After bolstering the beginning rotation, the subsequent highest precedence for the Red Sox this offseason has been including extra right-handed bats to stability the lineup. The membership already added one and stuffed its void at second base by buying and selling for 23-year-old up-and-comer Vaughn Grissom, however Boston may use one other so as to add some additional thump.
Late Sunday night time, one of many largest bats left in the marketplace got here off the board.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and others, free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez has signed a one-year, $23.5 million take care of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal marks the most recent transfer within the Dodgers’ historic spending spree and now Hernandez joins a loaded lineup that already included Mookie Batts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani.
BREAKING: Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in settlement on a one-year, $23.5 million contract, sources inform ESPN. Hernández joins Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow on the new-look Dodgers, who add one other All-Star bat to the lineup.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 8, 2024
The Red Sox had reportedly expressed curiosity in Hernandez, although according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo talks petered out and Boston wasn’t a critical participant by the top. Instead the Red Sox will look elsewhere, exploring what stays of the free agent and commerce markets to improve the lineup.
If the Red Sox had been to make a transfer, who may they nonetheless get?
In phrases of free company, one smart possibility could be a reunion with outfielder Adam Duvall, who batted .247 with 21 house runs and an .834 OPS for the Red Sox regardless of lacking greater than a 3rd of the season as a consequence of a freak wrist damage. When wholesome Duvall was certainly one of Boston’s most impactful hitters final season, plus he can even play each middle and proper area and will possible signal on a shorter-term deal.
Justin Turner can be nonetheless out there, although he doesn’t make as a lot sense positionally on condition that he’s a full-time designated hitter.
As far as exterior additions, the most effective remaining right-handed bat on the free agent market is Jorge Soler. The 31-year-old Cuban is coming off an All-Star season wherein he batted .250 with 36 house runs and an .853 OPS with Miami, and whereas he primarily DH’d, he did additionally play 32 video games in proper area and will most likely play left in Boston.
With Soler aboard the Red Sox may alternate between Yoshida and Soler at DH, going with a lefty-heavy outfield in opposition to righties and a righty-heavy group (together with Rob Refsnyder and Tyler O’Neill) in opposition to lefties. Either means he’d be an apparent option to bat fifth, defending whichever lefty Boston opted for within the clean-up spot, most likely Rafael Devers or Triston Casas most days.
If not Soler, different exterior choices embody Tommy Pham, Michael A. Taylor or a much less apparent commerce candidate, however both means whoever Boston provides is extra prone to be a middle-to-bottom half man and never a top-of-the-order masher.
That job, in all chance, will fall to Trevor Story.
Bad as his first two years in Boston have gone, Story nonetheless has a longtime observe report as certainly one of baseball’s finest hitters when wholesome. Now that his elbow problem is behind him and along with his first full spring coaching since signing with Boston developing, the membership little question hopes he can slot into the No. 3 spot and get again to being the All-Star performer he was in Colorado.
Fans most likely bought bored with the annual notion of Chris Sale being the membership’s large commerce deadline acquisition each time he returned from damage in mid-August, however Story actually could possibly be Boston’s large lineup addition in 2024. Factoring in his elite center infield protection there’s possible no place participant extra vital to the membership, and if Story will get again to kind it may go a good distance in direction of elevating the Red Sox again into competition.
Even nonetheless, for the Red Sox to succeed in their full potential they’ll want extra, so it will likely be fascinating to see who else the membership provides earlier than all is alleged and performed.
Source: www.bostonherald.com