Red Sox 2018 Free Agency: Four hitters to avoid on the market

There is another step up the baseball food chain after Carter and that is another right-handed basher – Mark Reynolds.  Reynolds is now 34-years-old and last season had a rather attractive slash of .267/.352/.487 with 30 home runs and 97 RBI. Very impressive, but then comes the qualifier. Last season Reynolds place of employment was Colorado.

Now even baseball novices know all about playing in Denver.  The rarefied air in Coors Country tends to inflate averages like the coming of the apocalypse would for gas prices. The tally was 21 of those 30 found the seats in Coors Field.  And the batting average? At Coors, it was .294 and the road .242.  But Reynolds was consistent on one career attribute he has mastered – strikeouts.  That was 86 at home and 89 on the road.

Reynolds once had the distinction of leading the National League in strikeouts for three consecutive seasons.  Then arriving in Baltimore, Reynolds started a new streak by leading the American League in whiffs.  For his career, Reynolds has a 30.9 K% and a .247 average.

Defensively Reynolds offers far greater options than a Carter.  Reynold has played significant time a third, first, and has dabbled a bit at second and the outfield. As a third baseman, he is no Pablo Sandoval – who is? His metrics at third show a -11.2 UZR/150. For first it is -3.5 UZR/150.

Reynolds will find a home and I certainly hope he does if it is not in Boston.