MLB Rumors: 2 AL Teams "Most Serious Suitors" For Mitch Haniger

He played just 57 games last season due to a number of maladies, but just a year earlier blasted 39 home runs with 100 RBIs. Now, former All-Star outfielder Mitch Haniger is a free agent, and according to the latest intel, the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers are very interested. 

Sources: #RedSox and #Rangers among the most serious suitors for free-agent OF Mitch Haniger. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 1, 2022

MLB Insider Jon Morosi called the teams the "most serious suitors" for Haniger, who has spent his last five seasons with the Seattle Mariners. The 31-year-old dealt with back and ankle injuries in 2022, but was able to remain mostly healthy for the last two months of the season. He still managed to blast 11 homers in just 54 games, though his .736 OPS was down from his career norm of over .800. He was also an All-Star in 2018.

The Red Sox are desperate for some punch for their outfield, as they generated just 39 home runs all season from all three of their OF positions combined. Haniger hit that many in 2021 all by his lonesome. 

The Rangers have also been in the market for a boost in the outfield and have been linked to Haniger for the past month.

And while there are also some other teams that have shown interest in the slugger, this coming week's Winter Meetings could see one of these teams make a move for the 31-year-old.

Photo: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports