November 12th, 2014
by Dakota Antelman
As we roll into the meat of the MLB offseason, the stove is turned up on high heat. Teams begin to toss around offers and “baseball insiders” start churning out roomers relentlessly. Unlike that of any other major sport, the baseball’s offseason becomes like a poker game with professionals, amateurs and even common fans trying to guess who will sign where and who will draw up which contracts.
But amidst the tidal wave of roomers and reports there are always a few stories that stand out. In Boston at least it seems that we already have our stories.
Since the beginning of September the MLB has been abuzz with talk of Giants first basemen Pablo Sandoval leaving San Francisco. Sandoval has rolled out quite a few good seasons with the Giants and is one of only a handful of first basemen in the league with a swing as powerful as his. The Red Sox, like the rest of the league are understandably interested. But beyond Sandoval, the Red Sox have been and still are actively interested in somehow getting star pitcher Jon Lester back via the free agent market.
Players without 2015 contracts became free agents last Monday. Since then several of the league’s top stars have already signed with teams. Sandoval and Lester, two players who are stars in their own right, however have not.
Sandoval, who just won a World Series with the Giants, seems to be on pace for a major pay day this offseason. Reports chart his preferred deal as being a 6 year $90+ million one. In exchange for that salary, he will carry a powerful swing to any team that manages to grab him while also bringing a sought after addition of likability that many players lack.
The Red Sox recognize the desirable nature of those traits and more. Sandoval, a switch hitter would give the Sox a much needed left handed hitter to plug into the middle portion of their lineup.
Furthermore, he would honestly be an upgrade from their current 1st basemen Mike Napoli. Napoli, a modern day strikeout monger is not the kind of player the Red Sox want as he ages. As much good as his bearded glory and powerful swing did for them in 2013, it is not hard to remember any number huge slumps the 1st basemen has suffered in his two seasons with Boston. He is inconsistent. Sandoval is not.
The problem is that big salary. If the Red Sox were to sign Sandoval though they could conceivably end up paying 3 or 4 more million dollars than what they currently are his position. Thus the question is raised: is he worth it?
The answer is not clear; especially once the idea of a Lester deal comes into play.
Lester left the team at the trade deadline knowing very well the possibility that the team might turn around and sign him at the end of the year. This is because the Sox know what they would get out of Lester. In 8.5 seasons with Boston, Lester played over 1,500 innings while also posting a career ERA of 3.61. He expressed a fierce love for the team that often translated to a strong, positive bond with the catchers who worked so closely with him. Unlike Sandoval, all that Lester could bring to Boston is tested and proven within the system.
But that is not all that is working in his favor.
The league interest in Lester is slightly quieter with sources reporting only six teams engaged in talks with the southpaw. Furthermore, the Sox could get away with giving Lester less years on his contract (maybe only 4 or 5 years) citing his age (31).
In short, the Red Sox have roughly $40 million of payroll per season to shuffle around this winter.
Yearly earnings on the proposed contracts to both Lester and Sandoval could easily combine to equal that. Therefore, a Red Sox team that is still somewhat spooked by the long contracts that came back to bite them in 2011 will likely soon become skittish in their attempts to sign Sandoval or Lester.
But at the same time $40 million a year is a lot of money. As a result, it is completely understandable how and why the Sox might still take a risk on at least one player. As for who, the answer comes down to position by position depth.
As much as Napoli is a scary player for fans and the team to put their trust in, the Red Sox situation at first base is much better than at pitcher. Boston needs an ace. Jon Lester has been that before. If the team were to resign him, he would be again.
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