Red Sox: Five Black Friday bargains to find in free agency
By Sean Penney
Red Sox bargain second baseman
The Red Sox cycled through a few options at second base following the failed Jose Peraza experiment but they were poor fits for the position or better served as utility options off the bench. If they want a steadier option at second base, Kolten Wong could be the solution.
The two-time Gold Glove award winner would drastically improve Boston’s weak infield defense. The Red Sox have plenty of firepower in their lineup so favoring defense up the middle is more important than adding another expensive bat.
Wong is capable of producing more offensively than his middling .265 batting average this year suggests. He hit a respectable .285 in two of the previous three seasons and has reached double-digits in home runs three times in his career.
Moving to Fenway could be a boost to his numbers at the plate. The left-handed hitter showed a notable improvement in his ability to hit the ball to the opposite field this year (32.5 Oppo%). Continuing that trend in Boston would lead to an uptick in his power production with Wong peppering the Green Monster with opposite field doubles.
The St. Louis Cardinals declined Wong’s $12.5 million club option so we can expect he’ll be available for less than that as a free-agent. MLB Trade Rumors predicted the Red Sox would sign Wong to a 2-year, $16 million deal, which sounds more than fair for an elite defensive second baseman with decent upside at the plate that should improve in a better lineup and hitting environment.