Free agent IF/OF Ben Zobrist is a popular fellow. He’s a player that could help just about every team in the majors, and early offseason reports pegged the number of teams interested in him at as high as 20. More recently, it’s been said that 10 teams are still in the running for his services. If that sounds like a lot of teams to be after the same free agent, that’s because it is.
Despite all of his options, or perhaps because of them, Zobrist has yet to decide where he’ll be plying his trade next year. But it seems likely that Zobrist will want to get big money to play for a contender. Which suitors can offer him what he’s looking for? Here are our top five likely landing spots.
Kansas City Royals
Zobrist just won the World Series with the Kansas City Royals, and he sure looked like a great fit with their team. It makes a ton of sense that he’d want to come back, but the big question is whether the Royals can make room for his salary. They’re going to go all-out to re-sign outfielder Alex Gordon, who has been the face of their franchise for years. They also will want to replace departing rental ace Johnny Cueto. Do the Royals have enough money to do all of that and re-sign Zobrist, too?
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels need both infield and outfield help. Zobrist could split his time between left field, second base, and third base in Anaheim, and his contact-hitting ways could play well with the power in the Angels lineup. The Angels just got defensive superstar SS Andrelton Simmons from the Braves via trade, so sticking Zobrist at second would give them a great defensive middle infield.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are championship contenders with a hole at second base, so Zobrist makes a ton of sense for them – especially since he can also fill in as an outfielder whenever they need him too. He’s a great contact hitter and would represent a major upgrade from aging 2B Chase Utley, who manned second last year. And, of course, money is no object in Los Angeles these days.
New York Mets
Zobrist fits well with every team, but the Mets may be the best fit at all. They desperately need defensive help after being utterly exposed in that department during the World Series. They have holes in the middle infield and the outfield, too. They’d love to get a guy who could give David Wright a break at third base, too. Someone who can hit from the left side of the plate would be great for their lineup. Zobrist is the only player in the majors who checks every box on that wish list. The Mets have been reluctant to spend money, but overpaying for Zobrist may make sense for them.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants need a new third baseman, and Zobrist would represent a versatile and perhaps even cost-effective option, depending on how much the Giants initially imagined spending on third. The Giants want to concentrate on signing pitchers, so it’s possible that they’ll sign Zobrist as an all-in-one solution for their position player question marks and then pour the rest of their budget into an ace.
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