Who's Been Red Sox's Best Offseason Addition So Far? originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox added a lot of big names over the winter, from Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez to Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin.
So far, however, their production has been a mixed bag, which explains the Red Sox's 9-13 start. Gray and Johan Oviedo are already hurt, while Durbin's been one of the worst hitters in baseball.
Suarez has turned things around after a slow start, however, and Contreras has done nothing but mash, establishing himself as the team's best right-handed hitter and effectively replacing Alex Bregman in the lineup.
On Tuesday, The Athleticnamed the best newcomer on all 30 MLB teams so far (subscription required). Not surprisingly, it picked Contreras for Boston, calling him the team's best offseason addition by far.
Willson Contreras saw everyone talking about the Red Sox being last in homers. pic.twitter.com/5v4L3rpx4Z
"Contreras has been more than just the right-handed bat the Red Sox needed to balance their lineup. He’s provided veteran ballast for a young lineup enduring some tough slumps early this season," Tim Britton wrote. "Contreras’ contact numbers are once again among the game’s best, he’s been excellent at first base defensively, and he’s cut down on some chase to up his walk rate early. He’s been the best of Boston’s offseason pickups by far."
Through 21 games, Contreras is batting .274/.404/.466 with four home runs and 12 RBI, leading the team in homers. His OBP and 150 OPS+ are also the highest of his career.
Time will tell if the 33-year-old first baseman can keep it up, but his Red Sox career is off to a fantastic start so far.
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