First Base Options

I would love the Santana route, but I feel like something has to be done internally. To fix 3 positions to get to first base. I know you know. Hanley I feel, has to eat his pride and play 1st or third for a year and have Pablo possibly at first, unless you're willing to see these contracts put to less use than they can be. I wish Nap would just turn it around but I believe his offseason is affecting him

La Roche for maybe extreme short term. I like, and wish the names and numbers were right for guys like Brandon Belt or Mitch Moreland. I'm a big believer in average or better defensively with some pop but good obo skills at first. It's too much to try and get a miguel, jose abreu, goldy etc. Our first baseman doesn't have to hit 30 and be right handed for me. If he can play d and held Xander and whoever is at third out. Also first at fenway is important because liners down the rf line can easily be triples

Lots of jibberish in there but I like your santana idea or moving hanley/Pablo to first.very generic and vanilla. But I dont see shaw being a starter or sam travis more than some good trade fodder.

I'm not sure he can do it. But, if Hanley can play 1b that's best for the team IMO. I don't really want to tie up any more money in position players. Need to sink everything into the pitching staff. Try Hanley at 1b. If he can handle it, great! We still have; Castillo, Da'za and JBJ for LF and RF. Possibly, Margot pushing for a spot late in 2016.

If Hanley can't play 1b, we always have Holt to play there util a suitable replacement is found. Move Hanley back to LF. Again, don't want to tie up money. Maybe we can get LaRoche next year and have Chisox eat some if we give them a decent prospect.

There's also a good chance the Sox could very well go after Byung-Ho Park. He'd be a free agent solution that wouldn't require giving up any young talent or surrendering a draft pick.

He has good power, but the downside is that he strikes out a lot, which would hinder his BA.

I could be very wrong, but I have a feeling he will be the Sox 1b in 2016.

What about Chris Davis? He's a free agent. A deal should be a mid range offer and he still has a high upside. He'd be a nice stop gap solution for a few years.
You can expect a low batting average, average OBP and higher than average SLG. Overall you can expect an OPS+ from 100 to 120.
I need to learn more about his overall Defense.

What happens with Ortiz maybe more important than what happens with HRam.
Hanley is more than likely with the club next year and at DH he does not hurt the club. I cannot see him making the mental /physical adjustment to the infield field anymore.
Sandoval could be converted to 1B.
The Sox should explore both a 1B and 3B option during the off season and because of the flexibility that Pablo gives you, the sox can have 2 solutions for one problem and not limit themselves.

Davis is likely to get a QO, and I think it's unlikely he'd take a pillow-type deal unless he tanks in the second half. He's been decent this year, with a 117 wRC+ and on pace for a 2.5 fWAR season. However, I could see him being one of these guys whose market doesn't really develop and a team signs him in January/February for a reasonable number (think Michael Bourn).

Hanley is far and away my first choice. His biggest issue at SS was the erratic arm, and that shouldn't be a problem at 1B. Given his athleticism and size, a move to 1B shouldn't be difficult (admittedly I said the same thing last year about LF....). Keep in mind, he's here for 3+ more years and he only has to be 'not as detrimental defensively' to the team at 1B as he currently is in LF for it to be the right choice. I'm not sure where the 'swallow his pride' comment above came from, but considering that Hanley agreed to move from SS to LF this year, and he has played games at DH without any complaints that I have heard, the position he plays doesn't seem to be a major issue for him.

Moving Hanley out of the OF would leave the following to man two OF spots: Holt, Castillo, Bradley, Craig, Brentz, Nava. I think Nava and Brentz could form a passable platoon, but if either Castillo or Bradley figure things out, then that's a pretty solid group even without Victorino or Hanley. This time next year I'm sure Margot's name will be in the conversation as well.

Pablo at 1B would not be good. He would rank 23rd out of 26 qualified 1B this year in wOBA. As he was solid at 3rd for most of his career, I would rather roll the dice on him sticking there rather than rely on him being the strong half of a 2nd division 1B platoon.

I like the 'Park' signing in conjunction to this as he represents some high-upside for the next 4 years and based on the cost the pirates paid for Kang, the risk may be limited. If Hanley works out at 1B then he can platoon with Ortiz and be a RHH off the bench. Although, here is one reason for concern:

per www.overthemonster.com/2015/1/27/7926267/red-sox-scout-korean-star-first-baseman-byung-ho-park

I think the Hanley-to-1B thoughts are wishcasting more than anything. If he cannot get the nuances of LF (and to my eye he is improving, albeit slowly), there is no chance he's going to get the technical aspects of 1B. You cannot hide a deficient defensive player at 1B - he'll cost us a lot more runs at 1B than in LF.

Do you mean Manuel Margot? He's an OF. Not a strong 3B FA class; Freese, Sean Rodriguez, Gordon Beckham among others.

Given the Red Sox current salary commitments, I don't think they can afford a top of the rotation starter and a first baseman. If you believe, as I do, that they need another 200 quality innings from somewhere, their options are to find an internal (i.e. someone already under contract) option or a "discard" (i.e. underrated Minor Lesgue FA).

FWIW, reports said Hanley was open to playing 1B (and 3B, SS, LF) when he signed.