TORONTO — The Red Sox have several imminent decisions to make once the World Series ends and free agency begins. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom must decide whether to extend qualifying offers to pending free agents Michael Wacha, Nathan Eovaldi and J.D. Martinez.
The Red Sox and Tommy Pham also have an interesting decision to make. Pham has a $12 million mutual option.
The mutual option previously was reported at $6 million, but it is actually worth $12 million, according to an industry source.
Mutual options usually are declined by one side. Kyle Schwarber had a $11.5 million mutual option that he declined last year because he knew he would make significantly more money in free agency and he did (four years, $79 million with Philadelphia).
But a $12 million salary in 2023 would represent a pay increase for Pham from 2022. So Pham might be interested and the Red Sox also might be interested.
Boston will have plenty of money to spend this winter. It could have $121.5 million or more coming off the books this offseason, although some of that money needs to be used to pay its own players. Xander Bogaerts is expected to opt out of his contract to become a free agent and the Red Sox will try to re-sign him. Rafael Devers is eligible for free agency after 2023 and so the Red Sox will need to spend big money on him soon if they plan to keep him.
The 34-year-old Pham hasn’t had the best season (.700 OPS with Boston) and he plays only left field, decreasing Boston’s roster flexibility. But he has power, hits lefties especially well and the Red Sox will need a corner outfielder next year if the mutual option isn’t exercised. Pham has played a respectable left field for Boston and leads the majors with a career-high 15 outfield assists. Eight of those assists have come since being traded to Boston.
It might be an overpay for Boston but that’s something a big-market team should be willing to do short-term to keep a player if it feels he’s a fit.
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