Red Sox Rumors: Kiké Hernandez on Boston’s list of free agent targets

Red Sox targeting World Series champion Kiké Hernandez

With Christmas here and gone the rumor mill is beginning to churn at a fast pace, especially for the Boston Red Sox. Not only has the team made a few signings in the past week but their name is coming up more and more when it comes to the free-agent market. Today’s news came in the way of the organization looking at possibly signing current World Series champion Kiké Hernandez.

Per Chris Cotillo of Masslive.com, Boston is in hot pursuit of the utilityman though a deal isn’t close, just yet. For the Red Sox, adding a utility guy to their ranks would be a massive boost and could relieve some stress for those on the roster.

I recently pitched the idea of adding Eric Sogard for that very reason, but the news about Hernandez today ups the ante to another level. Both Hernandez and Sogard are primarily second basemen and that’s most likely where they’d play at Fenway Park.

This news comes on the heels of reports that the Sox were also eyeing free-agent infielder Marcus Semien for their gap at second base. Cotillo also reports that despite having both Christian Arroyo and Michael Chavis on the squad, Boston is still searching the market for a more everyday second baseman.

Red Sox GM Brian O’Halloran added to that sentiment and let it be known that even with the internal options, the team is looking at all the routes in front of them.

"“We definitely have some options internally,” general manager Brian O’Halloran said earlier this month. “But we’re also open-minded. And this is not exclusive to second base. We’re open minded to different ways of improving the club.”"

Red Sox Nation should be very familiar with Hernandez as he was on the Los Angeles Dodgers squad that went up against Boston in 2018. Kiké was a bit of a ghost in that series though hitting just .133/.133/.333/.467 with one homer and 2 RBI.

Not much of an impact player and a massive drop-off from his first appearance in the World Series the prior year, .231/.375/.231/.606/1 RBI. However, he would rebound in his third trip to the Fall Classic with a .200/.273/.300/.573 slash with a pair of RBIs.

Hernandez will be entering his eighth year in the league and could be heading back to the American League for the first time since his rookie year. If Boston really does want to add Kiké to the ranks at Fenway Park it may be for more than they’d like for a free-agent signing.

Before COVID shortened the season, he was set to earn $5.9M in 2020 but walked away with just shy of $2.2M. Chaim Bloom may be able to work his magic and get a deal agreed upon for something in the way of what he was supposed to earn this year, but that’s always easier said than done.

More from Red Sox Rumors

• Is Jean Segura the solution to Red Sox’ Trevor Story concerns?
• Red Sox news: Orioles eyeing former Boston arms, Dansby Swanson to Cubs, JD Martinez to Dodgers
• Did Alex Cora just drop a huge hint about Red Sox free-agent target?
• MLB insider hints Red Sox teardown may continue with two trades
• Division rival targeting Red Sox 2022 standout Michael Wacha

With teams more unwilling than ever to spend money this winter Hernandez may be more willing to make a deal along what his 2020 salary was set to be, which works great in the favor of the Red Sox. Considering he’s never been one to light-up the stat sheet, he doesn’t have too much in the way of bargaining power, but his defensive abilities get him back to the negotiating table.

Seriously, the man has played at every single position imaginable, well not quite, he hasn’t gotten behind the plate yet, but there’s time. Hell, he’s even pitched! That kind of versatility is something that the Red Sox could desperately use in 2021 as it’ll allow Alex Cora to be a little more free and loose with his lineups, offering players rest.

Similar to my sales pitch for Sogard, I’m sure many of you will be clamoring for me to mention Brock Holt, and that’s fair. He’s exactly what Kiké is just a tad older but far more beloved by the fanbase. I also know that Holt very much wants to come back to Boston but if he can’t fit the mold that Bloom has in mind for this team, he won’t be back.

We may be inching closer to the Red Sox finally going after the pieces they feel will fix the issues that came up over the last two seasons. The team isn’t far removed from their World Champion glory, but there is plenty of work to do in order to get back to that level. Adding Kiké Hernandez would be a solid step in that direction as he’s the definition of a low cost-high reward signing, and the dude can flat out get it done on the field.