12 months with career-highs in homers, RBI, and OPS. A logjam already exists within the Crimson Sox outfield, nonetheless, making him an unlikely choice for Boston barring any adjustments to the present roster.
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
Age: 30
2024 stats: .240/.329/.459, 34 HR, 88 RBI, 172 SO, 70 BB (162 video games)
Alonso joined Ozuna on the shortlist of gamers to seem in all 162 video games this season. His clutch postseason moments might have satisfied the Mets to pay him this offseason. But when New York strikes on from its All-Star slugger, Boston ought to a minimum of look into the potential of signing him as a DH with a swing tailored for Fenway Park. Alonso has hit a minimum of 34 homers in each season besides the abbreviated 2020 marketing campaign.
5. Alex Bregman, 3B
Age: 31
2024 stats: .260/.315/.453, 26 HR, 75 RBI, 86 SO, 44 BB (145 video games)
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently floated the idea of the Crimson Sox signing Bregman, transferring Rafael Devers from third base to first, and buying and selling first baseman Triston Casas for beginning pitching. A number of transferring elements there, however there’s little doubt Bregman would improve Boston’s infield protection whereas balancing out the lineup.
The primary concern is his hefty price ticket. The 2-time All-Star is anticipated to earn greater than $200 million in free company. Given his age and his imperfect match on the roster, that does not look like the neatest funding.
6. Willy Adames, SS
Age: 29
2024 stats: .251/.331/.462, 32 HR, 112 RBI, 21 SB, 173 SO, 74 BB (161 video games)
Adames is the highest right-handed-hitting shortstop available on the market. Based on MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, some throughout the Crimson Sox group “worth Adames extremely and would like to see him in Boston.”
It is an intriguing choice for Boston, and we weighed the pros and cons of signing Adames here. He has loads of pop and provides worth as an above-average defender. The draw back? His lackluster numbers in opposition to left-handed pitching.
7. Eugenio Suarez, 3B
Age: 33
2024 stats: .256/.319/.469, 30 HR, 101 RBI, 176 SO, 49 BB (158 video games)
Notice: Suarez has a $15 million membership choice with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2025.
Suarez regained kind with Arizona following a down 12 months in Seattle. There will probably be loads of strikeouts, however he is a reasonably secure wager for 30+ homers in a season and he mashes each right-handed and left-handed pitching. As for his match with Boston, Devers would wish to maneuver off of third base or Suarez must take over for Masataka Yoshida because the workforce’s designated hitter.
8. Christian Walker, 1B
Age: 34
2024 stats: .251/.335/.468, 26 HR, 84 RBI, 133 SO, 55 BB (130 video games)
Walker is among the most underrated gamers in at the moment’s sport. An distinctive defender at first base with two Gold Gloves below his belt, the veteran is a positive wager for roughly 30 homers when wholesome. The D’backs will seemingly do their greatest to maintain him in Arizona, the place he has spent the final eight seasons, however he’s set to earn a hefty contract on the open market.
9. Tyler O’Neill, OF
Age: 29
2024 stats: .241/.336/.511, 31 HR, 61 RBI, 159 SO, 53 BB (113 video games)
O’Neill gave the Crimson Sox the right-handed pop they desperately wanted in 2024 when he was within the lineup. The issue is he missed a 3rd of the season on account of accidents. He has missed vital time nearly yearly of his profession.
It would not harm to deliver O’Neill again, however Boston ought to think about extra sturdy sluggers to fill the right-handed void within the lineup.
10. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
Age: 37
2024 stats: .245/.302/.414, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 173 SO, 47 BB
Maybe it was only a down 12 months, however Goldschmidt confirmed his age in 2024 with the worst offensive season of his illustrious profession. Simply two years faraway from incomes NL MVP honors, Goldschmidt tied his career-high for strikeouts whereas posting a .716 OPS. He by no means earlier than had a season with an OPS decrease than .800.
Goldschmidt is a strong bounce-back candidate who must be reasonably priced at this stage of his profession, however there are much better choices on the market for groups on the lookout for dependable right-handed hitting.
Honorable mentions: J.D. Martinez, Jurickson Profar, Mitch Haniger, Justin Turner, Mark Canha, Gleyber Torres, Donovan Solano, Jose Iglesias, Amed Rosario, Gary Sanchez, Adam Duvall, Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Drury, Josh Bell, Carlos Santana.