The Red Sox are getting their offseason started a little early.
The first of what promises to be several moves ahead of a busy winter, the Red Sox agreed to a contract extension with center fielder Kiké Hernández that keeps him in Boston through 2023, according to ESPN. The deal is for one year and $10 million.
Hernández – who signed a two-year, $14 million deal to join the Red Sox prior to the 2021 season – was due to be a free agent this winter. The deal gives the Red Sox short-term security at a premium position without breaking the bank on a player in Hernández, who shined for them in 2021 before an injury forced him out for most of this season.
Hernández had a good first season in Boston in 2021, when he emerged as the everyday center fielder and one of the best defenders at the position while becoming a force as the leadoff hitter. He broke out as a postseason star last October, when he helped the Red Sox reach the ALCS and two games short of a World Series berth after hitting .408 with five home runs and a 1.260 OPS in 11 games.
There were high expectations for Hernández this season, but he didn’t get off to a good start offensively before a right hip flexor strain he suffered in early June ultimately cost him 60 games and possibly a bigger payday this winter. He’s hitting .219 with six homers, 37 RBI and a .637 OPS in 68 games so far this season.
With this winter’s class of free agent center fielders not especially deep, and no obvious replacement in Boston after rookie Jarren Duran struggled mightily throughout a two-month audition this summer, it made sense for the Red Sox to reunite Hernández, whose versatility they also value. A super utility player throughout his career, Hernández has also played second and shortstop for the Red Sox this season.
Duran, Alex Verdugo, Franchy Cordero and Rob Refsnyder are the only other outfielders with major league experience who the Red Sox have under team control going into next season.
Hernández was one of several Red Sox players who are pending free agents this offseason, which will be the biggest one yet for chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom as the club stumbles toward a last-place finish in the American League East. Xander Bogaerts is expected to opt out of his contract, and other key players like Nathan Eovaldi, J.D. Martinez and Michael Wacha are set to hit the market.
THE RED SOX are putting first baseman-outfielder Franchy Cordero on the injured list after he sprained both sides of his ankle in a game this week.
The Red Sox also said right-hander Tanner Houck had back surgery Tuesday and is expected to be ready for spring training next season.
Cordero was carted off in the fifth inning Monday night after running into the left-field wall chasing Randy Arozarena’s double at Tampa Bay.
Cordero is hitting .219 with eight home runs and 29 RBI.
Houck went 5-4 with a 3.15 ERA, and eight saves in nine chances over 28 relief appearances this season. He made four starts.
The Red Sox recently said Houck would have surgery for a disk problem. Dr. Christopher Bono performed the surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez was in the original lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Rays after missing two games with back issues but was a late scratch. He is expected to play Wednesday.
In other injury news, Boston righty Nick Pivetta will make his scheduled start Wednesday night against the Rays. He exited his last outing Friday against Texas after three innings with a bruised left calf after being hit by a comebacker.
Righty Nathan Eovaldi, on the IL due to right shoulder inflammation, is scheduled for a bullpen session on Wednesday.
THE RED SOX decided to steal a page from the NBA and NHL when it came to a pregame workout before Tuesday night’s game at Tampa Bay.
Six or seven players took batting practice in the morning at an indoor facility near the team hotel instead of the standard workout on the artificial turf at Tropicana Field prior to the 6:40 p.m. start.
The NBA schedules morning shootarounds, while the NHL holds morning skates on most game days. Then the players show up for a short workout before the game that night.
“Today was a weird day,” Red Sox Manager Alex Cora said “We hit, we got here later, avoiding the turf. Obviously there’s other sports that do it but they don’t play on a daily basis, right?
Cora said the team has been discussing the idea for several years and decided to give a try because a suitable offsite facility was close to the hotel.
“Today we changed the schedule to see something that we might start next year,” Cora said. “Trying a few things off the field. Trying stuff to see if it’s good for the body and all that.”
The hitters went through a regular routine.
“Kind of like a relaxing off the field stuff,” Cora said. “Working on mechanics, it’s not rushed.”
And there was another benefit.
“I was able to take a nap before I got here,” Cora said. “We weren’t here at 1, we got here at 3:45. So, it’s time management, keeping them off their feet, especially on this surface. It’s something we’ve been thinking about for awhile and we just decided to do it here and see how it goes.”
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