Shane Victorino has one year remaining on his contract and will earn $13 million in 2015. With a logjam in Boston's outfield, will the Red Sox look to trade the veteran to make room for younger talent?
Earlier this offseason Victorino told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he should be the team's starting right fielder in 2015 despite playing in only 30 games last season because of a back injury that required season-ending surgery. He told Bradford, "If you think there's somebody better in right, be my guest ... If I'm healthy and there's a better outfielder in right field then show me and go out there and do it."
Well, the Red Sox might not think their young talent is better than Victorino just yet, but they may not be in any position to have them ride the bench. Mookie Betts is expected to serve as the team's leadoff hitter in 2015 and they just signed Rusney Castillo $72.5 million deal in August. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes, "If [Victorino] shows in spring training that he's physically capable of playing, trading him makes sense. The alternative is fitting three right-handed hitters into two slots and that's just not going to work."
As a member of the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox, the 34-year-old Victorino slashed .294/.351/.451 with 82 runs scored, 15 home runs, 61 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 122 games. There's a good chance he'll be in high demand if he comes back healthy from the surgery and shows he's capable of returning to form in spring training. Boston has been in this tough situation for a while now, having already traded Yoenis Cespedes to the Detroit Tigers and fielding calls on Allen Craig.
Betts and Castillo are seemingly the top options to start in the outfield. Betts, 22, showed great success in 52 games with the Red Sox last year after slashing .291/.368/.444 with 34 runs scored, five home runs, 18 RBIs and seven stolen bases. The 27-year-old Castillo played in only 10 games, but managed to compile six runs scored, two home runs, six RBIs and three stolen bases while going 12-for-36. The Cuban defector spent some time in the minor leagues before reaching the MLB.
The team's depth chart lists Hanley Ramirez in left, Castillo in center and Victorino in right field, but that could soon change. It's no secret the Red Sox are moving in a different direction with their roster, and trading Victorino would further indicate that notion.
