Boston Red Sox: Three offseason free agent targets
By Nick Stevens
The Boston Red Sox enter the offseason with multiple needs on their roster. Here are three free agents they should target this winter.
The 2020 season was one to forget for the Boston Red Sox. The holes in this lineup are obvious, there are clearly multiple needs in the rotation and in the bullpen, and a last-place finish in the AL East (behind the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles) was quite a fall after finishing with a winning record in each of the last four seasons, including a 2018 World Series title.
But let’s focus on the good news when it comes to the Boston Red Sox. The offseason is here, 2020 is in the rearview mirror, and it’s time to focus on 2021.
Don’t expect a magical turnaround for the Red Sox next season, but the Sox should be an improved team. With the MLB playoffs destined to include 28 teams at this point, maybe the Red Sox make a playoff run!
In all seriousness, the Red Sox will be better in 2021. Alex Verdugo is no Mookie Betts, but he had a solid first season in Boston. J.D. Martinez will be back and you have to take the over when betting on Martinez improving on his -1.0 fWAR 2020 season.
Chris Sale won’t be pitching on Opening Day, but he should be ready to return from Tommy John surgery sometime in the first half of the season, and recent reports have been positive about the health of Eduardo Rodriguez who missed 2020 due to heart complications from COVID-19.
There are bright spots, but plenty of holes. Here are three free agents the Boston Red Sox should target this offseason to ensure next season is an improved product.