Boston Red Sox reportedly meeting with agents for 1B Carlos Santana
The Boston Red Sox are looking for some added pop in their lineup this offseason, and free agent Carlos Santana could be part of the solution.
Mitch Moreland was a solid first baseman in his one season with the Boston Red Sox, but as the team needs some more power in their lineup, they’re exploring all options. At the GM meetings that began on Monday, it has been rumored that Boston will meet with the agents for free agent slugger Carlos Santana.
It’s become clear that Santana is going to decline his $17.4 million one-year option with the Cleveland Indians and he’ll become a free agent. The Red Sox look like they’ll move on from Mitch Moreland, as they are also in the rumor mill surrounding Eric Hosmer. Boston will likely have a new power hitter at first base when the 2018 season begins.
Santana has 8 major league seasons under his belt, all in Cleveland. In 1,116 games he has 174 home runs and 587 RBI. On average, he hits 25 homers per season with 85 RBI. Those are the types of numbers Boston is looking for. Moreland was solid in 2017 with 22 long balls and 79 RBI, but I don’t think the Red Sox expect those numbers to stick. Oddly enough, both Santana and Moreland are 31-years old, but Santana has just a little bit more pop.
The slugger is no slouch at first base though, either. Santana didn’t win a 2017 Gold Glove for his defensive performance, but on Friday he won the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for first basemen. He made just 5 errors in 1,155 total chances in 140 games for the Indians. He led all American League first basemen with 95 assists, and he was second in double plays at 129. The Boston Red Sox could use that kind of consistency at first base for a few years as they aim to continue Sam Travis’ development in the minor leagues.
Next: Trade destinations for Jackie Bradley Jr.
The Red Sox are reportedly in on slugger’s J.D. Martinez and Giancarlo Stanton as well, so it will be interesting to see who ends up in Boston. For now, it seems like Dave Dombrowski is exploring all of his options before pulling the trigger on one or two huge moves. Imagine Santana and Martinez both being added, or Hosmer and Stanton. Any combination of those players would have to make the Boston Red Sox the early favorites to win the 2018 World Series.