The Boston Red Sox offseason plan seems likely to be a continuation of their newfound modus operandi since they jettisoned World Series winner Dave Dombrowski. That would be to slash payroll and run a cut-rate ship they hope will still draw fans to the old ball yard.
The joke will unfortunately continue to be on the dedicated fans.
Fans hoping for a major free agency splash as the plan might as well take a cold dunk at Revere Beach to cool off any thoughts of a blazing hot stove period by the home team.
The absentee ownership is more likely to travel to Mars on a SpaceX Starship than spend big in free agency.
Boston Red Sox all rumors and no action
While big signings like Jacob deGrom to Texas are beginning, the likelihood of Boston dipping its toes into major free agency is slim.
The penurious ownership is more interested in the bottom line than getting out of the now-familiar bottom of the American League East.
The Red Sox needs a sea change and it starts at the top with the ownership. So what is the “plan”?
Frankly, it seems to be just making money and pulling the wool over the eyes of Red Sox Nation.
The Boston Red Sox off-seasons are no joking matter
The Boston Red Sox should act like a winner this offseason and should be all in on Aaron Judge. Pay him whatever it takes to sign him. Let’s face facts, they won’t.
This space has little liking for mega-year megabucks contracts. But Judge is different. He’s an exception to the rule, and he’s worth it.
And after his outfield days are over, he’ll step right into the DH role and play there into his 40s as David Ortiz did. How to pay for Judge? Cut ties with Xander Bogaerts who’s a free agent now and trade Rafael Devers before he leaves in free agency after next season. That’s real money saved right there.
Since Judge is not on his way to Boston, who is? That’s the joke. Anyone’s guess is as good as anyone else’s. To date, they’ve signed another aging reliever Chris Martin from the Dodgers who’ll turn 37 this season for $17.5M for two years. They also signed Joely Rodriguez for one year at $2M. Ho hum. Neither moves the needle much.
Yet one can count on one fact, by the end of free agency the Sox will have spread around a decent amount of money on mediocrity. Conversely, if they had spent it on one player like Judge and maybe traded for a top pitcher, they’d have been far better off.
Last season, the Red Sox traded one of their best hitters, Hunter Renfroe for the former outcast, weak-hitting Jackie Bradley Jr., and paid him more money. They also failed to re-sign another top player traded for in 2021, Kyle Schwarber. Chaim Bloom undid two of his best 2021 moves and sunk the Sox season before it even began.
Then they spent money on a sore-armed pitcher, James Paxton who never saw the field and they are now indebted to the same for $4M for this season.
Bloom should be wary of his employers. These money makers have only one thing in mind, the bottom line. After seeing them can Dave Dombroski after his winning three AL East titles in four years along with a World Series, Bloom should be wary that his one playoff appearance and two last-place finishes place him securely on the hot seat.
Not that the absentee ownership cares about winning as long as the money keeps flowing in. But appearances are appearances and there has to be a scapegoat, you know, to keep up appearances. And you can bet Bloom will be the fall guy if they flop again this season, which is a distinct possibility at this point.
So what’s the plan? Well, there really isn’t one, except this. Spend as little as you can and hope for the best. Sign older players, former injury types, and anyone else who may appear to be a reasonable addition. Problem is, Red Sox Nation is too smart to buy into those shenanigans.
The dedicated and knowledgeable Red Sox fan base can see this smokescreen as a joke. They get the fact that the absentee ownership could care less about the product on the field. As long as the stands are full, enough expensive jerseys are bought, and hot dogs and $10 beers are sold at the old ball yard, things are just fine.
It’s a real shame but as they say in Foxborough, it is what it is. That is until it isn’t. That will be the day the owners you never see sell this team to someone who actually cares, and that day can’t come soon enough for Red Sox Nation.