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5 Free Agents The Boston Red Sox Could Pursue In Offseason

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By @Will_Gellman

5 Free Agents The Boston Red Sox Could Target

Jon Lester Oakland A's
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The Boston Red Sox had a rough year in 2014. After winning a World Series in 2013, they finished this season with an AL East worst 71-91 record. Needless to say, the Red Sox need to significantly upgrade their team in order to get back to the promised land. Bringing in the following five players would get them back on the right path to a championship. Read on to find out who they are.

5. Colby Rasmus

Colby Rasmus MLB
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5. Colby Rasmus

Colby Rasmus MLB
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Now that the Miami Marlins are expected to keep OF Giancarlo Stanton through 2015, the Red Sox find themselves in need of help in the OF. A guy like Colby Rasmus might be a decent option. He possesses impressive power, speed and fielding ability. His average is usually suspect, but the Red Sox may be enticed by his AL track record and left-handed power, especially given the fact that the Red Sox' lineup is predominantly right-handed.

4. Chris Perez

Chris Perez MLB
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4. Chris Perez

Chris Perez MLB
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Perez didn't have a great season with the Dodgers in 2014, but it wasn't awful either. He started off strong, but bone spurs in his right ankle caused him to miss time and limited his effectiveness. His track record as a reliever is solid, especially in the AL with the Indians, where he had a career 3.33 ERA in 5 seasons. He is still just 29. If healthy, he could be a steal for the right team this winter. The Red Sox could be a great fit.

3. James Shields

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3. James Shields

James Shields MLB
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Shields may not have a great playoff track record, but he is still among the best pitchers in the game. His ERA has not gone higher than 3.52 in any season since 2010, a very impressive statistic when you consider he pitched those years in the AL. In fact, he has pitched in the AL his entire career, a definite plus for the Red Sox to consider. The team has been linked to Shields for a while now, and he may be a solid fit.

2. Ervin Santana

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2. Ervin Santana

Ervin Santana MLB
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Santana may be the most underrated pitcher on the market this winter. He pitched well for Atlanta in the NL in 2014, but he has made his bones in the AL. In nine seasons there, he has a career ERA of 4.19. He has struggled at times, but he has always been a workhorse. He has thrown 200+ innings in five of 10 seasons and has eclipsed 30 starts in seven of those. He would be a nice fit for the Red Sox as a quality No. 2 guy.

1. Jon Lester

Jon Lester MLB
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1. Getty Images

Jon Lester MLB
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Lester is perhaps the best free agent on the market and he is no stranger to Boston. He played there his entire career before being shipped to Oakland at the 2014 trade deadline. The Red Sox are expected to make a push to bring him back and for good reason. In his career, he has an ERA of 3.58, has beaten cancer, thrown a no-hitter, made 3 All-Star teams and he won 2 World Series championships with the Red Sox. He is likely their No. 1 priority.

 Will Gellman is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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