Red Sox Free Agent Targets: Top 5 available hitters
By Sean Penney
The Boston Red Sox are in need of a power bat to bolster their lineup. Here are five free agent options they should consider this winter.
Dave Dombrowski has one clear objective this offseason – find a big bat to anchor the lineup for the Boston Red Sox.
Boston won 93 games and the AL East division title for the second consecutive season. In 2016, they slugged their way to the top with the best offense in baseball. The front office clearly underestimated the void left by the retirement of David Ortiz, which left the offense falling back to the middle of the pack. Rather than attempt to replace the production of a future Hall of Fame hitter, the Red Sox instead pivoted to upgrading their pitching and defense.
The result was that they were left in the same spot they were a year ago, with an early postseason exit. If the Red Sox want to take the next step to become championship contenders instead of first-round fodder, they need to upgrade their lineup.
There are a number of avenues to improve the lineup but the most appealing route is free agency. The Red Sox farm system lacks the trade chips to deal for a star slugger and they don’t have an impact bat ready to make a significant difference. This team needs a home run threat in the middle of the lineup and there just so happens to be several available on the free agent market.