Might the Boston Red Sox secure one of the standout power hitters currently on the market?
During the earlier part of the offseason, there were indications that Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow was close to acquiring outfielder Teoscar Hernández. However, Hernández eventually signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after Boston seemingly withdrew due to purported budgetary constraints.
Following that development, the Red Sox emerged as frontrunners for outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler, who is still available in the free-agent market. Despite a significant slowdown in negotiations, the possibility of a deal with Boston has not been completely ruled out. Jon Heyman of the New York Post mentioned on a Bleacher Report live stream, “Soler I do think it will go fairly soon. I kind of like Toronto or Arizona at this point, but there have been other teams, including Boston, in on Soler.”
Soler, a 31-year-old player, showcased impressive performance with a .250 average, 60 extra-base hits (including 36 home runs), 75 RBIs, and a .853 OPS (128 OPS+) in 137 games for the Miami Marlins last season.
The Red Sox are actively in search of an impactful right-handed batter with positional flexibility, and Soler fits the bill, even though his defensive skills in the corner outfield spots are not exceptional. While a move to Boston for Soler could be plausible, left-hander Jordan Montgomery is considered a more suitable option should the Red Sox decide to invest in a premium player this offseason.
Additionally, the Red Sox have been linked to outfielder Adam Duvall, who offers better defensive capabilities and might be a more cost-effective option with a likely shorter-term contract. It appears that prioritizing financial prudence is currently a higher consideration for Boston than fielding the most elite players available.
