This afternoon, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, GM Brian O’Halloran, president Sam Kennedy, and manager Alex Cora spoke with the media (including Alex Speier of the Boston Globe and Jen McCaffrey of the Athletic) to put a wrap on the 2022 season and provide clarity for the team’s offseason moves.
The quartet made it clear that Xander Bogaerts is a top priority, with Bloom stating that the Red Sox are “going to work really hard” at creating a deal with the long-term shortstop. Bloom continued, adding that he hopes that the Red Sox can get a deal done before the Bogaerts opts out and that the Bogaerts deal is “something that we can work on right away.”
Bogaerts had previously signed a six-year, $120MM extension in 2019 with an opt out after the 2022 season. The star shortstop has not officially stated whether he will exercise the opt out, but he’s a lock to do so and earn far more on the open market. Bogaerts said yesterday he and the team have not had any recent extension talks.
Bogaerts has been the Red Sox’s longest-tenured player, having made his debut as a 20-year-old in August 2013 and winning two World Series with the club. Since his debut, the recently turned 30-year-old has continued to develop and post strong results, slashing .307/.377/.456 with 15 home runs and 38 doubles in the 2022 season. Over the past five seasons, Bogaerts has posted a .301/.373/.508 slash line for a strong .880 OPS with 105 home runs, earning three All-Star berths and MVP consideration in the previous four seasons, finishing in fifth during the 2019 season.
If Bogaerts leaves the team, the Red Sox have options internally. Trevor Story, signed to a six-year, $140MM contract during the 2021 offseason, has considerable experience at short. However, Story has expressed a preference to remain at second and retain Bogaerts at short. Utility men Kiké Hernández and Christian Arroyo both have experience at shortstop, but neither produces an offensive output comparable to Bogaerts.
Additionally, Red Sox’s top prospect Marcelo Mayer, ranked as the seventh-best prospect by MLB.com, just finished his first full minor league season, posting a strong .280/.399/.489 line across Low-A and High-A. MLB.com currently projects the 19-year-old to make his debut during the 2024 season. However, Bloom said that prospects who are years away from the Majors will not impact the Red Sox’s approach to their 2023 team.
Transitioning to Rafael Devers, the slugger said on Wednesday that he’d be open to discussing a long-term deal this offseason (via Rob Bradford of WEEI). The Red Sox and Devers reportedly weren’t close during their Spring Training negotiations, but Bloom reiterated today “we would like to” explore a long-term deal with Devers, per Speier.
Devers is headed into his final season of arbitration eligibility, as Mookie Betts was before his blockbuster trade to the Dodgers. Bloom dismissed the possibility of trading Devers, saying that “isn’t on our radar” and that everything the team has done (farm system and payroll-wise) was conducted so that the team “is never in that position [of trading a player like Betts] again.” Bloom added that while it was always possible he’d receive a trade offer that was “stupid to walk away from,” Devers “is a guy that we want to build around.”
Unlike Bogaerts, the Red Sox have fewer internal options to replace Devers at the hot corner. Arroyo and Hernandez are capable of playing there, but, like is the case with shortstop, neither of them provides the offensive output that Devers brings to the team. Bobby Dalbec could be a contender for third base. However, the righty has yet to consistently produce at the major league level, slashing .232/.298/.456, buoyed by a strong .263/.359/.600 in his late 2020 debut season. Jeter Downs and Ryan Fitzgerald are both Triple-A candidates that could see some time if needed, but both will likely continue their development in Triple-A.
Similar to Meyer, ninth-best prospect Blaze Jordan just finished his first full minor league season. Across Low-A and High-A, the 19-year-old posted a combined .289/.363/.445 line. Jordan is also projected to make his debut during the 2024 season, which may be sped up to align with a Devers departure.
Moving to the other side of the infield, Bloom touched on the arrivals of Eric Hosmer and Triston Casas. “I don’t know yet,” he admitted when asked if there was room on the roster for two left-handed first basemen, per Christopher Smith of Mass Live. “Obviously, when we got Hoz, we were focused on what he could bring to us right now and not wanting to rush Triston. I think after that, Triston showed us in Triple-A, coming back off that injury once he got settled in, really the best we’ve seen from him or at least I’ve seen since I’ve been here. … It’s something we’re going to have to look at.”
