The collective focus of Red Sox Nation seemingly is (rightfully) on pitching. But Boston’s offense had more than its fair share of problems.
There are many reasons for those problems. Key players staying healthy will go a long way.
Going hard after José Abreu in free agency will help, too. Signing Abreu would be an excellent first step toward curing what ailed the Red Sox last season and remaking their offense for 2023.
Red Sox Offense Needs Work
Some of the 2022 Red Sox offense’s stats would make you believe they were one of the better lineups in the game. Anyone who watched the Sox at all last year knows that’s not true.
The Sox didn’t hit home runs. Their 155 home runs were 20th in MLB, and the fewest a Red Sox team had in a season since 2014.
And they did not control the strike zone. Sox hitters had the ninth-highest swing rate, the seventh-highest chase rate, the 12th-highest whiff rate, and were 19th in contact rate.
They didn’t walk (18th) a lot and struck out (14th) a little too much.
Boston’s offense was basically average, with a 102 wRC+.
Furthermore, though the runners-in-scoring position and runs-per-game numbers look good, the Red Sox were inconsistent at best at scoring runs. They got runners on and couldn’t hit them in, or they couldn’t get them on base whatsoever.
Red Sox hitters drove in 50 percent of runners on third base with less than two outs (21st) and hit into the fifth-most double plays.
Roster construction contributed to the Sox’s lousy offensive output just as much as injuries and underperformance.
Signing José Abreu in Free Agency Will Help Red Sox
José Abreu is the hitter the Red Sox need, sitting right there for the taking in free agency if only Boston would pay to get him.
The Red Sox were first interested in José Abreu in 2013 when he was an amateur free agent out of Cuba. (Boston shifted to Rusney Castillo when the White Sox outbid them for Abreu.)
Could the Red Sox finally get their man?
Abreu had quite a 2022 season. He hit .304/.378/.446/.824 with only 15 home runs but 40 doubles and a 133 OPS+. He also had a career-low 16 percent strikeout rate, tied his career-high walk rate set in 2021 (nine percent), and set a career-best contact rate of 79 percent.
Interesting.
The 35-year-old has always been, and still is, an excellent hitter, having posted an OPS+ of at least 124 in every season but two, and has consistently posted high on-base percentages (career .354 OBP).
Abreu’s hit 30 or more home runs in five of his nine seasons, with 100 or more RBI in all but three, including 60 RBI in 2020. Additionally, he’s driven in at least 55 percent of runners from third base with less than two outs in every season but two.
If that’s not convincing enough, José Abreu’s defense at first base has improved a lot in the last two seasons, and he’s played in 150 or more games in six of nine seasons.
Abreu takes the extra base at an above-average rate as well.
Are you convinced yet?
Red Sox Need to Get Their Man
Not only is he the hitter they need, but José Abreu also fixes one of the 2022 Red Sox’s worst roster blunders: not having a complement to Bobby Dalbec or a viable backup plan at first base.
With Abreu, the Red Sox would be getting a hitter that does a lot of things well that Boston failed at last year and a solid backup first baseman should something happen to Triston Casas.
Casas was hurt most of last year (ankle), and his current stint in winter ball was cut short due to a knee injury. 2023 could easily play out like 2022 if the Sox don’t learn from that mistake.
The Red Sox have the money to sign José Abreu in free agency. As of this writing, they have just over $80 million to spend before reaching the competitive balance tax ($233 million).
There are no excuses for them not to be all in on him. Boston must get their man this time around.
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