As the time for wooing free agents draws nigh, it's looking more and more likely that Red Sox President of Baseball Operations
Dave Dombrowski will sign two free agents and make some sort of trade before Opening Day next March 29th. Multiple reports suggest that
Eric Hosmer is
Double D's top target—upgrading the first base position both offensively and defensively (although
Mitch Moreland did a helluva a job on
both fronts on a relatively cheap one-year deal). Signing Hosmer (who will likely be a qualifying free agent) means Boston will give up its second-highest pick in the next MLB Draft
and have their international signing bonus pool reduced by $500,000. Signing
non-qualifying free-agent
J.D. Martinez (also heavily-rumored to be a
DD target) would
not cost the team any penalties. Taking on these two players will probably mean that Boston will also have to move an outfielder in a trade—and
Jackie Bradley, Jr. would be the most likely chip. Dombrowski might be able to fetch a quality reliever for JBJ—or package him with a prospect or two to get someone like Minnesota's
Brian Dozier (as insurance against a hobbled
Muddy Chicken). Stay tuned, there are
definitely going to be a lot of changes in the Red Sox clubhouse.
