Bobby Dalbec
Speaking of former top prospects, the Red Sox don’t really have room or need for Bobby Dalbec anymore, especially if Bogaerts stays.
They acquired Eric Hosmer at the trade deadline and he’ll cost them the league minimum for the remainder of his salary. They also have Triston Casas, who impressed offensively and defensively in his brief September debut.
Meanwhile, after a solid first full season in 2021, during which he hit 21 doubles and 25 homers over 133 games, Dalbec regressed an alarming amount in 2022. Despite his strikeout percentage decreasing ever-so-slightly, in 117 games, he only doubled nine times and homered 12; his slugging percentage dropped from .494 the previous year, to .369.
While Dalbec made significantly fewer errors at first base, Casas is considered a better all-around option for the job, so the Sox began teaching Dalbec to play second base this season. Only, they don’t really need him there either if they have Trevor Story and rovers, Christian Arroyo and Kiké Hernández.
While Dalbec had a disappointing season, he’s under club control through 2027. Many teams will be interested in a former top prospect with that many years of control ahead and who occasionally hits enormous home runs.