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MLB Free Agent Rankings: Top 10 Right-Handed Hitters originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox have two glaring needs on their roster heading into the offseason: pitchers and right-handed hitters.
We cover the best starting pitchers and relief pitchers He’s scheduled to hit the free agent market this winter, so it’s time to focus on sluggers. Several intriguing right-handed hitters will be available to Red Sox director of baseball Craig Breslow and Co.
More MLB free agent rankings for 2025
The biggest question the front office will have to answer, other than if you really want to spend money this off season – here’s how any of his roster additions would fit. The club may have to make some difficult decisions with players currently on the team, such as position changes or trades.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the top 10 right-handed hitters in the 2025 MLB free agent class.
1. Teoscar Hernández, OF
Age: 32
2024 statistics: .272/.339/.501, 33 HR, 99 RBI, 188 SO, 53 BB (154 games)
Hernandez signed a one-year deal to “prove it out” with the Dodgers last offseason, and “prove it out” he did.
He bounced back after a difficult season in Seattle with a career-high 33 home runs. His success continued in the postseason, where he hit two clutch home runs, including a grand slam in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres.
Hernandez thrives on left-handed pitching, making him an attractive option for a Red Sox club that struggled mightily against lefties during 2024.
2. Marcell Ozuna, designated hitter/OF
Age: 34
2024 statistics: .302/.378/.546, 39 HR, 104 RBI, 170 SO, 74 BB (162 games)
Note: Ozuna has a $16 million club option with the Atlanta Braves for 2025.
Ozuna was one of four MLB players to appear in all 162 regular season games. The veteran slugger was a big bright spot for a Braves team decimated by injuries and, like Hernandez, he destroys lefties.
3. Antonio Santander, OF
Age: 30
2024 statistics: .235/.308/.506, 44 HR, 102 RBI, 129 SO, 58 BB (155 games)
Santander is a switch-hitter with fairly even splits against lefties and righties. He had a power surge this year with career highs in home runs, RBI and OPS. However, there is already a stalemate in the Red Sox outfield, making him an unlikely option for Boston barring changes to the current roster.
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
Age: 30
2024 statistics: .240/.329/.459, 34 HR, 88 RBI, 172 SO, 70 BB (162 games)
Alonso joined Ozuna on the short list of players who will appear in all 162 games this season. His clutch moments in the postseason may have convinced the Mets to pay him this offseason. But if New York moves on from its All-Star slugger, Boston should at least consider signing him as a designated hitter with a swing tailor-made for Fenway Park. Alonso has hit at least 34 home runs in every season except the shortened 2020 campaign.
5. Alex Bregman, 3B
Age: 31
2024 statistics: .260/.315/.453, 26 HR, 75 RBI, 86 SO, 44 BB (145 games)
Atlético’s Ken Rosenthal Recently the idea came up of the Red Sox signing Bregman, moving Rafael Devers from third base to first base and trading first baseman Triston Casas for starting pitcher. There are a lot of moving parts there, but there’s little doubt that Bregman would improve Boston’s infield defense while also balancing the lineup.
The main concern is its high price. The two-time All-Star is expected to make more than $200 million in free agency. Given his age and imperfect roster fit, that doesn’t seem like the smartest investment.
6. Willy Adames, SS
Age: 29
2024 statistics: .251/.331/.462, 32 HR, 112 RBI, 21 SB, 173 SO, 74 BB (161 games)
Adames is the shortstop with the best right-handed hitting on the market. According Chris Cotillo of MassLive.comsome within the Red Sox organization “highly value Adames and would love to see him in Boston.”
He’s an intriguing option for Boston and us. He weighed the pros and cons of hiring Adames here. He has a lot of pop and adds value as an above-average defender. The downside? His lackluster numbers against left-handed pitching.
7. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
Age: 33
2024 statistics: .256/.319/.469, 30 HR, 101 RBI, 176 SO, 49 BB (158 games)
Note: Suárez has a $15 million club option with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2025.
Suarez regained form with Arizona after a down year in Seattle. There will be a lot of strikeouts, but he’s a pretty safe bet for 30+ home runs in a season and outperforms both right-handed and left-handed pitching. As for his fit with Boston, Devers would need to move out of third base or Suarez would have to replace Masataka Yoshida as the team’s designated hitter.
8. Christian Walker, 1B
Age: 34
2024 statistics: .251/.335/.468, 26 HR, 84 RBI, 133 SO, 55 BB (130 games)
Walker is one of the most underrated players in football today. An exceptional defender at first base with two Gold Gloves under his belt, the veteran is a safe bet for approximately 30 home runs when healthy. The D’backs will likely do everything they can to keep him in Arizona, where he has spent the last eight seasons, but he is set to earn a sizable contract on the open market.
9. Tyler O’Neill, OF
Age: 29
2024 statistics: .241/.336/.511, 31 HR, 61 RBI, 159 SO, 53 BB (113 games)
O’Neill gave the Red Sox the right-handed power they desperately needed in 2024 when he was in the lineup. The problem is that he missed a third of the season due to injuries. He has missed a lot of time almost every year of his career.
It wouldn’t hurt to bring O’Neill back, but Boston should consider more durable sluggers to fill the right-handed void in the lineup.
10. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
Age: 37
2024 statistics: .245/.302/.414, 22 home runs, 65 RBI, 173 strikeouts, 47 balls
Maybe it was just a bad year, but Goldschmidt showed his age in 2024 with the worst offensive season of his illustrious career. Just two years removed from winning the National League Most Valuable Player award, Goldschmidt tied his career high for strikeouts and posted a .716 OPS. He had never had a season with an OPS below .800 before.
Goldschmidt is a solid bounce-back candidate who should be affordable at this stage of his career, but there are much better options out there for teams looking for a reliable right-handed hitter.
Honorable mentions: JD Martínez, Jurickson Profar, Mitch Haniger, Justin Turner, Mark Canha, Gleyber Torres, Donovan Solano, José Iglesias, Amed Rosario, Gary Sánchez, Adam Duvall, Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Drury, Josh Bell, Carlos Santana.
