Red Sox: Four AL East trade targets for Boston when the lockout ends

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Alex Cora speaks alongside Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom during a press conference introducing him as the manager of the Boston Red Sox on November 10, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Alex Cora speaks alongside Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom during a press conference introducing him as the manager of the Boston Red Sox on November 10, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 30: Randal Grichuk #15 of the Toronto Blue Jays flies out in the third inning of their MLB game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on September 30, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 30: Randal Grichuk #15 of the Toronto Blue Jays flies out in the third inning of their MLB game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on September 30, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Toronto Blue Jays OF: Randal Grichuk

This is the one target that will stray from a theme you’re soon to see as you progress through this, but I love me some Randal Grichuk. It feels like whenever the Red Sox plays the Blue Jays he’s one of the guys that does the most damage to us. He also fills one of the wild card spots in the roster for Boston and can be a strong addition to the lineup.

I wasn’t kidding when I said Grichuk loves to play against the Red Sox. In 2021, he tallied a .309/.324/.500 slash against Boston with four doubles, three homers, and 12 RBI. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather have him in our dugout than the one across the way. So why would I want Bloom and the gang to go for an outfielder? Well, it’s simple, we need one.

We have no idea what the future holds with Kyle Schwarber, Hunter Renfroe is hanging with Christian Yelich and the Brew Crew, and the rotating cast of Alex Verdugo, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Kiké Hernández leaves something to be desired.

Grichuk splits his time between right field and center which are the areas Boston needs the most help in. He has two years left on his current deal in Toronto with an AAV of $10.3M, beyond reasonable for the Red Sox.

He’ll turn 31-years-old as the second half of the season gets underway which gives Bloom plenty of prime left to fill his roster while his prospects develop.

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