3 players the Boston Red Sox shouldn’t bring back for 2022 season
Not every member of the Red Sox will be back for the 2022 season
The Boston Red Sox exceeded expectations in 2021, proving themselves far more competitive than many gave them credit for by advancing all the way to the ALCS. In order to take the next step toward championship glory, this roster will require a few upgrades. Any new addition will inevitably mean someone else loses their spot which means there are at least a few players who won’t be returning next season.
The Red Sox have several players hitting free agency. Boston’s front office will certainly show interest in retaining some of them but the decision could be made for them if the players seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Eduardo Rodriguez is among the prominent players entering free agency. The lefty struggled with consistency as he worked his way back from a lost season. At one point he appeared to be a qualifying offer candidate, allowing him to prove himself on a one-year deal before testing free agency after next season. His second half improvement and strong postseason probably sets E-Rod up for a bigger payday though. His value has declined sharply since his breakout 2019 season but he still possesses that enticing upside. As long as he isn’t demanding to be paid like an emerging ace, I expect the Red Sox to work out a fair deal to retain him.
I’m less optimistic about a few other potential free agents. For various reasons, these players seem destined to be playing elsewhere in 2022.
Red Sox LHP Martin Perez
Martin Perez was arguably the most consistent starting pitcher from a rotation that was in shambles during the shortened 2020 season. The same cannot be said once Boston’s rotation was back at full strength this year.
Perez began in the rotation for an underwhelming season in which he went 7-8 with a 4.77 ERA in 22 starts. He owned a 6.26 ERA over five starts in July, then got pulled with only one out in the second inning after allowing three earned runs in his only August start.
The Red Sox shook up their rotation once Chris Sale returned from Tommy John surgery and Tanner Houck cemented his role with this pitching staff. Perez was one of the casualties, bouncing to the bullpen where he pitched primarily in mop-up duty. His 4.50 ERA in 14 relief appearances wasn’t going to convince anyone that he’s a viable bullpen arm they can count on moving forward.
Declining the $6 million option on Perez’s contract is one of the easiest choices the Red Sox will make this offseason. Boston faced a similar scenario last winter and opted to decline his option, only to bring him back on a cheaper deal. They are unlikely to repeat that decision this year. Perez is a viable back of the rotation pitcher but the Red Sox have better internal options. Boston won’t commit anything close to the price they paid him this year without a clear role available for him next season.
Red Sox RHP Garrett Richards
Few pitchers in baseball were impacted more than Garrett Richards by MLB cracking down on the use of “sticky stuff.” Richards had always been among the elite spin rate pitchers but without the aid of a foreign substance, the right-hander struggled to get the proper grip on his secondary pitches. Richards was forced to reinvent himself on the fly and the results were predictably disastrous.
Richards went 6-7 with a 5.22 ERA in 22 starts before he was banished to the bullpen along with Perez when the Red Sox revamped their rotation in August.
While Perez remained underwhelming as a reliever, Richards thrived in his new role. Pitching in shorter stints meant he could rely less on the secondary pitches he was still learning to control without the use of sticky stuff. He could lean more on his upper-90s fastball in a relief role where he wouldn’t need to pace himself or face the same hitters multiple times.
Richards produced a solid 3.42 ERA while striking out 28 batters in 26 1/3 innings of relief. He gained enough trust from his manager to earn some high-leverage spots as a setup man down the stretch and even notched three saves.
The Red Sox might have interest in bringing back Richards as a middle reliever but the $10 million price tag on his team option is far too steep for that role. Declining his option is the obvious choice. Boston might try to convince him to return at a cheaper salary to retain his spot in their bullpen but Richards will almost certainly go looking for a team willing to give him another shot as a starter.
Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez…. or Kyle Schwarber
The Red Sox have a pair of All-Star hitters potentially hitting free agency. Boston can’t afford to lose both of these sluggers but it’s hard to imagine that they will bring back both of them. Which one will they choose – J.D. Martinez or Kyle Schwarber?
The decision might be made for them depending on what Martinez decides to do about his $19.35 million player option. He passed on the opportunity to opt-out in each of the last two years but free agency might be more appealing as approaches his third and final opt-out decision.
There was zero chance he would opt-out in the wake of his brutal 2020 season but a bounce-back campaign sets him up to earn a multi-year deal. The expectation that the universal DH will be included in the new CBA this winter should increase his potential suitors and drive up the price.
If Martinez bolts in free agency, re-signing Schwarber should become a priority. While many were initially irritated by Boston’s perceived lack of activity at the trade deadline, Schwarber ended up being one of the best players dealt mid-season. He hit .291/.435/.522 with seven home runs in 41 games in a Red Sox uniform. He performed well on the postseason stage and his grand slam in Game 3 of the ALCS was one of the highlights of Boston’s postseason run.
Schwarber proved to be a great fit in the clubhouse and he’s been open about his interest in returning to Boston. Why wouldn’t they want to lock him up with a new deal?
The presence of Martinez, if he stays, would be the reason to let Schwarber walk. As valuable as both of these bats are to the Red Sox, squeezing them into the same lineup with only one DH spot available simply isn’t feasible long-term. They made it work for two months down the stretch and into the postseason but the benefit for their offensive production came at the expense of an already shaky defense.
Upgrading the defense should be among the top priorities for the Red Sox this offseason. Schwarber spent most of his career in the National League where he was at least serviceable in the field but Boston’s best outfield alignment includes Alex Verdugo, Kike Hernandez and Hunter Renfroe. If Jarren Duran shows he’s ready for the big leagues, he could eventually claim center field and push Hernandez to second base. Either way, there’s no everyday spot for Schwarber.
He performed admirably under the circumstances while learning first base but the Red Sox can’t count on him to stick at the position on a regular basis. Bobby Dalbec will still be there to steal playing time at first and top prospect Triston Casas is on the way.
Martinez opting-out doesn’t necessarily signal the end of his tenure in Boston. He could always re-sign on a multi-year deal, one which presumably lowers his salary for luxury tax purposes to create more financial flexibility. He will essentially be in the same situation as Schwarber with the same list of suitors likely to consider either star hitter. That will include Boston but they won’t spend up for both of them.
If Martinez leaves, his salary being wiped from the payroll will help the Red Sox afford a new contract for Schwarber, who would take over the regular DH duties. If Martinez opts-in, Boston will reluctantly let Schwarber go in order to find a more efficient way to allocate their available resources.
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