Sox outfield lacking in defense, slugging, stars

The Red Sox outfield has some burning questions for the 2024 season. Here is an assessment of the three spots moving forward.

■ What they have

The Red Sox currently have six outfielders on the 40-man roster: Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder, Alex Verdugo, and Masataka Yoshida.

It’s a solid core, but is it enough to get them back to postseason contention?

Duran put together a promising and productive season before undergoing toe surgery in late August. He improved defensively in center field, specifically his jumps on the ball. On offense, he hit .295, swiped 24 bags in 26 attempts, and provided a spark plug the club had not seen in a while.

Duran is expected to be ready for spring training, but considering that baseball operations will be under new management and the team’s need to upgrade both pitching and defense, a controllable asset like Duran could be an interesting trade chip.

Verdugo, the key acquisition in the Mookie Betts trade in 2020, will become a free agent at the end of 2024. He should win a Gold Glove for his play in right field this season. At the plate, Verdugo had somewhat of a nosedive, batting a career-low .264, but he still might be the Sox’ biggest trade name.

Abreu could be Verdugo’s replacement in right. He hit .316 after being called up in August, and proved that he could handle all three outfield spots in decent fashion at the least.

Rafaela, despite his defensive prowess in center, might need a bit more seasoning at the plate in Triple A.

Refsnyder, who signed a oneyear extension this season under Chaim Bloom, could be a trade chip, too.

But the Sox seemingly are stuck with Yoshida, who will be entering the second year of a $90 million deal. Yoshida hit a respectable .289 with 15 homers in his first year in the majors, but faded in the second half, batting just .254. He’s a liability in left field at a time when the Sox need to get better defensively.

■ So where does that leave them?

It’s complicated, because Yoshida is a designated hitter who isn’t quite a designated hitter.

Justin Turner certainly will pass on his option for 2024, making him a free agent. Turner said he will entertain a return to Boston, but would Yoshida’s status with the club — in addition to the team’s inability to move him — end any chance of a Turner return? Maybe.

Had Yoshida flirted with, say, 20-25 homers, Turner’s exit would be easier to swallow. Instead, Yoshida essentially burns two lineup spots. That’s a tough reality, but not a total encumbrance to overcome.

■ Slugging needed

Despite playing in just 92 games, Adam Duvall led Red Sox outfielders with 21 homers. After the 2022 season, the Red Sox put an emphasis on slugging from outfielders. Duvall was a name Bloom had pinpointed, believing his pull power to left field would help at Fenway. That turned out to be true, but even with him, the Sox tied for 17 th in homers by outfielders (59).

The Sox could flirt with a Duvall return, or they could set their sights higher. They have shown interest in Teoscar Hernández, and he could be a fit. A free agent like Duvall, Hernández got off to a slow start with the Mariners but finished with 26 homers and a .258 batting average. Hernandez’s career slash line is an impressive .261/.316/.486 (.802 OPS) and he can command all three outfield spots, with most of his time coming in right field.

Another name the Sox should consider is Cody Bellinger. He returned to his All-Star form with the Cubs, batting .307/.356/.525 (.881 OPS) with 26 homers. He has the ability to play both center and first base, and has a $12.5 million mutual option (with a $5 million buyout) that will likely have him a free agent.

While some of the power numbers might diminish, Bellinger is an elite athlete with the potential to become a fan favorite at Fenway.

So, where does this really leave the Sox? With a foundation and some intriguing young names. But to compete, the top layer of that foundation needs to include some stars.