The Boston Red Sox can find some bargains in free agency
The Boston Red Sox will be tied to many of the top free agents in the rumor mill but they won’t be able to afford all of them. They may splurge on a big name this winter but filling out the roster will require finding talent at a more affordable cost. Since it’s Black Friday, we’ll follow the annual tradition of shopping for bargains by exploring some free agents who could be undervalued on the market.
Chaim Bloom has proven himself as a master of uncovering these gems. While some will accuse him of being too frugal, I counter by pointing out how the strategy has worked out for him.
The fanbase wasn’t exactly overflowing with excitement when Enrique Hernandez and Hunter Renfroe were signed to modest deals but they both were pivotal to the Red Sox securing a Wild Card spot and making a surprising run to the ALCS. Their contracts are now viewed as tremendous bargains whereas some of the flashier names fans were hoping for last winter range from disappointing (George Springer) to disastrous (Marcell Ozuna).
Bargain hunting will inevitably lead to a fair share of misfires but striking out on these low-cost deals doesn’t hurt nearly as much as whiffing on an expensive contract. The Red Sox have the financial resources to spend up for a star player but they’ll need to mix in some values as well.