Red Sox: Could a reunion with Mitch Moreland be in Boston’s future?
Could the Red Sox call on Mitch Moreland once again for 2021?
There are a lot of things in the air for the Boston Red Sox as Chaim Bloom enters his first offseason without the CBT penalty looming over his head like a guillotine. It’s clear to anyone that watched this team for a single minute what needs to be worked on over the winter but does that mean he can’t keep an eye elsewhere? Pitching should be at the top of his list without a doubt, but the offense spent half the season colder than a frozen food section and shouldn’t be ignored.
Per Chris Cotillo of Masslive.com, former Red Sox first baseman and all-around awesome dude, Mitch Moreland, may be back on the market this winter. As of this past week, the San Diego Padres have yet to decide if they are going to activate his $3M option for 2021. If they don’t pick up his option then the veteran will be a free agent once again and could land anywhere he desires. The big question will be whether or not the universal DH becomes a constant and not just a blip for 2020.
"“The DH question is definitely a question all the teams are asking about,” Padres GM AJ Preller said, via Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “It does affect your team planning. When we acquired (Moreland), one of the things for us with (almost) everybody we acquired … there was some carry forward value. We felt that option was something we’d consider. It would help a little bit having a sense of if there is a DH or not.”"
So, if San Diego does pass on Mitch, could Chaim Bloom and his team give him a call? Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised, especially after the brought him back for 2020. He’s a solid bat in the lineup, great defensively, and is beloved by both the organization, his teammates, and the fans. Obviously, Bobby Dalbec stormed onto the scene after Moreland was sent out west and has done everything in his power to lock up the position.
We all know how injuries can pile up, and fast, so it wouldn’t hurt to have that veteran presence ready to plug into the lineup. Not only could Mitch be a role player at first base but I could also see him stepping into a DH role as he gets a little longer in the tooth, especially if J.D. Martinez continues to struggle next year.
The other aspect is the impending opt-out that Martinez can activate in his current deal. If he walks and tests free agency, then Boston can get a power bat in Moreland for a fraction of the price, allowing more funds to be placed on the pitching staff. A decision on going after Moreland obviously falls in the hands of the Padres, the first step in a return comes down to the value they see in his abilities at this stage in his career.
And like I mentioned above, if JD decides to walk, then there’s a big hole in the batting order and I don’t quite know who the Red Sox could plug into place there. There were whispers that Rafael Devers could become a DH due to his shaky defense at third. I don’t hate that idea as we’ve seen over the last two seasons what the young third baseman can do at the dish. But I really want to see what he can become given the right manager and development track.
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So, that brings me back to my original question. Could the Red Sox and Mitch Moreland reunite once again? If I woke up during the offseason and saw the news alert that the two came to terms on a new deal I would be ecstatic. As much as I want to see him play for a contender, he didn’t fare all that well with the Padres while being white-hot with Boston this past season.
He could mentor Dalbec and groom him to be the long-term first baseman, while also offering a strong bat for the next manager to put into the lineup on the regular. Now, if the universal DH becomes something that is here to stay, then the Padres would be foolish to not activate the option. And if they pass, Bloom needs to get on the phone that day to bring Moreland back to Boston.
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Chaim Bloom has a big task ahead of him this winter as he needs to address some serious issues with the Red Sox and their pitching staff. We also know that he’s a guy that likes to go bargain shopping and re-signing Mitch Moreland if he’s available would be a massive win for everyone. The team gets a veteran that can be a great voice in the clubhouse and help develop younger players for a small salary and Moreland gets to finish his career in a place he loved to play. As I said before, if Mitchy Two-Bags hits the open market, make that phone ring.