The Boston Red Sox had luck last year with a short-term flyer on Cody Ross, a right-handed-hitting outfielder who made a career of destroying left-handed pitchers. Now they’re going back to that template, closing in on a two-year deal with former Athletics outfielder Jonny Gomes.
Red Sox, Jonny Gomes close to 2-year deal
Gomes will turn 32 on Thanksgiving, and just had his best season since finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2004. After hitting .209/.325/.389 for two teams in 2011, he bounced back with a .262/.377/.491 line for the A’s, hitting 18 home runs in 279 at-bats. He received the bulk of those at-bats against left-handers (196 plate appearances against LHP, 137 against RHP), hitting .299/.413/.561 off southpaws, close to his .284/.382/.512 career line against them.
The move likely pushes Ross out of the picture for the Red Sox, as he was looking for a three-year deal, which was probably never going to happen.
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