Boston Red Sox Free Agent Predictions

This offseason is going to be truly interesting for the Boston Red Sox, as they are under new leadership and intend to cut payroll after a failed title defense in 2019. That isn't the norm in Boston, as they are a big market team often among the league's most willing to spend in an effort to win.

This season didn't go as planned, unfortunately, and the organization is now pressed up against the luxury tax threshold. There could be some big moves on the horizon under new "chief baseball officer" Chaim Bloom, but perhaps not like the kind we're use to seeing in Beantown.

With that in mind, let's issue a few predictions for the Red Sox this offseason.

Red Sox Trade Mookie Betts and Sign Kole Calhoun as Replacement

With J.D. Martinez opting in and earning $23 million next season, one of the only ways this team can really cut payroll is by trading either David Price, Chris Sale or 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts, who will likely make around $28 million in his final year of arbitration.

Both Price and Sale are not only getting paid big money by starting pitcher standards over the next several years, but both are banged up and will be almost impossible to trade unless the Red Sox eat a lot of money. That leaves Betts, who will is entering his final season before free agency but has been solidly non-commital about re-signing on a long-term deal. Yes, it won't be easy to trade someone who very much wants to gauge his value on the free agent market next winter, but as long as Boston isn't looking to receive a boatload of top prospects, a trade can absolutely happen.

If Betts is moved they'll need a replacement, and a veteran like Kole Calhoun makes a lot of sense. He won't cost an arm and a leg, and he's coming off a 33-homer season for the Angels to go along with his plus defense.

Red Sox Sign Rich Hill

Boston-born Rich Hill may be going into his age 40 season and injuries have been an issue for him, but when he's healthy he's been more than serviceable out of the Dodgers rotation. Boston needs more pitching depth, but they'll need to do it at a cheap price. A one-year deal should be able to bring the former Red Sox pitcher back aboard.

Red Sox Sign Carl Edwards Jr.

Along with adding a pitcher to their rotation, Boston needs to add a reliever or two. To get someone on the cheap, the Red Sox should look a project with high upside. It wasn't that long ago when Carl Edwards Jr. looked like a future closer for the Cubs, but he was traded to San Diego last year after posting an 8.47 ERA over 22 appearances for Chicago. It would be a risky signing, but they could get him at a bargain and possibly have themselves a gem in the bullpen.

Red Sox Fail to Sign Major Free Agent

The top names on the free agent market are Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon. Boston could certainly use an arm like Cole or Strasburg, but they won't be big-game hunting this winter. Remember, they are looking to cut their payroll not add to it in a big way, which is what it would take to sign any of them.

The Red Sox have a handful of free agents and holes on their roster, but they'll have to be creative on the trade and free agent market, as well as rely on their internal candidates.