MLB free agent rankings: Top five first basemen originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
First base is not a necessary position for the Boston Red Sox heading into the offseason. Unless there are any surprises, Triston Casas will be the team’s first baseman on Opening Day in 2025.
Still, with the lack of right-handed pop in the lineup, the Red Sox front office may want to explore the possibility of signing one of the top first basemen in free agency. New York Mets star Pete Alonso tops the list of attractive options.
More 2025 MLB Free Agent Rankings
Here’s a look at the top five. . .
1. Pete Alonso
Age: 30
2024 statistics: .240/.329/.459, 34 HR, 88 RBI, 172 SO, 70 BB (162 games)
Alonso is on the shortlist of players who will appear in all 162 matches this season. His postseason moments may have convinced the Mets to pay him this winter. But if New York moves on from its All-Star slugger, Boston should at least explore the possibility of signing him as a DH/first baseman with a swing tailor-made for Fenway Park. Alonso has hit at least 34 home runs in every season except the shortened 2020 campaign.
2.Christian Walker
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 modern football. An exceptional defender at first base with two Gold Gloves under his belt, the veteran is a gamble for around 30 home runs when healthy. The D’backs will likely do their best to keep him in Arizona, where he has spent the last eight seasons, but he is poised to earn a hefty contract on the open market.
3. Paul Goldschmidt
Age: 37
2024 statistics: .245/.302/.414, 22 HR, 65 RBI, 173 SO, 47 BB
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 earning NL MVP honors, Goldschmidt matched his career-high for strikeouts while posting a .716 OPS. He had never had a season with an OPS lower than .800 before.
4. Anthony Rizzo
Age: 35
2024 statistics: .228/.301/.335, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 65 SO, 27 BB (92 games)
Note: Rizzo has a $17 million club option with the New York Yankees for the 2025 season.
Rizzo landed on the injured list early in the 2024 season with a broken arm that forced him to miss almost half of the campaign. He wasn’t as effective when healthy, as he produced his worst offensive season since his rookie year. Still, with three All-Star titles, a World Series title and four Gold Gloves on his resume, he will be one of the best first basemen available if the Yankees decline his option.
5. Rhys Hoskins
Age: 32
2024 statistics: .214/.303/.419, 26 HR, 82 RBI, 149 SO, 53 BB (131 games)
Note: Hoskins has an $18 million player option with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2025 season.
Hoskins signed with the Brewers last offseason after missing all of 2023 with a torn ACL. While his power numbers were similar to the rest of his career, it was an offensive season for him based on all metrics other than home runs and RBI. His 98 OPS+ were the lowest of his career.
It seems unlikely that Hoskins would bow out after a lackluster campaign. If he does that, he’ll be a solid rebounding candidate for teams looking for right-handed pop.
Honorable mentions: Carlos Santana, Justin Turner, Joey Gallo, Josh Bell, Wilmer Flores.
