Red Sox off-season swings, misses, and foul tips
The Boston Red Sox off-season quiet would make a monastic silence seems like a heavy metal scream fest. There are some noted swings, misses, and a foul tip. Maybe a home run is awaiting?
Just what is transpiring this off-season for the Boston Red Sox? The lethargic movement and signing of possible reinforcements elsewhere while Boston management sit on their haunches.
Dave Dombrowski is noted for bold and very aggressive moves. Some of the most headline-grabbing trades this century was the handiwork of Dombrowski.
The Red Sox had the baseball front pages with the pursuit and signing of David Price to give the fans the ace they demanded. DD also emptied out a robust farm system with trades for Craig Kimbrel and Chris Sale. Slightly smaller deals stabilized the bullpen with the acquisitions of Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg? But now?
The Red Sox have the decree from above to spend and exceed the luxury tax if needed, but the glacial pace has limited their options. Just who have the Red Sox missed? I can fully understand the reasoning behind certain moves, but others leave me confused.
A Foul Tip
The first base issue was a dog chasing its tail when the Red Sox fallback plan may not have been a fallback at all. Mitch Moreland re-signed for first base chump change at two-years and $13 million. This is a clearance item compared to what the Red Sox could have signed for Christmas.
Jose Abreu and Eric Hosmer are simply more productive offensive players. Both have a 4.1 fWAR to Moreland’ s rather pedestrian 0.9 fWAR. Hosmer is younger, and Abreu is the most needed with his right-handed power and career .300 average.
The Red Sox also passed on Carlos Santana who eventually signed for three-years and $60 million. Is Santana, Hosmer and Abreu worth that compared to the far less pricey Moreland? I can see the logic, but this foul tip needs another slugger to make it fully comprehensible.
Moreland is consistent most certainly. Healthy – say with a good toe – Moreland can get you 20/80/.260 and very good and even occasional great defense. If the Red Sox still had a David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in their prime this signing would be a footnote. Papi and Manny are gone. Let’s see if the lineup is finally augmented with that power to make this noted power position signing sensible.
A Swinging Strike
What about the bullpen? In 2017, the Red Sox had one of the best in the American League, but historically bullpens are flighty and tend to be disappointing year-to-year. The need is one of constant fortification with the idea that somewhere the seven or so assigned to relief duties will fail. Just think Smith and Thornburg.
The Red Sox sat on the sideline. They were the third string QB just charting the game. A valued lefty was available in Jake McGee – Boston declined. Is Fernando Abad in our future? Robby Scott is. Even the enigmatic Brian Johnson has been mentioned as a possible left-handed answer. That is not an answer, but a creation of more questions.
The apparent logic is Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly and Heath Hembree will repeat 2017. That Craig Kimbrel will continue to put up numbers – at least in the regular season – that are Mo Rivera like. And, of course, Smith’s cameo in 2017 may show he’s back to 100%.
The numbers flew off the free agent board for relief and Boston was mentioned as a potential destination for the upper echelon relievers, but what? Nothing. Crickets from the Red Sox. Maybe something is in the works, but I see nothing left on the shelf that instills confidence.
A Swinging Strike
Starters are always needed and 2017 is the perfect example. Big things were expected of Price, but the “Ace” spent half the season in the maintenance barn with a cranky elbow. And how about a cranky personality? Price won over no one with his petulant attitude.
Steven Wright was to have a dual responsibility of staring and pinch running but down went for the season. Rick Porcello was auditioning for a spot at heaving pitches for Home Run Derby. Despite all the dents, the rotation did fine – especially Sale.
The off-season is the time to scour the baseball landscape for a pitcher who may offer some positives during the season. Yes – getting Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta would be magnificent, but that will not happen. So, the usual path is a Doug Fister and Mike Fiers type or getting them personally. The Red Sox passed on all.
I can’t see any reasoning behind this. The rotation has too many question marks and as much as I feel Hector Velazquez will surprise it won’t be enough. This is generally a low-price option for a team with either an incentive laden contract or just an invite to spring training. So far nothing has surfaced.
A Swinging Strike
Dustin Pedroia is out for the first two months of the season and Rafael Devers considers each ground ball contaminated with U-235, so the idea is to have a bit of backup for second base and late inning defensive support. They have not done it – yet.
Brock Holt is a below average defensive player whose bat is in hibernation. Maybe it was the concussions or maybe not? Anyways Boston signed him. Eduardo Nunez took the brunt of innings at second when Pedroia went DL. Nunez can hit which balances out some occasional shoddy glove work.
Some rather significant names surfaced including Ian Kinsler – still one of the best at second base. Kinsler is now safely stashed out west. Maybe Boston is hoping hold overs Tzu-Wei Lin and Deven Marrero can contribute? Lin was impressive, but his MLB experience is just about six weeks. Marrero has been up and down like a Jack-in-the-Box with his exceptional glove work and a bat that challenges the Mendoza Line.
The key at this point to turn this away from a whiff and into a base hit is simple – sign Nunez. Nunez has a .300 bat, intensity, and versatility. His projected price tag is two-years at $14 million. Just do it!
A Foul Tip
John Farrell managed a team that had numerous key injuries to a 93-win season and division title only to be fired. Farrell did improve the 2017 team in the playoffs by winning one game versus none in 2016, but rumors of internal strife and every negative managerial move stripped clean via hindsight got the exit skids firmly greased.
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The Red Sox hired former team utility player Alex Cora as manager. Cora served duty as bench coach for the champion Astros, so he does have some high-end experience before having his first MLB managerial job. Note the word first. Cora will most certainly meet the same fate as Farrell and virtually every MLB manager.
But what is of note is the vetting process. Cora did have an incident – fueled by alcohol – with a team broadcaster – sound familiar? That, however, is somewhat dismissed as just a typical flare-up that happens during the season. At least it was not a public embarrassment like Petulant Price.
Cora brings a new face and a new language to the clubhouse – Spanish. A sure plus in the management circles. Cora also has given some insight into what his style will be – nothing to generate any “wow’s” from me. What Cora does not have is a team that has been supplemented with some significant upgrades. Farrell squeezed wins with a shaky crew – will Cora be able to accomplish the same?
Called Strike
This one is currently in a what the (insult notated vulgar term) is going on mode? Why is there a vacancy sign hanging at Fenway Park? You have seen it: “Right-handed power hitter needed.” The obvious choice is J.D. Martinez and with his agent being Scott Boras any action may not take place until the snows have melted.
The latest rumor is that the Red Sox have made an offer. Is it a rumor or a truth? Is it just information flushed to the media by the Red Sox? Boras? The “deal” is supposed to be for five years at a total of $110 Million. Boras is patient and we do have a lot of snow to melt.
This was a called strike last season when Boston decided to pass on Edwin Encarnacion as a replacement part for the retired Ortiz. The Red Sox suddenly decided they could do without and they certainly did without – as in turning an offense just average. Now is redemption time or is it?
Next: Red Sox should not trade for Manny Machado
The Red Sox have passed over some potential choices in Santana and the on again and off again availability of Abreu. Is there a plan? Are the Red Sox in contact with Salem witchcraft and have an inside edge on the 2018 season? The money is there. The need is there. The fans expect it. The players expect it.