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Predicting the Red Sox’s next possible roster moves after Sam Kennedy’s comments

By Katie Manganelli |
Craig Breslow Press Conference
Craig Breslow Press Conference / Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/GettyImages
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The Boston Red Sox front office make statements that change like the weather.

In mid-January at Winter Weekend, CEO Sam Kennedy stated that the team's 2024 payroll would likely be less than the 2023 figure. Fans were given the impression that the roster was finished and there would be no more acquisitions.

But that statement has possibly changed, too. Even if it's for the better, this is getting exhausting. At the Red Sox's Truck Day, Kennedy made a statement that suggests changes could be coming.

"The offseason continues,” Kennedy said via MassLive's Chris Cotillo. “There’s still a lot of unsigned players and conversations going on. I would anticipate there’s still work to be done.”

It's uncertain if there are specific changes coming that Kennedy was referencing. But Red Sox Nation is hungry for improvements to the roster after a boring offseason during which the biggest acquisition was Lucas Giolito.

Kennedy's comments came two days after Boston's reunion with Theo Epstein, as he purchased a stake in Fenway Sports Group. The breaker of the Curse of the Bambino has influence in the front office again, and it's possible his resurgence of authority with the Red Sox has Kennedy feeling more optimistic about the future of the team.

There's still a glaring need for starting pitching and consistent power hitting and there are players available that would be smart to target. It would also be possible to fill those jobs through trades — Epstein tends to make bolder moves than the front office hasn't been keen to allow in recent years.

Predicting the Red Sox’s next free agency/trade moves after Sam Kennedy’s comments

The Red Sox could still sign Jorge Soler

One of the easier, less expensive fixes to the Red Sox roster would be to sign a power bat. With increased offensive production, the performance of a starting rotation full of relievers will matter less. Jorge Soler could give Boston the offensive production it needs to keep its rotation in games.

Soler raked last season with the Miami Marlins and the team hasn't shown any interest in a reunion with the slugger. He hit 36 homers in 2023 while playing half his games at loanDepot Park, one of the less hitter-friendly parks in MLB. Transferring his power to Fenway Park, one of the most hitter-friendly fields, should do his offensive numbers good.

Boston may opt to stay clear of Soler, however. He strikes out frequently and his defensive skills leave much to be desired. But the Red Sox can't afford to miss out on his offensive prowess after they let Justin Turner walk — to a team in the division, no less.

Soler would likely come at a reasonable price, or at least a price the Red Sox could meet and still not surpass the first luxury tax threshold. He gave up a $13 million salary by opting out of his contract with Miami and Boston could afford that and more. The Sox would have to get to Soler before the Mets or Giants do, though.

The Red Sox could trade Kenley Jansen

For weeks, it's been reported that the Red Sox are in talks with teams about Kenley Jansen. Despite his quality performances from last season, which earned him an All-Star nod, the desire to trade the closer makes sense.

Jansen's value would be high coming off a good performance in Boston. The main struggle for the font office would be finding a team to take on the $16 million he's owed for the upcoming season, and money has been tight for many teams this winter, the Red Sox included. Finding a suitor for Jansen may take more work than the front office has the time to put in before spring training.

If the Red Sox could find a team that had a right-handed outfielder to swap for Jansen, that would be the base-case scenario. If they can't, trading him just to free up a roster spot and save the cash he was owed for another player would be almost as favorable, assuming the money is spent wisely.

If Boston ends up keeping Jansen, it wouldn't be the worst thing, but a closer doesn't feel like the most necessary position to fill on a roster that's very much incomplete.

The Red Sox should sign Jordan Montgomery

The Red Sox have been named as the best landing spot for Montgomery by multiple insiders and experts this offseason — the front office is the only thing standing in the way of a deal getting done between the two parties, it would seem.

Montgomery has spent his offseason in Boston living with his wife while she completes a medical residency. The Texas Rangers are reportedly out on the hurler even after the issues with the team's TV rights deal have been solved. He's been right there the entire time, and all the front office has done is "check in" with his market or "express interest."

It's fair to say that Mongomery and his agent, Scott Boras, are asking for a lot of money. Montgomery has never served as the ace of a rotation until 2023, but he's been asking for an ace-caliber contract — NESN has suggested Montgomery and Boras have taken inspiration from Carlos Rodón's contract with the Yankees to set their asking price around six years at $162 million.

Despite Montgomery never serving as a true "ace," he helped the Rangers secure their first World Series, and that has to count for something. His arm would absolutely help the Red Sox's staff, and being left-handed is a definite plus. It's possible that waiting out the market was a good idea and Montgomery will be forced to lower his price if he wants a job before spring training. But Boston should jump on Montgomery before it's too late.

If not Jordan Montgomery ... the Red Sox should sign Michael Lorenzen or trade for a pitcher

If Boston misses out on Montgomery or plainly refuses to pay his price, all hope does not have to be lost. Other options remain to help bolster the Red Sox's rotation.

Michael Lorenzen is one of the best remaining free-agent pitchers on the market — besides Montgomery and Blake Snell, of course — and he would add a much-needed left arm to the Red Sox rotation. Despite serving as a reliever for many years, Lorenzen has the proven capacity to pitch at a starter quality and quantity.

The lefty would come at a cheaper price than Montgomery and he'd likely want to sign for fewer years. He earned an All-Star nod for his work with the Tigers at the beginning of the season, but his stuff declined as the year went on and his tenure with the Phillies did not end on a good note. Lorenzen threw a no-hitter against the Nationals and he didn't pitch as well again afterward. He was removed from the starting rotation after posting a 7.96 ERA in his five starts following the no-hit bid.

If Lorenzen doesn't suit the fancy of the front office — which he should because any arm would improve the staff, at this point — the Red Sox are also more than capable of trading for a starter. The Orioles' blockbuster trade for Corbin Burnes could have dramatically lowered prices throughout the league without meaning to.

The Mariners have been taking calls for Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller, two promising young starters in their organization. They need infield prospects, which the Red Sox hoard in excess. The White Sox have also been listening on Dylan Cease, and while they've allegedly been asking for steep prices, they're losing leverage by the day.

The Red Sox prospect pool contains few pitchers and the organization does not rank favorably in that category. Signing Lorenzen for a low price or trading for a young pitcher could give Boston a hurler that it desperately needs with years of team control. If the Orioles can part with prospects from their top-of-the-league pool, the Red Sox can part with some from their less impressive farm for the sake of helping the team in 2024 and 2025, while creating lanes for more promising prospects.

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