The names that were being thrown around in Orlando last week, when president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was asked about Dustin Pedroia’s replacement options, might have been palatable if the Red Sox were a mid-market team not in dire need of offensive potency.
But it’s tougher to swallow for a team valued by Forbes to be worth $2.7 billion, and one that skimped and saved to avoid going over the luxury tax threshold in 2017 so it could spend freely in 2018 and beyond.
That’s why when a name like Ian Kinsler, the ultra-durable, four-time All-Star and power-hitting second baseman for the Detroit Tigers, is being dangled by his current team, the Red Sox should be giving it some thought.