3 bargain deals the Red Sox should pursue
With MLB free agency underway, here are three lower tier veteran free agents that the Red Sox could benefit from signing.
With Craig Breslow at the helm in the midst of free agency, the Red Sox have made it clear that they want to spend money to upgrade key postions to return to playoff glory. But that doesn't mean that the team can't continue to find lower cost Bloom-esque deals to shore up some of the depth that the Major League team has been lacking. In the spirit of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, here are three lower tier veteran free agents that the team could benefit from taking a flier on.
1. Tim Anderson
This is not to say that Anderson's 2023 season was anything short of disappointing for the White Sox. The key factor here is that we have seen what Anderson can do when fully healthy and in a positon to succeed. The White Sox last season were a dumpster fire to say the least, with many instances showing the lack of effort from the team as a whole.
The former All-Star and batting title winner struggled to find his power numbers, as did most of the White Sox team. Anderson is a prime candidate for a change of scenery, and he would slot in nicely at second base for the Red Sox in 2024. A one year prove it deal, similar to that of Cody Bellinger would lessen the pressure on Marcelo Mayer to perform well and get the call to the majors in 2024.
With Mayer coming off a down season between High A and AA, the team could benefit from giving their crown jewel prospect more time to develop. Anderson is certainly capable of hitting for average and power much more than we saw last season, and a change of scenery on a one year prove it deal could bring him back to All-Star status.
2. Joey Votto
The 17-year veteran is looking for a new team after the Cincinnati Reds publicly announced they would not be exercising his team option for 2024. The Red Sox have their first baseman of the future, but Votto could step into a mentorship role for the young Triston Casas, and take some of the pressure off his back. Being able to pick the brain of one of the best first baseman of this past generation would benefit the development of Casas in many ways.
Not to mention, like Casas, Votto has a tendency to be a bit outlandish in interviews and the way he prepares for games. Matching these two personalities together would not only help Casas, but give the team a quality backup that is looking to prove he can still be a quality bat at age 40.
3. J.D. Martinez
Admittedly, this one is probably more just wishful thinking. The unofficial Justin Turner/J.D. Martinez swap between the Red Sox and Dodgers worked out for both sides. The Red Sox got a .300 hitter with less power numbers, while the Dodgers got 33 homers and 103 RBI from Martinez during his one-year deal. With Turner declining his option hoping to earn more money in free agency, could we see a Red Sox reunion with a player that won two Silver Sluggers in the same year?
While Turner was an on-base machine for the Red Sox in 2023, the team was severely lacking power from the DH spot in the middle of their lineup. At 36 years old, Martinez won't be looking for a long-term deal as he was heading into 2018, but a one or two-year deal for the slugger would add another threat in the middle of this lineup that was sorely missed last season.
These potential veteran signings are not to say that the Red Sox shouldn't be going after the top tier free agents on the market this off-season. Everyone has made it clear that the Red Sox are going to try to spend more with Breslow at the helm, and while that remains to be seen, all signs are pointing to the team being key players among the starting pitching talent that has hit the open market.
The team is set up well positionally heading into 2024, but could certainly benefit from veteran leadership with Turner searching for more money elsewhere. Any of these three players could not only provide mentorship with a young Red Sox lineup, but they are also capable of showing they can still perform in the later stages of their careers.