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Red Sox: Grading trades, free agent signings of Dave Dombrowski

By Rick McNair

Dec 6, 2016; National Harbor, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox president of baseball operation Dave Dombrowski speaks with the media after the Red Sox made a trade for pitcher Chris Sale (not pictured) at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; National Harbor, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox president of baseball operation Dave Dombrowski speaks with the media after the Red Sox made a trade for pitcher Chris Sale (not pictured) at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 18, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland (18) hits an RBI double in the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland (18) hits an RBI double in the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

MITCH MORELAND SIGNING

Mitch Moreland is certainly not David Ortiz, but the Red Sox have gotten in the early going exactly what they expected. Moreland has never been a great hitter – expect 20+ home runs, 80 RBI and somewhere in the vicinity of .250. Moreland does offer excellent defense – although he has been unusually sloppy in the early going.

This is a one year deal and the money fits for Boston to keep them well under the luxury tax threshold. What may be expected in the replacement department is Sam Travis, but Travis has hit a wall and not the ball at Pawtucket.

This was – on the surface – a smart move, but the reality is with Ortiz gone the Red Sox did not need some gold plating, but solid gold and that was one of the free agent bats on the market. The Red Sox needed Edwin Encarnacion and a hit on the luxury tax would have been far better than an offense in reverse.

Bottom line – a good signing, but not the right signing.

EARLY GRADE – C+

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