Report: Red Sox, Jonny Gomes 'Closing In' on Two-Year Deal for Outfielder's Services

Report: Red Sox, Jonny Gomes ‘Closing In’ on Two-Year Deal for Outfielder’s Services

by Dan Duquette Jr. on Wed, Nov 21, 2012 at 2:11PM

The Red Sox have a hole or two in their outfield roster and it appears that they are close to filling one.

While it was thought that the Sox had their sights set on re-signing Cody Ross after his 2012 campaign in Boston, it now appears that general manager Ben Cherington and Co. are also focusing on free agent outfielder Johnny Gomes.

In fact, the Sox and Gomes are “closing in” on a two-year deal, according to the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber. While that could come as a bit of a surprise to many Sox fans who expected to see Ross back in right field at Fenway next season, Cherington has always been aware of the possibility that Ross could get a better offer somewhere else.

Gomes — who, like Ross, is regarded as a good clubhouse guy – turns 32 on Thursday, and is coming off a season with the A’s in which he hit .262 with 18 home runs and 47 RBIs. Ross will also be 32 at the start of next season, and is coming off a 2012 campaign where he bashed 22 homers and drove in 81 runs while hitting .267 for the Sox.