Jeff Francoeur is aware that as the Royals are in Boston to face the Red Sox, he could be looking at his former team from his current one. The Royals outfielder says he’s been up front with general manager Dayton Moore about his longing to stay in Kansas City, and yet rumors are swirling that the BoSox are in on Francoeur’s righthanded bat to help solidify their line-up. For Francoeur, he realizes, it’s just part of the business.
Francoeur talked to WEEI’s Rob Bradford about the rumors recently and said he used to check the Internet for where he could possibly he headed. Now he’s at peace with whatever happens, saying it’s given him the chance in recent years to gain playoff experience. He also mentioned his Boston connections.
“It would be neat,” Francoeur said. “From a standpoint where my dad took a train with my grandpa for tons of games to Fenway. I was in high school and had a Boston Red Sox credit card. But I’m happy here, and I would like to play here.
Bradford makes even more of a connection with a certain scout who almost had his wish for the Red Sox to choose Francoeur back in the 2002 draft.
Ironically, it isn’t the first time Francoeur has drawn interest from the Red Sox. The team had significant interest in the then-Parkview (GA) High star during the 2002 draft before Atlanta swooped in and took him with the 23rd overall pick. Francoeur still, however, has fond memories of the process, which helped forge a lifelong friendship with Red Sox area scout Rob English (whom he still visits and goes catfish-fishing with.)
On the year, Francoeur is hitting .268 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI. But it’s Francoeur’s hitting prowess against lefties that really has to get a front office excited, with the ability to add a .309/.362/.617 line against lefties to your arsenal. That would make an already potent line-up even more effective and potentially push the BoSox deeper into the post-season.