Red Sox: Home run hitting sluggers Boston should have signed

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 15: Mike Leake
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 15: Mike Leake
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TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 4: Derek Jeter (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 4: Derek Jeter (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

JOE CARTER

Looking at the statistics for Joe Carter I was mildly surprised that he never led the league in home runs.  Maybe if Carter played at Fenway he would have? Carter was available in 1991 and signed a then mammoth contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The seven-year deal produced 203 home runs, six seasons of 100+ RBI and being an integral part of two World Series championships – just think walk-off home run.

Carter loved Fenway Park, where he had 79 career games hitting .312 – a figure well above his career average of .259.  Against Boston, he would just rake with 22 home runs, 60 RBI, and a .954 OPS.  Another player who you considered successful pitching against at Fenway when the ball stayed in the yard.

The Red Sox of 1990-91 were somewhat of a confused mess – I am being kind – regarding management.  Carter would have been an exceptional big-ticket, but his durability, clutch ability, leadership and that beautiful made for Fenway swing would have been worth it.

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