Blue Jays Outfielder Loosely Linked To Red Sox As Possible Free Agent Target
Who will take the outfield at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox in 2024?
Boston seemingly has a surplus of outfielders at the moment but things always could change. The Red Sox reportedly could end up trading away outfielder Alex Verdugo this offseason. Verdugo has found his name in trade rumors over the last year and at this point it may be likely that his time in Boston is over.
The Red Sox will have to decide on Verdugo’s future shortly and if they do deal him away, they may need to add a new outfielder in free agency. One player who has been loosely linked to the Red Sox if they trade Verdugo is Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, according to CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson.
“With Verdugo out of the way, we would slide Jarren Duran to a corner and bring in a quote-unquote real center fielder,” Anderson said. “(Duran, despite his great speed, has graded as a below-average glove there throughout his big-league tenure.)
“The free-agent market is rich in this respect. Kevin Kiermaier is the biggest name, but South Korean transfer candidate Jung Hoo Lee might offer the most upside. There’s also Michael A. Taylor, coming off a better two-year run at the plate than his reputation suggests, as well as Harrison Bader, an ideal candidate for a one-year pillow contract.”
Anderson listed out a few hypothetical moves the Red Sox could do this offseason and Kiermaier would be an intriguing option. If the Red Sox moved Duran over to one of the corner spots, Kiermaier would be a very solid pickup. He is a four-time Gold Glove Award winner — including in 2023 with the Blue Jays — and also was very steady offensively last season. He finished the season with eight home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .265/.322/.419 slash line.
While a move may not be likely, it would be interesting.
