Boston Red Sox: 3 players that failed to meet expectations this season
Boston Red Sox player who failed to meet expectations No. 1: Marwin Gonzalez
Yes that’s right folks, Marwin Gonzalez was actually a part of this team at some point this season. Gonzalez was signed last offseason to come in and help out primarily in the outfield, but he struggled immediately and was sent to the bench. Gonzalez never got going, and was eventually cut midway through the season, making him one of the few failed moves by general manager Chaim Bloom.
It’s fair to wonder whether Gonzalez was the player that benefitted the most from the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. While we just saw that guys like Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Carlos Correa are good whether they know what pitches are coming or not, the same isn’t true with Gonzalez.
For reference, Gonzalez’s best season came in 2017 during the height of the scandal when he hit .303 with 23 home runs and 90 runs batted in, all career highs. This season, Gonzalez could only muster a .202 average with just two home runs and 20 RBI’s. Seems a bit telling if you ask me.
Regardless, Gonzalez was basically expected to come in and fill a role similar to that of Kike Hernandez. Gonzalez was initially tabbed as an outfielder, but he can play pretty much all over the field. If he could have hit at around a .240-.250 clip like he had done for most of his career, it would be a steal for the Sox.
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Instead, Gonzalez looked lost at the plate for most of the season, and was outperformed by Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe, and Christian Arroyo, and he never found a home at a specific position. After missing nearly a month on the injured list, Gonzalez came back and hit just 4/23 over his next seven games, paving his way out of Boston.
Coincidentally enough, Gonzalez was eventually picked up by the Astros at the end of August, but his struggles persisted. Gonzalez was expected to be a key piece of the 2021 Red Sox, but he ended up being so bad he was let loose in the middle of the season. As a result, nobody failed to meet expectations this season more than Gonzalez did, earning him the top spot on this list.