Report: Red Sox Exploring Trades for Left-Handed Hitting First Baseman/Outfielder

The Red Sox have been busy in free agency this offseason, and apparently they’re looking into the trade market as well.

According to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox are exploring trades for a left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder.

Cafardo points out that such a player would compliment Mike Napoli at first base and Jonny Gomes in left field. That, of course, is based on the assumption that the Red Sox will eventually finalize a deal with Napoli, who still hasn’t officially signed with the club seven months after initial reports surfaced stating that a three-year deal was in place.

Napoli and Gomes are both right-handed hitters who have traditionally fared better against left-handed pitching. Napoli’s batting average and on-base percentage against left-handers are .273 and .381, respectively, while he’s a .253 hitter with a .347 on-base percentage against right-handers. Gomes has a .284 career average and a .382 career on-base percentage against left-handers, while he’s hit .223 with a .307 on-base percentage in his career against righties.

It remains to be seen who, specifically, the Red Sox have in mind to fill the role described by Cafardo. They have also checked out free agency, though, as they reportedly worked out Bobby Abreu a couple of weeks ago.

Tune in to the Red Sox Town Hall on NESN at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 19.