Three Potential Red Sox Reunions To Bolster Roster Before Spring Training

Boston could bring a few players back where they belong

Scott Neville | Jan 29, 2023

Three Potential Red Sox Reunions To Bolster Roster Before Spring Training /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox still have a few moves to make as they load up for a potential postseason run in 2023.

One option for Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom would be to build the future by looking at the organization's past.

With just under $10 million to spend before approaching the luxury tax, here are three former players it would make sense for Boston to reunite with.

Michael Wacha -- 3.3 bWAR in 2022
Wacha arguably is the top free agent on the market and should not be available this late into the offseason. He's reportedly seeking a two-year deal, which would work out in Boston's favor.

The Red Sox do not have much money to play with seeing as they plan to stay under the luxury tax. However, they can get around the issue by offering a lucrative but backloaded contract.

The 31-year-old's lone season in Boston was highly successful. He posted an 11-2 record with a 3.32 ERA, 104-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .233 batting average against in 127 1/3 innings across 23 starts.

Wacha pitched like a frontline starter last season. Barring an unexpected trade, he is the only impact pitcher still available.

José Iglesias -- 1.2 bWAR in 2022
Could the veteran middle infielder return to Boston for a third stint?

It would make a lot of sense for both sides and his last 23-game stretch in a Red Sox uniform was immensely successful -- he hit .356 with a .915 OPS in 2021.

The 33-year-old has been reduced to a league-average defender and is the definition of a slap hitter -- ranking in the first percentile of average exit velocity -- but could still provide plenty of value.

Iglesias hit .292 with 33 extra-base hits including three home runs, 47 RBIs and a .708 OPS in 118 games with the Colorado Rockies last season.

Kiké Hernández is expected to log the majority of the workload at shortstop, but there would be plenty of at-bats for Iglesias between shortstop and second base -- currently manned by the oft-injured Christian Arroyo.

Elvis Andrus and Josh Harrison have received more attention as potential middle infield fits for Boston, but Iglesias should not be overlooked.

David Price -- 0.7 bWAR in 2022
The 37-year-old had a tumultuous four-year stint in Boston but could provide plenty of value in a potential second go-around.

The Red Sox are in desperate need of a left-handed bullpen piece -- especially after the recent trade of Josh Taylor. It was reported that the Red Sox have checked in on Matt Moore -- who would be the top option available. Andrew Chafin would be a more enticing addition as well.

If Boston fails to sign those two hurlers, it might be time to lure Price back into a Red Sox uniform.

In Price's first full season as a reliever, he shined. The veteran posted a 2-0 record with a 2.45 ERA, 37-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .242 batting average against and 1.17 WHIP in 40 1/3 innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers a year ago.

From an on-field and clubhouse perspective, he'd be a welcome addition. The fans and media might have a different opinion, but Price still has plenty of juice left in the tank.

More MLB: Three Potential Red Sox Reunions To Bolster Roster Before Spring Training

Published Jan 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