Hosmer was acquired at the trade deadline and posted a weak .244/.320/.331 line with the Red Sox in 45 at-bats. He arrived with three years remaining on his eight-year, $144MM contract that he signed in 2018 with the Padres, but San Diego is paying down all but the league minimum salary. Hosmer certainly won’t opt of the remaining $39MM on his deal, but Boston could move from the veteran at virtually no financial cost if they wanted to turn to Casas full time.
Casas is Boston’s second-best prospect, after Mayer, and is ranked as the No. 25 prospect by MLB.com. The slugger made his debut in early September and finished the season going 15-for-76 (.197) with 23 strikeouts. However, he had a strong 20% walk rate, a .358 on-base percentage, and sent five balls over the fence. Bloom stated that the Red Sox were happy with how Casas “progressed the last couple months of the season,” noting that “he was a tough at-bat every single time,” and that the team is “excited” to see how he learns from his brief experience in the Show.
Bloom also noted that the Red Sox “fully expect” they’ll look at the possibility of adding to their catching group externally, per Speier. He suggested the Red Sox see Reese McGuire and Connor Wong as having “raised the floor,” but left open the possibility of an impact addition. Willson Contreras is the clear top free agent available at the position, while deadline trade target Sean Murphy could again be made available by the A’s. McGuire has had a strong start to his Red Sox tenure, slashing a strong .337/.377/.500 for a .877 OPS with three homers in 98 at-bats. However, these high numbers are inflated by an astounding .411 BABIP. Wong has been less productive, posting a .188/.273/.315 line, with a high 28.6% strikeout rate.
Meanwhile, Cora announced that the Red Sox hope to bring back their entire coaching staff for the next season, per Chris Cotillo of Mass Live. However, it’s possible some members of the staff could get a chance to interview for managerial positions this winter. Bench coach Will Venable, in particular, has been a frequent candidate for managerial jobs in past offseasons.
That’s exactly what I said last year, Mayer would be up in 2024. Can’t wait to see the kid in the majors.
No mention of Yorke? I know he had a rough year at Greenville.
Yorke hit to a .668 OPS this year. Plummeted like Downs.
Difference is Yorke was plaqued all season long by nagging injuries. Was not very often he was really a regular for more than 2-3wks without missing 1wk+ with something, usually a balky wrist injury suffered early during the 2022 season which kept cropping back up.
Downs on the other hand has just flat out been a dud since acquired in the Betts deal and Wong, looks like at best iMO as a below average backup catcher. verdugo was the only get in that deal, who while full of fire, is just an average corner outfielder.
Downs plummeted. I don’t have much hope for him. Yorke hardly played consistently due to injury. If he can stay healthy, I think there is a good chance he will be fine.
Yorke was injured quite a bit that’s true but it was also his approach at the plate. He fell in love with the long ball and tried to hit the ball out and started pulling everything and rolling over the ball. This isn’t who he is he just needs to get back to the line drive to all fields hitter that he is and everything will be fine. I still see him as a very high end prospect that has a brute future.
Hosmer isn’t the Red Sox first baseman next year it’s Casas from the get go. I would be surprised if Hosmer isn’t moved you don’t want two left hand hitting first baseman.
Agree with both points in your posts Bruin. Hosmer isn’t the defensive player he was half dozen years back and see a still learning his way Casas a better offensive LH option, thus no use for hosmer, who has no trade value, even with Padres on the hook for his contract..
Boston also has gone too far have started seeing since Bloom took over with all this launch angle…. You know and exactly what has it produced? A few players who had great showings in the minors, or during the pandemic, vs their own mates (Duran) power numbers which did nothing but alter natural swings, which they had to abandon because they opened up other larger flaws and had to return to what worked nicely before?
mlb.com/news/red-sox-nick-yorke-looking-to-bounce-…
The problem with the Red Sox has been bad trades. Someone needs to explain to me why the team traded Hunter Renfroe and his 30 HR’s and 96 RBI for Jackie Bradley jr!? Did someone really think they would get the same production? The outfield lacks power. Period, I’m not so against the Vazquez trade, he is 32 and had value. They were not going to pay him long term. Bloom has traded for prospects to improve the system, but the product at the top is bad. Pitchers can’t throw strikes. Worsely, because they’ve employed the TB “opener” every 5 th day, they are doomed to burning out the bullpen. Note to Bloom: a four man rotation would work better! The solution is simple. Be bold. Trade Devers for as much top level talent as you can, without it you won’t win anyway..
