Four disasters for the Red Sox infield
The Red Sox were infatuated with Jose Offerman who had achieved All-Star status with the Dodgers before being traded to the Royals. Trading an AS for one Billy Brewer should raise some flags. Offerman had an excellent first season in Boston leading the AL in triples and posting a .391 OBP. Offerman became an All-Star and his four years and $26M contract looked like a bargain. Then it crashed.
He was the surly type and for the next two and a half seasons he tanked both with the bat and the glove. The Red Sox finally rid themselves of Offerman as he became Seattle’s problem. Offerman’s temperament became on full display with two well documented on-field assaults – one in the Dominican Winter League and the other while Offerman was playing independent league baseball.
.Rent-A-Wreck became a tag that was used by media and fans to describe Edgar Renteria who signed on for four years and $40M. Renteria put on noticeable weight and it showed defensively leading MLB in errors. Reports also surfaced that his wife was involved with one of his teammates to further complicate his status. Renteria appeared disinterested and his shoddy defense took a toll despite hitting .276 and scoring 100 runs.
Lugo as in Yugo described Julio Lugo who was gifted with four years and $36M. Another player who when you see him daily you wonder what were they thinking? Boston had Lugo at shortstop and it was Don Buddin Part II. Lugo got his ring and was finally unceremoniously shipped out.
Pablo Sandoval would have been a star in Boston if he had hit his weight. The Red Sox ended up paying over $40M for Panda not to play for Boston. That about sums up the plight of Sandoval in Boston.