With David Ortiz now retired, the Boston Red Sox have an obvious hole in their lineup. They can either look within to mitigate the void, or they can use free agency or a trade to effectively replace Ortiz. Much easier said than done, but one player that could is Miguel Cabrera.
The Boston Red Sox fell short in their pursuit of a 2016 world championship. A first round exit at the hands of the Cleveland Indians is not what they had in mind. However, there was a lot of good to reflect on at season’s end.
Rick Porcello emerged as Boston’s ace in 2016. He was also deemed the league’s ace after being crowned the American League Cy Young. Star outfielder Mookie Betts finished runner-up to Mike Trout in the AL MVP race. Believe it or not, Trout actually pulled off the upset. Most experts assumed Betts would take home the honor. Porcello and Betts headlined the Boston Red Sox season, but even their performances took a back seat to what David Ortiz displayed in 2016.
In his age-40 season, Ortiz hit .315/.401/.620 with 38 home runs, 80 walks, and only 86 strikeouts. His utter dominance had everyone questioning his retirement plans. The 40-year-old did not fade whatsoever in his final season. He finished an MVP career with an MVP worthy 2016 campaign. Rightly so, Ortiz ended his Boston reign just as a legend should – he left on top, and he left the fans wanting more. Not just Red Sox Nation, but fans all throughout MLB. No matter your team of passion, everyone rooted for David “Big Papi” Ortiz. He was the ultimate silver lining to an unaccomplished Red Sox season.
Now it’s time for Boston to face the harsh reality that the Ortiz era is over. How do they overcome the giant void left by the Red Sox great?
Their plans have been unclear to this point. Speculation assumes they will look from within to fill the void, but more intriguing speculation links the Red Sox to one of the more elite players in baseball: Miguel Cabrera.
The Detroit Tigers have drawn more interest this offseason than any other team. General manager Al Avila got everyone’s attention when he opened up trade talks for Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler, and Miguel Cabrera. All four would be major impact players for potential suitors, and all four would headline blockbuster deals. Martinez is the only Tiger with a favorable contract, as the other three carry just as much weight financially as they do talent.
Cabrera’s contract takes the cake. The league’s purest hitter is owed $184 million over the next seven seasons. He possesses one of the most lucrative contracts in baseball, a contract so imposing that even the Boston Red Sox are questioning their financial capability. Certainly Cabrera is worth every cent, but the ATM isn’t the only thing the Red Sox would have to open. They would also have to open up the farm.
The Boston Red Sox have a top 10 farm system in MLB. Their system is deep, and it is led by top prospect Yoan Moncada. The Cuban defector made headline news when Boston acquired him for an insane $31.5 million signing bonus in 2015. Moncada’s supreme talent will place him atop Detroit’s wish list if in fact a Miguel Cabrera trade is negotiated. A highly touted prospect such as Moncada, along with an additional high-caliber youngster, may entice Detroit to a deal. Of course, that’s contingent on Boston consuming the vast majority of Miguel Cabrera’s contract. Detroit may ask for a major league ready player to top off the deal; an undervalued Brock Holt could meet the need.
Boston has wisely conserved their minor league talent by placing their primary focus on the free agent market over the past few years. They have ample talent to forfeit. However, it’s the current contracts of David Price and Pablo Sandoval, plus the future contracts of Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr., that place Boston in a monetary bind.
A potential deal will ultimately come down to a chess match between Al Avila and Dave Dombrowski. Dombrowski, the Boston Red Sox President of Baseball Operations, was formerly the general manager for the Detroit Tigers. He is very familiar with the Tigers organization, and his relationship with Miguel Cabrera adds life to this trade rumor.
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Cabrera would be a great fit in any lineup, but Boston needs him just as bad as any team. The Red Sox have led the talks involving Edwin Encarnacion, but it seems more worth it to go after Cabrera. Cabrera is arguably the best hitter in baseball. He’s put together seven consecutive seasons of a .300+ batting average. He has also recorded 100+ RBI in every season except two in his 14-year career. He is a two-time AL MVP and is the only Triple Crown winner in the past 49 years.
Encarnacion is an outstanding hitter, but there is much more guarantee in Cabrera. Cabrera is every bit the power hitter that Encarnacion is. Cabrera puts the ball in play more often, he walks more frequently, and he covers much more of the plate than Encarnacion. Given the demand for elite power hitters, Encarnacion’s potential contract would likely near the amount of Cabrera’s current one. Therefore, it would be wise for the Red Sox to chip in a prospect or two in order to strive for gold (Cabrera) instead of silver (Encarnacion).
Miguel Cabrera is one of only a handful of players that could successfully replace David Ortiz in the Red Sox lineup. The Red Sox’s league-leading offense would take a massive hit if they opt for complacency and proceed with the players they already have. They need a guaranteed offensive weapon who is capable of hitting 35+ home runs. Boston would obviously have to give up a ton, but how often does a team have the opportunity to trade for an otherwise untouchable player? If there is a team that has the resources to do it, it’s the Boston Red Sox.
Next: Red Sox Catcher of the Future?
The Red Sox are a team that is built to win now. Bringing Miguel Cabrera on board would upgrade them from championship contenders to championship favorites.