The Red Sox have a hole at the first base position. Who will they find to fill the key offensive position in 2013?
It's been a while since the Boston Red Sox had a genuine hole on the right side of the infield.
Whether it was Kevin Millar, Kevin Youkils or Adrian Gonzalez, the Red Sox have had a fairly solid run at first base since the current ownership group took over.
Not anymore.
By the time the last place 2012 Red Sox finished their lost season, the first base position was manned by either the all-glove,very-little-bat James Loney, who is a free agent this offseason, or by Mauro Gomez, a prospect with a fairly low ceiling who doesn't field the position particularly well.
Long story short; the Red Sox need a first baseman.
It just might not be a superstar. As the American League playoffs have unfolded, it has become apparent that to be successful a team doesn't need to have a superstar at first base.
Yes the Tigers have Prince Fielder and the Yankees have Mark Teixeira, but the Orioles have Mark Reynolds and the A's primarily used a platoon of Brandon Moss and Chris Carter to get through the regular season. In the playoffs they've relied on Moss.
If the Red Sox thought success absolutely required a big-name, big money first baseman then they never would have shipped Adrian Gonzalez out of town this past August.
Odds are that the Red Sox will have a new first baseman next spring, but it might not be an All-Star. The photo gallery to the right provides some players who could potentially play first base for the Red Sox.