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The off-season obsession of nearly every Red Sox fan this Winter will be the potential trade acquisition of Miami's
Giancarlo Stanton. The one
clear need on the Boston roster is a big power bat—and 59 HRs is pretty damn powerful. Of course, Stanton is owed $25 million a year
for the next ten years (but, hey, it's only
John Henry's funny money) and there is also the big guy's injury history. Nothing would be worse than having Stanton on the DL for half a season each year. Not to mention the huge cost in players to get him (a package like:
Jackie Bradley, Jr.,
Michael Chavis,
Tanner Houck,
Josh Ockimey). But, there are
other, less sexy needs on the Red Sox. For example, it's clear that
Dustin Pedroia's knee severely hampered his 2017 campaign—and yet he is such a gamer that he
still led the team in hitting.
Dave Dombrowski has to be realistic, though, and adding a genuine infield option is going to be needed. They
could try to re-sign free-agent
Eduardo Nunez, but the 30-year-old has had injury woes himself.
Another 30-year-old infielder might better fit the bill—Minnesota's
Brian Dozier. As
MassLive.com's
Jen McCaffrey points out,
Dozier has one year at $9 million left before he hits free agency at the end of the 2018 season. Playing SS and 2B in 2017, he clouted 34 homers while hitting .271—
and he hit 42 homers in 2016. The Red Sox would need to send a package of players to Minnesota to get Dozier—but far less than what Stanton would demand (a package like:
Ockimey,
Sam Travis, Tzu-Wei Lin, and/or former University Of Maryland Terrapin
Mike Shawaryn). So, while the rumor mill will swirl around Stanton (and others), keep an eye on Dozier.
