Red Sox to upgrade first base before or at the trade deadline?

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It’s no secret that the Red Sox have a hole at first base. The Red Sox have gotten minimal production out of both Bobby Dalbec and Franchy Cordero and like last season the club has a need to upgrade the position.

Last year, the Red Sox acquired Kyle Schwarber. In the process, Schwarber helped fill a void at first base, brought another power bat to the lineup and he got on base consistently.

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MassLive’s Chris Cotillo asked Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom if first base is an area of need as the trade deadline approaches: "Certainly, it’s a spot where we can be open to additions from the outside."

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom is going to address the roster before or at the trade deadline. But will first base be an area he addresses?

MassLive’s Chris Cotillo met with Bloom this week and asked him if the club will look to upgrade the position?

“Potentially,” Bloom said. “I think what Franchy has done since coming in there — granted he has some versatility to play elsewhere, too — I think he has done a solid job and I think what he has done under the surface is even better than what you see on the back of the baseball card. We know Bobby can hit lefties. He’s handling a tougher role right now really well. We’ve been hopeful this whole year that as Triston (Casas) gets going, he still might figure into this thing… recognizing that he needs to make up for lost time. Certainly, it’s a spot where we can be open to additions from the outside.”

There’s options for the Red Sox to pursue in upgrading the position. The Nationals have Josh Bell and he is likely to be moved at the trade deadline.

Bell has produced in his second season in Washington. The switch-hitting slugger is hitting .310 with 94 hits, 18 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 47 RBIs with a .895 OPS.

The Red Sox could turn to the Orioles and check in on Trey Mancini. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, similar to Bell.

Mancini is hitting .280 with eight home runs, 33 RBIs, 80 hits, 15 doubles and a .777 OPS. The Orioles will have plenty of suitors for Mancini, if the Red Sox want him, they’ll have to pay for it with their young prospects.

Until Bloom upgrades the position, Cordero and Dalbec will be the two manning the position. Despite some of the production Cordero is giving the lineup, its time for Bloom to make a trade and fix first base.

Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisHenrique

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