The Boston Red Sox have a lot of rebuilding to do this offseason, and they’ll likely have to make at least one trade to get exactly what they need.
But who will be the one sent away?
Boston currently has a logjam in the outfield, so it wouldn’t be surprising if that’s where a majority of their trade pieces comes from.
It seems unlikely that utility man Brock Holt will be traded due to his versatility; he played every position on the field last season except pitcher and catcher. And seven-year, $72.5 million man Rusney Castillo likely isn’t going anywhere either.
Yoenis Cespedes and Mookie Betts are the best options as the starting corner outfielders, but that also means they’d yield a high reward if traded. Betts already has shown that he’s immensely talented at just 21 years old, and many clubs would love to have him as a long-term option. Cespedes is only signed through 2015, so the Red Sox could cash in big rather than losing him to free agency.
Shane Victorino still has it when he’s healthy, but he has shown over the past two seasons that that’s not a guarantee, and he might not be willing to play a diminished role if he loses the starting right field job to a younger player. Allen Craig also has had some injury problems and didn’t deliver the offensive pop the Red Sox needed in 2014.
Daniel Nava and Jackie Bradley Jr. are good bench options, but that probably makes them the most expendable. Nava could provide some chemistry and consistency to a shallower outfield roster elsewhere. Boston couldn’t justify Bradley’s lackluster offense on its powerless 2014 team, but his incredible defense is a major selling point.
So if the Red Sox do trade away an outfielder, who will be the first to go? Give us your answer in the poll below, and watch NESN Sports Update on Wednesday, Nov. 5, for the answer.
Photo via Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports Images
