Which will happen first, the Red Sox making a significant move, or their fans having a total meltdown from all the rumors and conflicting reports?
It’s been described as the most wonderful time of the year high-stakes offseason since 2012-13, when Ben Cherington had to rebuild the roster and restore faith in the team. Chaim Bloom has an even more difficult tightrope to navigate; there’s no David Ortiz to anchor the team anymore, and no one on this roster pitches like Jon Lester.
If the Red Sox are to be believed on the ‘Xander Bogaerts is Option A’ front, they have stiff competition from all over the league. The Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, even the Arizona Diamondbacks are among the teams interested in a two-time World Series champion, five-time Silver Slugger who just had the best defensive season of his career and brings leadership and mentorship qualities to the clubhouse. Who’d be foolish enough to let someone like that get away, right?
As for Rafael Devers, the Red Sox are reportedly slowly inching closer to his asking price. The song-and-dance is ridiculous at this point, but that’s how the Sox operate: bags of money for unproven free agents, Scrooge behavior with their proven homegrown talent.
More Red Sox news
- After a report emerged that Xander Bogaerts had ‘severed ties’ with the Red Sox, his agent, Scott Boras, told the Boston Globe (subscription required) that they “have not closed any doors on anyone” yet, so the Sox still have time to salvage this situation.
- Alex Speier reports that the Red Sox haven’t “completely ruled out a reunion” with JD Martinez.
- MassMutual is paying the Red Sox approximately $170M over the next decade to be their first sponsored uniform patch. The large blue and white patch will be on the right sleeve of every Red Sox jersey. Kiké Hernández had some thoughts:
At least it’s subtle 😅🤣 https://t.co/Z31ltvQgnr
— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) November 30, 2022
- The Sox supposedly tried hard to sign José Abreu as a 1B/DH but got sniped by the Houston Astros, which is okay, because they almost certainly overpaid him. The Padres and Guardians also made Abreu 3-year offers, but it’s hard to compete with the reigning champions, who offer Abreu the best shot at getting a World Series ring before he retires.
- Ramon Vázquez is Boston’s new bench coach, replacing Will Venable, who left for the Texas Rangers.
- The BBWAA and Contemporary Baseball Era Hall of Fame ballots are both out and each includes several questionable former Sox.
MLB news
- The Astros plan to meet with superstar catcher Willson Contreras at the Winter Meetings next week, but anyone who signs him will be penalized because the Chicago Cubs made him a Qualifying Offer. Same goes for Bogaerts.
- Tony Clark just received a 5-year contract extension with the MLBPA, so he’ll be back for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations during the 2026-27 offseason. He’s been at the helm since 2013 and has received praise for how he led the players through the 99-day lockout and invited minor leaguers to join the union.
- Don Mattingly is the Toronto Blue Jays’ new bench coach after stepping down as manager of the Miami Marlins last month after seven seasons.
- The Tampa Bay Rays have been in contact with Jacob deGrom, who’s expected to command a contract with the highest AAV in MLB history. Yes, the Rays.
- The Yankees just made Judge an 8-year, $300M offer. He also just met with the San Francisco Giants, who are expected to make him an offer he can’t refuse.
- Speaking of the Yankees, they’re reportedly in contact with Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodon, and Kodai Senga. Meanwhile, the Sox are reportedly not targeting any big-name free-agent pitchers. Swell.
As always, keep up with MLB and Sox movement with the latest from the staff at BoSoxInjection.com.
Boston Red Sox offseason news, rumors, 2023 payroll, luxury tax, and more
Everything you need to know about the Red Sox 2022-2023 offseason! Payrolls, arbitration, free agents, transactions, luxury tax, payroll, rumors, and more.