Boston Red Sox Rumors: 3 outfield free agent targets this offseason

Boston Red Sox free agent target No. 3: Chris Taylor

If the Red Sox really want to add to their positional versatility for next season, then Chris Taylor would be their guy. Similar to his former Los Angeles Dodgers teammate in Hernandez, Taylor has developed himself into a jack-of-all-trades, and he can play pretty much anywhere on the field. It’s easier to tell you which positions he can’t play, which are first base and catcher, than the ones that he can play.

Not only does Taylor play pretty much everywhere on the field, but he also swings a pretty decent bat. Taylor broke out in 2017 when he hit .288 with 21 homers and 72 runs batted in, but he hasn’t really been able to hit those heights ever since. He had his first 20 homer season in 2021 since his breakout campaign with Los Angeles a few years back, and hit a decent .254 for the season.

Taylor also has a penchant for playing at his best when the lights are the brightest. He was the co-MVP of the 2017 NLCS, and his three homer game in Game 5 of this year’s NLCS single-handedly kept the Dodgers season alive. Taylor’s postseason heroics would make him a good fit for a team that now has World Series expectations.

Adding Taylor would give Boston a lot of options heading into the 2022 season. They could keep Hernandez is center field and opt to put Taylor at second base, or vice versa. Taylor is 31 and will probably look for a multi year deal, and if the price falls below the $15 million range, the Sox should be all in on him.

Taylor is another versatile hitter that would be a perfect fit in Boston’s lineup. Fresh off his first ever All Star berth, Taylor appears to be right in the middle of his peak years, and the Sox would be wise to look into adding him to their squad. It worked out pretty well with Hernandez in his first season in Boston, so why not take a chance with Taylor?