What Can Boston Red Sox Expect From Grady Sizemore?

Kim Klement – USA TODAY Sports

The current World Series champions have had a quiet offseason so far, but they made a surprising move today that could pay off dividends if the player signed is able to stay healthy.

According to several reports, the Boston Red Sox have completed a move to bring former All-Star outfielder Grady Sizemore on a one-year deal worth $750,000, but the contract has plenty of incentives and could be worth nearly $6 million if all the goals are met. It’s a good move based on all the things Sizemore could possibly bring to the table – defense, power and speed among them – but the fans shouldn’t expect him to contribute right away.

Sizemore hasn’t stepped on a baseball field since 2011 due to a variety of injury issues, but the 31 year old posted solid numbers before having health problems that were worth the gamble. Between the 2005-09 span, Sizemore posted a .276/.368/.488 line – with 125 home runs and 128 steals – and while his numbers dropped down considerably between 2010 and 2011, Sizemore could be a valuable addition to the Red Sox as they look for a second straight World Series title.

Boston saw Jacoby Ellsbury joining the New York Yankees during the offseason and with a sizable void in center field, Sizemore could bring some stability in the position barring any injury setbacks. The inexperience of top prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. and the fact that Shane Victorino appears to be better suited to play on a corner spot at this stage of his career are two things that could be a factor in the arrival of Sizemore, as he has the talent and the upside to patrol Fenway Park’s center field for years to come.

Health will be a huge issue for Sizemore, but if he is able to stay on the field consistently, the Red Sox might have gotten quite a steal looking towards this upcoming season.

Juan Pablo Aravena is a sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jparavenarant or add him to your network on Google.

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