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Red Sox: Trevor Story isn’t the only free agent struggling with a new team

By Sean Penney

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 21: Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on April 21, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 21: Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on April 21, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 15: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on April 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 15: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on April 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

Freddie Freeman wasn’t a long-term need for the Red Sox

Freddie Freeman was the NL MVP in 2020 and led the Atlanta Braves to a World Series championship last year. While many assumed he would spend his entire career in Atlanta, the Braves pivoted in another direction by trading for the younger Matt Olson, sealing Freeman’s exit.

The Los Angeles Dodgers paid a hefty price to lure Freeman to the west coast but he’s given them no reason to regret the 6-year, $162 million deal.

Freeman’s production has been nearly identical to last year, hitting .310/.394/.496. He only has three home runs but Freeman is tied for fourth in the NL with 10 doubles. He’s going to drive in plenty of runs in this loaded Dodgers lineup.

Freeman’s 13.4 Barrel% and 91.5 average exit velocity are slight improvements from last year while his 43.3 Hard Hit% is close to his career rate, signaling there is no sign of his production slowing down.

If there are any star free agents from this class that the Red Sox wish they could have signed based on the early returns this season, it’s Freeman. Red Sox first basemen are dead-last in the majors with a collective .132 AVG and .190 SLG, per FanGraphs.

Would Freeman be a game-changing upgrade for the Red Sox? Absolutely. Their sputtering offense would be in a much better spot with his bat replacing Bobby Dalbec and Franchy Cordero. Here’s the thing though – Boston isn’t planning to rely on those fringe major leaguers all season. Triston Casas is coming.

While we can’t expect the prized prospect to deliver anything close to Freeman’s production immediately, the buzz over Casas’ long-term outlook is warranted. Would it have made sense to splurge on a six-year deal for a 32-year-old knowing a top prospect at the same position is knocking on the door to his big league debut? I say no. As painful as it has been to see an enormous black hole in the lineup at the first base position, patience will pay off.

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