With the way he’s produced this season for the Boston Red Sox, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe believes free agent-to-be outfielder Cody Ross could be in line for a deal comparable to the three-year, $21 million contract Josh Willingham signed with the Minnesota Twins last off-season:

His contribution as a righthanded bat with power has been undisputable. Ross, who signed a one-year, $3 million deal, wants to return to Boston and hopes to get the security of a multiyear deal. With so many other teams lacking righthanded pop, he could likely get himself a Josh Willingham three-year, $21 million type deal. The Red Sox are very interested in pursuing a deal.

Over 327 at-bats, the 31-year-old Ross has hit .272/.337/.854 with twenty-four doubles and eighteen home runs this season for the Red Sox.

While Cafardo says Boston is interested in bringing Ross back, he notes the club could look to trade catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia this winter. He adds the Red Sox "appear ready to commit to Ryan Lavarnway as their catcher and may want more of a defensive catcher to back him up."

Saltalamacchia, 27, has hit .227/.282/.461 with fourteen doubles and twenty home runs over 317 at-bats this season.

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Should the Red Sox re-sign Ross? Trade Saltalamacchia?

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