State of the Red Sox as we look ahead to the 2019 season

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Manager Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with the World Series trophy after his team's 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Manager Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with the World Series trophy after his team's 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 18: (L-R) Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox, manager Alex Cora, and Sam Kennedy, President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, pose with the William Harridge Trophy after the Boston Red Sox defeated the Houston Astros 4-1 in Game Five of the American League Championship Series to advance to the 2018 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 18: (L-R) Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox, manager Alex Cora, and Sam Kennedy, President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, pose with the William Harridge Trophy after the Boston Red Sox defeated the Houston Astros 4-1 in Game Five of the American League Championship Series to advance to the 2018 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Management

The most notable of management is the manager Alex Cora who rejuvenated a team that was about as exciting as a budget meeting. Cora gets much and very well deserved praise for using his lineup like a chess master in getting the right players in the right position to succeed. Cora will not be Manager of the Year as that award will probably go to Kevin Cash since the perception is doing more with less.

Next on the list is Dave Dombrowski you made horrific trades and spectacular trades, but also addressed issues when they needed to be addressed.  The moves for Pearce and Eovaldi undoubtedly saved the season. Long-term may be another story.  Will payroll and the loss of minor league talent finally impact the team? That is the future and in the present DD has delivered what he was supposed to deliver and that is a World Series flag.

The ownership expressed a willingness to exceed the luxury tax this season and will that philosophy continue? The Red Sox are obviously a cash machine that had great reach as it has allowed the expansion of the ownership into other sports, real estate, and even a new theater. Maybe the money will be there from the various enterprises to pump up the coffers at Fenway Park?

The farm system certainly provided talent that is now on the positional roster and talent that could and was used in trades to upgrade the team. Just how barren is the farm system? Various sites that analyze that aspect of the game have the Red Sox well on the back end of the 30 MLB teams. Maybe that will change in 2019?

Prediction: No Repeat

Schedule