Boston Red Sox Fandom: Things to like about the 2023 team

The Boston Red Sox is creeping inexorably toward the 2023 opening day after its somewhat lackluster offseason. Nevertheless, there are things to be positive about and they’re worth exploring.

The mantra here has been and will continue to be that championship teams are built in the offseason and absent catastrophic injuries, the season is merely an exercise to play out the result of that team-building.

This goes for all teams including the Boston Red Sox. One thing seems clear from this vantage point, the 2023 version of the Boston Red Sox was not built to be a championship team, whatever the intent was.

There wasn’t enough done in the all-too-essential area of securing truly top players to populate the lineup, bench, and pitching staff. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom under whatever directives he operates, either couldn’t or didn’t do enough to make this squad a lock contender.

Yet, as in 2021, if a whole host of things go right, ya just never know. That group came together magically as a team and shocked the baseball world for a time.

Nevertheless, there are good things to signal out, and this is the place to do so.

Boston Red Sox bright lights in 2023

Where are the Red Sox strengths in 2023? In the lineup, the $300M man, Rafael Devers is certainly the brightest. Assuming the newfound cash doesn’t diminish his enthusiasm, Devers will lead this team’s hitters. He’s an All-Star and maybe more.

Two veteran additions who may provide some lineup punch are 34-year-old outfielder, Adam Duvall (coming off a wrist injury), and 38-year-old Justin Turner. Duvall may provide some power to an outfield that can use it.

Turner, unfortunately, was hit in the face by a pitched ball early in the spring. Hopefully, he’s just fine. He’ll provide a leadership element that will be essential, especially after the departure of long-time shortstop Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez. Even at 38, expect he’ll be a solid hitter who’ll produce some numbers.

The final positive to mention is a wild card who just may be one of the best signings of the MLB offseason. That would be former Japanese Professional Baseball League star, Masataka Yoshida.

Admittedly, he’s the favorite signing in this space. While there’s always conjecture and risk when a player comes over from another league, Yoshida has all the essentials to be a top addition to the Boston Red Sox outfield. The bet here is he will be. Yup, this space just loves this signing.

Boston Red Sox pitching situation

The Boston Red Sox strengthened their bullpen at least on paper with the prime acquisitions of closer Kenley Jansen and set-up man Chris Martin who’ll turn 37 in June. They should be an improvement over the lackluster group in 2022.

On the starting pitching end, the team’s most impactful addition was soon-to-be 37-year-old former All-Star Corey Kluber. Kluber, the two-time former Cy Young Award winner at Cleveland, has been tapped to be the Boston Red Sox opening-day starter.

Yet, the biggest wild card in the group is a familiar one, Chris Sale. Sale has been mostly out injured since 2019. That notwithstanding, the hope is the soon-to-be 34-year-old will bounce back from injury.

If all goes well, hopefully, the popular lefty will contend for the Comeback Player of the Year award. The Boston Red Sox season may depend on it.

Sale has always been a favorite here, even as he most likely was for all of Red Sox Nation when he was signed by Dave Dombrowski prior to the 2017 season. Many pan the signing now, but if they admit it, who didn’t support it back in 2017? Not many for certain.

That’s a quick roundup of some of the positives for the Boston Red Sox in 2023. The return to health of Kike Hernandez, the fabulous positional jack-of-all-trades is another huge re-addition.

Is it enough for a 2021-like playoff run? On the surface, maybe not. But in baseball as in other team sports, strange things happen. You just never know. After all, that’s why they play the games.