The Boston Red Sox's latest slump has revealed deficiencies across the lineup that need remedying this coming offseason.
If the Sox can't reverse their recent woes, the offseason will reach Boston by the end of the month. From dead bats to blown saves, the Red Sox need reinforcements up and down the roster. Red Sox radio personality and former big leaguer Lou Merloni agrees.
Merloni appeared on the latest episode of MLB insider Buster Olney's podcast, during which he stated it's time for the Sox to spend. Boston was a near-.500 team in 2022 and 2023, and it's headed toward the same success rate this season. Three middle-of-the-road seasons in a row suggest that the Red Sox are nearly competitive, and it wouldn't take much to get them up to speed with the rest of the American League East.
"I think, for the last couple years, we kept hearing about, 'you gotta build through the minor leagues, you gotta have that core, and when you have that core, you can go out and spend.' Well, a lot of people feel like you have the core," Merloni said. "A lot of people feel like you have three starting pitchers that you've developed . . . Bello, Houck and Crawford, you've never developed three starters like that in this organization."
"So you gotta go out and supplement. You should be in on Corbin Burnes, on Fried, you should be. And the same thing with the bats."
On the podcast, @LouMerloni discussed the Red Sox payroll for 2025: pic.twitter.com/cmvRLCeiuL
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) September 4, 2024
Lou Merloni calls for Red Sox front office to spend big this coming offseason
Merloni argues that the Red Sox have their young core established. In 2024, the organization has extended Bello and Ceddanne Rafaela, it extended Rafael Devers the year prior, and there have been rumblings of extension discussions with Triston Casas and Houck. Jarren Duran is under contract until his age-31 season, and the Sox's "Big Three" prospects — or "Big Four," depending on your persuasion — have reached Triple-A.
The 2025 team will be the team the front office has been saving its pennies for, or so it has said. Boston has its young, homegrown talent locked up for years to come, and now they need experienced, top-tier big leaguers to learn from.
Burnes would be a quality addition to any pitching staff, but he'd previously stated that he hopes to serve as a mentor to a staff of young hurlers. His description fit the Red Sox's pitching staff well, but Burnes' willingness to come to the Red Sox depends on how much ownership is willing to pay to sign him.
Merloni's statement is a wake-up call to Boston's front office. He's one of many Red Sox fans begging Fenway Sports Group to bring in the reinforcements the players deserve. All it takes is money, of which John Henry and FSG have plenty, especially after the way they've treated the Red Sox in recent years.