Red Sox Could Return to Dormant Mode

After a busy few weeks in December that saw Ben Cherington bolster his bullpen with the likes of Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey, the feared reality that the Red Sox brass could now return to a quiescent form is once again playing out.

We keep hearing about this damn luxury tax threshold and for the first time in recent memory it is affecting who and how the Red Sox spend their money.  Not only is it gripping the purse strings of the Olde Towne Team, but it is also affecting the rival New York Yankees, the king of spenders during most off seasons.   As Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe points out, don’t expect Cherington to be overly aggressive from here on out.

“Ben is listening with free agents, but that’s it so far,’’ said one agent, who asked not be identified. “I don’t think it’s an act, either. They’re hoping somebody falls to them and that may be it.’’

That being a quote from Abraham’s Globe article in which he spoke to an agent who asked to remain anonymous.  Not exactly arousing words that would get many Red Sox fans excited about expecting any major signings.

But we’ve heard this before right?  Isn’t this the same song and dance that Cherington and his posse have been preaching all along, before they went out and acquired two excellent bullpen pieces?  Yes, they addressed the bullpen need as they knew it was a gapping hole.   Now they need to address the starting pitching as it to remains in need of some work beyond just a few throw together patches.

Matt Garza remains available but his asking price is said to be ridiculously high, and why shouldn’t it be after Washington and Cincinnati sold the farm for Gonzalez and Latos.  But the Red Sox have an edge in the Garza sweepstakes and it’s thanks to the unresolved compensation for Theo himself.  If things should play out this way, it’s still going to cost the Red Sox two, maybe even three highly sought after prospects.

Roy Oswalt remains another possibility but with the sudden change in asking price of a one-year deal, many teams are now interested in the 34-year old.  What could have been a deal for under $10 million is now looking like an 8-figure salary, something that surely the Sox will shy away from.

If Cherington holds true to his word then Edwin Jackson is all but a pipe dream at this point, especially considering it’s been said that Jackson could get a three, maybe even a four-year deal.

The right-field dilemma is another hot topic lately and this threatening dormant mode could mean we’ll be seeing Mike Aviles, Ryan Sweeney and Darnell McDonald platoon the defense of Pesky’s pole.  Cody Ross is still on the free-agent market and could be a reasonable cost at around $6 million.  But I’m thinking throw that reserved money at starting pitching as Cody himself will tell you it was starting pitching that led his Giants to a World Series back in 2010.

So after satisfying the hungry appetite of Red Sox Nation and finally making some bonified moves during the winter, the Nation had best start storing that recent feeding of good news and new team improvements as it’s looking like we could be in for another hibernation period. Thanks to mother luxury tax and the new command to obey it, the Red Sox could be tight with their money the rest of the way.

Only seven weeks until pitchers and catchers report, do we have enough new pieces to wait that long?

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