Boston Red Sox: Grading a rollercoaster of an offseason

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 15: Agent Scott Boras introduces Masataka Yoshida #7 of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference announcing his contract agreement with the Boston Red Sox on December 15, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

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Red Sox reliever Chris Martin. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The Boston Red Sox bullpen offseason grades

The Red Sox added three arms to their bullpen seeking to shore up a group that was ineffective in 2022. The top two are closer Kenley Jansen and set-up man, Chris Martin. Both are older arms, always a worry. But Jansen notched 41 saves in 2022 with the Atlanta Braves.

Jansen worked 65 games going 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 85 strikeouts to go with the saves. He’ll be 36 in September. That’s not young but he’s quality and can’t help but be an improvement.

Martin is 37 and comes over from the Dodgers. He had a solid season with the Cubs and the Dodgers going 4-1, with a 3.03 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 54 innings.

Martin was especially effective with the Dodgers for whom he logged a 1.46 ERA in 26 appearances. Again, he should improve a bullpen that was full of holes in 2022.

Another reliever added is Joely Rodriguez from the Mets. His 2022 was decidedly below average with a 4.47 ERA, a record of 2-4, and 57 strikeouts in 50 innings.

The Sox may also return Matt Barnes, Tanner Houk, and Ryan Brazier. For adding Jansen and Martin who should be upgrades over anyone else in the pen, the Sox get a B for their offseason on the bullpen. Overall the group should be better but that’s not saying very much.

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