Red Sox in market for big bat
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David Ortiz's slump has reached the point where, with
Kevin Youkilis out with an oblique strain,
Red Sox scouts are doing their due diligence in looking at other hitters. According to other teams' scouts, the Sox have been watching Washington first baseman
Nick Johnson, who has battled some injuries himself but has become one of the
Nationals' top hitters. He is Boston's kind of hitter - a guy with a very good on-base percentage - and he's in the final year of a three-year deal, earning $5.5 million. But the
Nationals would want pitching prospects in a trade, and the Sox guard those like gold.
There has been talk among scouts that the Indians might be willing to deal 29-year-old catcher/first baseman/DH Victor Martinez for young pitching. Martinez, who earns $5.7 million this season and $7 million in his option season next year, is hitting .409 with 7 homers and 25 RBIs. Another option, though less likely, would be Colorado's
Todd Helton, who has always indicated that he'd OK a deal to Boston. But Helton is very expensive, earning $16.6 million this year and next and $19.1 million in 2011.
Boston Globe