At this point in time, Yorke looks like he’ll need another year in A+ ball. If he doesn’t improve (and get called up to AA ball by the end of the A+ season), he will drop well down on their prospect rankings and probably fall out of favor with the team. With Story already locked up, Mayer, Casas and Jordan being fast-tracked to the majors and the possibility of either Devers or Bogaerts re-signing this offseason (not to mention Arroyo or Jeter Downs), Boston seems to be all set in their IF for quite some time. Their primary focus needs to be pitching along with the outfield.
Bogaerts is a key. Jordan and Devers are destined for 1B. So long term is one of them or Casas. Need Bogaerts to stick at SS for now and slide to 3B in 2025 when Mayer arrives.
In no way is Devers destined for 1B. Took a big step forward at 3B with the glove this year and seems determined to continue to improve.
Devers improved mainly because it was harder to be one worse. He still led the AL in 3B errors and is not the long term solution. If he signs an extension, he has to be moved to DH if JDM plays elsewhere in 23. JDM showed his power is still there leading the team and almost the AL in doubles plus he hit home runs again the last week. My guess is his back affected him more than he let on for a good part of the season. That’s my concern. I’d offer to get the crappy draft pick and I expect he’ll take it.
dewey – If JD indeed is gone, which is probably the case, he went out in style with the two homeruns in his final game.
I wouldn’t be surprised if his second half struggles were back-related, similar to last year. It’s not something he would want to reveal on the verge of free agency.
I wish him all the best.
I completely agree. Historically, the Red Sox have had very strong outfields rarely needing a full retool. Now having a weak outfield seems to have become the norm. They don’t need a Yaz, Dewey, Lynn type outfield, but I’d be happy with a Ramirez, Damon, Nixon type mix lol
Greenwell, Burks, and Brunansky would be an upgrade at this point
Yorke was dealing with injuries all year. I expect a bounce back from him and a promotion to AA at some point next year most likely earlier rather than later if the injuries are truly behind him.
Why sign Trevor Story when you need to extend Xander and Devers??? Bad look. And now it looks as if they’re back-tracking because of all the opprobrium they hear from fans and baseball analysts. They made their decision on X last off-season. That ship has sailed. It’s embarrassing watching this FO cover their a$$ now.
ignorant – Right you are. Even if the Red Sox do make a serious attempt to keep Xander (doubtful) they will look like idiots for paying him a lot more than what they could have a year ago. It’s Lester all over again.
The Yankees did similar with Judge, but at least they had a good reason for waiting because of his injury history.
What’s new Sox have a history of doing this. Remember them lowballing John Lester this front office let’s the generational talent go and sign has beens for cheap hopeful to catch lighting in a bottle
Story is staying at second base and mostly likely due to his diminished arm strength. Also with the shift being banned next year 2B will no longer be a spot you can hide questionable defenders. Having someone like story there who would have been in the running for the gold glove if not for getting plunked is going to be big next year.
This is exactly the problem with the Red Sox, imo: they are listening WAY too much to what the fans think.
I honestly believe that Bloom is a legit executive who knows how to build an organization. Look at Boston’s farm system when he took over compared to now! Team has a bright future.
But I don’t think that Bloom is given free-reign to run baseball ops like he wants. Look at the Betts trade: Bloom wanted Verdugo and Graterol, both of whom are above average regulars. Instead, we fans (myself included) wanted more in return for Betts. Thus, management “had concerns about Graterol’s medicals” and the deal expanded to include Downs (who is awful) and Wong (maybe a backup catcher). Same thing with the trade deadline this year: fans were complaining that the team “wasn’t going for it”, but it was VERY clear based on their July performance that this team wasn’t close to competing. They should have torn it down during the deadline for more prospects. And now we have the Story/Bogaetys fiasco.
It’s the smart development of the farm system coupled with the baffling management of the major league team that has me convinced that management is very concerned with opinion of the fans. But the problem is the fans are often very shortsighted and shouldn’t be listened to.
jtm2889: I have wondered if that is true. I hope it is not true or they learned their lesson via the Story contract.
jtm – It’s very, very rare for the Red Sox or any other team to make decisions based on fan sentiment.
