The Never Weres

Since taking over as Chief Baseball Officer in 2019, Chiam Bloom has focused on signing versatile, multi-positional players. In his time Bloom has acquired Kiké Hernandez, Marwin Gonzalez, Danny Santana, and Franchy Cordero, all players that can play multiple positions. But, other than Hernandez, these signings haven’t worked out. As the season comes to an end and the Red Sox back their way into a possible Wild Card game, getting production out of more than four spots in their lineup (five depending on how you view Kiké) should be a goal for Bloom this offseason.

There is a free agent that the Red Sox should be eyeing who is versatile and continues to produce at a high level. He is a former MVP and World Series champion with steely blue eyes that will melt the hearts of everyone wearing a pink hat in the stadium, Kris Bryant. As of today, Bryant has played 6 different positions this season: First Base (12 games), Third Base (54), Shortstop (1), Left Field (45) Center Field (18), and Right Field (38). Now that is the versatility that the Red Sox are looking for. Bryant is slashing .267/.353/.490 with 25 HRs, a 125 wRC+, and a 3.6 fWAR. 

Bryant, who will turn 31 before the start of next season, has never signed a multi-year contract. His service time was manipulated by the Cubs and he was traded to the Giants this summer before he could reach an extension with Chicago. Bryant is being paid $19 million this season. He may be looking for far more than the Red Sox are willing to pay but he may be worth breaking the bank for. For this to happen one big domino has to fall.

J.D. Martinez has one year left on his contract with Boston. It is valued at just over $19 million. He has a player option for 2022. This is probably the biggest speed bump in pursuing Bryant. But, if Martinez opts out, it could open the door for Bryant. Martinez underperformed in 2020, but he had a bounce-back year in 2021. Although their offensive production is similar the defensive options Bryant gives the Red Sox are significantly greater. I know it sounds crazy to move on from Martinez, especially after NESN was touting him as the greatest free-agent signing two months into his Red Sox career. (This happened, go watch a game from the spring of 2018 Dave O’Brien said it over and over.) Although, we know the real answer to that question is Randy Johnson, whose initial contract with the Diamondbacks from 1999-2002 produced 4 Cy Young Award wins and a World Series title in a series he won Co-MVP. Anyway, break-ups hurt and Martinez was everything the 2018 team needed.

This table shows eight different players whose salaries could come off the books after this season. IF all those players come off the books that will open up $63.7 million for next season. Kyle Schwarber has a mutual option with the team for $11 million next season which is not accounted for right now. Nathan Eovaldi and Kiké Hernandez come off the books in 2022 which adds to the ability to offer the multi-year deal that Bryant will be looking for. Even if this all works out this way there is another looming contract that could derail all this.

Rafael Devers needs to get paid and get paid immediately. The Red Sox can go through the motions and continue to agree on arbitration with Devers for two more years. But we saw what good that did with Mookie Betts. Signing Devers and Bryant may be a tall task for one offseason, especially when the pitching staff is in shambles. With Sale, Eovaldi and Tanner Houck set to be the top three pitchers in 2022 the rotation seems stable at the top. A few bullpen additions are needed and could probably be done cheaply. Adding Bryant to the lineup as well as possibly Triston Casas, the Red Sox could be closer to serious contention than it seems now.

(Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)