Grady Sizemore may not be the sexiest option, but a recent poll on Cleveland.com suggests that Indians fans think the club shouldn’t pick up his option and should find a way to keep Sizemore with a hometown discount. Tony Lee‘s Red Sox mailbag features a question about Sizemore coming to Boston, as well.
Sizemore is due $8.5 million in 2012, but the club could exercise a $500,000 buyout clause to make him a free agent.
A key component to Cleveland’s run to the AL Championship Series in 2007, Sizemore’s 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons have been marred with injuries. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, he has had five operations in the past three years, with both knees being repaired at least once each. Sizemore has missed a combined 276 games in the past three seasons and played just 33 games in ’09.
When he’s healthy, though, there’s no doubt of what he brings to the lineup. The three-time All-Star has received MVP votes each year from 2005-08 — a span of 639 games in which he averaged .281 at the dish and belted 107 homers (an average of 27 per seasons) to go with 325 RBIs (an average of 81 RBIs per season).
It may not be the first choice for Red Sox fans, but after a monumental meltdown in September, the Red Sox can’t afford to overlook any of their options.
Should the Red Sox pursue Grady Sizemore if the Indians make him a free agent?
