The free agent market at first base is thin this offseason, with few starting-caliber players available to sign. There are still some solid platoon and role players who will be looking to help a new team in 2014.
State of play: AL 1B and DH
Taking a look at which AL teams will need to upgrade first base and designated hitter during the offseason.
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Despite the thin market, many AL teams will be searching for an upgrade at first base and designated hitter during the winter The current state of AL first basemen and designated hitters are listed below, with players slotted at the position they would likely field if their respective teams made zero changes during the offseason.
| Team | Starting 1B | Designated Hitter | Next in line | Comments |
| Baltimore Orioles | Chris Davis | Wilson Betemit | Nolan Reimold | Davis led MLB with 53 home runs in 2013, breaking an Orioles franchise-record in the process. Baltimore will likely look for an upgrade at DH during the offseason |
| Boston Red Sox | Mike Carp | David Ortiz | Daniel Nava | Nava could see more playing time at first if Boston adds another outfielder. Mike Napoli could re-sign with Boston, and would slide into the starting role. |
| New York Yankees | Mark Teixeira | Vernon Wells | David Adams | Teixiera missed most of 2013 with a wrist injury, but is slated to return for 2014. New York will almost certainly sign a designated hitter over the winter. |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Sean Rodriguez | Matt Joyce | Ryan Roberts | James Loney may re-sign with Tampa Bay, but could be in line for a multi-year deal after an impressive 2013. Rodriguez is not likely to start the season at first base; he is better suited in a utility role. |
| Toronto Blue Jays | Edwin Encarnacion | Adam Lind | Mark DeRosa | Lind had a nice bounce-back season in 2013, his first quality hitting season since 2009. DeRosa may retire, but the Blue Jays picked up his option for next season. |
| Chicago White Sox | Jose Abreu | Adam Dunn | Jeff Keppinger | Chicago has already made a big splash this offseason, signing Abreu to a six-year, $68 million contract. Dunn is entering the final year of a $56 million contract he signed before the 2011 season. |
| Cleveland Indians | Nick Swisher | Carlos Santana | Jason Giambi | Santana may see more playing time at 1B and DH in 2014 with the emergence of Yan Gomes at catcher. Giambi has already re-signed with the Indians, agreeing to a one-year minor league contract. |
| Detroit Tigers | Prince Fielder | Victor Martinez | Don Kelly | Fielder and Martinez are entrenched in their roles next year, unless Detroit makes a suprising move during the offseason. Fielder has started at least 150 games for the past eight seasons. |
| Kansas City Royals | Eric Hosmer | Billy Butler | George Kottaras | The Royals will listen to offers for Butler during the offseason. If Butler is moved, catchers Kottaras and Salvador Perez could spend time at DH. |
| Minnesota Twins | Joe Mauer | Ryan Doumit | Chris Colabello | Minnesota announced Monday that Mauer is moving to first-base full-time. Josh Willingham will also spend some time at Dh. |
| Houston Astros | Brett Wallace | Chris Carter | Brandon Laird | Carter and Wallace both struggled to make contact last season, but combined to hit 39 home runs. Ideally, Carter and Wallace would platoon and the Astros would bring in a more establised hitter. |
| Los Angeles Angels | Albert Pujols | Mark Trumbo | Kole Calhoun | The Angels may move Trumbo this offseason for starting pitching help, but have a spot for him in the lineup if they decide to keep him. Los Angeles could really use a healthy bounce-back season from Pujols. |
| Oakland Athletics | Brandon Moss | Seth Smith | John Jaso | Smith will likely platoon at DH with a right-handed hitter. Jaso may spend more time at 1B and DH after missing time with a concussion in 2013. |
| Seattle Mariners | Justin Smoak | Jesus Montero | Dustin Ackley | Raul Ibanez or Kendrys Morales could re-sign with Seattle, but both returning seems unlikely. Montero has failed to live up to expectations since the Mariners acquired him before the 2012 season. |
| Texas Rangers | Mitch Moreland | Jurickson Profar | Ian Kinsler | Profar will almost certainly not start the season at DH, and Kinsler could be the starting 1B if he is not moved. For now, the Rangers first base stiutation is in flux. Moreland had an extremely disappointing season in 2013. |
Click here to view the full list of available free agents, but some of the top available first base and designated hitter free agents this offseason include:
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