Several big-name free agents remain on the market for Red Sox

Author Matt Dolloff

December 1st, 2021 1:21 PM

With less than 48 hours to go until the current CBA expires, the Boston Red Sox still have plenty of big-time free agents to potentially sign on the open market.

The team’s spending hasn’t reflected an organization willing to sink big money into a player before Major League Baseball enters a lockout, which is in severe danger of happening at 12 a.m. Thursday. But it remains possible that they’re simply being patient, and planned to start small before striking with a bigger contract at the eleventh hour.

So far, the Red Sox’ “biggest” free-agent signings have been a pair of veteran pitchers on short money: righty Michael Wacha and lefty James Paxton. Wacha has posted a 5.11 ERA since 2019. Paxton won’t be available until sometime in the second half of 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Meanwhile, any connection they’ve had to more impactful players hasn’t gone beyond the vaunted “interest.” They were briefly linked to shortstop Javier Baez, who ultimately signed with the Tigers for six years and $140 million, and have been rumored to show #interest in a loaded shortstop market.

Some of those bigger fish have already landed elsewhere. The Red Sox have yet to show a willingness to bust out the real money. But if they still intend to go shopping at the highest end of the market, they still have options.

Things can still change quickly, with the lockout looming and big-name players likely to bite at a high bidder in the next couple of days. But here are the biggest names remaining in 2021 free agency, as of the publishing of this article.

• SS Carlos Correa

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  One of the game's premier two-way talents, Correa finished eighth in the major leagues in WAR in 2021, and fourth among all shortstops in wRC+ (weighted runs created). His solid combination of offense and defense will make him a massive addition wherever he signs. Not to mention, he has 18 career postseason home runs, which is seventh all-time. And he's still just 27 years old.

• 1B Freddie Freeman

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  The 2020 National League MVP has hit the eighth-most home runs in baseball over the past three seasons (82), and he's third with a .946 OPS. Unlike Kyle Schwarber, he actually plays first base. And he's another one with a proven October track record, with a .916 OPS in 79 career postseason games. Oh, and he's now a defending World Series champion with the Braves. So, Freeman's gonna cost ya. But he'd be exactly what the Red Sox need in a big-time offensive signing.

• SP Carlos Rodon

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  This guy reeks of putting together a big year just to land a big contract. But Rodon was at least the third overall pick in 2014 and was supposed to be this good, so maybe he's here to stay. Rodon came out of nowhere to post a 2.37 ERA and 185 strikeouts in just 132 innings for the White Sox in 2021, and he did that over 24 starts. So a massive long-term contract could be in the offing for him. There would be risk in signing a guy who really just had one good year, but Rodon had this kind of potential.
• SP Clayton Kershaw

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  The future Hall of Famer is likely to cost something close to what Max Scherzer got with the Mets (three years, $130 million), which is not ideal. But at 33, Kershaw is four years younger than Scherzer, and proved in 2021 that he can still be effective. Kershaw posted a 3.55 ERA last year, with a 3.00 FIP and 1.02 WHIP, and struck out 144 batters in 121 2/3 innings. His velocity isn't what it used to be (90.7 mph average on fastballs, according to Fangraphs) and maybe he's done winning Cy Youngs. But Kershaw should still be able to provide top-of-the-rotation value.

• SP Marcus Stroman

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  Stroman has quietly been one of baseball's better righties since 2019. He opted out of the 2020 season amid COVID concerns, but returned in 2021 with the Mets to strong results, posting a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts. He's been sneaky-durable for a 5-foot-7, 180-pound pitcher, with 30-plus starts in four of his last five seasons. He's not overpowering (tops out around 93 mph), but he has a deep arsenal and simply knows how to pitch. And his competitiveness and feisty nature could endear himself to Boston.

• 1B Anthony Rizzo

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  Rizzo hasn't looked like the same hitter since turning 30 years old (.775 OPS since 2020). It was fun for a while to compare his hitting with the Yankees to that of Schwarber with the Red Sox. But Rizzo, like Freeman, actually plays first base, and can still play it well. Perhaps he can have a bit of a career renaissance hitting at Fenway Park and playing a lot of games at Yankee Stadium over a full season in the AL East. He'd certainly fill the first base void pretty well, and it wouldn't cost at the absolute top of the market.
• SS Trevor Story

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  Story came out of nowhere in 2016 with 27 home runs as a rookie with the Rockies. He's since proven to be no fluke at the plate. Story is second among all shortstops with 158 home runs since 2016, behind only Manny Machado (183). The obvious knock on Story is his home/road splits; he has a .972 career OPS at Coors Field, but only .752 away from it. So buyer beware, in that regard. But Story's power isn't a total fraud.

• 3B Kris Bryant

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  Bryant isn't necessarily the best fit for the Red Sox' needs. They'd be much-better suited to add at first base or middle infield before third base/corner outfield. Bryant has also been curiously up-and-down since a blistering start to his major league career, averaging 28 home runs and 81 RBIs per 162 games with an .843 OPS since 2018. But as a righthanded hitter with a decent launch angle, Bryant may be able to crank a lot of home runs over the Green Monster. He's enough of a name to keep within consideration.

• OF Nick Castellanos

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  Castellanos is looking to cash in after posting career-best numbers in a contract year for the 2021 Reds. He hit 34 home runs with a .939 OPS, both career highs. His typical numbers have hovered closer to 20-25 home runs and an OPS in the .800-850 range, so the hope is that's what the Red Sox would be paying for. There's a chance Castellanos turns out to be overpaid wherever he ends up, and he may not be a great fit for Boston as a corner outfielder/third baseman with those spots seemingly shored up for 2022. But he'd certainly be a real addition to the batting order.

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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.

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