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Red Sox Free Agency: Three positions to target to be competitive in 2021

By Bradley Shanler

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 23: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 23, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 23: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 23, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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red sox George Springer
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 16: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros hits a two run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 16, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Red Sox Outfield Needs

We all know that pitching is going to be the number one focus this off-season for the Red Sox, so I am going to start with the outfield. Yes, every fan of Boston knows that their main focus should be on pitching, but I am going to save the best for last. Players that the Red Sox should eye are George Springer, Kevin Pillar, and Marcell Ozuna. Now, I know that there are more outfielders that are available in the market right now and I could probably just keep rambling on about this person and that person.

George Springer has hit the free agency market with the intention that he wants to be closer to his family in Connecticut. That automatically puts the teams in the northeast at a bigger advantage than other teams. Springer will also cost the team a second-round draft pick while also looking for multiple years. According to MLB.com, Springer is projected to get around $125 million for 5 years. Doesn’t really seem like someone Bloom would sign though the relationship with Alex Cora is already there.

Pillar played a half of a season with the Red Sox in 2020 before being traded to the Rockies. A reunion could benefit both player and team. Pillar signed a one-year deal with Sox after his stint with the Giants. He had stated that he always wanted to play in Boston. He has the same type of defense that Jackie Bradley Jr. showed while being in Boston and he has a slight advantage with the bat.

The one thing that many people seem to think about Pillar is that he is not a starter. He was when he played in Toronto and I think a one or maybe two-year contract would benefit both sides. If this was the avenue Bloom decided to go down, he would get a veteran player at what I would assume a team-friendly deal.

In 2020, Pillar signed a $4.5 million one-year contract, what’s to say both sides would not be willing to do it again? It could work and if it did, when the contract was over, the Sox could look at bringing up outfielder Jarren Duran.

Ozuna is probably the one that I would be more interested in because of what he did in Fenway Park this past season. Ozuna is the first National League player to hit 3 home runs in the same game. He bats righty for power and he can play the outfield. He has played more time in left field than any other position and I know that Andrew Benintendi mans that position.

If the Sox were able to get Ozuna, I could see Verdugo manning CF and Benny in RF. They could hide Ozuna in LF and slide that bat in the top 5 in the line-up. Imagine having to face JD and Ozuna back to back, would be a fearsome duo sort of like Ortiz and Ramirez. Wishful thinking? Maybe, but definitely, something that the front office should look at.

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