Red Sox: 3 MLB free agents to keep tabs on this week

A major signing for the Red Sox in the next few days is unlikely. But things are set up to get mighty interesting for Boston in the days before and after Thanksgiving.

Former Sox slugger Victor Martinez was the first major MLB free agent domino to fall, as the veteran signed a four-year deal Wednesday to stay put in Detroit.

Here are three other to keep close tabs on:

Pablo Sandoval

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal said Wednesday that the market for free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval appears to be down to the Giants and Red Sox with the White Sox and Blue Jays with limited interest. He also said the Red Sox are “weighing other options.” In other words, the most likely scenario to occur with the Kung Fu Panda is that he re-signs in San Francisco. Sandoval is fresh off winning another World Series title with the Giants as he hit .279 with 16 homers and 73 RBIs with the club last year.

Jon Lester

It’s possible that the Red Sox are entertaining trading Yoenis Cespedes in order to cause less embarrassment for Oakland GM Billy Beane. Not really, but the point is that Beane will have a carton of eggs on his face if Jon Lester re-signs in Boston. WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reported Wednesday that six teams have showed “legitimate interest” in Lester, including the Red Sox.

“I expect the conversation will continue,” Red Sox GM Ben Cherington told WEEI.com regarding Lester’s reps. “They have to go through their thing. I still feel like the relationships are in a place where we can have those conversations.

Hanley Ramirez

If Sandoval does re-sign with San Francisco, it’s possible that the Red Sox will turn to former farmhand Hanley Ramirez. The Astros, after several years of something resembling “baseball tanking,” seem ready to attempt to compete and could throw some money Ramirez’s way. But the Boston Globe reported this week that the Red Sox were interested in speaking with Ramirez, who whacked 13 homers and drove in 71 runs last year with the Dodgers. Ramirez, a shortstop, has hinted that he’s open to returning to play third base – which is a need with the Red Sox.