Locks for an offer
These players are core members of the roster that are virtual locks to be offered arbitration.
Xander Bogaerts
Projected salary: $5.77 million
The All-Star shortstop remains a tremendous bargain at this price. His second half swoon and decline in defensive metrics are a bit concerning, but he still posted solid numbers overall with a .294 average and career-high 21 home runs. Bogaerts is a key cog in the future of this franchise who isn’t eligible for free agency until 2020. There remains the possibility that the Red Sox could try to work out a long term contract with the 24-year old shortstop, buying out his remaining arbitration years and at least a year or two of his free agency years.
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Jackie Bradley
Projected salary: $3.3 million
JBJ put together the best all-around season of his career, hitting .267 with 26 home runs and an .835 OPS. While he remains a streaky hitter, he finally showed that he was capable of contributing offensively for an extended period. His major league best 29-game hit streak fueled his campaign for his first All-Star selection, rewarding him for a stellar first half. His bat cooled off in the second half, but his elite defensive skills in center field make him valuable even when he hits a cold spell.
Sandy Leon
Projected salary: $1.3 million
The Sandyman became one of the year’s best breakout stories. The career backup hit below the Mendoza Line in limited time in the big leagues over the past four seasons before bursting out this year with a stunning .310 average. He showed enough to put himself in the driver’s seat for the starting catcher job entering next season and has the defensive skills behind the plate to make him valuable even if his bat declines a bit.
Drew Pomeranz
Projected salary: $4.7 million
May considered Pomeranz to be a disappointment after he failed to produce anything resembling the All-Star numbers he put up in San Diego prior to the mid-season trade that brought him to Boston. The lefty went 3-5 with a 4.59 with the Red Sox, but we have to keep in mind that he had already blown by his previous career high in innings pitched before he got here, finishing with 170 innings that nearly doubled last year’s workload. He’s a talented pitcher who the Red Sox gave up their best pitching prospect for, so he’ll certainly be back unless the team uses him as a trade chip for a bigger fish.