If the Red Sox “listened to what fans think”, guys like Schwarber and Mookie and Pedro and Damon and Holt and Lester and Clemens and Boggs and Fisk and Nomar and Vaughn and Dewey and Ellsbury (to name a few) never would have left.
Hosmer is done. Mentally or ability-wise, doesn’t matter. He was done before they finished sewing his name on the back of his Padres jersey.
Hosmer is fine. First base at league minimum allows us to allocate money elsewhere.
pwndroia – Did you see how much money is coming off the books this offseason?
The goal isn’t to field a low paid team.
The goal is to field a team that is capable of competing. Having a GG caliber no-hit first baseman doesn’t help accomplish that.
I don’t see Hosmer as a starter, but a solid bench 1B/DH.
Replacing Hosmer will not be free. Getting a bench player who can play a good 1B while batting .260-.270 will cost somewhere between 5 to 7.5mils, if not more. Hos costs us league min. While the goal isn’t a low cost, you don’t toss away a deal just for sake of spending more.
You are right about other team needs. 1B is the least of our worries.
“GG caliber” XD XD XD
@Fever Pitch Guy. You’re missing my point. We spend low on a first baseman then we can spend more on Devers and Bogaerts. Not to be a jerk, but sometimes I think you just want to argue for the sake of arguing.
pwndroia – I agree with posts (from everyone) just as much as I disagree.
I got your point, but you didn’t get mine. Teams don’t spend more on a player just because they have the money to spend, that would be quite foolish. They base their spending on what they feel the player is worth.
Like I said (and you ignored) they have a ton of money coming off the books, there is no reason why they can’t offer Xander or Devers market value and STILL get a quality first baseman.
I didn’t know you were bothered by the few times i disagree with you, but I will make an effort to cut back on my replies.
@Fever Pitch Guy
I am not annoyed most of the time, just by this one. I wasn’t ignoring you as I responded, I just don’t see the need to spend on a first basemen when we have Hosmer and we are planning to spend on Devers and Bogaerts. That’s what I’ve been inking. Otherwise, what was the point of getting Hosmer in the first place?
The part that is annoying is you jump to conclusions (as you are doing now) and assume what the other person thinks. And not everyone agrees, so it sounds rather patronizing. Just saying.
Overall, you seem like a good guy. Some of the posts are just irking.
pwndroia – I didn’t say you ignored my response by not responding, I said you ignored part of what I wrote in the response.
They acquired Hosmer for two reasons:
1) To give the impression they were still in pursuit of a playoff spot
2) To take a flyer on him with the hope they can turn him around ala Carpenter. I had no problem with the acquisition, but I’m hoping Casas will take over 1B next year.
I don’t see how I jumped to any conclusions, but I really don’t want this to turn into a back-and-forth about what was said between the two of us. I think you’re a good guy too, and perhaps there’s just misunderstandings going on.
As for irking, yes I have admitted in the past I sometimes vent here. But I hold no animosity toward anyone, my frustration is 100% with the current state of the Red Sox.
@Fever Pitch Guy you think I don’t know that? Of course I know we need to spend money but there you go assuming again. I just want the money spent in the right places because we can’t spend it everywhere and Devers and Bogaerts are going to cost a lot.
@Fever Pitch Guy I didn’t feel like I ignored you but fair enough. I don’t believe, however, that we received Hosmer to trade him again and I don’t think the playoffs were a reasonable reason to acquire him because we were never close to getting there. Which is why I think Hosmer was intended to start. It seems like Bloom doesn’t want to promote any minor leaguers permanently. He always finds the Hosmers and Arroyos to push the prospects back into the Minors.
Hosmer is fine??? U kidding me
Yea, Hosmer is better than Dalbec and anyone else you put at first not named Casas. And we basically got him for free
Kinda like saying he’d rather have a value meal at mickey d than spend money at a fine steakhouse.
Bloom is “going to work really hard” because he “would like to” keep certain things on and/or off his “radar” so he doesn’t have to trade Mookie Betts again. I was wrong. Bloom does have a plan.
