A Foul Tip
The first base issue was a dog chasing its tail when the Red Sox fallback plan may not have been a fallback at all. Mitch Moreland re-signed for first base chump change at two-years and $13 million. This is a clearance item compared to what the Red Sox could have signed for Christmas.
Jose Abreu and Eric Hosmer are simply more productive offensive players. Both have a 4.1 fWAR to Moreland’ s rather pedestrian 0.9 fWAR. Hosmer is younger, and Abreu is the most needed with his right-handed power and career .300 average.
The Red Sox also passed on Carlos Santana who eventually signed for three-years and $60 million. Is Santana, Hosmer and Abreu worth that compared to the far less pricey Moreland? I can see the logic, but this foul tip needs another slugger to make it fully comprehensible.
Moreland is consistent most certainly. Healthy – say with a good toe – Moreland can get you 20/80/.260 and very good and even occasional great defense. If the Red Sox still had a David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in their prime this signing would be a footnote. Papi and Manny are gone. Let’s see if the lineup is finally augmented with that power to make this noted power position signing sensible.