Friday, August 16, 2013

Red Sox In Hot Pursuit Of Cuban First Baseman

Jose Abreu
The Boston Globe is citing sources that suggest the Red Sox are hotly pursuing 26-year old Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu. The 6-3, 250-pound Abreu is likely to be a free agent soon, as he has taken up residence in Haiti. In 2011-12, he hit 35 HRs in just 71 games—also hitting .394. He hit 13 HRs in 42 games for Cienfuegos (in the Serie Nacional) before fleeing Fidel Castro's Socialist Paradise.With Mike Napoli signed for just this year, and no credible 1B prospect in the entire organization, the Red Sox really need a guy like Abreu. Reportedly, the Orioles are also in the running. With the success for Cuban-born players like Jose Iglesias in their own system—not to mention Yoenis Cespedes and Yasiel Puig—Boston would certainly feel comfortable fitting Abreu in quickly.