July 31 of this season was a huge day with major ramifications for many teams, but none more than the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox, in clear selling mode, dealt Jon Lester to the Athletics for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is what was a blockbuster trade meant to help the immediate for the Athletics and the future for the Red Sox.
Cespedes finished the season with Boston, batting .269 with five home runs and 33 RBIs in 51 games. That led to this offseason, where it looked like the Red Sox were prepared to give Cespedes a four-to-five-year deal to keep him around long term, or at least past next season, when his contract expires.
But then a New York Daily News report came out that suggested there was a rift between Cespedes and the Red Sox coaches. This relationship, the article suggested, may have led the Red Sox to consider trading the 2014 All-star outfielder with a cannon for an arm.
Although Manager John Farrell pledged his support for Cespedes playing for the Red Sox, many question the relationship and recommend the team trade him. Could they actually do it? Would it be a good idea?
These are good questions and ones that don’t have a definitive answer, but here’s my best guess.
Cespedes gave the Red Sox something that they lacked, a power bat that can play the field. Yes, David Ortiz can hit with the best of them, but at 38, he won’t be around for that much longer. Cespedes is 29 and could give the Red Sox at least five strong years.
Boston ranked 18th in the league last season in producing runs, and the likes of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts will not make up the power that Cespedes has. He drove in 100 runs this season, combined between his two teams.
Cespedes is a budding star in this league, and the question that the Red Sox need to answer is whether they want to compete now or later. The abundance of young talent like Bradley and Xander Bogaerts suggests they should wait, but the abundance of money suggests they could buy another championship.
If the Red Sox want to bring back Lester and a few more pitchers, add in maybe a stud third baseman like Pablo Sandoval, they may look to another option for the outfield spot. Nelson Cruz posted better numbers across the board, and could be an option if the Red Sox decide to buy at will this offseason.
However, I have a feeling this team will be more patient than in the past. The Red Sox have a plethora of strong and young players and Cespedes would fit right into that core.
He would cost a whole lot to be signed after next season, now that he’s with Roc Nation and signed a new agent. But the price might be worth it, as not many players in this game boast the combination of strong fielding and pure power that Cespedes does.
Added onto his prowess in the regular season, he’s batting a strong .350 in the postseason. If the Red Sox can grab Lester and another top-of-the-line starter, they’ll be competing for another division title.
Cespedes should be in the fold, no matter the attitude. If the Red Sox want to sustain success, they will sign him.