The Boston Red Sox missed the playoffs because their roster lacked the depth necessary to overcome injuries.
While bolstering the starting rotation will be the primary focus, other positions on the field may also see some new faces.
The Boston Red Sox have been linked to Gio Urshela, a utility player who is currently with the Los Angeles Angels and whose best years were spent with the New York Yankees.
BetCalifornia gives Boston +650 odds (13.3%) to sign Urshela in free agency this winter. The site’s oddsmakers use their best guesses about where these players will end up to create their hypothetical wagers. These odds are far too low for gambling.
In 62 games with the Angels this season, the 31-year-old infielder is batting.299 with nine extra-base hits, including two home runs, 24 RBIs, and an OPS of.703. He is a league-average hitter, as his 91 OPS+ is just two points behind his career 102 OPS+.
Urshela played third base for 37 games, first base for 22, shortstop for 9, and second base for 1. He’s your standard utility infielder, though next year someone like Ceddanne Rafaela, a promising rookie looking to break in, might get the nod.
It has been speculated that Mike Trout may be given permission to request a trade, so he may not be the only Angel to switch coasts this offseason.