With the Red Sox hiring Craig Breslow to be their Chief Baseball Officer last week and the annual baseball general manager meetings taking place in Arizona and Red Sox offseason has officially begun. The Red Sox sent out their official 40 man roster this week and wow, does this roster blow:
BOSTON RED SOX 40-MAN ROSTER (37)
Pitchers (21): Brayan Bello, Brennan Bernardino, Kutter Crawford, Logan Gillaspie, Tanner Houck, Joe Jacques, Kenley Jansen, Zack Kelly, Mauricio Llovera, Chris Martin, Bryan Mata, Wyatt Mills, Chris Murphy, Nick Pivetta, Nick Robertson, Chris Sale, John Schreiber, Brandon Walter, Zack Weiss, Garrett Whitlock, Josh Winckowski
Catchers (2): Reese McGuire, Connor Wong
Infielders (7): Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, Rafael Devers, David Hamilton, Trevor Story, Luis Urías, Enmanuel Valdez
Outfielders (5): Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Alex Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida
Infielder/Outfielders (2): Ceddanne Rafaela, Pablo Reyes
At his introductory press conference last week Craig Breslow said “Starting pitching certainly stands out as an area of need and I think some players coming back from injury and being able to solidify middle infield defense will add to that. I think there are some guys internally that we are excited about that may be able to take a step forward but that’s certainly one. If you look at the overall construction of the roster, there’s a possibility that maybe we add a right-handed bat to even out some of the platoon asymmetry.” I think “platoon asymmetry” means the Red Sox are looking at a player like Whit Merrifield, who I love and have loved for many years. The Athletics Jen McCaffrey floated Whit Merrifield as a possibility earlier this week.
From Ian Brown on “X” – Scott Boras on if he thinks the Red Sox will be more aggressive after the shift in management: “We met with them as we do with new presidents, general managers, they certainly appeared as though they really wanted to remove themselves from the standing of where they’re at now and get to a competitive level so that was a very clear message on their part.”
The Red Sox need to set tone and make a move this week. Let their actions of aggression match their words of being aggressive. MY hope is that we look back at this Red Sox off season as a positive, franchise altering one rather than add it to the list below of terrible Red Sox off seasons.
2019-2020
Hiring Chaim Bloom to trade Mookie Betts
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 28, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
On October 25, 2019, the Red Sox hired 36-year-old Chaim Bloom as Chief Baseball Officer from the Tampa Rays were Bloom was the Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations, that hiring began the downward spiral of the Boston Red Sox to where we are today. I’m always open to a good conspiracy theory and mine is that Bloom hired by the Red Sox to make the Mookie Betts trade and in February 2020 Betts was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a five-player swap. The Red Sox also sent left handed pitcher David Price to LA in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo, catcher Connor Wong, and infield prospect Jeter Downs. The moment the Mookie Betts trade was made we all knew it was a disaster.
Jeter Downs is gone following a December 2022 waiver claim.
Alex Verdugo has shown flashed of being a top player on the Red Sox but on and off the field issues have kept him from being a two way impact player.
Connor Wong might be the last man standing from the Betts trade but his clock is ticking as the Red Sox drafted Kyle Teel.
Bloom is now sitting at home, bitter at the Red Sox for not being a good leader of Baseball Operations and being mocked in the media.
2014-2015
Pablo and Hanley
May 10, 2018, Bronx, NY, USA: Boston Red Sox designated hitter Hanley Ramirez hits an RBI single against the New York Yankees during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. (Photo Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports)
I think this was the beginning of the end for Larry Lucchino as the man who “runs the Red Sox”. He went for a big splash and found no water in the pool by signing Hanley Ramirez and former World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval.
Hanley Ramírez signed a four-year, $88 million deal with a fifth year vesting option worth $22 million to return to the Boston Red Sox. They announced plans to play him in left field, even though he had only previously played shortstop and third base in his career. Hanley in 429 games hit .260 with 78 home runs, 255 RBIs and a .777 OPS. He was released by the Boston Red Sox on May 30th of 2018.
Pabl0 Sandoval signed a five-year, $90 million contract with a sixth year club option of $17 million or a $5 million buy-out with the Boston Red Sox. Pablo in 161 games hit .237 with 14 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .646 OPS. He also liked a few Instagram models during games. He was released by the Boston Red Sox on July 19, 2017.
Both Hanley and Pablo failed in Boston.
2011-2012
Bobby Valentine
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 25: Manager Bobby Valentine #25 of the Boston Red Sox watches the pregame ceremony honoring the 2004 World Series Champion team prior to the game against Tampa Bay Rays on September 25, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
What a mess he was. Bobby Valentine was introduced by Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherington on December 2, 2011, as the 45h manager of the Boston Red Sox and reportedly against Cherington’s suggestion. Valentine was supposedly a Larry Lucchino hire while Ben Cherington wanted Dale Sveum, who was hired by the Chicago Cubs. Valentine’s only season with Boston was marred by injuries, public feuds with players like Dustin Pedroia, run-ins with the media, and terrible relationships with his coaches. The 2012 Red Sox finished last in the AL East at 69–93, their worst record in 47 years. Valentine was fired by the Red Sox on October 4, 2012. He should have been fired on the same day the Red Sox traded Gonzalez and Crawford to the Dodgers.
2010-2011
Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford
Coming out of high school, the then-Florida Marlins made Gonzalez the first overall pick in 2000. After a successful stint with the Padres, he was traded to the Red Sox in 2010 for a package that included future star Anthony Rizzo. Gonzalez put up decent overall numbers with the Red Sox but was vocally unhappy with the situation. He was sent to the Dodgers in 2012 in the famous “Nick Punto trade.”
The “Best Team Ever Created” in Red Sox history went 90-72 and finished third in the American League East. We all loved Theo trading prospects for All Star Adrian Gonzalez. Impact hitter and defender at first. What many fans didn’t understand, along with owner John Henry, why are we signing Carl Crawford? Crawford just didn’t fit. Most of us saw that. The Red Sox opening day line up in Texas was, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Crawford, Youkilis, Gonzalez, Ortiz, Cameron, Saltalamacchia, Scutaro. In what world is Crawford the three hitter? The fact he signed a seven-year, $142-million contract was the reason why.
