So the Red Sox gained’t signal their gamers who’re performing, however are prepared to present a $10 million extension to a man who missed two months with a hip damage and is within the midst of a horrible season.
Kiké Hernandez is an effective participant. He’s been an incredible defender in middle discipline, is a constant postseason performer and was a stalwart for the 2021 Red Sox.
But for the Sox to lock him up now, whereas Xander Bogaerts stays unsigned, J.D. Martinez and Nathan Eovaldi are additionally about to hit free company, and Rafael Devers will want an extension sooner or later within the subsequent 13 months seems a little bit bit like a look-over-here magic trick by the Sox’ optics crew.
Retaining Hernandez was a positive transfer, so long as it’s simply one among many, many to come back.
It’s humorous to assume again on the signing, one among Chaim Bloom’s first after the 2020 debacle, and assume that the two-year, $14 million contract for Hernandez was greater than we thought it’d be.
It seemed like a pleasant little signing for a platoon/utility participant who might present insurance coverage at a number of positions and function a main drive towards left-handed pitching. The Dodgers used him that manner and gained a World Series in 2020. They made the playoffs yearly with Hernandez on their roster, from 2015-20. He by no means had greater than 462 plate appearances.
The Red Sox, nevertheless, have been enjoying the effectivity recreation. They noticed worth in extending Hernandez into an on a regular basis participant, and so they gave him a career-high 585 plate appearances in 2021.
And it labored. He scored 84 runs because the leadoff man, hit 20 homers and posted a .786 OPS. He was higher in October, hitting .408 with a 1.260 OPS and 5 homers because the Sox’ finest participant within the ‘21 postseason.
But the on a regular basis utilization appeared to put on him down, because it has earlier than with utility gamers out of the blue thrust into on a regular basis motion.
In 2022, Hernandez by no means received going.
He was hitting simply .209 with a .613 OPS (and nonetheless hitting leadoff) when the Sox positioned him on the injured record on June 7. A hip flexor pressure started what can be a two-month layoff. He later acquired a platelet-rich plasma injection to get him again on the sector, however PRP injections can typically be adopted by offseason surgical procedure, and it stays to be seen if this was sufficient to maintain Hernandez on the sector for good or if he’ll be hampered by the damage going ahead.
Either manner, $10 million shouldn’t really feel like a lot of a threat for an enormous market crew that may absolutely afford to maintain premier utility guys for a good market price.
Hernandez was price excess of his $6 million wage in ‘21, and far less than his $8 million salary this year. It’s a good wager to say he’ll earn his preserve in 2023.
The larger query is that this: who do the Sox put round him?
If they don’t signal a middle fielder, maybe he’s the on a regular basis man once more subsequent 12 months. If they don’t retain Bogaerts, perhaps he turns into the on a regular basis shortstop or, extra possible, takes over at second base whereas Trevor Story strikes to brief. Christian Arroyo also can discover time within the infield, however he’s one other injury-prone participant who has finished a lot better in a part-time position the place a average workload will be maintained.
There’s little doubt this crew will want loads of additions between now and subsequent April. And whereas having Hernandez on the roster makes the complete puzzle a little bit bit simpler to unravel, too most of the Sox’ returning gamers have wealthy damage histories.
Story, Arroyo, Hernandez, Chris Sale, Matt Barnes, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck have all missed prolonged time with accidents this 12 months.
Health points apart, there are many questions already requiring consideration.
What do Red Sox do in left discipline? How about middle discipline? Is Hernandez the on a regular basis man or does Jarren Duran get one other likelihood? Is Triston Casas the reply at first base or will Eric Hosmer return? How do they type out shortstop and second base? Is Connor Wong the brand new on a regular basis catcher? Who begins the 12 months behind Sale and Pivetta within the rotation? Will the bullpen be correctly addressed for the primary time in 4 years?
The Sox have nearly $60 million in payroll commitments and a ton of flexibility, one thing crew president Sam Kennedy has already been selling throughout his public interviews, and one thing Bloom reportedly instructed Hernandez when he signed the deal on Tuesday.
This crew will probably be higher than subsequent 12 months, Bloom allegedly instructed him.
Signing Hernandez to a one-year extension is useful. But there’s much more work to be finished.
Source: www.bostonherald.com