Could the Boston Red Sox end up with one of the more prominent power bats on the market?
Earlier in the offseason Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow appeared close to landing outfielder Teoscar Hernández — who would eventually sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers after Boston backed off last minute seemingly due to made-up budgetary constraints.
Shortly after his decision, the Red Sox appeared to be front runners for outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler, who remains on the open market. Once again, momentum has slowed down substantially between the two sides but Boston has not been fully ruled out.
“Soler I do think will go fairly soon,” the New York Post’s Jon Heyman said Wednesday on a Bleacher Report live stream. “I kind of like Toronto or Arizona at this point but there have been other teams including Boston in on Soler.”
The 31-year-old hit .250 with 60 extra-base hits including 36 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .853 OPS (128 OPS+) in 137 games for the Miami Marlins last season.
The Red Sox are seeking an impact right-handed bat with positional versatility. Soler checks the first box and can technically man corner outfield spots, though he’s not exactly a defensive stalwart.
While Soler to Boston would make some sense, left-hander Jordan Montgomery is a far better fit should the Red Sox invest in a premium player this offseason.
The Red Sox have been linked to outfielder Adam Duvall, a better defender who will be cheaper and likely sign a shorter-term contract. Frugality appears to be far more of a priority for Boston than putting the best players available on the field.
