Red Sox re-sign first baseman Mitch Moreland

In something of a surprise move, the Red Sox Monday announced the re-signing of first baseman Mitch Moreland to a two-year deal worth $13 million, returning Moreland to Boston after it appeared his stay here would be limited to a year.

Moreland could potentially add another $1 million over the life of the deal in performance bonuses tied to plate appearances.

In his first season with the Red Sox, during which he made $5.5 million, Moreland had a .246/.326/.443 with 22 homers and 79 RBI. Moreland presumably returns to be the team’s principal first baseman, though he could perhaps share some DH at-bats.

Moreland was hampered mid-season by a broken toe that limited his output at the plate for several weeks, but that's now fully healed.  Remove six weeks from the season between mid-June and the end of July when Moreland struggled with the injury and remained in the lineup, and as Tim Britton of the Providence Journal noted, Moreland would have finished with an .864 against righthanded pitching.

"I'm not planning on breaking my toe this year,'' Moreland joked in a conference call with reporters.

He also underwent an arthroscopic surgery on a torn meniscus in his knee shortly after the season and is fully recovered from that procedure.

Dave Dombrowski, the Red Sox president of baseball operations, said that the Sox had remained in contact with Moreland for the entire off-season and acknowledged the Sox had checked in on some other options at first. One of those is known to be Carlos Santana, who signed a three-year deal for $60 million with Philadelphia late last week.

After Santana's signing was finalized, interest in Moreland grew. The Sox got the deal done over the weekend.  Moreland said he felt some relief to get a deal done relatively early in the off-season, given that there's a crowded market for first basemen.

It also gives him the stability of a multi-year deal, after settling for a one-year contract last season.

BSJ ANALYSIS

This is likely just the first of a couple of moves by the Red Sox to address the team's lineup.

First and foremost, the deal has the effect of taking the Red Sox out of any pursuit of free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer. Agent Scott Boras had suggested in the last two weeks that the Sox could sign both Hosmer and J.D. Martinez, but Hosmer is off the Red Sox' radar.

Over the last three seasons, Hosmer and Moreland have had nearly identical production when it comes to extra-base hits. Moreland has 67 homers and 82 doubles while Hosmer has 68 homers and 88 doubles. Each has also won a Gold Glove.

It's uncertain would sort of impact Moreland's return will have on Hanley Ramirez, who is under contract for $22 million in 2018.

Dombrowski suggested that the two could assume the roles that had been planned for them in 2017 -- before Ramirez, battling shoulder injuries, was severely limited in his ability to play first base. That would feature Moreland as the first baseman against right-handed pitching, with Ramirez serving as the DH. Ramirez could play first against lefties, with someone else filling the DH slot.

Moreland's presence would also help the Red Sox limit Ramirez's playing time, which, in turn, could keep him from getting the necessary plate appearances to vest his 2019 option. Ramirez needs 497 plate appearances to kick in a $22 million option for 2019.

Also, should the Sox successfully land a power bat like Martinez, it could result in the Sox dealing off Ramirez -- presuming they take back a good chunk of his salary. The looming vesting option, however, could well limit Ramirez's appeal on the market.

Finally, the Sox could retain Ramirez as their primary DH, sign Martinez for left field, shift Andrew Benintendi to center and deal away center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. That scenario would seem the least likely.

Dombrowski said Monday that the Sox "could'' still add a power bat -- through free agency or trade.

"We still continue to feel that we have the opportunity to add someone else to our club from an offensive perspective,'' said Dombrowski. "I don't know if it will happen or not, but there are some names out there we'll continue to talk to.''

But Dombrowski added that he would be satisfied starting the season with the current lineup, given that he expects a number of regulars to enjoy bounce-back seasons.