Hunter Renfroe joins the list of Red Sox one-year wonders

How Hunter Renfroe stacks up against Red Sox one-year wonders

Chaim Bloom hit a buzzer beater as time expired on the existing collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players union. Just minutes before the lockout took place, Jeff Passan reported that Hunter Renfroe was being shipped off to Milwaukee. In return, the Boston Red Sox are reunited with Jackie Bradley Jr. who they acquired in the deal along with two other Brewers prospects.

On the surface, the swap is surprising. Bradley Jr. made a name for himself in Boston patrolling center, flashing one of the best gloves and strongest arms in the game, but struggled to find consistency at the plate. His offensive production dipped to new lows last year in Milwaukee as he ranked bottom in the league (min. 400 PA) for BA, OBP, SLG and OPS.

Conversely, Renfroe is coming off a career year notching highs in BA, OBP, and OPS. He also slugged 31 home runs and drove in 96 runs on the year. The only player on the team to best him in both those categories last year was Rafael Devers.

It seems like Chaim is taking a buy-low, sell-high strategy on this trade. Renfroe’s value is at an all time high and some of his offensive production from 2021 may regress to levels he played at earlier in his career. On the other hand, JBJ is available at an all-time low to the point that the Red Sox were able to secure a couple prospects in the deal.

While the sun sets on Renfroe’s time in Boston, let’s take a trip down memory lane to remember some other players that made a splash in their lone year on the Red Sox.

Red Sox pitcher Hideo Nomo

Hideo Nomo was the first of a wave of talent coming over from Japan and he broke into the league in a big way. As a rookie in 1995 he lead the majors in strikeouts, earning the NL rookie of the year award and fourth place in Cy Young voting.

His sophomore campaign, which included a no-hitter, was stellar as well, ending with another fourth place Cy Young finish. He struggled over the next few seasons, posting a worse-than league average ERA. He was traded and released several times and eventually signed with Boston in 2001 on a one year deal.

Nomo’s signing was overshadowed by another free agency acquisition the Red Sox made that week as they signed Cleveland Indians outfielder, Manny Ramirez, to an 8-year, $160 million contract, the second largest in baseball history at the time.

Nomo’s time in Boston was a microcosm for his whole career to that point. He came in hot, twirling the second no-hitter of his career on his debut for the team. He issued just three walks and struck out 11 against the Orioles on Opening Day 2001.

Unfortunately, there was only room to go down from there after his masterful debut. He did go on to lead the league in strikeouts for the second time in his career, but also lead the league in walks. His 4.54 ERA and inconsistency on the mound led the Red Sox to move on and elect not to re-sign Nomo for the following season. Nomo returned to the Dodgers where he found some success, before battling injuries and ultimately retiring in 2008.

Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay

Jason Bay isn’t technically a one-year wonder because he did play an extra half-season, but this is my list so I make the rules.

Bay came to town from the Pirates as part of the 2008 trade deadline, three-team deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers. Bay had big shoes to fill in left field and he did so admirably.

He ended the year with an .897 OPS for the Red Sox in 49 games during the regular season along with 14 hits and three home runs in the playoffs that fall.

Bay followed up that half-season with an excellent 2009 season. He lead the team in home runs, RBI, walks and was second to Kevin Youkilis in SLG and OPS. He was an All-Star, Silver Slugger, and finished 7th in MVP voting for his efforts that year.

However, in the 2009 ALDS, Bay couldn’t match his production from the season or playoffs prior as the Red Sox were swept by the Angels. Bay went on to sign with the Mets, but wasn’t able to recreate the success he found in Boston and ultimately retired in 2013.

Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre

Adrian Beltre is easily the best one-year wonder for the Red Sox in recent history, and also one of the most regrettable to have let walk away.

Beltre was tremendous in his 2010 campaign with the Sox. After spending the first decade of his career with the Dodgers and Mariners, Beltre arrived in Boston on a 1-year, $9 million contract.

That season, he slashed .321/.365/.553 with 28 homers and 49 doubles. His doubles tally led all of baseball and the rest of his offensive production earned him his first All-Star appearance. He represented Boston that year along side David Ortiz and Jon Lester.

At the end of the 2010 season, Beltre finished 9th in AL MVP voting and received the second Silver Slugger award of his career.

The following offseason, Boston decided to pursue Adrian Gonzalez in favor of re-signing Beltre. Beltre inked a 5-year, $80 million deal with the Rangers where he would later re-sign, spending the rest of his career in Texas, but not before earning three more All-Star nods, six consecutive top-15 MVP finishes, three Gold Gloves, and two more Silver Sluggers.

Boston was just a pit stop on Beltre’s illustrious career, one that will likely see him elected to the Hall of Fame. If Boston had played their cards right he could’ve gone in with a B on his cap.