Red Sox: What if Boston never signed Mitch Moreland?
Getting to know Mitch Moreland
Few players started off this slow but Moreland managed to start the season going 0-for-9 including five strikeouts. In his defense, two fly balls could have been home runs if not for the large dimensions at Fenway Park. Center field and right field can be tough on hitters lacking power. Wind also played a factor in not seeing the hefty first baseman get a pair of round trippers in his first series with his new club.
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Since the beginning, the Red Sox knew what they were getting. Before joining, Moreland was a first baseman who spent his first seven years in the bigs playing for Texas. At 30 years old the Sox were gambling on a guy but not at a huge cost. Moreland was getting $5.5 million for one year of work in Boston. It was a slight pay cut from his last contract in Texas but he had something to prove and it was going to take a good year to make his future worth it.
If he played his cards right, this was the type of guy who would eventually sign a bigger deal after showing that he can consistently get the job done. Moreland could, assuming he doesn’t return, follow the same path as Adrian Beltre who left after one year. Beltre then signed a 5-year deal worth $80 million. This was a guy capable of hitting 20+ doubles and 20+ home runs after hitting the mark in three of his last four seasons. Could he get the job done in Boston?
Fans all certainly hope that he’s the answer until the next generation of baby Sox takes over.