Fans of the Boston Red Sox have been pleading at the doorstep of team ownership to make the moves it promised it would all offseason.
Starting pitching was supposed to be a priority. Players and fans were told that the organization intended to compete this coming season and break out of the American League East's basement. There were supposed to be limited financial restraints.
As Red Sox Nation knows all too well, not much changed in terms of the state of the team, and even after all those promises, it may even be worse than last season's last-place effort.
The situation with the Red Sox has become so grim that even players are speaking out about the state of the team, with the most prominent among them being the face of the franchise and the highest-paid player on the team, Rafael Devers.
In a media availability on the morning of Feb. 20, Devers stated that the Red Sox's needs are clear. But they're still going unmet.
"Everybody knows what we need. You know what we need. They know what we need," Devers said through a translator. Devers also said "there are some things that I can't say," which more than likely had to do with his frustrations.
"They" is, of course, a reference to the front office. Devers went on to say he's even spoken to the front office about the needs of the club, to no avail.
It makes sense for Devers to speak out. Last season, the Red Sox signed him to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract — a deal he may well have declined if he could see the future. Devers signed his career away to the Red Sox, just to sit in last place for three consecutive seasons as an elite third baseman who would star on any team in MLB.
Rafael Devers and other current and former Red Sox condemned ownership's lack of spending
"I’m not saying the team is not OK right now but they need to be conscious of what are the weaknesses and what we need right now."
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 20, 2024
Other current and even former players have offered statements about the way this Red Sox team is being treated. Kenley Jansen admitted to feeling "frustrated" with the club.
Jansen stalled and stuttered through his interview with WEEI's Rob Bradford, trying to find the right words to express his opinion. After saying that he signed a two-year deal with Boston under an expectation that the team was going to win games — as the Red Sox's pedigree suggests it would — the roster he's on is not a playoff team. And the front office hasn't made enough changes to make it one.
Dustin Pedroia went as far as reaching out to the front office to remind them that there are still pitchers who need jobs.
One of the most embarrassing clips in recent memory for the Red Sox.
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) February 20, 2024
Your franchise player, Rafael Devers, saying everyone knows what this team needs to compete.
Shameful.
pic.twitter.com/IchoT0GKZw
But all that came out of that conversation so far was a statement from Sam Kennedy, saying that the front office appreciates Pedroia's perspective.
When the front office made the claim it would be going "full throttle" this offseason, it didn't just mislead Red Sox fans everywhere. It also led its players on.
Red Sox players operated under the impression that things would change this offseason, and it's clear based on comments that few people are happy down at Fenway South this spring training.
Their feelings don't bode well for an already poorly-staffed team.