NBC Sports reported on Monday that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, in a lot of ways a perfect fit for the Red Sox this offseason, has left his agent and will sign with Scott Boras in time for what promises to be a big free-agent payday.

The 31-year-old Werth, a righthanded-hitting outfielder who probably could slide into the muddled situation in left field at Fenway Park pretty easily, has seen his OPS increase in each of the last two seasons. His home-run total and his slugging percentage are down from 36 and .506 a year ago, but his on-base percentage (.389) is up and his 44 doubles lead the National League. His home-run charts from 2009 and 2010 make it clear that while he has power to all fields -- much like Jason Bay -- he certainly would thrive hitting at Fenway Park.

A couple of questions exist with Werth:
1. Where did this production come from?
2. Can he keep it up?

Werth was a relatively nondescript player as recently as two seasons ago, hitting 24 home runs with an OPS of .861 in fewer than 500 plate appearances with the Phillies in by far the best season of his career to that point. It wasn't until last season, when he was 30 years old, that he exploded into the upper echelon of major-league hitters, and he's mostly sustained that production this season.

Werth would fit particularly well in Boston because he swings the bat from the right side of the plate, something very few of its top prospects or in-house solutions do. If the Red Sox aren't able to bring back Adrian Beltre, finding a righthanded power bat will be a top priority this offseason. An outfield consisting of J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ryan Kalish and/or Daniel Nava -- a switch-hitter who has been a significantly better hitter this season from the left side of the plate -- becomes ripe for the picking against tough lefties like Baltimore's Brian Matusz or New York's CC Sabathia. David Ortiz, who ESPNBoston.com reports likely will have his option picked up, likewise swings lefty.

Bay filled that role as a righty power for a little more than a season in Boston. Beltre filled that role this season.

Werth could fill that role next season. If the Yankees go hard, as expected, after Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford, they likely won't be in the mix for Werth. But if Werth has hired Boras, he's sending a signal he's expecting a big payday -- and offering a lucrative four-year contract to a 32-year-old outfielder without a long track record isn't something to do lightly.