The Red Sox have signed five free agent pitchers — Michael Wacha, James Paxton, Rich Hill, Matt Strahm and Jake Diekman — so far this winter. Their only meaningful change on the position player front, though, was arguably a downgrade in 2022. An hour before the lockout, Boston traded Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers in a deal that brought Jackie Bradley Jr. back to Fenway Park.
While the Sox have yet to pull off a meaningful upgrade to their position player mix, they’ve been at least loosely tied to a few of free agency’s top names. Jon Heyman of the MLB Network suggested this morning they could be in the mix for Freddie Freeman. They’re reportedly among the teams in the running for star NPB outfielder Seiya Suzuki. Before the lockout, reports tied them to each of Carlos Correa and Trevor Story.
There are myriad possibilities the Boston front office could pursue, a fact chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom acknowledged when speaking with reporters yesterday (via Jen McCaffrey of the Athletic). “We talked about this before the lockout … that we do still want to add position players to the group,” Bloom said. “The (Renfroe) trade we made on December 1 kind of flipped our lineup balance a little bit to where we have an opening for a right-handed bat. That said, in this period, especially with so much going on and so many conversations, we want to be nimble enough to take advantage of all opportunities.”
Bloom declined to specify an area of positional target, pointing to the flexibility Enrique Hernández affords the club with his ability to capably man both center field and second base. That’s been reinforced by the wide array of players they’ve reportedly inquired about, but their ties to the top two free agent shortstops are made more difficult by the presence of their All-Star in-house option there.
Speaking with reporters (including Christopher Smith of MassLive) this afternoon, Xander Bogaerts didn’t sound enamored with the possibility of changing positions to accommodate an external addition. “I’m a shortstop, man. That’s where I’ve played my whole career and obviously a position I take a lot of pride in,” the 29-year-old said. “I love being there.” Bogaerts said he and the team haven’t broached the possibility of a position change.
If Bogaerts remains steadfastly against moving off shortstop, that’d complicate any efforts by the Red Sox to make a legitimate push for Correa or Story. Correa is one of the game’s preeminent defenders at the position, coming off a Gold Glove winning campaign. Story is reportedly intent on signing with a team that’ll keep him at shortstop. It seems unlikely at this point that either will sign with a team that’s unwilling to make space for them at the infield’s most demanding position.
Unlike Correa or Story, Bogaerts doesn’t have the freedom to choose a team for 2022. Yet he will have the option of testing the open market next offseason, as he can opt out of the final three years and $60MM on his deal at the end of this season. Given how well he’s played in recent seasons, he’s certainly on a path towards triggering the opt-out, leaving Bloom and his staff to determine whether they want earmark some future funds away for a potential extension. (Star third baseman Rafael Devers is down to his final two years of arbitration control as well).
The Red Sox should have plenty of long-term flexibility, however. Jason Martinez of Roster Resource projects their luxury tax payroll for the 2022 season at $213MM, a fair bit shy of the $230MM base tax threshold. Looking ahead to 2023, a wide swath of post-2022 free agents and a potential Bogaerts opt-out could see that number plummet to just $60MM, leaving plenty of spots to be filled on the team’s active roster and a huge amount of funds with which to fill them. Bloom acknowledged as much, teasing that future financial flexibility “opens more options for us, maybe (more) than we’ve been working with the last couple years.”
This team needs starting pitching as much as anything. They had quite the year piecing it together last year, but Eovaldi is a coin flip with his health each year. Sale is returning from major surgery, Pivetta looked better last year, but he’s not a guarantee, and Rich Hill will be in a nursing home in a couple years.
Blooms taking a quantity over quality approach or just spreading money instead of investing in one big name starter. Sox have tons of guys who can potentially start – Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Houck, Wacha, Hill, Paxton, Whitlock, Straham and some prospects as well. Question is can we get a solid bullpen to back that mediocre staff up and keep being a top tier offense after losing Renfroe. I trust Bloom, as progressive as he is in his approach.
NYSoxfan – imo, you are correct about there being enough starters Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Houck, Wacha, Hill, Paxton, Whitlock, Straham as well as some really solid prospects in AAA and AA.
The main thing yet to be addressed is the position players: 2B, RF, utility infielder, middle of the order bat to replace Renfroe’s 31 HRs and 96 RBIs.
Ye old Dan Duquette approach. Lets have 100 guys who should be working the McDonald’s drive thru instead of getting a couple of decent arms.
Every year, I become more convinced that this is the path to regular-season success. Just focus on having 1,500 good innings, with good inning. As the BP innings continue to increase, it’s increasingly important to have multiple options.
They already got a decent rotation in place !
