As paintul as it is to lose to the New York Yankees in the playoffs (for the second year in a row, no less), it hurts more to know that the Boston Red Sox's loss was more self-inflicted than anything.
Boston's offense fell apart in September and the complete lack of momentum cursed it when it mattered. Pitching has been the Sox's single-biggest strength all season but Chad Tracy trusted the wrong arms at the wrong times. The moves could've cost the Red Sox any chance they had at a reunion with impending free agent Sonny Gray, who was vocal about his disappointment following his 4.2 inning outing.
“I think I'm the best pitcher in the American League going through the order the third time. I think that's a fact,” Gray said. “I would have liked to live or die with me in that moment, but that's the competitor I am, and yeah, I think you can probably ask the guys, and they felt the same way."
The veteran has recently dropped hints that he might retire after this season, but after the Sox's loss he changed his tune, saying he's "got a lot of baseball left in [him]." Despite Boston's need for a right-handed pitcher next season, it's hard to foresee a reunion with Gray now.
The Sox have another impending free agent who likely won't want to come back after some explosive postgame comments, as well as some other players who could be moved after a disappointing loss.
Sonny Gray and 3 other Red Sox who won't be back after embarrassing Yankees series
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is yet another veteran who came to the Red Sox organization and revealed issues with the club's internal workings. Before the Red Sox went off on their tear over the summer, Kiner-Falefa called out some outside distractions that kept them from performing. He called the Sox's Wild Card loss "unacceptable" after Game 2.
Falefa didn't appear in the Wild Card series against the Yankees and he doesn't have a place in the Red Sox's infield next year — Trevor Story is under contract for one more season, Franklin Arias should be in the big leagues on Opening Day, Curtis Mead should be healthy and Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler will be options off the bench. But Kiner-Falefa has also called out the behind-the-scenes drama in the Red Sox organization and most likely prefers to play for a better-run team next year.
Patrick Sandoval
Patrick Sandoval didn't make the Red Sox's Wild Card roster, and there's a good reason for it. The lefty posted a 5.12 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP over 70.1 innings this year. He struggled in August and September with a 5.79 ERA between the two months. Seven of his eight decisions were losses.
The Red Sox certainly don't need another lefty starter in their rotation given the group they'll carry into next season. Boston's post-UCL surgery rebound projects have largely been unsuccessful and Sandoval did not change that.
Jarren Duran
The Red Sox hoped to rely on Jarren Duran as a veteran presence and an offensive threat this season and he was neither. He finished the season with a .207/.266/.361 slash line and 165 strikeouts in 151 games, the worst marks of his career so far.
Boston was already past the point of getting a good trade return for Duran last season, but the return doesn't matter at this point. The Red Sox need right-handed power and consistency and it makes the most sense to add it in the outfield.
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