The Boston Red Sox finished last in the AL East division in 2022.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for fans: even the Baltimore Orioles finished higher in the standings.
The franchise has several things to attend to this offseason.
The top priority is re-signing star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, the best player on the team besides third baseman Rafael Devers (whose contract expires after the 2023 campaign).
The Red Sox also have a mediocre bullpen and a hole at first base, where Triston Casas and Bobby Dalbec have failed to establish themselves.
The former is still a promising piece and could be given a chance to shine at first or as the designated hitter next season, but the team still wanted to bring in a first baseman.
They set their sights on former Chicago White Sox star Jose Abreu, who signed a three-year deal with the Houston Astros on Monday.
Boston Really Wanted To Sign Abreu
MLB insider Jon Heyman said that Abreu was actually Boston’s number one priority from outside the organization, so they were in on him.
“I wouldn’t infer anything negative from this other than it’s more difficult to lure good free agents off a last-place finish 1. Red Sox showed good taste 2. Tough to beat a very solid offer from WS champion,” Heyman tweeted, discussing the situation.
I wouldn’t infer anything negative from this other than it’s more difficult to lure good free agents off a last-place finish 1. Red Sox showed good taste 2. Tough to beat a very solid offer from WS champion https://t.co/iNCWikPjoV
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 30, 2022
The Astros offered Abreu, a 35-year-old whose best years are behind him, $60 million over three years: that’s a tough contract to top, even though he has a good chance of performing well for the entire deal.
It’s understandable that the slugger opted to join a more concrete chance of winning a World Series with Houston, rather than a last-place team.
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