Yonder Alonso
ZiPS’ projected value: Three years, $52.9 million (A.A.V.: $17.63M)
Would the real Yonder Alonso please stand up?
The 30-year old raced out to a stellar start in 2017 to earn his first All-Star nod. He hit .266 with a .896 OPS and 22 home runs over 100 games with the Oakland A’s. That allowed the rebuilding A’s to cash in on the impending free agent by shipping him to the Seattle Mariners before the trade deadline.
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His brief stint in Seattle turned out to be a massive disappointment for a Mariners team hoping Alonso would help push them into a playoff spot. His OPS fell over 100 points and he hit only six home runs in 42 games. His average and OBP remained relatively equal, it was his power that mysteriously disappeared.
Power is what the Red Sox are after, so if Alonso can’t provide it then he’s not an option. The 28 home runs he hit between Oakland and Seattle are appealing but only if he hits at the pace he was on during the first half. Considering he hit his previous career-high of seven home runs in 156 games with Oakland in 2016, that seems doubtful.
If the Red Sox knew they were getting the All-Star they saw in the first half with Oakland, the contract ZiPS projects would be a bargain. If what we saw in Seattle is the real Alonso, he’s no improvement over Boston’s internal options.