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Red Sox Bold Predictions: Projecting the 2020 lineup

By Rick McNair

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: A general view as Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats against David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: A general view as Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats against David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 04: Michael Chavis #23 of the Boston Red Sox hits a 3 run home run in the sixth inning during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 04, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 04: Michael Chavis #23 of the Boston Red Sox hits a 3 run home run in the sixth inning during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 04, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

First Base

Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce are most certainly gone. Moreland is finishing off a typical dependable Moreland season with good defense and some respectable power, but money becomes an issue. That leaves the two next most likely possibilities – Sam Travis and Michael Chavis.

Chavis is most certainly the front-runner with his potential power display that is accompanied by a prolific strikeout total (33.2 K%). The item that I note with the right-handed Chavis is a .226 average against lefties. The plus for Chavis is versatility with the ability to play first, second, and third without embarrassment. But will Chavis return to his dramatic start?

Sam Travis – another right-handed bat – brought some power into the lineup to go along with a batting average that could challenge the Mendoza Line. Then tack on a 69 wRC+ and a -2.6 UZR/150 and Travis may find himself elsewhere.

With limited payroll flexibility, the Red Sox will attempt to save a few baseball millions with the low-end choice. If the Red Sox had a little more fiscal leeway it would be best to offer Moreland another $6.5 Million, but I go with Chavis locked into first base.

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