A number of Boston Red Sox didn’t live up to expectations in 2017, and in 2018 they will have to kick things up a notch in order to make an impact.
2017 was a strange year for the Boston Red Sox. They won the AL East, but they were quickly ousted by the Houston Astros in the postseason.
The team looks ready to make a run in 2018 though, even with the lack of big moves so far this offseason. Boston will have a ton of healthy bodies back, but some will have to step up to improve their numbers next season. Some on this list were solid in 2017, but in Boston solid is just not good enough. Others were impacted by things beyond their control like injuries, but that can’t be an excuse going forward.
If the Boston Red Sox are going to have a successful campaign in 2018, it will likely be because of these 5 players, not in spite of them.
5. RP Tyler Thornburg
Boston is expecting a lot from reliever Tyler Thornburg, who hasn’t pitched in a game since 2016 for the Brewers. He had thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder, and a procedure was done in June to help it heal. It’s a severe injury, but it seems like Thornburg is on pace to return for Spring Training. Dave Dombrowski remains cautiously optimistic though.
"“He’s doing fine. He’s in a position where he’s been throwing. He’s where the doctor feels he should be. He’s now in a position where he needs to strengthen his shoulder, which is normal of that. The anticipation is that he should be ready to go for spring training, but as we also know, thoracic outlet syndrome is a major surgery. There’s been no setbacks.”"
Thornburg was stellar the last season he was on the mound in 2016. He pitched 67.0 innings with a 2.15 ERA 90 strikeouts. If he gets back to those numbers in 2018, the Boston Red Sox will be in a great position all season long.
4. DH Hanley Ramirez
Designated hitter Hanley Ramirez had a down year in 2017 in terms of his average and power numbers. He hit just .242 with 23 home runs and 62 RBI. In 2016, his average was at .286 and he blasted 30 homers while adding 111 RBI. He doesn’t have David Ortiz insurance anymore, and surely that impacted him last year, but so did his shoulder injury. Now though, Hanley is healthy and ready to take on 2018. The Red Sox should look for him to again hit 25 home runs, but 75 RBI should at least be the minimum.
A power bat, like J.D. Martinez, could still be added to the Boston lineup for 2018, and that would greatly improve Hanley Ramirez’s chances of putting up great power numbers. His current teammates should help though too, like Rafael Devers in year two. Devers was solid at the plate last season, but with more time in the MLB, he could explode in the new year. If he can get on base and put up big numbers, he will greatly aid Ramirez at the dish.
3. SP Rick Porcello
My how the mighty have fallen. In 2016, Rick Porcello was a surprise and he took home the AL Cy Young Award with a 22-4 record, a 3.15 ERA, and 189 strikeouts. 2017 was a much different year for the right-hander. He posted a terrible 11-17 record and his ERA ballooned to 4.65. He allowed the most home runs in the league as well, with 38 long balls leaving the bats of his opponents.
No one expects Porcello to contend for Cy Young Award once again, and behind Chris Sale and David Price he won’t even need to be the best pitcher on the staff, but he does need to improve. Porcello may not even be in the lineup as the #3 pitcher in 2018, that could be Drew Pomeranz. Still, improvement is a must.
Boston would probably be happy if Pretty Ricky can just get back to the kinds of numbers he had in the 5 seasons from 2012 to 2016. In that time, he averaged a 14-12 record, 4.01 ERA, and 143 strikeouts per season. He also allowed an average of just 20 home runs per year as well.
2. CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
Jackie Bradley Jr. has been at the center of trade rumors all offseason so far, with the latest coming from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reports have surfaced that LA contacted Boston about a deal that would essentially swap JBJ for Yasiel Puig. Of course, nothing ever came of that conversation and a deal was never truly proposed, but it’s interesting none the less. The Sox have a great outfield with JBJ, Mookie Betts, and Andrew Benintendi, but some fans are greedily asking for more.
The league is now an offensive one, and fans want more production at the plate from their center fielder. Bradley hit just .245 for the Red Sox last season and he added 17 home runs and 63 RBI. The RBI don’t really seem like an issue, but the lack of long balls is, especially after he was able to belt 26 in 2016. That’s unlikely to happen again in JBJ’s career. but expecting a better average makes sense. His defense is second to none though, and fans need to learn to appreciate that. A Gold Glove in 2018 could go a long way towards silencing his local haters next season.
1. SP David Price
In reality, David Price was not a bad pitcher in 2017. He doesn’t mesh well with Boston fans or media though, and somehow that makes us all over critical of his play on the mound. At the end of the year, Price was the best pitcher in Boston’s bullpen, but he’s expected to be the clear #2 as a starter now. The pressure should be off of him a bit, with Chris Sale taking over as the ace, and that should help Price to relax.
Price was 6-3 in 2016 with a 3.38 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 16 games. Those are great numbers if David Price can stay healthy for the entire 2018 campaign. Look for him to silence all of his critics with a tremendous season, possibly his last in Boston.
Next: A winter of discontent for Red Sox fans
If these 5 players perform well in 2018, the Boston Red Sox should be close to unstoppable, even with the New York Yankees in their division. Boston will aim to win the AL East, and then, will look to win a postseason series or two as they make a run towards another World Series title. Agree with this list? Let me know on Twitter @CandCFansided!