Boston Red Sox: Some Franchy Cordero hype to grasp on to

Well, the Boston Red Sox went and did it.

After months of rumors and speculation, the Red Sox traded Andrew Benintendi for a 26-year-old power-hitting outfielder named Franchy Cordero, minor-league pitcher Josh Winchowski and a player to be named later.

While Benintendi was no Mookie Betts, this trade doesn’t sit well with many Red Sox fans because the team basically traded one struggling outfielder for another. Both have the talent to be something special, so not why keep the talent you already know?

As mentioned, when the Benintendi trade rumors first started to surface, sometimes a change of scenery is good for a player. Perhaps now the former Red Sox first-round pick will morph back into the player he was during his rookie season when he was projected to be one of Major League Baseball’s next rising stars.

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If he does, that would just be another mark on Chaim Bloom’s short resume as Boston’s front-office wheeler and dealer.

There is some hype surrounding new Boston Red Sox outfielder Franchy Cordero

But, like that other blockbuster deal that sent Betts to the Dodgers for Alex Verdugo, what Chaim and the Red Sox are banking on is what they got in return. In Cordero, Boston is getting a player with power who could turn out to be what Rusney Castillo was envisioned to be.

Then again, he could just be another Castillo, but let’s hope not.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore, who traded for the power-hitting outfielder last July, was a big fan of the potential of Cordero.

Appearing on the Live BP Baseball Show with Rob Bradford and Steve Perrault over the weekend, Moore gave Red Sox fans something to grasp onto when it comes to the team’s new outfield hope.

"“Stay healthy,” Moore said when asked about the potential of Franchy Cordero, as transcribed by WEEI. “This guy stays healthy, he’s going to do really really well. He’ll do some things on the field that are going to wow you. He’s going to need some time because he hasn’t had a chance to play a ton over the last couple of years. If he stays healthy and gets a chance to play every day he’s going to do really really well. I suspect everybody is going to be really, really happy he’s a part of the Boston Red Sox.”"

In playing just 25 games over the last two seasons, patience is going to be the keyword when it comes to Cordero.

At 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, the potential Red Sox center fielder does have the talent to be something special, but Boston is going to need to see more of what Cordero showed in 2018 with the San Diego Padres for him to get a chance to be an everyday outfielder.

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During that 2018 season, Cordero smacked 7 homers and drove in 19 runs in 40 games. He also swiped five bases which showcases a small sample size of power and speed.

Perhaps he is a player Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora could get the most out of, but for now he’s just another player who may or may not work out. This trend that is already starting to grow tiresome unless of course these players actually do work out.

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