The Red Sox are regarded as to be the Favorites to Sign an All-Star Slugger
The Boston Red Sox need to add another right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup.
Two-time All-Star Justin Turner occupied the Red Sox’s designated hitter position last season but likely will be playing elsewhere when the 2024 season rolls around. There are some very intriguing options out there in free agency and Boston has been linked to pretty much everyone in some way.
Since missing out on All-Star Teoscar Hernández, Boston has been linked multiple times to fellow All-Star Jorge Soler. It’s unclear if the Red Sox will land him, but they are seen as the frontrunner for his services right now, according to Major League Baseball insider Héctor Gómez.
“Source: Jorge Soler is seeking a multi-year contract of at least 3 guaranteed years,” Gómez said. “The (Boston Red Sox) continues being the frontrunner. The Mets are showing heavy interest in him, joining Red, (Toronto Blue Jays), (Arizona Diamondbacks), and (Seattle Mariners) in the Soler sweepstakes.”
Boston needs a new right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup and Soler is eight years younger than Turner and is coming off a career year. The righty clubbed 36 home runs last season and drove in 75 runs for the Miami Marlins while earning his first career All-Star nod.
While this report doesn’t necessarily mean a move is coming because there is a lot of competition, it is a positive sign that the Red Sox continue to be linked to Soler.
Landing Soler would be a great place to start for Boston. The Red Sox have a lot of work to do and are starting to run out of options. If Boston wants to land someone like Soler, it’s going to need to act quickly.
Further Reading:
American League East Rival Showing Interest In Red Sox Free Agent
Could the Boston Red Sox lose out on a rumored reunion candidate to an American League East rival?
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been fairly inactive in the starting pitcher market — swapping out Lucas Giolito for Chris Sale — and still needs at least one more arm in the rotation.
Unless he is able to shock the ailing fanbase and land Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell, Breslow would be looking for value plays.
If Boston does not act fast for one of the best fits remaining, it could have to face the southpaw multiple times next season.
“The (Baltimore) Orioles have considered every starter from Marcus Stroman on down (they couldn’t seriously consider Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery ‘unless the market collapsed.’) Baltimore also has been eying James Paxton,” The New York Post’s Jon Heyman wrote Thursday.
Paxton posted a 4.50 ERA (101 ERA+) with a 101-to-33 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .250 batting average against and 1.31 WHIP in 96 innings across 19 starts last season for the Red Sox.
The 35-year-old became an anchor for Boston down the stretch in what became a successful comeback attempt from injury. The Red Sox reportedly had been in constant contact with Paxton around Christmas before they seemingly started to create separation.
It’s probable that Breslow has interest in bringing the veteran back but would first like to see if he can acquire a more impactful addition. Time might be running out on both fronts, as the star power is dwindling and Paxton is getting other calls.
The Orioles have a bevy of young position players ready to do damage — their only real weakness is their pitching staff. Paxton would be a notable addition for them as a league-average starter paired with a great core can win a lot of games.
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