Red Sox Offseason Outlook

The Boston Red Sox struggled throughout the 2015 campaign and are looking to turn it around in 2016. However their struggles date back to the 2014 season coming off a world series championship. In the past two seasons the Sox’s have averaged 74 wins shy of .500 and no where near the postseason picture coming in last place in the American League East both seasons. The Red Sox have a ton of young talent that has shown flashes in the big league’s however injuries have keep most of them down and an extreme let down of big free agent signings has lead the Red Sox into a downward spiral. With the announcement of David Ortiz’s retirement following the 2016 season you wonder if bringing in Dave Dombrowski will change the Red Sox front end way of thinking. You would hope as fans of the game or the Red Sox that they return to a competitive state in 2016 and while it may not be easy there are a few easy key starting points.

1. The old free agents. The enemy in the New York Yankees and their hearty payroll have tried this approach since the begenning of baseball and it has brought them much success especially lately under the ever open pocket of the Steinbrenner family. However for the Boston Red Sox the big acquisitions of top name players in recent years has not panned out. Just going back to the begenning of the 2015 season, they had brought in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. Between the two over $180 M guaranteed. First off the Red Sox historical have not spend money in free agency and even more important the Sox didn’t gain much value from these players. Both were fairly ineffective throughout the season. Pablo and Hanley were both way to much of a defensive liability and Sandoval was never known for begin a regular season hitter, but a clutch postseason hitter. The Red Sox made an off-season flash that’s for sure however it lead to nothing costing the team in the development of their young players and a detriment to the payroll. The Red Sox need to get rid of the old including home town heroes in Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz and move on with the new who have shown promise and potential but need time to not only play in the big league’s but play together in the big league’s. Take the world series champions Kansas City Royals for example. Not one player on that team is great, but all 25 players together made a fantastic team winning the pennant two years in a row. The Red Sox need to get a group of guys to play together as a team which they can do with all of their young talent however sticking to an old cast of guys who cannot get the job done is helping no one. The acquisition of David Price already this year is a step in the right direction to sure up their rotation.
2. Poor Trade Value. The Boston Red Sox made many trades throughout the off season last year. Including trading away one of the greatest outfielders in baseball in Yoenis Cespedes. What they received in return, the pitcher Rick Porcello, who as many fans know 9-15 record with an ERA of just under five was not worth anything in 20/20 hind sight. The Red Sox also traded away perhaps their best pitching prospect going into the season in Rubby de la Rosa in exchange for Wade Miley. They also traded away 3B Will Middlebrooks who had much success in Boston. The Red Sox in returned received multiple draft picks that have essentially resulted in young talents that the Red Sox have not let develop. Not to mention, when they dealt John Lester to the Oakland A’s, they received one of the best outfielders in the league Yoenis Cespedes, but they let him go after a half season. The Red Sox need to start capitalizing on trades, and gain value through them.
3. Starting Rotation. The Red Sox signed David Price in the off season, and he is expected to perform at a very high level. He has the capability and talent to be the best pitcher in MLB, and is guaranteed to be the ace that the Red Sox have been looking for. They also took the option on Clay Buchholz contract to have him for another year. Clay is a good pitcher that has shown many good things through the course of his career but last year was relied on as the leader of the rotation, which is doesn’t have that ability. He is a solid three pitcher, and should do fine at the two slot this year. Rick Porcello is slotted at number three. I picture him as more of a five on most teams, but he will need to step up this year if the Sox will have any success. The young pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is a great pitcher, for his age he has shown potential of a hall of fame pitcher. His stuff is excellent and he throws hard. He will improve on what was a good year, and have an even better sophomore year. The last man in the rotation is up in the air, but right now it is Joe Kelly who has struggled a lot. Now to start from a payroll perspective, paying Kelly 2.6 M for his spotty performance is a joke. He is not a good pitcher. He is better out of bullpen and has seem to lost an edge. The Sox, if in the mix, will most likely at the dead line upgrade.
4. Outfield. The Sox’s have one of best outfield, not only in talent, but also depth. You have five outfielders that can all play ball. Starting from left to right, you have Rusney Castillo, Jackie Bradley Jr., and then Mookie Betts. They are all great outfielders, with range, and arms, who can all hit for power and average. 5 tool players. They are backed up by a better off season signing then David Price in my opinion, with Chris Young. Last year with the Yankees Young mixed in the lineup daily in a stacked Yankees outfield and he looks to do the same this year, as he hits with power and plays the field well. He looks to be a great option during the summer to give guys rest. Then they also have the do it all Brock Holt who can play if needed.
5. Infield. The infield is dependent on two things, health and performance. They have the talent, but if Pedroia can stay healthy and Sandoval plus Hanley can perform, there will be no issues. You have a great up and coming superstar in Xander Bogaerts locking down short, the aging and sore Dustin Pedroia at second who if he handles injuries, he won’t, will play well. Then having your big free agents Pablo and Hanley, going third to first, will hit and hopefully play the field. There is no question they will hit.
6. DH and catcher. David Ortiz returning for one more year will no doubt give you 25 HRs, while catcher is the position most in question for the Red Sox in 2016. I think the best catcher on the roster is Christian Vazquez, he plays the position the best, as he looks to take over Yadier Molina spot as the best defensive catcher in the game. He was injured last year though, if he recovers from that, look for him to take the role. However right now Blake Swihart is the starter and he can not play catcher. He struggles behind the dish, but he can hit.

The Red Sox now look like a potential playoff team, with Price leading the staff, a lineup that will hit over the summer, and carry them to 55 games, hope the pitching can get you 25-30 to lock up a playoff position. The one the thing the Red Sox will do this year is hit. The field play will be good enough. The pitching is the x factor for their success. The bullpen is beefed up with closer Craig Kimbrel looking to take over the ninth in Fenway. Looks to be a good season. Remember, 162 games. Do not panic.