In a normal offseason, the annual General Manager Meetings are a time for executives around the game to network, get the lay of the land and begin forming a plan of attack for the offseason. The Winter Meetings, a month later, are normally where the action gets going. This isn't a normal offseason, though, and the Boston Red Sox better be ready.
The GM Meetings are set to take place from November 9 through November 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The industry buzz is that this will be an especially active period, with several large deals getting done ahead of the looming lockout on December 1. With that in mind, Craig Breslow will have to be proactive and ready to strike early. Here are some deals he could close on quickly before the end of the GM Meetings.
3 moves Craig Breslow should finish quickly to bolster Red Sox roster at GM Meetings
Sign outfielder Randy Arozarena to a four-year, $92 million contract
On the offensive side of the ball, there might not be a better fit for the Red Sox than Randy Arozarena. He'd bring power and much-needed right-handed balance to Boston's outfield, while adding some juice to the speed on the basepaths as well. The 31-year-old left fielder has put up six consecutive 20-20 seasons, so there's a lot to like.
Word on the street is that Arozarena would prefer to land on the East Coast, with all the big-market clubs up and down the Atlantic, plus the Chicago Cubs, expected to be potential suitors. Worse yet, Arozarena is a Scott Boras client, so he'll want top dollar. The Red Sox can't afford to miss here. Spotrac projects a four-year, $81 million deal for the former Seattle Mariner. A slight overpay at four years, $92 million, could help Arozarena make a quick decision and end up in Boston.
Reunite with Sonny Gray on a one-year, $25 million contract with a player option
The Red Sox desperately need a right-handed arm in the starting rotation, and while it originally appeared to be a long shot, it now seems that Sonny Gray is open to a return. Despite his age, Gray is preferable to the other options for a few reasons.
First, he's proven that he can get it down in Boston and is likely to finish top five in the AL Cy Young voting. Next, he's only going to require a short-term contract, which is important with long-term big-money deals already on the books for Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suarez, plus an eventual extension for Payton Tolle potentially being in the cards.
Most importantly, the other top options will be more costly and have red flags of their own. Michael King gained a lot of praise for his two-inning save in Game 3 of the NLDS, filling in for Mason Miller, who missed the game due to the birth of his child. With that said, King has some injury concerns, which, when combined with a falling strikeout rate and uninspiring peripherals (4.13 FIP, 4.33 xFIP, 4.40 xERA), make him a real risk. Then there's Freddy Peralta, whose run with the Rays has been stunning, but can't completely overshadow how awful he was with the Mets.
If the Sox and Gray agreed to the mutual option, he'd make $30 million in 2027. Instead, Breslow can offer him a one-year deal worth $25 million and give him a player option for another $20 million in 2028 if he decides that he still wants to play. That gives Gray control over his future, while potentially saving the Red Sox a couple of pennies if he only plays one more year.
Trade Jarren Duran for as much as you can get
Signing Arozarena makes trading Jarren Duran all that much more important. Unfortunately, his value is at such a low point that it makes it hard to see the Red Sox really getting anything of value for him. However, the San Diego Padres have long liked Duran and still seem interested in trading for him. There could be other clubs in the mix, too.
Trading Duran quickly is important because the clock is ticking on the last point of leverage that Boston has. The non-tender deadline is November 20, meaning if Duran isn't moved before then, the Red Sox will likely cut bait and move on with Arozarena in tow.
However, they can use that date to extract a bit more from an interested party by highlighting the fact that not tendering the much-maligned outfielder makes him a free agent able to sign with anyone. Therefore, if they want to ensure they get their hands on him, they need to convince the Red Sox that what they're offering is worth more than simply waiting a few weeks and cutting him.
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