The 2017 MLB off-season is filled with superstar sluggers, and the Red Sox need to be in on at least one of them if they plan on being contenders in 2018. Let me repeat that.
The Red Sox NEED to be in on one of these guys. Giancarlo Stanton (ahem, NL MVP) is available via trade from the Marlins. J.D Martinez is available to sign in free agency, as well as Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Carlos Santana, and Logan Morrison. I'm not a huge fan of Moustakas, mainly because of the reason that Rafael divers proved he belongs on the big league diamond, and he will be the starting third baseman more than likely heading into Opening Day. I'm also not very high on Logan Morrison, just because I believe he's on the down side of his career and the Red Sox ownership has said that they expect sam Travis to fill the void at first base if they can't sign Hosmer or Santana. I think that the most logical thing for the Sox to do is make an all out effort to sign Martinez, which would mean moving Benintendi to RF and Betts back to CF. Trade Jackie Bradley and a few prospects for Jose Abreu. That not only would solve the Red Sox problems at first base, but it gives them a power bat that also can play the field. It would also form a very formidable heart of the order at 3, 4, and 5 with Abreu, Martinez, and Ramirez. A trade for Stanton is very, very unlikely, as the Marlins asking price is basically everything plus the Green Monster. The teams that are still potentially in on Stanton are the Dodgers, who are Stanton's top wish-list team, the Cardinals, and the Giants who recently were added into the mix. Martinez is a much more realistic option, and also a better one. It won't clear out the farm system, it will leave a bunch of the core players to build around (Bogaerts, Betts, Benintendi, Pedroia) and you also won't have to eat $250 million off his monster of a contract, so Boston will still be left with flexibility for signing other free agents and potentially swinging a trade. Another reason Boston should want to sign Martinez is because without Pedroia in the lineup, they'll be missing his production from the top of the lineup, getting on base and also his scrappy, gold glove defense that saves runs. No matter what direction the Sox decide to go, they have to include a power bat in their plans if they want to be a powerhouse in 2018.
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