Possible Red Sox Right Fielders for 2012
With J.D. Drew not returning to the Red Sox in 2012, that leaves the right field position somewhat in question. Josh Reddick filled the role nicely last year, but the team can do better. In 87 games Reddick hit .280 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs. His production did drop as the season went on. After hitting .280 in the month of July he hit only .208 in August.
The other option in the Red Sox organization is Ryan Kalish, but he will most likely begin 2012 in the minors as he still is recovering from a bulging disk in his neck that required surgery last year. Speaking at the winter meetings this week general manager Ben Cherington seemed fairly confident having Reddick and Kalish as the team’s right fielders in 2012.
“A lot of comfort level,” Cherington said of having Reddick or Kalish, or both in right field next season. “Certainly, Reddick, he did it this year, and he took another step in his career, and we think he’s going to be a very good major-league outfielder. Right now, if Opening Day was tomorrow, he’s probably in right field. We’ll see what happens the rest of the winter. Kalish has a little bit more to overcome, physically, and we think he’s going to be a really good big-league player, too.”
The Red Sox can do better than Reddick or Kalish. One of, or both can be kept on the roster as an utility outfielder, but in terms of a starting outfielder the Red Sox need to do better than them. There are a few free agent right fielders on the market for the Sox to take a look at.
Playing for the Twins in 2010 Kubel hit .273 with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs. The Twins also have outfielder Michael Cuddyer as a free agent and the Twins have said that they are not likely to resign both, so Kubel could be an option for the Red Sox. 2012 will be Kubel’s seventh year in the big leagues.
Michael Cuddyer
Like Kubel, Cuddyer played for the Twins last season. The difference in the two is Cuddyer is a lot older than Kubel. 2012 will be his twelve season in the majors. In 2011 he hit .284 with 20 home runs and 70 RBIs. He was also an all-star. As was mentioned before the Twins have said they will likely not resign both players so the Red Sox could make a run at either of them. Cuddyer is probably the overall better player, but he is getting older and his durability could be questioned.
Ross played the 2011 season with the Giants and hit .240 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. 2011 was his eighth season in the league. For his career he is a .261 hitter. The Giants have said that they won’t be resigning Ross and Carlos Beltran. The Red Sox were reportedly in the running for Beltran at the trade deadline last season, but I don’t think they can afford him now. Ross could be an affordable option.
Those three players could be potential suitors for the Red Sox right field job. Even though Cherington says he is comfortable with Reddick and Kalish I still believe that the Red Sox are in the market for an affordable right fielder.
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