It’s not a secret that the Boston Red Sox are looking to add a couple power bats to a roster that hit just 168 homers despite winning the AL East last season.
Of course, reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton has been the most highly-coveted power hitter on the trade block. But there’s other options out there. It now looks like Boston is checking in on those other options. According to this one report, that includes Chicago White Sox All-Star first baseman Jose Abreu.
chisox have been in active talks with red sox and others on star 1B jose abreu. boston was 1 of 4 finalists for abreu when he signed with chicago (milwaukee & houston were the others).
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 29, 2017
Chicago is looking to sell off some of its veteran talent as the team attempts to continue with its long-term rebuild.
Abreu, 30, hit .304 with 33 homers and 102 RBI last season. It’s the third time in four MLB seasons that he’s hit 30-plus homers. Needless to say, he would represent that power upgrade that the Red Sox have been looking for.
A report earlier this offseason noted that the San Francisco Giants might have interest in Jackie Bradley Jr. If the Red Sox are indeed looking for a power upgrade in the lineup, they could flip Bradley for prospects that would then be used to acquire a player of Abreu’s ilk without dipping too much into the farm system.