Red Sox need to enter the free-agent outfield market with trepidation

Does the Mookie Betts trade force the Red Sox into a rash response?

The saga of lefty Jon Lester is now etched in the Boston Red Sox history books with the addendum that Lester is the last starting pitcher of note to be developed within the farm system. Lester was everything one wished in creating a pitcher and he proved it in Boston. He rarely missed a start, kept his team positioned to win, and his competitiveness was appreciated by fans, teammates, and management. Then he was gone.  A trade to attempt to get value before he hit free agency.

Boston certainly had the opportunity to re-sign Lester who looked upon his years in Boston favorably, but the negotiation process failed miserably. Boston had the money and the need. Lester was signable and was quickly scooped up by his former boss Theo Epstein for a six-year and $155 MM contract to pitch for the Chicago Cubs. They got their value (77-44, 3.64 ERA) and the shattering of another curse. Boston got bad PR and eventually David Price to soothe the ruffled feathers of fans and media.

Another saga commenced with the addition of Price and the results statistically were not as tepid as one would expect in his four tumultuous Boston seasons (46-24, 3.84 ERA). That was on the surface and similar to an iceberg, what was under the surface was significant. So significant that the Red Sox were willing to pay the Dodgers to take Price.

The Red Sox now have a similar situation where a star of the first magnitude – Mookie Betts – was shipped yonder to the Dodgers for a package of young talent. The saga of Betts is being a contributor to erasing a 32-year World Series drought of the Dodgers. For argumentative purposes, one can debate the intensity of the Red Sox offer and the desire of Betts to stay tethered to Boston. Betts is gone and now the Red Sox have another PR nightmare.

The free-agent season is ready to bloom and the Red Sox do have their own Bloom in Chaim. Chaim Bloom is not historically a big spender on the free-agent market, but he was stuck with the Tampa Bay Rays whose payroll figures are generally in the basement of MLB. Now Bloom has money – assuming the Red Sox wish to take advantage of a luxury tax reset – and there are some rather enticing items that could be on the shopping list for baseball management that looks for a “Big Ticket.”

Michael Brantley is a rather interesting item on a shopping list for not necessarily a “Big Splash” but more of a ripple. Brantley bats left-handed and is 33-years-old or generally a baseball curve where age encroachment has an impact on offensive performance. On a negative side is a distinct lack of power – or to be kinder and gentler – not what one would expect to see in the heart of the Red Sox lineup. Brantley may be heading to a situation where he is more viable as a designated hitter.

Marcell Ozuna caught the attention of the pigeons at attendance empty Fenway Park this last summer.  The 30-year-old outfielder is a legitimate offensive juggernaut. Ozuna is no Betts – he lacks that high average and high octane speed, but oh how he can plummet that ball – leading the National League in home runs (18) and RBI (56).

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Ozuna may be in the famous catbird seat regarding potential compensation and Betts’ staggering contract (12 years – $360 MM) may not be realistically attained, but certainly in play for the purposes of negotiation. Ozuna would be the choice if the Red Sox wished to send a message that they are back into the free-agent game big time, but a notch below is George Springer.

Springer is 31 years old and has that much desired right-handed power stroke. Springer is a  center-fielder and has developed a reputation as a hitter who can be counted upon in crunch time – 19 playoff home runs are difficult to ignore. What is the missing point is the same as with all free-agents and that is market conditions. Baseball individually and collectively has lost a boatload of money and that may be reflected in the handouts for 2021.

The Red Sox already have a centerfielder in Jackie Bradley Jr. or that should now be had since JBJ is on the market. Boston could re-sign Bradley or go to other options such as Mr. Personality Yasiel Puig, old friend Kevin Pillar, or where has his talent gone Joc Pederson, maybe borderline washed up Ryan Braun and a few others that are frightfully risky.

Bloom is now in that most delicate of situations where the Red Sox fans expect something, anything, give us hope, and damn it – why didn’t you sign Betts? The reality is Bloom and management are trapped. We are spoiled and do not expect an understudy to take the starring role, but a legitimate star. That will be the risk as Ozuna is the only first-magnitude available and I would pass if the price becomes exorbitant.