The Red Sox are a mess, folks. And there are no simple fixes here. Even if Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez come back healthy next year, the Red Sox are woefully short on young talent overall and young pitching, in particular. The best way to get it is through the draft, which brings us back to the idea of tanking, whether you want to call it that or not.
If the Red Sox knew they had to be under the luxury tax threshold as far back as the fall of 2018, why did ownership “green-light” the combined $213 million signings ($43 million annually in luxury tax) of Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi, two pitchers with histories of breaking down?
According to a report from the Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, a red flag in the medical records of pitcher Brusdar Graderol (who is scheduled to move from the Twins to the Red Sox) has given Boston's front office pause and put the deal on hold.
Does Chaim Bloom really know what he is doing? Did the Red Sox get even remotely decent value for Mookie, even if Betts did have just one year remaining on his contract? Are the Red Sox merely cycling through another GM (and manager) since the departure of Theo Epstein (and Terry Francona), or are they actually building something again with a longer-term, more sustainable model?
With pitchers and catchers reporting in just 18 days, the Red Sox continue to put together their Spring Training roster, announcing 13 new non-roster invitees Friday morning.
Know what I think? I think the Red Sox knew a year ago – or more – that Friedman was entering the final year of his contract and that he might want to come to Boston. Heck, they probably talked to him – or someone close to him – while the Red Sox were cleaning up on the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series. And that is probably why Friedman hasn’t agreed to new terms with the Dodgers.
Make no mistake, what Dombrowski’s Sox achieved this year was every bit as extraordinary as in 2018: for the first time in a long, long time – maybe ever? – the Red Sox played a season in which they were largely irrelevant.
Before you suggest it's “good news” that Chris Sale doesn't need surgery, let’s make this clear: Sale does not need surgery NOW, and the Red Sox have a depreciating asset despite limiting him over the last two years.
Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe says Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski is not long for the job. Tony Mazz breaks down how we've gotten to this point.
Edwin Diaz has quickly fallen off the Red Sox' radar. A new report suggests that the Mets reliever is unlikely to land in Boston before the trade deadline.
Andrew Cashner was the Red Sox' “solution” to the pitching problems that have affected them since they showed, which isn’t even the equivalent of putting a tuxedo on a pig. It’s buying the pig a t-shirt and some Army fatigues at the thrift store.
