Red Sox: What if the Sox never acquired Carl Everett?
Verdict?
Signing Carl Everett restored some faith in the Red Sox after letting Vaughn go in free agency. We lost our top hitter at the end if 1998 for nothing. While Greg Miller never turned into anything, Adam Everett turned into a fine defensive shortstop. Carl Everett, while good defensively, was great for really only one season.
The trade really ended up being an Everett for an Everett. One became a decent fielder and the other experienced a great year in Boston. One team was able to shed themselves of a major contract and a team headache while the other was able to reinvigorate Red Sox baseball for a year before the David Ortiz Era began.
I’d say that the Carl Everett for Adam Everett and Greg Miller trade was about an even trade for both parties. Each Everett served their purpose. Fans won’t forget the issues involving Everett in Boston and one thing’s for sure, no one will truly know just how good he could have been if he had just kept his attitude in check.
Had he been thinking team-first from the beginning of his tenure in Boston, the Sox could have had a powerhouse squad consisting of Ortiz, Everett, Ramirez, and Nomar Garciaparra on offense. Lest we forget, Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling were starring as the leaders in the rotation. Everett could have been remembered for what will be remembered as one of the best Red Sox era’s ever.
Stay tuned for the next “What If” article coming out in two weeks.