The Boston Red Sox have a ton of outfielders and a dearth of talented starting pitching. However, it's still possible they chase one of the best outfielders in free agency this offseason, according to the latest rumors.
Alex Gordon is currently in the midst of a World Series run with the Kansas City Royals, but he's likely to become a free agent after this season. The Gold Glove outfielder has a $12.5 million player option for 2016 and it's widely believed he's going to decline it and test the open market because he's more than likely to receive a lucrative long-term deal.
The Red Sox could be one of the teams in line to speak with him once that happens.
"Though he will turn 32 in February, he should receive a four-year deal, perhaps even five years. Clubs such as the Astros and Cubs are mentioned in what should be a deep field. However, a few executives cited one team that has surprised me - the Red Sox," writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
"After all, Boston probably has too many outfielders for too few spots. But executives tell me that Red Sox officials have always liked Gordon and so has new Boston president Dave Dombrowski from his time in the AL Central as the Tigers' GM."
Rob Bradford of WEEI.com believes "all of this could be true."
Why would they make such a move if they have a surplus of outfielders and a lack of starting pitching? Well, that's where their action on the trade market comes in. If Boston deems the starting pitching too expensive in free agency, they could use their excess outfielders and plentiful prospects to make a deal for a top starter without paying in the $150 million-$200 million range for a pitcher such as David Price.
"Those executives who expressed Boston could play for Gordon offered a scenario in which the Red Sox find their starter on the trade market and use outfielders to get it," Sherman adds. "One scenario presented was that if Boston officials think Jackie Bradley Jr.'s strong finish inflated his value beyond his actual skill, this may be the best time to maximize dealing a young, defensive-star outfielder."
Bradley's defense has never been a question - it's his offense that posed the biggest issue. The 25-year-old had a sub-.200 average in his first 164 games in Boston, but he broke out in 2015 and batted .249/.335/.498 with 43 runs scored, 10 home runs and 43 RBI in 74 games.
Red Sox officials could be right that his strong finish inflated his value because Bradley played a majority of his games in August and September, which was when Boston was atop their game and firing on all cylinders offensively. Bradley certainly benefitted from the newfound continuity of the offense and may have outplayed his potential.
Nonetheless, he's still a young talent and a work-in-progress, so his breakout in 2015 could very well have been real since he only has 238 MLB games under his belt. But if Red Sox officials feel it was an overachievement, it wouldn't be a surprise if they packaged him in a deal with a prospect or two to acquire a frontline starter, as there have been rumors about Boston asking the New York Mets about Matt Harvey.
If the Sox deal Bradley this offseason and sign Gordon, they'll have Brock Holt and Allen Craig as formidable depth options. And don't forget about prospects Manuel Margot and Andrew Benintendi, who are more than likely in the team's long-term plans.
However, it'd also be a good idea if they kept Bradley and rolled with him, Mookie Betts and Rusney Castillo to preserve a young, club-controlled outfield for years to come.
We'll see what Dombrowski's plan is once the offseason begins.
