The Red Sox are expected to become active in free agency soon
The Boston Red Sox have been relatively quiet this offseason but that doesn’t mean they don’t have big plans.
The free-agent market has been slow to develop in the wake of last season’s revenue losses from the shortened season and lingering uncertainty regarding the ongoing pandemic’s impact on the upcoming campaign. While we haven’t seen much action yet, business is about to pick up.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, there is a sense that the Red Sox have talked about a ton of possibilities and are preparing for a series of moves.
Re: industry sources, there is a sense that the Red Sox have talked about a ton of possibilities and are preparing for a series of moves before the start of spring training. They haven't done much yet, but the expectation is that they will in an effort to upgrade the '21 team.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 13, 2021
The expectation is that chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom isn’t content to sit on his hands while hoping key players bounce back from disappointing performances or injury-plagued seasons. It’s going to take more than that for Boston to climb out of the basement of the AL East and they have every intention of upgrading this team for next season.
We’ve heard the rumors that Boston was interested in virtually every player who signed as a free-agent or was dealt in a trade this winter. It’s time for them to stop being a runner-up and finally do something about it.
A key turning point in the offseason could come as soon as today when former Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber is expected to hold a throwing session for potential suitors to prove he has returned to form following a season lost to injury. The outcome of this showcase will be pivotal for the Red Sox determining if they will be in the mix for Kluber. Otherwise, expect them to quickly pivot to one of their other starting pitcher targets who remain in a holding pattern waiting for the Kluber domino to fall.
The bullpen will also be a priority for the Red Sox with an emphasis on finding a proven closer to lock down the ninth inning. The market is saturated with appealing options who might be ready to sign soon now that the Chicago White Sox have taken the top reliever off the market by adding Liam Hendriks.
The Red Sox are looking to add an outfielder while simultaneously shopping another. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that a rival executive said he would be “shocked” if Andrew Benintendi isn’t traded soon.
Rival executive familiar with Red Sox thinking said he would be “shocked” if Andrew Benintendi wasn’t traded before the end of the weekend.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 13, 2021
It appears Bloom has given up on the idea of Benintendi returning to the form that once made him an emerging star. He’s not going to simply give him away for nothing but Benny’s trade value is undoubtedly at its low point. Clearing his $6.6 million salary from the books could free up resources and a roster spot to give to a free-agent target viewed as an upgrade over Benintendi. How the outfield shapes up for next season depends heavily on whether or not Benny will be a part of it. If he’s dealt soon, expect Bloom to act swiftly to find a replacement.
Every move the Red Sox make creates a ripple effect that may alter the direction they go in next. If they splurge on a high-profile starting pitcher and a top-notch reliever, they might be forced to hunt for bargains to fill the voids in center field and second base. If they find value options to upgrade the pitching staff, perhaps Boston can afford to make a run at George Springer or DJ LeMahieu.
Bloom has many paths he could take to improve this roster and essentially everything is on the table. We’re waiting for one significant move that clears the way for him to follow one of those paths, opening the floodgates for a series of other moves to revamp the roster.
It’s been a slow, frigid winter so far but the hot stove is about to heat up and the Red Sox plan on being at the forefront of the action.