3 veteran clubhouse influences the Red Sox need to sign for 2024
The Red Sox have made it clear that they are not looking to compete this year — they'd rather wait for top prospects to rise through the minor league ranks.
To their credit, or Chaim Bloom's, the farm is loaded right now with five players in Keith Law's top 100 prospects list. As it stands now, Boston has quality farm talent, and enough to make a significant impact in the coming years.
Despite lackluster performance in 2023, as well as the removal of a veteran presence with postseason experience like Chris Sale, the Red Sox refuse to add to the roster beyond Lucas Giolito or lower-tier free agents.
Boston has benefited from a consistent stream of veteran leadership, which has undoubtedly contributed to four championships since the turn of the century. Starting with Pedro Martinez, then David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, followed by Xander Bogaerts. Last year, it was Justin Turner and Sale, but now the situation is less clear.
There are plenty of veteran options who can not only contribute on the field but also make an even bigger impact off it.
Kiké Hernandez on the arrival of Justin Turner and his leadership:
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) February 7, 2023
“It’s a guy who’s going to help turn around that clubhouse… I felt that we needed some guys that were not just good on the field but had the ability to change a culture in the clubhouse”
🎥: @ChrisRoseSports pic.twitter.com/X2KkxKA03s
Three veteran clubhouse influences the Red Sox need to sign for 2024
Jordan Montgomery - LHP
Jordan Montgomery is practically on Fenway's doorstep, pleading to be a member of Boston's team. Yet because he desires a long contract, he's been left on the outside. For a guy who is a solid veteran presence who can immediately alleviate the pressure on Bryan Bello to be an ace and has a postseason ERA of 2.63, Montgomery would be a welcome addition to a team in a transitional phase of its roster.
Every team needs its rock. It doesn't always have to be the best player, but someone who takes the clubhouse by the reins and stabilizes things out. Someone who teaches the rookies how to be professionals, and when the postseason arrives, someone who has been there before and knows how to handle the added pressure.
If the team expects to compete, they need to have a stable foundation for guys like Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel to build off of. Currently, that position is vacant but could easily be filled should the front office spend the money to make it happen. Montgomery is the preferred option with his likelihood to contribute in a real way to help this team make a playoff push.
J. D. Martinez - OF/DH
J.D. Martinez would be welcomed back to Boston. He is beloved by fans and is a well-spoken professional. He has previously won a ring here in Boston and was a key part of the team that defeated the Yankees in a winner-take-all Wild Card game at home. Those are two of the biggest stages in Boston sports, and each time he rose to the occasion.
For the Red Sox, he hit .317 with a 1.005 OPS in 23 postseason games, significantly impacting the team's chances of winning a World Series by 16%, according to cWPA, which calculates the importance of an at-bat and its result concerning the team's chances of winning a World Series.
October 24, 2018
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) October 24, 2022
J.D. Martinez
Lashes a 2-out, 2 RBI single to right field to give the Red Sox a (4-2) lead and the Red Sox win Game 2 of the World Series (4-2)
Mookie Betts - 3 hits
David Price - (6.0 IP - 2 ER - 5 K)
Red Sox lead series (2–0)pic.twitter.com/ps7GpRTGHy
With the team's top prospects all playing the field, Martinez would be a quality addition to the team. Players will be able to feed off his offense and understand what it takes to win in Boston. Fenway Park offers a much different playing environment than anywhere else in baseball, and the expectation is to contend for championships, year in and year out. Martinez has proven that he's consistently ready to meet that supposition.
Believe it or not, the Red Sox were three games out of a Wild Card spot on August 20th of last season with a record of 66-58 and 38 games remaining in the season. What followed was nothing short of a collapse, as the team went 12-26. The 2023 Red Sox had the potential to play October baseball with less than a quarter of the season remaining but simply shrank under the pressure.
While there were certainly multiple factors that contributed to the collapse, another veteran voice next to Turner's could've helped to produce a different result. Martinez is that guy and he's proven it before.
Joey Votto - 1B/DH
Joey Votto is an all-time great at first base. While he likely wouldn't see much on-field time due to Triston Casas' presence, Casas' potential alone should be an incentive to sign Votto.
Few other first basemen could serve as a mentor to Casas as well as Votto could. He is beloved by both players and fans alike. Despite being a slightly below-league-average hitter last season with a wRC+ of 98, Votto could serve as a valuable fill-in when Casas needs rest.
At this point, many Sox fans are off the Bobby Dalbec train and would prefer to acquire someone who can help develop for the future, which aligns with Craig Breslow's emphasis on development following the "full throttle" fiasco.
Votto could cost very little, with Spotrac expecting him to garner around a $5.5 million contract, which is right around what Evan Longoria is making with the Diamondbacks. Corbin Carroll has credited Longoria as a key contributor to his Rookie of the Year campaign, and Votto could do the same for Casas, as well as any other minor leaguers who make their way up to Fenway in 2024.
"He's our heartbeat"@Reds pitcher Lucas Sims talks Joey Votto's leadership and quick wit on #FTLive
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) September 18, 2023
▶️ https://t.co/J4RwiXRmOC pic.twitter.com/YR7TrjlSjj
Leadership is the key to creating a playoff roster. Everyone in baseball has the same ultimate goal — to win a ring. It is the long, 162-game road to get there that will separate the good teams from the great ones. And the great ones have clear voices that rise above the rest in the clubhouse to help the team get where it needs to be.
Once the clubhouse becomes selfish, things fall apart. When things fall apart, you need the guys who've been through tough times to pick people up and get the club back on track. Votto found his 2023 playing time crammed with all of the youth the Reds were moving up into the bigs, but he accepted his new role and helped them remain in contention until the final week of the season.
Boston needs a leader. Dealing with heightened expectations and intense media scrutiny is unfamiliar to guys who have never been in the big leagues or the postseason before. Red Sox Nation saw the impact Turner had on Jaren Duran as he began to mature and become a fantastic option out in center field.
Sure, the flashy, expensive free-agent options are always fun to watch, but if waiting for the farm system is the route the front office is going to pursue, they need their glue guy. Votto, Montgomery or Martinez could help the Sox win now and lay the groundwork for the long term.
More Red Sox reads:
feed