The Red Sox are continuing to have a very busy Tuesday at the Winter Meetings, as they have reportedly agreed to add a veteran first baseman into the mix.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the team has agreed to terms with 31-year-old Mitch Moreland on a one-year deal pending a physical.
The veteran has spent his entire career with the Texas Rangers and has batted .254/.315/.438/.754 in parts of seven seasons.
Moreland's 2015 season was the first full year where he cracked .800 OPS, slashing .278/.330/.482/.812 with 23 homers. Despite getting a Gold Glove Award for his 2016 campaign and hitting 22 homers, he took a step back offensively, batting just .233 with a .298 on-base percentage.
The move comes the same day as the trade of third baseman Travis Shaw for reliever Tyler Thornburg and the trade of elite infield prospect Yoan Moncada for ace Chris Sale.
Shortstop-turned-outfielder-turned-first-baseman Hanley Ramirez provided competent defense last season along with a resurgent bat, but there is an opening at designated hitter with the retirement of David Ortiz. Ramirez could at least see extended time at DH with the acquisition of Moreland. But with Shaw and Moncada gone, it would seem the team expects Pablo Sandoval, who missed nearly the entire season last year, to be at the hot corner for the bulk of the time — unless Baseball Operations President Dave Dombrowski has even more fireworks planned for the Winter Meetings.
