Red Sox off-season swings, misses, and foul tips
By Rick McNair
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.