What if the Boston Red Sox don’t make a big splash in free agency?
By Hunter Noll
The Boston Red Sox are looking for more power and there are some heavy hitters in free agency. What happens if they don’t make a big splash though?
Once again, the Boston Red Sox find themselves in an offseason linked to most of the top free agents. This time they’re looking for major power following a season that saw them ranked 27th in the league in home runs (168).
There are some big names that seem to be “Plan-A”. While it seems almost inevitable that the Red Sox snag one of the heavy hitters (J.D. Martinez is the favorite), nothing’s set in stone.
With that in mind, what could be Boston’s “Plan-B”?
Of course, there’s a very small chance anyone can match the 45-homer power that Martinez has. There’s still some power behind him (and Eric Hosmer) though.
One of the most obvious moves might be bringing Mitch Moreland back. Mitchy Two-Bags posted career-highs in doubles (34) and runs scored (73) in 2017. He also mashed 22 home runs and drove in 79 runs, while hitting a respectable .246 (.326 on-base percentage).
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No those, aren’t offense-altering numbers, but they give the Red Sox a little punch.
Jay Bruce put up a new career-high with 36 home runs last year, but I’d imagine the Cleveland Indians will pull out all the stops to keep him after already losing Carlos Santana.
Meanwhile, players like Matt Adams (.274/.319/.522) and Yonder Alonso (.266/.365/.501) could give solid production for lesser money.
Then there’s Lucas Duda (30 homers) and Mike Napoli (29) who can bring power, but their miserably lower batting averages hold them back. This could be a great thing for Boston’s wallet, but bad if they continue struggling to hit .200.
Mark Reynolds is coming off arguably his best season in the Majors, mashing 30 home runs while hitting .267. His numbers away from Coors Field are discouraging though.
Another familiar name is Daniel Nava. He’s not going to give the Red Sox any power, but he proved there’s plenty left in the tank last season. With the Philadelphia Phillies, the switch-hitter slashed .301/.393/.421 in limited time (183 at-bats).
Want to get even more familiar though? How about players already in the Red Sox organization?
Three names specifically come to mind.
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Bryce Brentz already appears to be in the Red Sox Opening Day plans. Set as the fourth outfielder, he smoked 31 home runs last season in Triple-A. Giving Brentz the designated hitter position and throwing Hanley Ramirez back to first could bring more power to Fenway.
Then there’s two long shots.
Michael Chavis finished last season in Double-A, but could get an extended look in Spring Training. Like Brentz, the 22-year-old hit 31 home runs last season. He also hit decently-well in the Arizona Fall League, while playing both third and first base.
Finally, there’s Jeremy Barfield.
The 29-year-old hit a career-best 28 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last season. He’s going to come cheap (just looking for an opportunity in the Majors). He seems like more of a last resort option though. If all else fails having him as a fallback isn’t a bad idea.
If none of these “B plans” are getting you too excited, I don’t blame you. It’s kind of like going to a RAW event being promised Braun Strowman Vs. Brock Lesnar and getting Cedric Alexander Vs. Noam Dar. You’re going from heavy-hitters to finesse.
Personally, I think home runs are overrated (and Cedric Alexander is a beast). Nevertheless, every team needs some power, just like every RAW needs a monster. If you’re banking on grinding for runs all the time, you’re going to have a lot of low-scoring games. There are plenty of moments every season when you need those fast runs that only home runs can produce.
Sometimes Cedric Alexander can be a heavy hitter too. Just because he’s not Braun Strowman doesn’t mean he won’t give you power. No, you’re not going to get all the running power slams, but a few lumbar checks could still do the trick.
Just like how Bryce Brentz might give you some of those J.D. Martinez home runs, without J.D. Martinez money.
Next: Red Sox: Why is Dedgar Jimenez flying under the radar?
There’s a reason these are the “B” plans though. The Boston Red Sox were void of power last year, and need major upgrades in that area. If that doesn’t happen though, look for some combination of these names to find their way on the Boston roster.