Boston Red Sox Rumors: Logan Morrison a slugger of interest
The Boston Red Sox apparently have a backup plan if they can’t reach a deal with slugger J.D. Martinez and his name is Logan Morrison.
While frustration mounts between the Boston Red Sox and free agent power hitter J.D. Martinez, the team has reportedly set their attention on a backup plan.
According to Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston, the Red Sox have reached out to free agent first baseman Logan Morrison who is coming off a career year with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Red Sox and Logan Morrison's camp have been in touch recently. Sox still want Martinez, but there is groundwork for alternatives
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 9, 2018
The 29-year-old first baseman is not as high valued as Martinez, but would be a serviceable power hitter in a Red Sox lineup starving for home run power. In 2017, Morrison lit it up for the Rays.
The left-handed slugger launched a career-high 38 home runs with a .868 OPS. While he not the right-handed power hitter the team is in search of, he would at least give them an upgrade from what they currently have.
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Of course, there would be a risk in taking a chance with a player like Logan Morrison. While he did have a career year, his resume is not consistent offensively. Prior to 2017, his highest home run total was 23 back in 2011. On the flip side, with the way he found his power stroke playing half his games in a park like Tropicana Field, he could find even more success at Fenway Park.
Still hope for J.D. Martinez
The Boston Red Sox interest in Logan Morrison has more to do with J.D. Martinez. With a five-year, $125 million offer on the table, the prize free agent is reportedly ready to explore options with other teams if the Red Sox don’t up their price.
However, with reports by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that Martinez is highly frustrated with Boston, his agent Scott Boras had dispelled any reports of his client’s dismay with any team.
"“J.D. is involved in multiple negotiations and is pleased with the participants and the good faith process,” Boras said, via Michael Silverman of The Boston Herald. Suggestions otherwise are not accurate.”"
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What this means, is the battle between Martinez and the Red Sox may not end anytime soon unless Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowksi calls Martinez’s bluff and offers Morrison or another slugger a deal.