1.C.Sale
2.Eovaldi
3.Pivetta
4.Wacha
5.Paxton
Just to name a top starting 5. Houck and Hill could be depth pieces out of the bullpen with Diekman paring up with Whitlock, Straham and Barnes to fortify the back end ! Question is, who will CL !
In the Offence side, just trade with Pittsburg for Reynolds and Newman by sending Chavis, Triston Casa and other top prospects and that should do it !
1.Reynolds LF
2.Hernández CF
3.Devers 3B
4.Bogaerts SS
5.Verdugo RF
6.Martinez DH
7.Dalbec 1B
8.Vasquez C
9.Newman 2B
There !
Chavis was already traded to the Pirates.
The rotation is ok at best. I would rather see Houck or Wheelock get a shot at the back end.
Technically shortstop isn’t the only place Xander has played. When he was brought up in 2013 he played 3rd when we had Stephen Drew, plus in 2014 he also played 3rd (albeit not well)
Bogaerts hated playing third and his offensive numbers declined when asked to do so.
4/120? Avoids the long term contract and allows them to move on when it’s time for Meyer. Gives bogie a 10 mil raise a year. The willingness to move from SS and managements desire if there is one will be the key to if anything’s even offered though.
Nope, Bogey will only be 30 and looking for a huge pay day. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ask was 7/224 (or more) with Boras representing him.
Unfortunately, 4/120 is not getting it done
He’ll likely take less to stay. While Boras is his agent, he did sign that last deal which is not The agent’s M.O. Money though talks and to change positions before Mayer is ready will require an AAV of $32m or so for five or six years with an opt out after 23 and 24.
This team has major future payroll avail , surprised they haven’t been linked more to FF
Curios what’s up their sleeve the next 2 weeks
Nothing major on the horizon unless they re able to sign Suzuki. Otherwise Duran and JBJ battle for CF and Henry gets to stay under the cap for a 3rd straight year.
Duran needs a major improvement to his game. He was overmatched at the plate and showed the worst arm I’ve seen since Mickey Rivers.
Waiting on Suzuki is probably the hold up on positional players as you suggest. only their FO has privy to what type budget or any willingness to exceed CBT thresholds. No doubt, the Sox would love to move Bogaerts off SS, he however is less than enthused with a move in position. do they extend him? Will he consider a position change? The QO decision later this year will perhaps dictate their strategy. Or they could move him now and sign one of Story or Correa. It will be a drama show for certain with Bogaerts.
Story to come!! Bogarts 2b and changed him in july plus Suzuki
Chaim, are you getting your full 8 hours! Seems maybe more like 10. And then a long afternoon nap besides. The problem here is if they wait out for Suzuki until the end of his posting, then don’t get him, there will be no meaningful free agent upgrades left. We will be left with trading prospects, and we know how they aren’t going to do that. Right now with the off-season work being done by NYY and Tor, RedSox are becoming a second division team.
@spitball: which makes one wonder if Bloom’s financial hands remain tied. My gut tells me that the sox will remain under the CBT threshold for ’22. They have a huge amount coming off the books at year’s end.
I am not excited by the Boston moves (non-moves) or Yankee moves (non-moves) thus far. VERY low energy. Very muddled and unsure of themselves and wondering what kind of teams they want to be. It’s disconcerting living in this new reality but if things stay looking this way it’s going to be Toronto & Tampa Bay at One and Two in this division …then LOTS of games separating them from Three & Four right here.
Changing of the guard in the AL East??? Let’s hope Chaim & Cash will snap out of their lethargic passive/ timid mindsets they find themselves in and right these storied franchises OR it’s sub-.500 for both of them.
How many times you gonna write that?
Raphael Devers drags down Xander Bogaerts defensive numbers. Also, Bogaerts health has impacted his play. Partner Bogaerts with an above average fielding third baseman and you will see Bogaerts defensive numbers rise. That said, Bogaerts can and will opt out of his remaining contract after this season. If the Red Sox don’t think they can sign him to a new contract, then they need to take a long look at Carlos Correa or Trevor Story. When prized prospect Triston Casus is ready to join the big club, the Red Sox should trade J.D. Martinzez, move the below average Devers to DH, and move Bobby Dalbec to 3B.
Bogaerts D is well below average. He needs to come off shortstop period. His bat keeps him in the lineup. Don’t get me wrong, I love this guy. Just not at short. There’s not a 3rd baseman on this planet that can shore up Bogaert’s glove or arm.
“Devers drags down Bogaerts defensive numbers.”
Devers problem is his throwing (usually), Bogaerts problem is his range (usually). How does Devers throwing make Bogaerts range worse?
