Can a Red Sox unknown player get the AL MVP?
I will openly admit to the guilty pleasure of watching the Gong Show and the Unknown Comic and the Red Sox could have an unknown player gathering in some serious MVP script. I doubt if such an unknown will be in the house such as Bobby Dalbec and will in all probability be a free-agent recruit. With the market sure to be interesting this winter one guarantee is that we’ll be seeing plenty of players wanting to make a statement in 2021.
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DJ LeMahieu has been mentioned as a possible target for the Red Sox and the second baseman could solve their woes at that position. LeMahieu combines exceptional defense with a similar exceptional offense. A second batting title in 2020, leading the AL with a .421 OBP and leading the league with a 1.011 OPS. In 2019 the 32-year-old right-hand hitter slammed 26 home runs and had 102 RBI so he can generate run production.
George Springer knows Cora well – they may have banged a trash barrel together – and Springer is on the market. Boston may have waved goodbye to Jackie Bradley Jr. and Springer would certainly represent a quality replacement since Springer has power, produces runs, is excellent defensively, and had a 1.9 bWAR in 2020. He brings the numbers to be considered but he also carries a heavy salary that may scare Chaim Bloom away.
Christian Vazquez is one of the best catchers in baseball as a solid player with the bat and glove, but Boston could make a big splash in the free-agent market and beat out the Mets, Yankees, and several other for J.T. Realmuto. When a catcher can hit (two Silver Sluggers), play Gold Glove defense, and have a howitzer arm you get attention. Realmuto will get a load of MVP votes, but not in Boston.