With Meetings over, Hot Stove set to gain steam

Martinez, Hosmer among top unsigned free agents

December 14th, 2017

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- If you love the Hot Stove -- and let's be honest, who doesn't? -- the Winter Meetings delivered the best kind of news. There's more left. Lots more.
We did have a flurry of relievers sign this week, but many of the top free agents remain unsigned. So while the Giants, Red Sox, Brewers and others have unfinished business, there's a long list of possibilities.
Hot Stove Tracker
Let's take a look:
1. OF J.D. Martinez
Martinez's agent, Scott Boras, said the Giancarlo Stanton/Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes seems to have set free agency back about a month. Not to worry. This is still a great offseason to be a 30-year-old outfielder with a .690 slugging percentage in 2017. The Giants, D-backs and Red Sox are among the teams hoping to land him.
2. 1B
Hosmer's left-handed swing and opposite-field power would be an ideal fit at Fenway Park, and Boras has attempted to convince the Red Sox to go for both Martinez and Hosmer. Don't count the Padres out of this one.

3. 3B/SS Manny Machado
The Orioles have offers in hand for the 25-year-old three-time All-Star who is a year from free agency. Machado's apparent desire to move permanently back to shortstop could be a factor to some clubs, but the larger issue is how many prospects should a club surrender for what may be a one-year rental. Some of us have already fitted him for a 2019 Yankees uniform, and that remains a possibility. The White Sox are pushing hard to acquire Machado, and then could flip him to the Yanks. Executives, once skeptical of the O's actually dealing Machado, are becoming convinced a deal will happen.
4. RHP Chris Archer
This is the key guy in whether the Rays go full-speed ahead with a rebuild. They seem almost certain to deal closer Alex Colome and may move third baseman only if Archer is traded. He's 29 years old, signed for two more seasons and has averaged 33 starts, 202 innings and 3.66 ERA the past four seasons. He would make every team better.
5. RHPs , and Alex Cobb
How about we pencil one of these guys in for the Brewers, the other two for the Twins and Yankees? Or maybe the Phillies? Arrieta's modest 1,161 career innings for his age has been Boras' selling point for a David Price-type deal (seven years, $217 million).

6. CF
Another complete player, one who impacts games all over the field. The Giants are a great fit, but they're also in on Martinez and an assortment of third basemen. Cain could end up being a January signee who outperforms every other player from this free-agent class.
7. SS Zack Cozart
Cozart is another guy who has slipped under the radar with Ohtani and the Marlins dominating the news cycles. The Padres appear to be his most serious suitor, but Cozart, 32 years old and coming off his best season, will do fine for himself.
8. 3Bs and Mike Moustakas
Frazier is a hot commodity, sought after as many as six teams even though he's two years older than Moustakas (29) and probably will get a shorter contract. Also, the possible availability of Machado and Longoria has clubs checking all options.

9. RHP
The reliever market has worked backward this season, with most of the top arms now gone. However, the No. 1 guy is still out there. The Cardinals would love to steal Davis away from the Cubs. The Cubs would like to bring him back. Other clubs are interested as well.
10. 1B
Santana's market seems tied to Hosmer's, with teams jockeying negotiations with the two to see which is the better financial fit. Santana, 31, is three years older than Hosmer. He has 68 doubles, 57 home runs and an .842 OPS the past two seasons.