The deadline to tender arbitration-eligible players a contract has come and gone.
A few names jump out as players the Boston Red Sox might have some interest in bringing to spring training.
Most of the attention will be placed on pitching, pitching and more pitching. If the Sox have learned anything the last couple of seasons, it’s that they can’t have enough pitching options available to them through the season.
Most of the these pitchers can be brought in on minor league deals with an invite to spring training or on a major league contract with a low base salary accompanied by incentives.
The Mets cut Mike Pelfrey loose, someone the Sox might bring in on a one-year, low-base contract with incentives. Pelfrey might be receptive to this coming off of Tommy John surgery to rebuild his value.
The Nationals let both John Lannan and Tom Gorzelanny go, two more options for the Sox if they wanted to add a lefty to the rotation.
Jair Jurrjens is a complete enigma at this point and the Braves finally gave up on him. Doesn’t mean the Sox shouldn’t give him a look, especially given his relative young age of 26 and the flashes of potential that he has shown in his career.
Jeff Karstens was non-tendered by the Pirates, and before you ask why the Sox would want a pitcher that couldn’t make it with the Bucs, he actually pitched pretty well for them. He might give the Sox what Alfredo Aceves gives them—you know, without the crazy.
Rich Hill actually pitched very well for the Red Sox last season and wasn’t tendered a contract mostly due to health concerns. When Hill has been healthy and been able to pitch, he has been a weapon for the Sox as a left-handed specialist, pitching to a 1.14 ERA over the parts of three seasons. All three seasons have been interrupted by injuries.
Obviously, former Giants closer Brian Wilson slots very easily into the back end of the Sox bullpen and gives the team insurance against the injuries and performance of Andrew Bailey.
Wilson is someone that I discussed here in the past. Jurrjens, Pelfrey and Wilson are options that I have broken down before in this article.
As far as hitters goes, it’s pretty slim pickings.
Mark Reynolds is an obvious name that sticks out, but the Red Sox can do better at first base and should only sign Reynolds if everything else falls through. Reynolds was a productive player down the stretch for the Orioles in 2012, but his strikeout numbers are still a major concern, as is his .221 batting average in his two years with the O’s.
Brandon Snyder is another first base option for the Sox, albeit cheaper and less experienced. Snyder has looked pretty good in his limited time in the majors with the Orioles and Rangers.
Other than that? Not much, unless the Sox want to get some 1B/3B insurance with Jack Hannahan, CF insurance with former Met Andres Torres or an OF platoon partner in Nate Schierholtz.
None of the players would immediately impact the Sox next season, but they would provide valuable and much-needed depth—especially to the pitching staff and bench.
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