Boston Red Sox: Who on the Roster is a Tradeable Commodity This Offseason?
By Hal Bent
Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox once again finished a disappointing season, ending up in the basement of the American League East for the third time in the past four years. After a contentious offseason which began with ace starting pitcher Jon Lester signing with the Chicago Cubs in free agency, the Red Sox compounded their problems by opening their checkbook for free agent flops Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval.
They also overpayed 40-year old closer Koji Uehara, traded for Robbie Ross, and signed Craig Breslow and Alexi Ogando to anchor the bullpen. Uehara was injured, Ogando was untrustworthy, Breslow continued to trend downwards, and Ross was forced to take a larger role than anyone ever expected of the lefty specialist.
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In the starting rotation they traded for Rick Porcello and Wade Miley, and signed Justin Masterson to a hefty one-year contract. With inconsistent Joe Kelly already on board and Clay Buchholz again ending up on the disabled list, the rotation was a mess.
While the playoffs are still a ways away, there is no doubt that new President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski is already reviewing and analyzing his current roster and trying to see what pieces are fits and which are trade bait. With former general manager Ben Cherington’s fingerprints all over this current cast, expect Dombrowski to work to make his own mark.
Dombrowski likes to build teams through trades. Identifying tradeable commodities already on the roster is his main concern at this point of the offseason. As such,here are the top players currently on the roster grouped in their anticipated fit for the 2016 Red Sox.
Next: The Untouchable Players