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Red Sox: Five players Boston needs to target in Free Agency this winter

By Brendan Mizgala

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 15: Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom addresses the departure of Alex Cora as manager of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference at Fenway Park on January 15, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. A MLB investigation concluded that Cora was involved in the Houston Astros sign stealing operation in 2017 while he was the bench coach. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 15: Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom addresses the departure of Alex Cora as manager of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference at Fenway Park on January 15, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. A MLB investigation concluded that Cora was involved in the Houston Astros sign stealing operation in 2017 while he was the bench coach. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Cincinnati Reds Trevor Bauer
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (27) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.Milwaukee Brewers At Cincinnati Reds Sept 23 /

SP: Trevor Bauer

This one may get some pushback and I totally understand why. Trevor Bauer is a loudmouth lunatic who has zero filter and that rubs people the wrong way. He has zero disregard for talking smack to batters, umpires, or his favorite target MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. In my eyes though, that’s a level of venom that this team severely lacked this year. The Red Sox have a guy much like Bauer already on the roster in Sale, but with him not around due to TJS, the team didn’t have that spark.

We don’t know when Sale will return from his TJS and Boston can’t go another season without that person that will kick the team in the ass when they need it. Now that also comes with a worry that the two will butt heads as they serve a similar role in the rotation but it could also ignite a stronger fire in each. You also can’t deny the type of seasons he’s strung together over the last few years, Bauer has been electric.

He really came into his own back in 2018 where he finished 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA, 1.089 WHIP, 221 K, and a league-leading 2.44 FIP all in 175.1 IP. That’s a pretty damn good stat line and one that I wouldn’t hate seeing for the Red Sox. His 2019 was a bit of a mess as he split time between Cleveland and Cincinnati but his 2020 is what has my attention.

In the shortened 2020 season he led the NL in ERA (1.73), ERA + (276), and WHIP (0.795). He led the entire MLB in complete games as well as shutouts at two apiece. Bauer will most likely be named the 2020 NL Cy Young winner and rightfully so, he’s dominated from start to finish this season. His price tag may scare Bloom away but Boston has plenty of money to spend this winter and could feel desperate enough to write the check.

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