Current Red Sox players who may have a Hall of Fame future
Is there any Baseball Hall of Fame material currently on the Boston Red Sox? A look at some potential candidates for future HOF induction.
The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a stockpile of great players whose accomplishments resonate today. Cy Young, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, and Willie Mays represent the incomparable. There is also a secondary list of players. Elmer Flick? Bill Mazeroski? Candy Cummings? They are all in the HOF. Maybe add a secondary section named almost good enough?
There are several players currently collecting enough money to put them in the one-percent of the one-percent and they will eventually be in the Hall of Fame. C.C. Sabathia is most likely a lock now that he is retired. Others are building up an extensive resume of accomplishments which is necessary since longevity is an important factor.
But who on the Boston Red Sox can make that trip to the induction ceremonies? Who is on the cusp?
The Red Sox have many former players in the HOF – same played their entire career in Boston and others, such as Luis Aparicio, finished out their careers with the Red Sox. Now, a look at those on the current roster with a solid chance at the HOF.
The most prominent name that should rise like dough in any fan’s brainpan is Mookie Betts. Betts has already established a nice base with his bona fides led by a batting title and MVP Award. As a five-tool player, Betts brings it all and that means stellar defense and exceptional speed. Projections are difficult since an injury and poor performance is always possible – just think Andrew McCutchen.
Betts continues to impress to the point of where 2019 is considered by some to be a down year. A 6.8 bWAR, another Gold Glove, another Silver Slugger, an All-Star selection, and leading the league in runs scored (135) is the kind of “down year” virtually every player would have on their wish list. Baseball in days gone by had a measurement tool of runs scored as defining a great player. Betts is a run-scoring virtuoso.
Betts becomes a conundrum for the Red Sox with the stated management objective of slashing payroll and allowing a generational player to simply be traded for a dime on the dollar or go as a free agent. Players like Betts are a rare find as a top-notch catalyst, but in today’s game shifting of star magnitude players is no longer an exception. Betts is certainly a lock for the HOF with another five to seven years of similar production.
Certain positions give an advantage to a player whose “numbers” may not appear sufficient enough for HOF admission. Catchers are most notable and I still wonder about Ray Schalk – another gift from the Veterans Committee. That brings us to shortstops and the Red Sox have one who is now one of the best in their history with Xander Bogaerts.
After the 2017 season, my view was Bogaerts was a player who would never quite attain the stardom predicted when he arrived as a 20-year-old. The bat was there with a pair of Silver Slugger Awards, but the glove was not. How times have changed.
Bogaerts has now posted two impressive back-to-back seasons with exceptional run production. The power predicted has arrived with 56 home runs and 220 RBI over 2018-19 and much improved defensive play. Bogaerts now has a new contract and is considered a team leader with his prime baseball years just ahead.
What can go wrong? Just a small trip back in time to another Red Sox shortstop who certainly was on the track for a HOF career and that is Nomar Garciaparra. Garciaparra left Boston in a blockbuster trade and left a career .323 average. Nagging injuries and degraded performance cut short Garciaparra’s career and his what seemed like a lock HOF career.
When the Red Sox made a trade to get Chris Sale my thoughts went to we now have a Randy Johnson clone in the rotation. A left-handed Pedro Martinez to anchor the rotation and be the ultimate stopper. Say goodnight to five-game losing streaks. Sale did not disappoint, leading the American League in strikeouts (308) and innings pitched (214.1) and winning 17 games in his first Boston year.
Was it the innings? The mechanics? Sale started to erode in 2018 and then went further down in 2019. Sale now has an enormous contract for the next five years as the Red Sox are obligated to Sale for five-years and $145 Million. This is starting to look like Barry Zito or is it?
The Red Sox of the very distant past made a cash transaction of $125,000 embedded within a trade with the depression cash-strapped Athletic’s for Lefty Grove who was coming off a 24 win season. Grove had already won 195 games for the A’s and was considered the best pitcher in the game – left or right-handed.
Grove was a disaster his first season (8-8, 6.50) and at 34-years-old it appeared his career was over. An aching arm is not a good sign. It seems quite similar to Sale and his 6-11 record of 2019. Maybe Sale will now match Grove? Not that Grove of disappointment, but the one that went on to win four more ERA titles and win 20 games in his rebound season.
Wins are an important measurement tool in defining a pitcher as HOF material. That said, the preponderance of metrics now gives a far more insightful glance into performance but wins for a starter are still a significant factor. For HOF consideration Sale needs to be productive for the next five seasons with at least 75 wins. I am not optimistic about his chances.
David Price has collected the wins but does Price have the health? Price is sitting on 150 wins, has a Cy Young Award, a 20-win season, and another $96 million owed for three seasons. Price has developed a history of nicks and dents with the Red Sox, going just 7-5 in 2019. Based on his Red Sox history of even-numbered years being productive, maybe Price will win 16 as he did in 2018?
With pitchers it all comes down to health and baseball is littered with stars that shined bright and quickly faded, such as Tim Lincecum being a recent example. What Price does have is financial security and a damn good offense. Price also has tossed the negative specter of playoff baseball into the dustbin.
What Price needs is a return to his fits Red Sox season (17-9, 3.99) for the remainder of his contract either in Boston or elsewhere to be considered. At this juncture, Price appears to be similar to Sabathia, but getting 250 wins may be remote. Prices’ changes all hinge on longevity and staying in one piece.
Longevity is a keyword when looking at one of the premier hitters in baseball – J.D. Martinez. Times are changing for those relegated to designated hitter and David Ortiz will soon be in the HOF. Ortiz was no stiff at first base, either.
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Baseball is a numbers game and so far the right-handed Martinez is getting quite a foundation, especially in the consistency department. Martinez averages out to 35 home runs and 108 RBI a season and that is Jim Rice like consistency. Will it continue?
Martinez apparently will be around for three more seasons in Boston unless market conditions dictate an opt-out clause is exercised. Martinez is a perfect fit for a ballpark as Fenway’s good hitting dynamics are a perfect fit for all field’s power of Martinez, but J.D. is not a one park pony with a career .288 road average.
Longevity is important in examining Martinez’s chances for the HOF, but his diligent approach to the science of hitting and his conditioning traits are positives for another five years or longer for production. Then there is the known. As with Rice as a comparison, Martinez has a history of back ailments and they are certainly potential career disruptors. With Rice, it was a fading vision.
A healthy Martinez for five seasons can surpass Rice’s numbers and with a solid lineup, the Red Sox usually has run possibilities that will always be present. What Martinez also has is the ability to hit for average and not just power. This is not Giancarlo Stanton.
The ones I have already mentioned are fairly established with a solid baseline for possible projections, but there are works in progress and that means Rafael Devers.
Devers’ 2019 was a breakout season, hitting .311, leading the AL in doubles (54) and total bases (359) while making steady improvement defensively.
Devers is a special hitter – the kind other players stop to watch when he takes batting practice. A left-handed bat will all fields power and a knack for denting the left-field wall. Devers loved Fenway Park in 2019 (.318) but hit on the road (.304) The downside is lefties (.269) still gave Devers trouble.
Next. Trade proposals for Jackie Bradley Jr.. dark
Devers is a sky’s the limit hitter who should consistently put up power numbers and exceptional run production. The 115 RBI in 2019 may just be a taste for the future – a future that looks bright and should include a yearly run at a batting title. Devers just may eventually be the best of all and that even means Betts. The potential is that great.