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Red Sox Rankings: Top 5 Outfielders in the American League East

By Drew Peabody

Mar 7, 2016; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts (50) hits a home run in the first inning of the spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts (50) hits a home run in the first inning of the spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista hits a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the 7th inning in game five of the ALDS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista hits a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the 7th inning in game five of the ALDS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jose Bautista

The bat flipping slugger is a player Red Sox fans are certainly very familiar with, playing in the division since 2008. For a guy who had hit no more than 16 homers in a season, then hit 54 homers in 2009, his rise to stardom has been nothing short of incredible. In the National League his OPS was .733. In the American League it has ballooned to .916

His Fenway Park numbers are off the chart in terms of OPS, standing at .965 in 54 games there in his career. He has clouted 21 homers in those games in Boston. There have been rumors that he could be considering a jump to the Red Sox when his contract expires at the end of this season. While this is an intriguing possibility, the chances that his free agent deal, sure to be well north of $100, will never happen in Boston due to his age (36 at the end of this season).

The six time All-Star is not the most spectacular fielder, but with a WAR (wins above replacement) of 36.6 in his eight seasons in Toronto, does it really need to be? That works out to be about 4.5 WAR per season. He will have to have a big year this year to cement his value as a free agent, quieting concerns about how well he might age in his last big contract. JoeyBats as he is known throughout baseball would be a flashy free agent signing a year from now, but if he will be worth it is far from certain.

Next: 3. Adam Jones

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