Boston Red Sox should pass on free agents
By Rick McNair
What didn’t work for drug policy may work long-term for the Boston Red Sox – just say no!
The current generation of Red Sox fans are spoiled. Like children who greedily expect a mountain of toys on Christmas day and are still disappointed when their unrealistic expectations are dashed. A petulant temper is often the result.
For those of RSN mantra is spending to the nth degree to do comeuppance to our various rivals du jour as we formulate a wish list of pricy bobbles on the free agent tree for a joyful baseball Christmas. Luxury tax? Ha! Let’s go all Dodgers or Yankees on them.
Maybe it is time for a reverse? A philosophical switch.
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I have always been in the spend camp. Toss the money around to fill holes – real or perceived – and to deprive rivals of a “star” by prying him loose with “an offer he couldn’t refuse.” One focus of debate is actually reaching that perilous luxury tax threshold. I’m sure a Houston fans feel our pain. Maybe the other side of the debate is also plausible?
The Red Sox have stockpiled some impressive minor league talent – impressive by those evaluators in the media, baseball and fandom. Debates over who will eventually be tossed into the trade pot to acquire a player of note is hot stove banter that is a time-honored tradition that is almost exclusively the domain of baseball.
Just forget Jon Lester, James Shields or all the secondary talent like Brandon McCarthy. Stay the course with the plethora of pitching that went through trial and error – mostly error – during 2014. Give the bunch a long look in spring training along with Henry Owens, Brian Johnson and a few others. Sort through and let them learn on the job.
Why toss out 100M for a third baseman? Garin Cecchini was supposed to be the next great or semi-great one to lock down third. Go with him. In 2014 Jackie Bradley failed and failed miserably. Time to just give up or a second chance? Christian Vasquez appears a lock at third providing he can hit. The Red Sox will find out. Mookie Betts is the most prominent name on the trade charts. Plug him in somewhere and let him play.
Next up will be Blake Swihart. Swihart will be at Pawtucket and get to show his stuff as will a few others. The roster will have some on the upward swing and go with it. Culling of the minor league herd. Salt the money away and see what will happen in 2015 and 2016 without spending. Such a change could result in lean years or it could result in a team that is built from within.