Move over Nomah, There’s a New #5 In Town

4th outfielder bound to become a Fenway favorite

The Red Sox added a key piece to their bench with the acquisition of one time elite prospect Rocco Baldelli.  The former Tampa Bay Ray has been ravaged by injury and illness for much of his career, but his inspiring comeback from mitochondrial disease has been nothing short of miraculous. 

Boston is pretty well set with a starting outfield of Jason Bay, J.D. Drew, and Jacoby Ellsbury and the fact that Rocco’s condition is not curable has caused many to be skeptical of Baldelli’s overall value to the team. 

However, the most recent reports have shown that Baldelli’s condition can be mitigated by medication and proper physical precautions.  It seems like Baldelli has been around forever, but the fact remains that he is just 27 years old, an age where many players are just beginning to enter the primes of their careers. 

The eBay market for Baldelli’s cards is now just starting to pick up with his best cards, the 2000 Bowman Draft autographs, selling for between $45-50 each and bulk lots of his Topps Traded Chrome and Bowman Chrome Draft can be had at less than $1.00 per card.  What can we expect from Baldelli?  Last season in 80 regular season AB’s, Rocco hit .263 with 4 HR and 13 RBI.  He also added 2 HR and 4 RBI in 20 post season AB’s. 

I think that Baldelli will be able to accumulate 200 AB and conceivably double digits in HR.  Baldelli is a native New Englander who will be lauded once he dons the #5 jersey.  If he can stay healthy and strong, Rocco the role player will be a smash hit in Beantown.