Boston Red Sox Rumors: It’s J.D. Martinez or stand pat for Sox

With the re-signing of Mitch Moreland, the Boston Red Sox are moving on from Eric Hosmer which leaves J.D. Martinez as their No. 1 option.

The Boston Red Sox need a power bat in the lineup and the most intriguing option, J.D. Martinez, remains available in free agency.

After watching their AL East rivals, the New York Yankees, land Giancarlo Stanton and re-signing first baseman Mitch Moreland to a two-year deal, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski appears to be throwing all his cards towards Martinez.

While the free agent slugger isn’t the sexiest choice, he is the best option for a team desperate for some power in the middle of their lineup. The only other choice Dombrowki has other than a blockbuster deal, is to stand pat. Unfortunately, that appears a very realistic option.

Dave Dombrowski says he feels like he could add an impact bat without trading someone away. He also said he feels comfortable with lineup as it is right now but continues to seek a bat.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) December 18, 2017

That’s the last thing Red Sox fans want to hear coming off back-to-back early exits from the playoffs. But Dombrowski could rely on young bats like Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers developing into those big bats. There is also hope that a young manager like Alex Cora could relate to a player like Xander Bogaerts and inspire his career to trend back upwards.

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The Red Sox have also rehired hitting coach Tim Hyers who spent three seasons working with players like Bogaerts, Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Christian Vazquez. The hope there would be that Hyers could help those players with their swing and plate approach.

What else could help those young bats is a consistent veteran like Martinez. Again, not the most desirable choice, but his 45 homers last season would look rather nice in the middle of the Boston Red Sox lineup.

The only question is whether he can continue to put up those type of numbers, provide some of the leadership the team is looking for and be worth the kind of money the Red Sox would have to shell out for him.

After the failed experiments that were Pablo Sandoval and Rusney Castillo, Dave Dombrowski has to make sure he is getting good value. If he isn’t sure, the best hope just may have to be reliance on a young core of players who may or may not turn the corner in 2018.

So long Hanley?

With the Red Sox as a favorite to land J.D. Martinez, the future of Hanley Ramirez with the team comes in to question. To make room for Martinez, they would have to either trade a player like Jackie Bradley Jr, or Ramirez. According to Evan Drellich, rumors are certainly swirling on a transaction involving Ramirez.

There have been rumblings that the Red Sox want to trade Hanley Ramirez, would eat some 2018 money, but can’t find a suitor. That plate appearance clause that kicks in for 2019 makes it very tough. https://t.co/xFj5NY2ghY
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) December 18, 2017

Approaching 34 years old, Ramirez is owed $22 million this upcoming season. His lack of consistent production, along with his contract makes him a viable option to trade. The problem is, it won’t be easy.

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In order to get rid of Hanley Ramirez’s contract, the team will likely have to still trade a prospect or two to get a team to bite on him. The Red Sox could always eat the money and release Ramirez, but the addition of J.D. Martinez would have to be worth making a bigger dent in their pockets without much to show for it.

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