Red Sox: Free-agent targets Boston needs to be contenders in 2021

Free-agent targets that can bring the Red Sox back to contention.

The Boston Red Sox proved they were not a complete team in 2020, finishing last in the A.L. East with a record 12 games below .500.

It was not a pretty year, where star players Andrew Benintendi and J.D. Martinez recorded arguably their worst seasons to date (Granted, Benintendi was hurt for a vast majority).

The season was not a wash though, as Red Sox Nation was able to see the stars they  have, whether it be at their full potential or in the making. Look, the team had a rough year, but they showed us they were only a few pieces away from being back in the World Series chase.

With a projected $36 million in room beneath the luxury tax threshold, Chaim Bloom needs to act now in a highly underrated free-agent class in order to lock up a playoff spot and compete for a chance at the World Series once again. This should be extremely urgent for Bloom, as recent news of Chris Sale’s injury keeping him out longer than expected and a poor showing last year have Red Sox Nation quickly losing faith in the team once again.

As of now, the Red Sox have holes to fill at second base, center field, and in all aspects of their pitching department, which ranked 28th in the league with an embarrassing 5.58 ERA.

Let’s take a look at eight players on the free-agent market that Boston should be jumping all over this offseason, all eight of whom Boston could secure with their current budget