David Ortiz Stresses Red Sox’s Glaring Need In Key Area
The Boston Red Sox have several big items on their to-do list this winter, including adding a frontline starting pitcher and a middle-of-the-order bat.
The Red Sox could still use a marquee slugger after trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in June, leaving a considerable hole in the middle of their lineup. They went from ninth in home runs before the trade to 23rd in homers without him.
Before Devers debuted in 2017, David Ortiz filled that role from 2003 to 2016. He filled it so well, in fact, that he now has a plaque hanging in Cooperstown.
Ortiz usually had plenty of help, too, teaming up with Manny Ramirez from 2003 to 2008 to form one of the most lethal 1-2 punches in baseball.
Boston hasn’t had a combination like that in a while, but Ortiz would like to see his old team add some more thump to its lineup.
“The history of this organization has been that you have to have good, consistent power,” Ortiz recently told The Boston Globe. “The results look weak when you don’t. You need to have two guys who can give you 30 [home runs] and 100 [runs batted in], especially in our division.”
The Red Sox did not have anyone who finished last season with 30 home runs or 100 RBI, and it showed in October. Boston was eliminated from the playoffs after getting shut out in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium.
The Red Sox need more pop, and they could fix that by signing Kyle Schwarber or Pete Alonso this offseason. In their ballpark and their division, they need guys who can hit the ball over the wall.
If Ortiz had his way, Boston would sign Alonso to pair with Roman Anthony.