The Red Sox signing of David Ortiz was the first on-field business to be taken care of this offseason, but coming off of their worst season in 47 years there is much more to be done, including being active in free agency.
Following the blockbuster trade last August with the Dodgers, the team emphasized being disciplined in terms of their decisions, which would mean seeing the team sign a player to a long-term, large-sum contract is very unlikely.
One of the team’s biggest needs is an outfielder and potentiality two, now that it’s been learned that Cody Ross is reportedly seeking a three-year contract and the team does not want to give in to the third year.
According to WEEI.com, the Red Sox have shown interest in outfielder Torii Hunter. Hunter, who is 37-years-old and is nearing the end of his career, will not be seeking a longterm deal, which could make him a target of the Red Sox, but the question is can he produce?
Hunter is coming off of a solid season with the Angels as he hit .313 with 16 home runs and 92 RBIs. Coming to Boston would allow him to reunite with Ortiz, whom he was roommates with 10 years ago in Minnesota.
The Red Sox also need a first baseman next season and will certainly look to free agency to fill the void. Nick Swisher and Adam LaRoche are some of the biggest names on the market, but their asking price is likely too high for Boston.
A name to keep an eye on is Mike Napoli, who played catcher for the majority of his time in Texas, but is now looking to play first base.
Napoli is coming off of a disappointing year where he hit just .227 with 24 home runs and 56 RBIs, but this could benefit the Red Sox as his asking price won’t be as high as it could have been. He has always performed well against Boston, especially at Fenway.
These are just two of the possibilities the Red Sox could be targeting. With the GM meetings set to kick off this week, and the number of needs for this Red Sox team, a few deals could be reached. Just don’t expect any blockbusters, as staying disciplined will be stressed.
