Chris Sale won’t be the sole representative of the 2023 Boston Red Sox making a move to the Atlanta Braves this year. The Braves made headlines by signing outfielder Adam Duvall to a one-year contract valued at $3 million, bolstering their outfield depth.
With the Red Sox acquiring outfielder Tyler O’Neill during the offseason, they found themselves with an excess of outfielders. Despite rumors suggesting Boston’s interest in re-signing Duvall for his right-handed batting prowess, the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier quashed such speculation by reporting that the Red Sox didn’t actively pursue Duvall’s return.
This opened the door for Duvall to return to the Braves, where he previously played from 2018 to 2022, including their World Series-winning campaign in 2021. Duvall’s standout performance that season saw him hit .228 with 38 home runs and 113 RBIs in 146 games, marking his only season with over 100 games played in the last five years due to various injuries.
Although Duvall came close to the century mark with the Red Sox last season, appearing in 92 games, a fractured wrist suffered in April sidelined him for two months. Despite this setback, he managed to post a .247 batting average with 21 home runs and 58 RBIs by season’s end.
Joining the Braves again, Duvall brings a wealth of experience to the team, but he’ll face stiff competition for playing time in a stacked Braves lineup. Reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and the talented Michael Harris II have secured right field and center field, respectively, leaving Duvall to vie for playing time in left field against Orlando Arcia and Jarred Kelenic, acquired by the Braves in the offseason.
