Red Sox have become a franchise where fat contracts go to die

The Boston Red Sox had certainly had issues regarding spending wisely. That has now come home to roost with a power outage that can be linked to dead money.

A term known as the Elephants’ Graveyard is a mixed blend of fact and fiction. Do the elephants actually know that death is near and have a communal spot to last out their remaining days? I certainly care not to get into any debates over the reasoning of why some remains are found in certain locations. I do know that elephants happen to be the largest land animals.

The Red Sox also have a graveyard where large contracts go to die. The team has managed to accumulate a significant number of contracts that have shown a minimal return, no return and finally the potential to become – like elephants – rather ponderous to the future of the team. That – unfortunately – has already happened.

The Red Sox have a fiscal mandate to stay under the financial Mendoza Line that triggers the luxury tax. So far they have managed to remain under the magic number with some significant assistance from the Philadelphia Phillies, who absorbed the contract of Clay Buchholz – a nice $13 Million off the Red Sox books. Buchholz is gone for the season – at least physically.

The Red Sox fiscal issues have translated into decisions that are impacting the lineup this season. A “Big Bopper” is missing and no real effort took place to replace that vital cog.  Apparently, it all comes down to the money – a interesting turn of events for a normally free-spending organization.

So now a quick look at the Red Sox graveyard of contracts and those are well-known and all are forgettable. Some are (thankfully) a few years away from joining their brethren in the contracts boneyard.

Allen Craig

What could have been? Occasionally an article will appear on this site discussing the “if’s” of Red Sox history and Allen Craig is a classic example of just what can go wrong. Craig was just what you would want at Fenway Park – a line drive machine that could reach the magical 100 RBI and get somewhere around 20+ home runs a season.

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Craig was the real deal for his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals, who bought out three arbitration years and signed Craig to a five-year deal with an option for a sixth. The deal started in 2014 and would be $31 million for the non-option period. A worthy risk for a .300 hitting All-Star still only 28-years-old. The big question is just why a savvy organization like the Cardinals was willing to let Craig go? What happened so suddenly?

Was it injuries?  Was it just a mental breakdown on the technique of hitting? Whatever it was the Cardinals had the wisdom to trade Craig to Boston after a poor start in 2014 and it only went downhill after that.

Craig’s ability deteriorated so rapidly that he easily cleared waivers and was sent packing for the minors. Craig’s downfall only accelerated in 2016 with extensive games missed over injuries. This season Craig is doing little to make any team interested in taking a risk and will undoubtedly play out the 2017 season as an $11 Million minor league player.

Rusney Castillo

Rusney Castillo had MLB interest, as did most players who had made a name for themselves in Cuba. The projections on Castillo were a possible five-tool talent who could play any outfield position. A talented ball-hawk with excellent closing speed that could unleash strong and accurate throws. Then came the hitting in Cuba.

In 2010-11 Castillo hit .320 in 107 games and cranked 22 home runs. The speedy Castillo led the Cuban League in steals with 32. The 2011-12 season exceeded that. Castillo hit .342 in 113 games and led the league in doubles with 37. Castillo swiped 27 bases to finish third in the league.  In 2012-13 Castillo slipped to .274 in just 68 games.

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Where Castillo made an impression was the international games.  In the World Cup in 2011 Castillo hit .512 while playing center field.  Castillo displayed everything that could justify the projection of a future MLB star and the subsequent money. The Red Sox “won” the bidding war with $72.5 Million and had a future star. The rest is a sad history.

There were warning signs such as a certain level of laziness, inconsistent performances and the fact that Castillo may have reached a quick plateau and was slipping.  Offensively the Cuban League is a notorious hitters league so maybe some of the numbers were slanted?

Castillo may be an All-Star this season only it will be in the International League playing for the Pawtucket Red Sox.  Castillo easily cleared waivers a few years ago and was sent packing.  Now off the 40-man roster, it is doubtful he will return to Boston and have his salary count against the luxury tax.

Pablo Sandoval

The warning signs were waving briskly regarding Pablo Sandoval.  Weight issues were the key since that had become a divisive issue with his previous employer, the San Fransisco Giants. Animosity between Sandoval and the Giants may have simmered and that left the opening the Red Sox needed and they ponied up $90 Million.

What motivated the Red Sox? Boston needed someone at third and Panda was still relatively young at 28-years-old.  Sandoval also has established himself on the big stage with some historic World Series performances. The Red Sox apparently thought marketing just as the Giants had since Sandoval became one of the faces of their franchise.

What could go wrong?

In a nutshell, everything that could go sour did.  Sandoval looked like Jabba the Hutt in camp.  His game on offense and especially defense was an epic disaster.  Then came an injury and a lost season and now in 2017, it seems more of the same. The Red Sox are stuck to the nice tune of $55 Million for the next three seasons.

Hanley Ramirez

This is an example of too much money for too little production.  I know 2016 was exciting as HanRam did what was expected, but that may just be an anomaly season in his Boston tenure.  If a vesting option kicks in the Red Sox will be paying over $22 Million for this season and the next two for a designated hitter. The final cost of the Ramirez contract could be in excess of $100 million.

This contract made little sense when it was done. Hanley’s defensive skills were ordinary in the best of times and those times had passed by. The move to left field was mystifying and first base was nothing exceptional. The Red Sox long-range game plan had to have Ramirez moving to DH in the latter years of his contract and that is exactly what has happened.

Ramirez would be difficult to move for payroll relief since the contract is ponderous. With Sandoval and Ramirez the Red Sox have a commitment for $40 million for this season – The Rays payroll is $70 million for the entire team.