Red Sox re-sign Moreland to 1-year deal worth reported $3M
Mitch Moreland is returning to Beantown.
The Boston Red Sox and the first baseman agreed to a one-year contract that also includes a club option in 2021, the team announced.
The deal is worth $3 million in guaranteed money, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Moreland will earn a base salary of $2.5 million in 2020 with a $500,000 buyout of the option. He'll earn another $3 million in 2021 if the option is exercised.
Moreland spent the last three seasons with the Red Sox and was an All-Star as part of their World Series-winning club in 2018.
The 34-year-old missed time last season due to back and quadriceps injuries but still slashed .252/.328/.507 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs over 335 plate appearances. He was primarily deployed as the left-handed hitting half of a platoon, owing to his superior splits against right-handers.
Moreland's 2019 splits
| Split | PA | BA | OPS | HR | RBI | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs. RH | 275 | .262 | .887 | 18 | 51 | 29 | 56 |
| vs. LH | 60 | .204 | .598 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 18 |
Moreland's signing comes during an offseason of uncertainty for the Red Sox, who have been dogged by trade rumors involving former American League MVP Mookie Betts. Owner John Henry denied earlier in January that the team is focused on slashing payroll below the competitive balance tax threshold.
Per @redsoxpayroll, the projection is now a $233.27 million for 2020.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 29, 2020
That's more than $25 million over the $208 million goal.
To make room for Moreland on the 40-man roster, Boston designated right-hander Denyi Reyes for assignment.