If there was one overarching takeaway from the Boston Red Sox 2021 season, it would be that this team is back. After winning a World Series in 2018, struggling through a hangover of sorts in 2019, and then looking like one of the worst teams in baseball during the shortened 2020 season, the Red Sox spent 2021 defying the odds, and nearly made it all the way back to the World Series.
Expectations have been increased as a result, setting the stage for a very interesting offseason in Boston. Last offseason, the team was just trying to find their way back to a respectable status. This offseason, the front office will be tasked with turning a team that came up just two wins short of a World Series appearance into a bonafide championship contender.
Whether it be bringing back current members of the team, signing new ones in free agency, or pulling off a couple of trades, it is expected that Boston will be busy this offseason. They certainly have a winning core in place right now, but it’s time to figure out what needs to be added to that core in order to push it over the final hump and turn it into a legitimate championship contender.
That starts with identifying your key weaknesses, and figuring out how to turn them into strengths. The Sox were lacking at a couple of positions this season, and it ended up being the difference between playing in the World Series and watching it from home. Let’s take a look at the three biggest positions of need heading into the offseason, starting with a group that was simply too inconsistent during the regular season.
Boston Red Sox position of need No. 3: Starting pitching
The Red Sox starting rotation probably overachieved this season, but the fact of the matter is it needs upgrading if the team intends on winning another World Series. Heading into the 2022 season, the only known starters right now are probably Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi. After that, everything else is up for grabs.
To start, a few key pieces of the rotation may not be set to return in the first place. Garrett Richards and Martin Perez both have club options, and considering the fact they were both exiled to the bullpen midway through the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Boston move on from either of them. Eduardo Rodriguez is also set to hit the open market, and it’s fair to wonder whether he pitched his final game in a Red Sox uniform this season.
Even then, there are still multiple internal options to fill out the rotation. Nick Pivetta was one of Boston’s best starters on the season, and was a weapon out of the bullpen in the playoffs. Tanner Houck spent much of the season commuting between Worcester and Boston, but when he was in the majors, he was solid. And there’s an off chance that star reliver Garrett Whitlock could be turned into a starter down the line too.
Even with all these pieces in place, it’s clear another starter is going to be needed. Sale and Eovaldi form a dominant duo at the top of the rotation, but the depth afterwards is sorely lacking. It seems like it would be a good idea to bring in another starter, even if you decide to fill out the back of the rotation with Pivetta, Houck, and Whitlock.
The good news is that there are an abundance of starters that are set to hit free agency. If they want to add a lefty to replace the potentially departing Rodriguez and Perez, they could target guys like Robbie Ray or Carlos Rodon. Either way, another consistent starter or two is going to be necessary for this team to get to where they want to go, and adding to the position should be one of the top priorities heading into the offseason.
Boston Red Sox position of need No. 2: Second base
It’s interesting how things work out. If you told a Red Sox fan heading into the season that Christian Arroyo and Jose Iglesias would be splitting time at second base by the season’s end, they probably would have laughed at you. Yet that’s how the Sox closed out the season, and it actually turned out to be a surprisingly successful endeavor.
The problem is that betting on it to happen again is a very risky proposition. Iglesias was only picked up by Boston because the Los Angeles Angels cut him early in September, only to watch him tear the cover off the ball in Boston. And Arroyo had never really put up starter quality numbers until this season, and even then he only ended up playing in 57 games this season.
Addressing the position through free agency seems like the best bet. Arroyo was solid for most of the season, but he was inconsistent down the stretch, and missed more than half of the season. Iglesias is a free agent, and even if he comes back, there’s no guarantee he plays the way he did to end the season.
While there aren’t necessarily many true second basemen available on the market, there are a lot of infielders who are capable of playing there on the market. Players who may be headlining the market are guys like Marcus Semien, Trevor Story, Javier Baez, and Carlos Correa, all guys who can play at second if needed. They may be out of Boston’s price range, but you have to consider making a push to bring in another star if you can.
Another thing to note is that both Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers have said they are open to moving positions if it benefits the team. While I’m not saying Devers should be playing second base anytime soon, Bogaerts could end up filling in there if they decide to bring in another guy who is more comfortable at shortstop. In the end, finding the eventual successor to Dustin Pedroia at second base should be a goal this offseason, it just may end up being a pricy acquisition.
Boston Red Sox position of need No. 1: Bullpen/closer
Boston’s bullpen was surprisingly resilient for most of the season. Even after Matt Barnes did his best vanishing act during the second half of the season, manager Alex Cora found a way to piece things together on a consistent basis. Considering the overall state of the bullpen by the season’s end, it’s quite impressive the Sox made it all the way to the ALCS.
The biggest issue with the bullpen is the closer position, or a lack thereof. Barnes was fantastic to open the season, and even earned himself his first ever All Star appearance. But it’s clear after his second half collapse he cannot be given the closer role to start next season. He’s just too inconsistent, and with an entire offseason to fix the issue now, it needs to be dealt with.
The problem is the closer market isn’t exactly filled with candidates this offseason. Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel are the two best options that could hit the market, which isn’t necessarily enticing. Both have shown signs of inconsistency recently, and are probably going to get more money than they are worth.
Internally, there aren’t a ton of options either. Hansel Robles has experience closing games, but he’s not nearly consistent enough to make the role his own. Adam Ottavino is a free agent, and even if he’s brought back, he functions better as a setup man than a closer.
Elsewhere, it feels like the bullpen could probably use another lefty arm to help out. Josh Taylor turned himself into a weapon this season, but guys like Darwinzon Hernandez and Austin Davis weren’t good enough throughout the course of the season. The bullpen did it’s job this season, but with an offseason to revamp, it’s time to shore up the bullpen and add some legit arms that will help win a championship.