Will The Red Sox Sign Trevor Bauer?
Trevor Bauer is one of the few elite starting pitchers available on the free-agent market. In 2020, Bauer went 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA and league-leading two shutouts this year. That doesn’t include 7.2 shutout innings with 12 strikeouts in the playoffs against Atlanta. The point is, Bauer will have suitors this winter.
There is one issue that might complicate matters. You know, that virus that reduced the regular 162 game season down to 60. It’s going to be a very tricky free agency to project. Teams might be careful with the way they spend their money this offseason.
To complicate matters even further, Bauer is an odd cat. He doesn’t think the way most MLB stars would. Bauer is more so thinking the way an NBA player would. Sign a one-year contract after a one-year contract to maximize his control and earning power.
Whether it be the bet or the fact that Bauer can control playing for a contender forever, it’s hard to hate the strategy. Bauer will bet on himself, and if he pitches well each year, he will earn significantly more money than he otherwise would.
It’s not out of the question Bauer makes $40-45 million next year just on a one-year contract. Think about this from a GM perspective. Are you telling me I can have just Trevor Bauer’s age 29 season and don’t have to worry about deterioration as he enters his 30’s? Sign me up for that.
Realistically who could pay for a high salary one year contract? Well, Bauer is already trying to bait one team into it.
Nobody knows why Bauer is visiting Boston, but maybe he’s doing some scouting to see what it would be like to live? I’m not sure what it means, but I’m not sure Bauer Tweets this for no reason. There always seems to be a method to his madness.
The bigger question is, could the Red Sox pay up for Bauer? Well, the trade of Mookie Betts opened the door for a lot of financial flexibility. The only problem is whether the Sox would be okay with parting with a draft pick to sign Bauer. I’m not sure that’s a pill the Sox would swallow in a rebuild mode.
The Sox do need pitching in the worst way. The rotation next year is projected to including Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta, and Martin Perez. Young gun Tanner Houck also came on strong at the end of the year. There’s more of a need in the pen, but Bauer could also make this rotation scary.
Because of the rotation depth and draft pick compensation, my guess is Chaim Bloom will likely pass. However, you can’t count the Sox out. Bloom could decide that this team is ready to win again because the offense is not the problem. Add a few more bullpen arms, and the Sox should be dangerous again.
