3 gifts Boston Red Sox fans would like to get this Christmas

Red Sox fans wish for an impact starting pitcher

Watching Eduardo Rodriguez leave for Detroit didn’t seem to sting Red Sox fans initially. Health concerns and inconsistency in recent years made a long term deal for the soon to be 29-year-old lefty seem like more of a gamble than his overall performance in Boston would suggest. However, his departure left a mid-rotation sized hole on a starting staff that already lacked depth heading into the offseason.

While the front office hasn’t made any splashy moves prior to the lockout, they did address the rotation depth with the signings of Rich Hill, Michael Wacha, and James Paxton. All come with their own set of concerns.

Hill, at 41, isn’t likely to be expected to pitch a full season. Wacha, still just 30 years old, is 6 seasons removed from his lone All-Star appearance, and injuries and ineffectiveness have seen him in more of a bullpen role in recent seasons. Paxton, who’s long shown glimpses of a frontline starter, has dealt with arm issues throughout his career, and is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery and not expected back until mid-season. Each of those signings provide depth, but none are looked at to fill the role of No. 3 starter on the staff.

To date, Chiam Bloom has stayed away from the top-tier free agent signing since his tenure began after the 2019 season. That trend continued during the beginning weeks of free agency earlier this offseason. The Sox stood pat as big names like Max Scherzer, Marcus Stroman, Jon Gray, and Kevin Gausman, and Robbie Ray signed lucrative free agent deals.

While most of the top tier starters have come off the board, big names like Clayton Kershaw and Zack Grenkie, as well as high quality mid-rotation starters like Danny Duffy remain should Boston look to fortify the starting staff through free agency.

Bloom also has a highly rated farm system deep in position player talent should he choose to trade for a younger, more affordable starter in lieu of what remains on the free agent market.

Red Sox fans wish for a long term extension for Rafael Devers:

As previously mentioned, Bloom has yet to spend big on top tier free agents to this point in his tenure as Chief Baseball Officer for the Red Sox.  With the upper echelon of free agent starting pitching already off the board, Bloom could look to spend big one one of the marquee bats still available on the open market.

Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, and Freddie Freeman headline a class of available free agents that would certainly qualify as a splashy move, and each would fortify an offense that’s already one of the best in the game. However, none truly classify as a need heading into 2022. The addition of Correa or Story would likely result in a position change for Xander Bogaerts, and Freeman would displace younger, more affordable options in Bobby Dalbec and top prospect, Triston Casas.

If Bloom, armed with a large market payroll that’s operated under the luxury tax threshold the past two seasons, were to open the checkbook and hand out a lengthy deal at a high AAV, his first option should be a player already on the roster rather than a big name free agent. Rafael Devers.

The 25-year-old third baseman is coming off another tremendous season. He made his first All-Star appearance, received MVP votes, and took home the Silver Slugger award. While questions about his defense at third base remain, there is no doubt that his bat is special, and his offensive ceiling remains untapped.

Bloom was tasked with paring down the payroll and getting the organization under the luxury tax threshold as his first major project when he took the job after the 2019 season. To achieve the desired financial results he had to trade away homegrown superstar and perennial MVP candidate, Mookie Betts, ahead of free agency. Betts would eventually sign a 12-year, $365 million contract extension with the Dodgers. Seeing Betts traded as part of a salary dump to atone for reckless spending by the prior regime was a stinging blow to the fan base. A large market, high revenue franchise like the Red Sox should never lose a talent like Betts for financial reasons, but the escalating penalties for exceeding the luxury tax threshold made it a reality.

Now, just two years later, the Sox could face a similar situation with Devers if they don’t get out in front of an extension soon.

Like Betts, Red Sox Nation has watched Devers grow up, as a player and as one of the more fun and unique personalities in the sport. His enthusiasm and passion for the game are infectious, and his work ethic is unmatched. His evolution into one of the game’s elite hitters has put him in position for a large payday when he becomes a free agent after the 2023 season.

By all accounts, Devers enjoys being a member of the Red Sox and would welcome extension talks if approached by the club ahead of free agency. While MLB contracts have ballooned in recent years, the opportunity to buy out Devers’ remaining arbitration years and get him a sizable annual raise sooner than later may be enough to entice him into a slightly under market long-term deal. Speculative extension numbers range from the 8-year, $220 million to 10-year, $250 million range.

Whatever the contract numbers turn out to be, having Devers locked up long term as the foundational piece of this core would be a welcome gift to the fans of Red Sox Nation.

Red Sox fans wish for first ballot Hall of Fame induction for Big Papi

Because of the current lockout surrounding negotiations over a new CBA, all of these gifts will be arriving after Christmas. The results of the 2022 Hall of Fame class won’t be announced until January 25th. With no news on how CBA negotiations are progressing, it’s quite possible that we know the results of the 2022 HOF voting before we know who the team is able to sign or trade for.

Headlining the first-time eligible players on the 2022 HOF ballot is former Red Sox great David Ortiz. No player has symbolized the Boston Red Sox over their generation as champions from 2004 to present more than Ortiz. Big Papi was, and still is, the perfect ambassador for the franchise and the city of Boston. He’s adored by Red Sox fans and respected by all fans throughout the MLB landscape.

Beyond his hulking frame, his giant smile, and his infectious energy, Ortiz has the numbers to justify his selection to baseball’s most prestigious club in Cooperstown. Ortiz finished his career with 541 home runs, 1768 RBI, and a .931 OPS. He was even more spectacular in the postseason, winning the 2004 ALCS MVP en route to the Red Sox winning their first World Series in 86 years, and taking home the 2013 World Series MVP after hitting .688 with a 1.948 OPS. For his postseason career Ortiz hit .289 with a .947 OPS, and had a total of 17 home runs, several of them among the most memorable, and most clutch in MLB postseason history.

Still, Ortiz is not considered to be a lock for first ballot induction. Baseball writers who vote for the Hall have been slow to give players that were primary Designated Hitters consideration. Edgar Martinez, considered to be the best primary DH ever (before Ortiz), had to wait until his final year on the ballot to be inducted.

There’s also PED suspicion surrounding Ortiz, although that suspicion was never tied to any formal testing and Ortiz has been vocal about his disdain for PED use in the game. He played nearly a decade after MLB instituted PED testing and never once tested positive.

There’s also the arrogance of the BBWAA voters and their stance on not voting deserving players in on the first ballot unless the players accomplishments are so outstanding that not voting for them would call their legitimacy (as voters) into question. However, Ortiz fits that profile in many ways. He’s statistically the best ever at his position. He’s firmly in the conversation for best postseason hitter ever, and he’s universally liked by all associated with the game- even Yankee fans.

Ortiz’s presence has been larger than life, both on and off the field, since joining the Red Sox as a reclamation project in 2003. He carried this storied franchise and it’s passionate fan base through it’s finest moment in 2004, and carried this city through it’s darkest days (the Boston Marathon bombing) in 2013. From introducing the world to champagne goggles, to reminding the world just who’s fu*king city this is, Ortiz has been the heart and soul of Boston. One more party to celebrate this great man, his storied career, and his legacy as a Major League icon might just be the greatest gift any Red Sox fan could wish for.

While labor negotiations will likely leave Red Sox fans disappointed on Christmas morning, there is hope among the fan base that their Christmas wishes will be addressed once the business of baseball is resumed. These gifts would make for a perfect Christmas. Whenever Major League Baseball decides to open up their holiday season.