Thanksgiving Day has arrived. On this day full of family, football, and food, it’s important to be thankful for your favorite baseball team.
What do Red Sox fans have to be thankful for around the holidays? Let’s discuss.
Craig Breslow is here to save the franchise
Pump the brakes. It’s way too early to tell whether Breslow will be the savior this franchise wants and deserves.
However, Red Sox fans should be optimistic.
Breslow represents the best of both worlds: he’s a former player who also has experience using analytics to run one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Whether you’re a traditionalist or new-age fan, that will appeal to you. He has expressed his desire to be aggressive this offseason, something that Chaim Bloom struggled with during his time as the Red Sox’ Chief Baseball Officer.
As we prepare for an epic offseason, be thankful for this new era of Red Sox baseball.
Rafael Devers is a Red Sox for life
To Bloom’s credit, he made plenty of savvy moves during his tenure. Perhaps most impactful to Red Sox Nation was his proactive extension of Rafael Devers.
The star third baseman will command a hefty $31.35 million annual salary over the next 10 days, but that’s a fair price to pay for one of the best players in baseball.
Devers was a Baseball Savant darling in 2023, posting a 55.1 percent hard-hit rate and .536 xSLG. He hit to all parts of the field and also made important strides defensively.
Red Sox fans are grateful that the third base position is locked down for the remainder of this decade.
The young studs are here
The Red Sox’ underwhelming results throughout the 2023 season masked a very promising storyline: young players stole the show.
Connor Wong emerged as the primary catcher. Triston Casas was a Rookie of the Year candidate. Jarren Duran contended for an everyday role in the lineup. Brayan Bello looked like a future ace. Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez showed promise in their debut campaigns. Ceddanne Rafaela reached the majors faster than expected.
What’s next for this young core? Contract extensions. Perhaps Breslow can follow the Atlanta Braves and sign these emerging stars long-term before their contract demands soar out of the club’s price range.