Shane Victorino signs with Red Sox
Shane Victorino is officially on board with the Red Sox for the 2013 season. The three-year deal was signed Dec. 13 and will pay Victorino around $39 million.
He was traded mid-season to the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Philadelphia Phillies, and did not do well batting. He batted a combined .255 with 11 homers, 55 RBIs and a .704 OPS. He had a career high 39 stolen bases. Victorino is also a switch-hitter.
Victorino will be signing on to play the right field position.
“It’s probably the toughest right field in baseball to play, just in terms of the space to cover,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said at last week’s winter meeting. “So that range comes into play, and yet you try to combine the best range available with some offensive production.”
As far as finding a great right-fielder who is also a great batter, Farrell said the defense part is what matters the most.
“It might not be your prototypical type of right fielder where it’s a power bat, because we do value the defense in that area. That’s not to exclude anyone, but defense takes a high priority in that position at Fenway,” explained Farrell.
Victorino will wear the number 18 with the Red Sox. This number formally was worn by Johnny Damon, who left the Sox for the New York Yankees in 2005, and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.
