Tomase: Non-tender candidates for Red Sox to consider
Baseball's offseason has been quiet so far -- but Wednesday night's non-tender deadline could break the logjam of inactivity. John Tomase has one player at each position that the Red Sox could consider adding.
If the Red Sox want to undertake a 2013-style rapid rebuild that leaves the farm system intact and the payroll manageable, they can start Wednesday night at 8.
MLB's non-tender deadline is expected to unleash a flood of talent onto the market, with even the fate of a superstar like former National League MVP Kris Bryant uncertain. It's possible -- though unlikely -- that the Cubs simply set him free rather than pay him over $18 million in 2021.
Any arbitration-eligible or pre-arbitration player must be tendered a contract by Wednesday's deadline, which means there could be so much talent available that the Red Sox could rebuild their entire roster. So let's undertake that hypothetical exercise, with help from the projected non-tender list at MLB Trade Rumors.
The original Baby Bomber took New York by storm in 2016, when he slammed 20 homers in 53 games to finish second in the Rookie of the Year voting. He has made two All-Star teams since, but is primarily trending in the wrong direction as a below-average defender with an all-or-nothing approach in the extreme at the plate.
Last season marked the second time in three years he has failed to bat .200, but he turns 28 on Wednesday and his 30-homer power is real.
The left-handed slugger boasts more experience than right-handed incumbent Bobby Dalbec, and there's a Chaim Bloom connection from their days in Tampa.
Choi may not be much more than league average at first base, but the Red Sox didn't finish with baseball's fourth-worst record because they're oozing with talent.
Let's just keep this in the division, apparently. The Red Sox have a huge hole at second base, and Alberto is a plus defender who was once named the best defensive shortstop in the minor leagues, though his glove slipped this year. He puts the bat to the ball (.305 average in 2019), but without much authority.
Why not dream big? There has been a remarkable amount of chatter out of Chicago that the Cubs might actually set free the former MVP, which would be quite an opening statement from new baseball president Jed Hoyer.
It would also serve as poetic justice, since the Cubs manipulated his service time to deny him free agency this year by one day. In Boston, Bryant could conceivably play left field, as we recently noted.
Thank God for Xander Bogaerts, because the Red Sox don't want to be seeking a replacement from a group that include Milwaukee's Orlando Arcia and Pittsburgh's Erik Gonzalez. Goodrum is a passable defender at short who has played every position except pitcher and catcher.
Now we're talking. The 29-year-old is only two seasons removed from career highs in homers (32) and RBIs (109). He has received down-ballot MVP votes in each of the last two years.
In normal times he'd be an easy tender, but the small-market Twins might not want to pay him a salary that could reach $10 million in arbitration.
So it's possible that re-signing Jackie Bradley Jr. might be the best course of action after all. Unless the Red Sox feel like spending through the nose for Astros All-Star George Springer, Bradley probably makes more sense than any of the potential center fielders that could become available.
Almora gets the nod here basically on pedigree, since he was the sixth pick in the 2012 draft, because his production has been minimal.
After a fast start to his career that included a third-place finish in the 2016 Rookie of the Year race and four World Series starts that year vs. the Cubs, Naquin has regressed while battling injuries. He hit just .218 in 2020, but he has always hit the ball hard, and if he could just learn to add loft to his swing, perhaps he could unlock more power.
The third overall pick in the 2013 draft has shown flashes during his six-year career, including 2017, when he won 10 games and posted a 3.67 ERA in Colorado's thin air. A shoulder injury limited his effectiveness this season (2-4, 6.69), but if the Red Sox believe he's healthy, he'd represent a clear upgrade in their uncertain rotation.
OK, this is a little bit of a cheat, since the Indians didn't non-tender Hand but simply waived him rather than pay a $10 million option.
But he's part of the same player pool and coming off a dominating season that saw the 30-year-old three-time All-Star lead the American League in saves (16) while posting a 2.05 ERA and striking out 29 in 22 innings. The left-hander is battle-tested and could step right in and close.
