The Boston Red Sox have suddenly discovered fiscal responsibility or have they? The actions of the past have now dictated the present.
The town I live in has a municipal gas and electric department. The advantages are they are local and not some mysterious identity in cyberspace, a rate charge that is quite low and – most importantly – great customer service. The key is how does the department respond when a significant power outage happens?
Wind storms – your classic nor’easter – have hit our area many times in the 43 years I have lived here. With a townland area the second largest in the state, the downed lines can be a logistical nightmare. Internally there are limits so that brings in external sources to deal with the power outage. The Boston Red Sox need an external look for their power outage.
First the internal. The loss of David Ortiz has left more than a gaping hole in an ordinarily productive lineup. The figures have constantly been published showing the downward trend in overall offensive capabilities – a trend that appears to be constant. Maybe we collectively – especially Red Sox management – underestimated the loss of Ortiz and how it has reverberated throughout the lineup?
More from Red Sox News
- Bizarre trade deadline comes back to haunt Red Sox after Nathan Eovaldi departure
- Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
- Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
- Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure
- Why Red Sox fans should be rooting for Carlos Correa’s Mets deal to go through
The internal options, simply do not exist. The most disappointing aspect for me is Xander Bogaerts who has repeatedly been projected as a 20+ home run player. Last season XB slammed 21 and now he has none. Madison Bumgarner – a pitcher – has two. Others have simply not stepped up in the power department and the farm system has nothing of note to contribute.
The blame game is simple when you use hindsight, but when the Red Sox passed on adding a big bat the gloom and doom crowd (I am one) were rather prophetic on the eventual outcome of a sudden parsimonious franchise. The whining now will accomplish nothing. Time to move on and solve the problem. The Red Sox simply need some serious lumber in the middle of the lineup.
I doubt that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will be able to secure the necessary bat via Amazon, EBAY or Craig’s List. What you have to do is simply give to get and Dombrowski has been quite good at giving and getting with mixed results.
What is necessary is to see just who is available and that usually is connected to disappointment – either by a team or a player. A second part is the usual “Let’s dump him before free agency.” All of the previous provides the opportunity and the Red Sox certainly need to look into it before they actually end up becoming sellers. Getting the big name with a big bat will cost money. Take a look at Ryan Braun’s contract as an example.
Why is it about the money?
The Red Sox have said they will hold the fiscal line – at least for this season. Clay Buchholz is gone along with his eight figures to get them under the luxury tax, but the Red Sox simply went on the cheap. Edwin Encarnacion would have been a great replacement for Ortiz, but oh that money! The same seemed to surface with other viable options so the Red Sox went to the bargain bin and signed Mitch Moreland for a year.
The real issue is not the luxury tax, but a systematic failure within baseball operations over several years. Yoan Moncada received a $65 Million bonus and he is gone. Allen Craig and Rusney Castillo are not counted against the luxury tax, but they represent $90 Million that is on the books. Pablo Sandoval has returned little for $90 Million. Just four players and over $200 Million!
More from Red Sox News
- Bizarre trade deadline comes back to haunt Red Sox after Nathan Eovaldi departure
- Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
- Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
- Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure
- Why Red Sox fans should be rooting for Carlos Correa’s Mets deal to go through
What is tieing up this team is simply the combination of dead money and contracts with little value. The ownership apparently has had it. In my view, I firmly believe if Castillo and Craig were magically off the books this team would not have given a hoot about spending for a high-performance bat and go over –well over – the luxury tax. Their history is one of spending.
The hole in the lineup is apparent and to fill it will take on some very large salary that someone wishes to dump. The Red Sox have always been fluid in their decision-making process. Contracts that would not be given over age and years of length havebeen ignored under certain circumstances. This self-declared moratorium on exceeding the luxury tax may also go by the wayside when need outweighs fiscal restraint.
Next: Red Sox Prospect Watch
Dave Dombrowski can play the victim card since some of the fiscal leverage that is limited was not on his watch. The proverbial down the road may keep Dombrowski fully employed instead of cut loose if the team falls short this season. Dombrowski will rely on certain contracts expiring and freeing up some cash and eventually get the offense back its mojo.