Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
In 2003, the GM of the Boston Red Sox at the time, Theo Epstein, was very interested in acquiring a player that had recently defected from Cuba, Jose Contreras. When the New York Yankees swooped in and signed the pitcher, Epstein allegedly was not a happy camper. Ten years later, another player who recently defected from Cuba has caught the eye of Red Sox GM Ben Cherington. Hopefully for Boston, this time it will end better.
Jose Abreu is a first baseman with a lot of power and can hit for a high average which would be a big help to the Boston lineup because there really isn’t a lot of firepower there other than David Ortiz. Mike Napoli and Will Middlebrooks are right-handed bats with power, but they haven’t hit all that many home runs. Abreu would give Ortiz protection and would complement him very well. Also, Ortiz is 37 and cannot play forever. Abreu could be that force in the lineup that would strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers like Ortiz does now. The Red Sox also do not have a strong future first baseman as a prospect, at least not right now. Abreu could be penciled in at first and be another key part of the future Red Sox generation. If you watched the World Baseball Classic, he put on quite a show in terms of his power.
The Red Sox have done a pretty decent job recently scouting and developing international players as well as having a good feel for signing international free agents. Daisuke Matsuzaka was not worth nearly the amount of money that Boston dished out, but he did win 15 and 18 games respectively in his first two seasons in Boston. Hideki Okajima was an All-Star his first year with the Red Sox, Felix Doubront has blossomed into a very strong starting pitcher, and Jose Igleasis is a defensive wizard at shortstop. These are all good players that Boston scouted internationally. With the emergence of future stars such as Yasiel Puig and Yoenis Cespedes who are both from Cuba, that country has developed players with a whole lot of talent. Abreu is definitely worth taking a really hard look at for Boston. Imagining him tattooing the Green Monster with his power would be a really pretty sight. Young, powerful, a great fit.
Go get your man, Cherington. But don’t get as mad as your predecessor did if Abreu doesn’t sign here.
Carter Roane is a Boston Red Sox writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter@CarterGRoane, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
