With Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez reportedly set to sign with the Boston Red Sox, per ESPN.com, the team addressed its hitting woes from a year ago. But with plenty of options in the outfield and needing other pieces elsewhere, namely starting pitching, the team is reportedly shopping Yoenis Cespedes.
Jon Morosi of Fox Sports shared the report:
Another clue that the Red Sox may be shipping out Cespedes is what GM Ben Cherington said when introducing Hanley Ramirez to the club per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register:
Cespedes joined the Red Sox last season in the trade that sent Jon Lester to the Oakland Athletics. He hit .269 with five home runs and 33 RBI in 51 games with the club, finishing the season hitting .260 with 22 home runs and 100 RBI in 152 games between Boston and Oakland.
Still, Cespedes is a year away from free agency and the Red Sox are loaded in the outfield. Ramirez will likely be moved to an outfield position to make room for young prospect Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, per the ESPN report. Meanwhile, the team still has Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Shane Victorino, Allen Craig and Jackie Bradley Jr. as options in the outfield.
Thus, Cespedes is a surplus to requirements and the team’s best trade chip. It’s hardly surprising the Red Sox are shopping him.
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