Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Source: Moreland agrees to 1-year deal with Red Sox

The Red Sox capped their wild Tuesday at the Winter Meetings by agreeing to terms with first baseman Mitch Moreland on a one-year deal that is contingent on a physical, MLB.com has learned.
MLB Network contributor Ken Rosenthal was first to report the news, which the Red Sox have not confirmed yet. MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi reported the deal is worth $5.5 million.
Assuming the signing comes to fruition, the Red Sox seemingly filled all of their offseason needs in one day.
Earlier on Tuesday, Boston acquired five-time All-Star ace Chris Sale from the White Sox and stud righty setup man Tyler Thornburg from the Brewers. The one other piece that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was seeking was a left-handed-hitting first baseman.
That piece is Moreland, who won the American League Gold Glove Award in 2016 while playing for the Texas Rangers.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said shortly before the Moreland news came out that Hanley Ramirez -- Boston's first baseman in 2016 -- will spend the majority of his time at designated hitter in '17.
While speaking last weekend in the Dominican Republic, Ramirez sounded enthusiastic about switching to DH to replace his close friend David Ortiz, who retired at the end of the season, if that's what the Red Sox needed.
The 31-year-old Moreland hit .233/.298/.422 with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs in 147 games for the Rangers in 2016. His best season was '15, when he had an .812 OPS to go with 23 homers and 85 RBIs.
When the Red Sox parted with Travis Shaw to acquire Thornburg, a first baseman became a pressing need.
It took Dombrowski just hours to fill it.
Boston's lineup has a strong core of right-handed hitters, led by Mookie Betts, Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts. Moreland joins Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi from the left side. Pablo Sandoval and Sandy Leon are switch-hitters.

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