Red Sox: Players who had options declined provide new free-agent targets

Red Sox new potential free-agent targets who had options declined.

The option list of players is growing but this is the list of players whose options have been declined. The list is starting to grow now that the World Series is over and teams begin to make payroll decisions. This is also a potential shopping market for the Boston Red Sox, but most of the declined players generate a big yawn. This is somewhat of a precursor to important dates mentioned by BSI’s Sean Penney.

The list is an adjunct to free-agent lists since the players once declined and handed their pink slip – in this instance a check – are now available to one and all wishing to contract their agents and make an offer. A yearly migration with just the names changing. Here are a few examples that could be donning the prestigious colors of the Red Sox.

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In “How the mighty have fallen” is Corey Kluber who had his $18 million option declined. Kluber did nothing for the Rangers in 2020 and I mean nothing – a 0-0 record. In 2019, Kluber was just 2-3 and in both seasons injuries ravaged his statistical adornments. The Rangers gave Kluber a million bucks as a departure present and if Bloom wants a reclamation project, there it is.

The horrid state of the Red Sox most certainly centered on the much-maligned pitching staff has a veritable smorgasbord of questionable talent available in today’s offerings. Kendall Graveman and his career 24-32 record is now available. One possibility is a long-ago member of the Red Sox organization and that is right-hander Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez did lead the NL in the all-important runs allowed category (39) and has continued to give up home runs at an alarming rate the last four seasons.

Mike Hazen of the Diamondbacks has Red Sox roots and also three right-handed pitchers that Hazen & Co. sent out to baseball pasture. Mike Leake is a long-time middle to bottom of the rotation starter whose claim to baseball fame is once winning a Gold Glove. Hector Rondon and Junior Guerra are also adrift and Guerra would seem a likely Red Sox option based on his 5.7 BB/9 in 2020.

If you have a good baseball memory you can drift back five seasons when Todd Frazier was a significant home run threat. Frazier is typical of the “New Age” baseball slugger with large home run totals accompanied by large strikeout totals. Unfortunately for Frazier, the good part of the equation has declined and the bad part has not.

If the Red Sox want a catcher there is 37-year-old Robinson Chirinos, formerly a New York Met. The Mets apparently have a “thing” against backstops as their regular Wilson Ramos will have his $10 million kiss declined. The Mets are possibly in the J.T. Realmuto sweepstakes. For the Red Sox trips down memory lane, Sandy Leon is now a free-agent but did not have an option to decline.

Eric Thames is now available and the 34-year-old may land somewhere if the DH is adopted by the NL. Thames is built like a bowling ball and did hit 72 home runs for the Brewers in three seasons before settling in Washington for 2020. Thames also whiffed 400 times and hit .241 with the Brewers.

The Red Sox may be outfield hunting and Adam Eaton is now available. Eaton parlayed a good White Sox run of three seasons into a $26 million contract with the Nationals. Eaton promptly went into injury mode for two seasons before becoming a solid contributor to the Nationals World Series run. Eaton battered Houston in that WS with a pair of home runs and a .320 average. Just don’t let that -0.9 bWAR for 2020 scare you off.

The Nationals also have a potential answer to the Red Sox second base woes in Howie Kendrick. Kendrick has 15 years on his spikes and hit a respectable .275 for the Nats. In 2019, Kendrick hit .344. The question of the day is just how do you get a -45.4 UZR/150 for 2020?

Bloom is noted for attempting to find value and we saw this in 2020 with an influx of players claimed and tossed into the fire. A few showed promise, but most did not and are gone. I fully expect Bloom to follow that pattern with free agents and players who are free agents thanks to declined options. just looking at the early list Bloom has his work cut out for him.