Red Sox management tosses shutout at Winter Meetings
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox have been unusually quiet at the Winter Meetings. No big names, little names or no names have been signed.
What is missing from this list? I scanned the section regarding trades and was shocked to see the Boston Red Sox drawing a blank. OK – I’ll move on to major league signings and wander down until I hit Red Sox. They are missing. Well, fine, I have one last fallback on the list and that is minor league signings. Nothing. Being one prone to self-inflicted baseball agony I decided to through the remaining flotsam and, alas, your Boston Red Sox are AWOL.
Did Dave Dombrowski attend the winter meetings? Did anyone from the Red Sox attend? I saw numerous tweets and articles that quoted and interviewed Boston management, so my assumption is either a fabrication by lazy media or the Red Sox management just took a siesta.
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I’ll be the first or one of the first to admit that sometimes meetings such as this just built a foundation for future signings or exchanges of personnel. But what about just the really small deals? Nobody even claimed on waivers. No minor league signings. No International signings.
I happen to follow the small ticket as much as the large ticket. Just who will the Red Sox take a splurge on? How about non-tender options? I had some possibilities, but they went elsewhere or were ignored. Not even a nibble. DD wisely ignored me.
Puzzle pieces? Nothing with this group that tends to be significantly raised above the non-tendered. This is like going to the buffet late and finding the shrimp all gone.
I am mystified by the inaction. Dombrowski is a noted wheeler and dealer that is reminiscent of Frank “Trader” Lane who once attempted to trade team for team. I do believe Lane once traded managers with another GM. DD has been stagnant. Why?
My assumption is the Red Sox will be setting the stage for a blockbuster trade or the ultimate free agent signing or signings. Maybe they will go to the max and toss out a big – as in “really big” contract to a Yu Darvish or Jake Arrieta? That would be a shocker.
The target of choice is J.D. Martinez and I am guilty of wasting excessive internet ink on the topic. Everyone expects this to be a fait accompli and if it falls apart the blame game will commence. Maybe they will pull off a deal with the White Sox for Jose Abreu? Maybe Eric Hosmer will sign? I am in full maybe mode, but, again, the real disappointment is the less than well-known players.
Next: Five free agents to avoid
I happen to be patient with the big-ticket, but not the small ticket. Historically that is where the occasional gem can be dug up and either sequestered in the minors or added to your roster. Just maybe this will be moot when spring training opens.