Boston Red Sox Rumors: Jose Bautista Could Replace David Ortiz As DH For Red Sox
Boston Red Sox rumors link the team to Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion as possible replacements for David Ortiz. These Red Sox rumors were furthered by Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe, as he published an article about who might be lured to Boston when Ortiz retires. The reason that Bautista and Encarnacion get mentioned is that both All-Star sluggers are about to become free agents in the MLB offseason. If Boston is willing to bring on another huge salary, it could lead to a new power hitter in the lineup.
Current Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell was with the Toronto Blue Jays for two seasons. During that time, he worked with both Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, possibly giving the Red Sox an edge when it comes to free agent negotiations. Neither power hitter is likely to take a discount in the offseason, though, so Farrell only provides an advantage if the Red Sox make an offer that is close to or better than every other team. One of those teams will be the Blue Jays, even though negotiations have, to an extent, already broken down.
Ortiz has already announced that he will retire following the 2016 MLB season, opening the door for many new Boston Red Sox rumors. The team will need to add a hitter to the middle of a young lineup, so it isn’t a stretch to see either Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion mentioned. This is also where Red Sox fans might start dreaming about adding both hitters, as it would certainly be possible for a team to open up the checkbook and sign both All-Stars. That would also be a worst-case scenario for the Blue Jays as the team would have a hard time bouncing back.
Last season for the Blue Jays, Bautista had 40 home runs, 114 RBIs, and 108 runs scored. It was the sixth-straight season in which Bautista has hit at least 27 home runs and marked the fourth time that he finished top 8 in MVP voting. Bautista also had a 0.913 OPS and made the American League All-Star team for a sixth straight year. To start out the 2016 MLB season, Bautista is hitting 0.286 through the first seven games and leads the league in walks with nine already.
Encarnacion is also coming off an impressive 2015 MLB season. He had 39 home runs, 111 RBIs, and 94 runs scored. Encarnacion also finished with a 0.929 OPS and led the league with 10 sacrifice flies. Over his last four seasons with the Blue Jays, Encarnacion has averaged about 38 home runs and 106 RBIs per season. Those are numbers that any team would like to have, suggesting that there will be a bidding way for his services in the offseason.
The slight downside to these Boston Red Sox rumors is that both Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion are on the back sides of their baseball careers. Bautista will be 36 and Encarnacion will be 34 on Opening Day 2017, which could make long-term deals for either player a risk. That’s not to say that free agent offers won’t be made, though, as moving either player to a permanent spot as the designated hitter could prolong their Major League careers.
It will take a lot for any player to step into the shoes that David Ortiz is about to vacate. What the front office in Boston will want to do is bring in a player that can make an immediate splash. Signing either Bautista or Encarnacion could certainly do that, but can the Red Sox afford to sign them if Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez are still on the 25-man roster? There will be a lot of Boston Red Sox rumors in that regard as the next MLB offseason gets rolling, but fans still have 155 more games to enjoy Ortiz first.
[Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images]
