Multiple outlets reported on Tuesday afternoon that the Boston Red Sox reached an agreement to sign Enrique Hernández to a one-year, $10 million contract extension.
That deal will keep him in Boston for the 2023 season.
The versatile Hernandez was in the second season of a two-year, $14 million deal, and is now under contract for 2023, as well.
Some might find the timing of the extension a bit odd, considering that Hernandez hasn’t been healthy for the most part in 2022 (he has missed over two months with a hip flexor injury).
However, there is some logic to it.
According to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, “Hernández had the chance to be one of the top position players on this year’s free agent market if he turned in a good 2022. Injuries took that chance away. A savvy, high upside deal by the Red Sox here. This starts a long, long off-season checklist.”
Hernández had the chance to be one of the top position players on this year's free agent market if he turned in a good 2022. Injuries took that chance away.
A savvy, high upside deal by the Red Sox here. This starts a long, long off-season checklist. https://t.co/g17SS4rLZh
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 6, 2022
Injuries Didn’t Help Matters But Hernandez Is Still A Big Part Of The Red Sox’s 2023 Plan
Evidently, injuries affected Hernandez’s 2022 season, although he is already back in action.
He showed what he could do in 2021, though, hitting 20 home runs with a .786 OPS and the positional versatility to play several infield and outfield positions.
He was also phenomenal for the Red Sox in the 2021 postseason.
The team hopes that he can be healthy and better in 2023, as they look to return to contention.
Ideally, Hernandez would be best suited as a super-utility guy, but that will depend on what the Red Sox can do over the offseason.
For now, all we know is that he is still a big part of the 2023 roster, and that the Red Sox are already starting to care care of the 2022-23 offseason.
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