The Red Sox and Dombrowski need to dominate at Winter Meetings
The Winter Meetings are just days away and the Red Sox can’t afford to waste any time. With a quiet open to the offseason, the World Champions need to be aggressive in Las Vegas to set the tone for 2019.
The Winter Meetings tend to be the true kick-off to the offseason. Yeah, there are deals made prior to the meetings and after as well, but this is where the magic happens. This is where the Red Sox can make their moves to bolster their championship squad. For four days next week, every MLB team will have a representative there trying to make their team better.
The big moves that NEED to be made will be to secure the services of World Series heroes Nathan Eovaldi and Joe Kelly. It’s been reported that since Patrick Corbin signed with Washington, that Eovaldi now has the spotlight firmly on him. Kelly has expressed his desire to finish his career with the Red Sox, and a deal just needs to be made.
For what he’s asking for as a free agent I’m not sure Craig Kimbrel will be returning to the Red Sox and may want to head back to Atlanta. As for starting pitchers, the Sox are very secure with our “Big 3” in Sale, Price, and Porcello, with Eduardo Rodriguez bringing up that fourth slot.
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These meetings are where Dave Dombroski can show that same aggressiveness that got us Alex Cora and J.D. Martinez last offseason. It was his tenacious attitude towards improving this team that drove those results of 2018 not only in the office but on the field. We need that again next week in Las Vegas.
Another position beyond pitcher that I think we truly need some help in is at second base. It seems the Sox will be getting Dustin Pedroia back for the 2019 season and we also have Brock Holt. I would love another second baseman on the roster just in case Pedroia goes down again and we need Holt elsewhere. It’s always better to have and not need than need and not have.
We have plenty of trade options on our roster between the bullpen and what is left in a farm system that we could get a decent utility player for second. There are also plenty of free agent second basemen on the market that Dombrowski could choose from.
An unpopular decision I could see being made is the re-signing of Ian Kinsler. Kinsler has had a strong career but never really came through like we hoped he would in Boston, though he did win a Gold Glove Award.
Looking up and down our roster I don’t see much tinkering that Dombrowski and the Red Sox will need to do. Especially with key guys needing new contracts in the next few years, I’d like to keep some money in the bank for them. It would also be a major disservice to not make moves this offseason and roll into 2019 without any deals. Everyone else will be looking to knock us off the thrown and Dombrowski needs to build the army to protect it.
Next. Red Sox Rumors: Eovaldi among free agent backup plans for the Yankees. dark
The Winter Meetings tend to be where the excitement of free agency and the new season truly begins. I for one will be glued to Twitter and the MLB Network for all four days to see what kind of madness breaks out. With all of the GM’s and player’s agents in Las Vegas for a week, we’re sure to see some serious wheelin’ and dealin’.