ESPN: Phillies Should Focus on Eric Hosmer in Free Agency

The Philadelphia Phillies feel like they are ready to take the next step in their rebuild after hiring their new manager, Gabe Kapler, even after winning just 66 games in 2017.

But, part of the Phillies future roster remains in unclear, as some of the organizations younger players will be given an opportunity to prove they belong this spring, but none are a given to produce.

Travis Sawchik, a staff writer for FanGraphs, named one key move each MLB team needs to make this offseason in a special to ESPN. According to Sawchik, the Phillies should focus on signing a veteran bat to put around the Phillies young talent. Specifically, Royals free-agent slugger Eric Hosmer.

Scott Boras might not -- and should not -- get anything near the $200 million contract he is seeking for his 28-year-old client. While Hosmer is coming off his best year and he's in his prime, he continues to be one of the most ground ball-prone hitters in the game. He has also been wildly inconsistent in his career with full-season WAR totals of 0.0 (2014), -0.1 (2016) and -1.7 (2012).

At some price point Hosmer has value, and he might even have a lot of value if he can change his batted-ball profile and/or become more consistent. The Phillies have money to spend. Craig Edwards of FanGraphs estimates they have the second-most cash available ($65 million) and are inching closer to relevance. They could wait and make a play for Harper, Machado or Gerrit Cole next offseason. They might also have the cash to get Hosmer, move Rhys Hoskins to left field and still pursue an elite free agent next offseason.

The former third overall pick first debuted in 2011 with the Royals.