On Tuesday, the Boston Red Sox made another signing to fortify their lineup.
They agreed to terms with 34-year-old outfielder Adam Duvall, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, on a one-year contract worth $7 million.
There are $3 million to be made through playing-time incentives, in addition to the base salary.
Duvall is a low-contact, high-power bat with a very broad potential range of outcomes.
He could be hit 38 homers in a season like he did in 2021, or fail to come close to league-average production like it happened in 2022.
The Red Sox, therefore, are taking a chance on him: he is more of a high-risk, high-reward player rather than a solution for their offensive woes.
“Adam Duvall becomes another in the group from which Red Sox Manager Alex Cora will choose to reconstruct the middle of his lineup around Rafael Devers. Justin Turner, Triston Casas, Alex Verdugo some of the others,” MLB analyst Buster Olney tweeted.
Adam Duvall becomes another in the group from which Red Sox Manager Alex Cora will choose to reconstruct the middle of his lineup around Rafael Devers. Justin Turner, Triston Casas, Alex Verdugo some of the others.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 18, 2023
He was limited to 86 games and 315 plate appearances last season, and hit 12 home runs.
However, he also struck out 32.1 percent of the time and hit an underwhelming .213/.276/.401 with an 87 wRC+ (100 is the league average performance, and anything below that is not desirable).
In 2021, he helped the Braves win the World Series after coming over via trade.
In that season, he hit 38 dingers and drove in 113 runs.
That’s a best-case scenario with Duvall, which as you can see is pretty good.
But the floor is low, too.
If anything, the Red Sox are adding more power to a lineup in need of it.
Will Duvall secure at least semi-regular playing time with his new team?
NEXT: Red Sox Analyst Expresses Excitement Over Team's Latest Move
WAYNE MACNEIL says
It really isn’t fair to write an article like this without explaining that Duval’s low production in 2022 was because of injury to his left wrist which has been surgically repaired. The risk of playing as in 2022 is not as great as the writer makes it out to be. Rather Duval has a pretty good chance of having a comeback year in 2023.