Multiple Reports Link Red Sox To Premier Slugger, Deal Could Be Imminent

Boston needs to make a splash this winter

Scott Neville | Dec 29, 2023

Multiple Reports Link Red Sox To Premier Slugger, Deal Could Be Imminent /

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All eyes have been on Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow as media and fans alike await his first big splash.

The former reliever has been adamant regarding his quest to bolster the rotation with multiple starting pitchers, but could his first notable free-agent signing be a position player?

The Red Sox have been heavily linked to outfielder Teoscar Hernández and it appears that he is close to wrapping up the sweepstakes.

"On the positional side, Boston also is continuing its pursuit of free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández, as has been widely reported," MassLive's Chris Cotillo wrote Thursday.

"That interest is real and the Red Sox view him as an outfield option, not a designated hitter. As of earlier this week, the Red Sox and (Los Angeles) Angels were the two most aggressive teams in on Hernández, who is hoping for a four-year contract, according to a source.

"It’s unclear if Boston has made an offer yet but Hernández wants to wrap up his free agent process as soon as possible, as long as the offers are in an acceptable range."

Hernández hit .258 with 57 extra-base hits including 26 home runs, 93 RBIs and a .741 OPS in 160 games for the Seattle Mariners in what was his worst offensive season since his rookie year.

He has a career 118 OPS+ alongside an All-Star appearance and two American League Silver Slugger Awards.

Whether the Red Sox win the bidding war or not, it appears that Hernández will sign ahead of some of the premier pitchers on the market.

Boston seems to have the inside track, though it's possible that the Angels decide to go all-in on the 31-year-old in the wake of Shohei Ohtani's departure.

Breslow has clearly identified Hernández as his top position player on the market and does not seem to have interest in reuniting with Justin Turner or J.D. Martinez, which bodes well for their confidence in getting a deal done with Hernández.

The Red Sox also reportedly have this impending deal as the first step in a multi-layered plan. They need to obtain Hernández in order to deal one of their younger outfielders -- Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu or Ceddanne Rafaela -- to acquire starting pitching or a second baseman.

Hernández already has followed the official Spanish Red Sox account on X as well as some local fan accounts.

There is a lot to read into that would indicate the premier slugger will be wearing a Red Sox uniform next season -- though it's far from a done deal.

More MLB: Red Sox Have Done 'Significant Homework' On Free-Agent Starting Pitcher

Published Dec 29, 2023

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