Ya but when you look at the infield, we have absolutely nothing in terms of a good first baseman, bobby dalbec isnt the answer, hes a below average to mediocre hitter, thats why they are ‘ in the mix’ for freeman, but then again what team isnt? hes a great hitter and everything else, they also dont have an everyday 2nd baseman, but thats 1 position i dont see them getting someone because casas is incredible and will be up this year, we ALSO dont have an everyday closer, and next year were gonna 99% loose our shortstop, i just dont get them, or the Yankees for that matter, its like since 2019 both teams stopped spending money, outside of garrett cole they have also signed nobody, but with the red sox im not surprised, they legite came out and said’ were gonna put payroll and no longer offer huge contracts’ guess the David price scenario kinda made them realize they cant keep doing it, another thing too about the red sox, they no longer have an identity or that face of the franchise, theirs no more nomar or ortiz or pedro, they dont have ‘ that guy’ even mookie wasnt it, as great as he is, you never felt like he was the whole team. We need our jeter and we simply dont have it.
Good points, Amanda. The Sox lack identity and Bloom’s approach is worsening this issue. I can’t believe JBJ is back – ridiculous.
I got one question for you what does Casas have to do with 2nd base? The way I read your summary you said that is the one position that you don’t see any help coming because “ Casas is incredible”. Did you mean that they won’t get Freddie because Casas is coming? I’m sure that’s you meant but it looks like you said Casas is helping at 2nd and I’m sure you know he isn’t a second baseman.
Trade for Chapman, put Devers at 1b plus Suzuki
Wait, is Boegarts “not enamored” or is he “steadfastly against” moving off SS? I’m not trying to nitpick here, but those are two completely different postures used to describe his stance on the situation, and are contained in consecutive paragraphs.
The issue could be that his option is coming up, and he wants to market himself as a SS, not a 2B. That could be addressed by extending him, in which case, it won’t to him where he plays.
There is and was no interest from Boston in Carlos Correa. That is probably something drummed up by Correa’s camp to push his price up. Xander Bogaerts is a better player than all of the SS that were available this off season and Boston would be wise to lock him up long term. As for Freeman I call BS on that as well. Pitching is where they’ll live this off season because if there’s one thing they proved last year it was that you don’t need to spend huge on your lineup for it to be successful. I see fans complaining about Dalbec but I wouldn’t worry about him he looked very good down the stretch last season and I think he’ll be fine. He’s never going to hit for average but he’s got big power and if he can lower his Ks a bit I think he’ll be their guy. He’s going to hit HRs that’s a guarantee.
Yup, both Correa and FF are things invented by the writers.
I don’t entirely think that’s true. Every team has interest in All-Star level players if they are able to sign them at the right price point. If Correa or Freeman wanted to come to Boston for 1yr/40m, or gave a gigantic discount, I can’t imagine Boston just saying, “Nah, thanks.”
Is either likely? No, probably not. But if you don’t explore it you’re not doing your job as a GM.
Suzuki is the key. With Kike they can platoon JBJ/Arroyo. Duran & Casas begin at AAA.
This team is a joke. I’m not spending the the money it takes to travel and come watch them play a couple games. Why should we pay beyond top dollar for the privilege to watch bargain basement players….
A bunch of baseball buddies get together and do a 3 game series around the country. The Reds have the best bang for the buck. The Red Sox and Yankees SUCK. Grossly overpriced for baseball and just not a quality experience when you visit other parks.
Example: A couple of years back we got the Reds club seats. $90, food and drinks included in the ticket price. They even had a large indoor area to sit on couches and watch on large big screen tvs. The food was diverse and included a carving station and drinks included alcoholic drinks.
You’ve apparently been asleep for 100 years. They have a top-tier payroll and were two games away from the WS last year. Go take another nap.
Well Cham is watching again. It says a lot when he leaves Suzuki on the market…. Lost chance there
That non-move may end up fortuitous for Boston. I’m not sold on Suzuki. Changing leagues is a tough adjustment for a hitter. Outside of Ohtani and Ichiro, I struggle to think of anyone who has done it with great success.
As a Padres fan I can say that the BoSox chose well in selecting Matt Straham as someone who watched him pitch with us for over five years. Nice signing. He will add a punch to the Sox Bullpen and Straham can also give you some good spot starts as well. He will be missed in San Diego.
Suzuki gone, Schwarber gone. I wonder if Boston is going to turn to Castellanos or Bryant now. They would both be a big right handed bat both could play left. Bryant is a little more versatile but he is also going to cost more. The alternative is counting on JBJ to play everyday in right field. This would not be good. Hopefully either Bryant or Castellanos are coming.
Castellanos or bust now
Bloom should trade for AJ Pollack 2yrs/ 20 MM. Freidman might be looking to reduce payroll after FF deal and get prospect(s) in return.
Perhaps the Red Sox can trade for Myers from San Diego and get a prospect or 2 back. Maybe Bloom can send make it bigger deal and include a prospect and get Campusano back.