3 Offseason needs the Red Sox must square up before 2022

The Red Sox must upgrade their bullpen for 2022

Signing Matt Barnes to a lucrative extension midseason felt like the first step to building a solid bullpen… until he fell apart in the second half of the season.

That he was not originally on the ALDS roster (he replaced Garrett Richards and appeared in one game) and was not included on the ALCS roster is concerning.

Other bullpen arms didn’t even make it to the postseason, including Matt Andriese, Austin Brice, and Yacksel Rios. Overall, the Red Sox made do with a largely unimpressive bullpen. But if young stars like Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock are meant to transition to starting rotation roles next year, the Red Sox need to add at least two effective bullpen arms this winter.

Ryan Brasier and Josh Taylor will both be affordable enough in arbitration, each projected to merit under $1.5 million for 2022.

The Red Sox have a lot of players set to hit free agency

The Red Sox have 11 players set to hit free agency this winter, and they can’t and should not keep all of them. But for every player they let go, they’ll have to find a replacement, and ideally an upgrade.

These are their free agents:

SS José Iglesias
DH J.D. Martinez (opt-out)
RHP Adam Ottavino
LHP Martín Pérez (club option)
RHP Garrett Richards (club option)
RHP Hansel Robles
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez
OF Danny Santana
OF Kyle Schwarber (mutual option)
1B Travis Shaw
C Christian Vázquez (club option)

Martinez, Schwarber, and Vázquez should all be kept, if possible. Rodriguez struggled after missing 2020 due to COVID and resulting viral myocarditis, but he showed flashes of his former self throughout the regular and postseason. With his poor numbers, the Red Sox could likely bring him back for an affordable price.

Iglesias only rejoined the team in early September but made an immediate and crucial impact. It’s a shame he wasn’t eligible for the postseason roster, but if they bring him back on a short-term deal, he could finally play for the Sox in October.

None of the other pitchers were crucial to the team’s success. The argument could be made for Richards remaining in the bullpen, but not for the $10 million his option commands.

The Red Sox might need a new clutch bat

JD Martinez didn’t opt out after 2020, but he has the option to do so again this winter, before the final year of his contract. If the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement reimplements the Universal DH, he could be tempted to seek more money elsewhere, though he’s a 34-year-old set to make $19.4 million in 2022.

Martinez didn’t have the best year, hitting under .300 for the first time in a 162-game season since 2015, and generally putting up some of his worst numbers in a non-pandemic-shortened season in years. But it was a rebound season from his miserable 2020 performance, and he was an All-Star who led MLB with a career-high 42 doubles; baseball players contain multitudes.

If Martinez opts out, the Red Sox have some in-house options, like shifting Bobby Dalbec to third, bringing up top prospect Tristan Casas to play first, and making Rafael Devers their designated hitter. The move would certainly eliminate his propensity for defensive errors.

There is also a mutual option on newcomer Kyle Schwarber, who immediately endeared himself to Red Sox Nation. Acquired from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline, Schwarber hit .291/.435/.522 with a .957 OPS over 41 regular-season games for the Sox. Of his 39 hits, 10 were doubles and seven were home runs. He also learned how to play first base.

Like most of the Boston lineup, Schwarber went ice-cold in the last three games of the ALCS. But before that, he had two multi-hit games and three home runs, including a grand slam. The Sox should keep him around regardless of Martinez, but he can also take up the mantle if the latter enters free agency. At 28 years old, Schwarber is six years younger than Martinez and could platoon with players like Devers long-term.