Inside The Red Sox

Ex-Red Sox Slugger 'Would Certainly Like To Come Back' To Boston

The outfielder hit 31 home runs with Boston in 2021

Scott Neville

Ex-Red Sox Slugger 'Would Certainly Like To Come Back' To Boston
Ex-Red Sox Slugger 'Would Certainly Like To Come Back' To Boston /
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Would the Boston Red Sox dip back into their alumni pool to find the right-handed hitting outfielder the team desperately needs?

There are a few options on the open market to fill the role but one slugger already proved to have a perfect swing for Fenway Park and is in search of a new home. That player seemingly would be interested in a reunion.

"I noticed that Hunter Renfroe's a free agent," MLB.com's Browne told Steve Perrault and Joey Copponi of the ITM Podcast on Wednesday. "(The Red Sox) need a right-handed bat. That could be someone that makes a little bit of sense. If you lose (Adam) Duvall, you lose (Justin) Turner, you are going to need another guy like that.

The fit would certainly be there, especially if Alex Verdugo is traded and right field becomes vacant. Renfroe could be a possible solution.

"I think that he would certainly like to come back here and he showed that he was a good fit for this place," Browne said.

Renfroe hit .259 with 64 extra-base hits including 31 home runs, 96 RBIs and a .816 OPS (114 OPS+) in 144 games for the Red Sox in 2021. 

The one-year wonder went on to play for a myriad of teams but maintained a similar level of production. His underlying metrics showed a regression from seasons past but he still posted a 91 OPS+ in 2023 despite having to be moved after the trade deadline due to the Los Angeles Angels dysfunction. 

Renfroe would be a low-risk, high-reward play for the Red Sox, which was the case a few years ago -- that worked out great. The 31-year-old likely is not atop the team's wishlist but would be a smart investment after the rotation is largely worked out.

More MLB: Red Sox Reportedly Targeting One Frontline Starter Above All Others

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Scott Neville
SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer.  His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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