Red Sox sign Kiké Hernandez to a one-year, $10 million extension
The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract extension with Kiké Hernández, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The deal will lock up Hernández for the 2023 season. He was going to be a free agent at the conclusion of this season. With this move, the Red Sox can cross off Hernández’s name off the long list of free agents coming up.
Hernández signed a two-year, $14 million deal prior to last season. The super utilityman was initially going to be the Red Sox second baseman, but he was moved to centerfield.
In this first year in Boston, Hernández made an immediate impact. He hit .250 with 20 homers, 60 RBIs and a .786 OPS in 134 regular season games. During the postseason, the former Dodger bench player broke out hitting, .408 with five home runs, nine RBIs in 11 games. He even earned the name of “Lil Papi” due to his clutch performance during the postseason.
This season has been injury riddled for the 31-year-old appearing in only 68 games, hitting .219 with six homers and 37 RBIs.
Boston is currently sitting in last place the Red Sox will have more decisions to make in the coming weeks. Xander Bogaerts is expected to opt-out, J.D. Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, Tommy Pham, Matt Strahm can all become free agents.
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was able to cross one name off the long list of impending free agents. Fans should react positively to the return of Hernández but are patiently awaiting for the club to extend Rafael Devers.
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