Angels designate outfielder Justin Upton for assignment, could he be a fit for the Red Sox?
The Angels designated outfielder Justin Upton for assignment on Saturday. The club will be responsible for the $28 million owed to Upton, unless another team claims him off waivers. Once the veteran outfielder clears waivers, he will have the option to sign with any team in the league.
One team that could benefit from Upton’s bat would be the Red Sox. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has been on record stating the club has been wanting to add to their outfield depth. Upton could be a fit in right field opposite of Jackie Bradley Jr. and play strictly against left-handed pitching.
Upton had a subpar year at the plate last season hitting .211 with 17 home runs and driving in 41 RBIs in 89 games. The 34-year-old was entering his final season of a five-year deal he signed with the Angels.
The Red Sox are currently planning to use Christian Arroyo as a platoon option with Bradley Jr. in right field this season. However, reports surface on Friday that the club had interest in acquiring former Dodgers outfielder A.J. Pollock. The Dodgers traded Pollock to the White Sox for reliever Craig Kimbrel.
On paper Upton looks like a fit due to the power potential he could bring to the Sox lineup. However the veteran outfielder is a subpar fielder and asking him to play right field at Fenway Park might be a tall task.
It’s clear that the Red Sox are still looking to for an upgrade in the outfield based-off the interest in Pollock. If Boston were to sign Upton, they could offer him the league minimum due to him getting his full salary from the Angels.
The Red Sox might be better off with platooning Arroyo and Bradley Jr. versus adding Upton. Arroyo has shown he can be versatile and play multiple different positions. Upton has struggled at the plate the last three seasons. Providing the Red Sox only use him against lefties in a platoon role, he could benefit from a smaller workload.
The Sox coaching staff has liked what they have seen from Arroyo in the out field this spring. “I think he looks great,” Red Sox bench coach and outfield instructor Will Venable said about Arroyo. “The way he’s moving, it’s been nice to see.”
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