Bogaerts is a key. Jordan and Devers are destined for 1B. So long term is one of them or Casas. Need Bogaerts to stick at SS for now and slide to 3B in 2025 when Mayer arrives.
I”m not sure if the FO is really ready to turn the corner. The roster seems to say it isn’t ready. This could all just be pure PR.
Then again, Red Sox nation seems to be really fed up with Henry and ready burn Fenway down with the FO still in there.
Maybe they’ve had a Come to Jesus type epiphany..
I hope so. But really, I think this is the same-old same-old PR spin
This is big spending Boston we are talking about, not the Rays. If they lose Devers and/or Bogaerts, they will just sign or trade for someone else.
Trea Turner wants to be in the East, why not him?
With needs elsewhere it just seems highly unlikely that both Devers and Bogaerts are signed. I suspect that they make a serious push at X and, if successful, trade Devers. If X leaves they’ll focus on Devers. Devers could certainly bring back the OF and/or SP depth they need to return to competitiveness.
I don’t think that’s true I believe they can sign Bogey and extend Devers and still have more then 60 million to play with to upgrade pitching. An long time infield of Devers, Bogey, Story and Casas will be a great start and one of the best in baseball.
I hope somebody gives Venable an opportunity for no other reason than the fact he was awful filling in for Cora when he had Covid. He can take Bush with him
I think the Mookie trade was only a “blockbuster” for the Dodgers
It was a salary dump!….$48,000,000 of the David Price contract and one year of Betts at around $27,000,000 arbitration salary.
Betts ask for 12 year – $420,000,000 from the Red Sox….he was not staying and the Red Sox got what they could get!
The fandom has no idea what the budget will be for next season. RS are keeping it close to the vest. John Henry wants to reset the CBT. Although talent is available, this year’s crop of FA’s is not especially strong. Chaim Bloom is a draft and develop devotee. Although the farm is much improved, the majority of the potential high end talent resides below AA. It might make sense to sign one and two year contracts for serviceable major league stop-gap types and shoot for 24. If however they decide to put in all their chips for next season, they’d better do it early.
Unless Sawx go completely crazy, I don’t envision a positive outcome for this teams roster in 2023. Too many holes and misfit pieces to overcome in one off season. The carnage & damage was done when Bloom & ownership’s abject willful ignorance failed or did not recognize Mookie was an roster anchor.& rare; building block asset. In retrospect its become painfully clear to me, Bloom & his GM team are not capable of evaluating players real world talent & executing an effective a coherent plan for building a Tier One roster- This years team was a total failure in all categories . I believe they set Alex up for failure with their extreme dependence on analytics & exclusion of intangibles in their assessments. Bloom & his cohorts basically trashed the 2021 roster & replaced effective bat on the ball talent with a bunch of guys & speculative talent..
Couldn’t disagree with you more.
Betts had to be traded, no question about it. The Red Sox were an 84 win team with a $250M payroll and one of the worst farm systems in baseball. And that was with Mookie Betts on the roster in 2019! An impending free-agent, Boston either gives him a 12 year deal (which will be a terrible contract on the back half) or let’s him walk for nothing. Since they weren’t going anywhere with him and the contract is too much of a future burden, they moved him.
As far as Bloom is concerned, his team went to the ALCS in *literally* year 2 of his tenure…not sure what else you were expecting from them, as they significantly overachieved.
You have given a cogent, accurate description and analysis concerning the Sox Betts quandary which will just go over the heads of the screamers on this blog.
Poor Hosmer. Too good for the Nats but not really good enough for anybody else.
The Red Sox need to keep building the farm system! I would offer Bogy and Devers contract extensions that are market value! If they sign, then great but if not trade Devers and let Bogy walk! This team has way to many holes! 60 million is not going to go very far in the pitching market! Most of the FA pitchers are washed up! I have been a Sox fan for 46 years and have enjoyed the last 10 the most! Teams are starting to get smart and locking in the young budding superstars early for longer periods of time! We should have done this with Devers and Bogy! Along with Betts! We won 4 championships in 10 years in order for us to make a run like that again is to get younger! Leave Bloom and company alone and let them do their jobs! We will be back faster, stronger and more hungry if you stay the course! This current roster has way to many holes!
Optimism about 2023 is hard to manufacture. Dombrowski’s 4 years provided 3 division titles, a world series and results that were 108 wins above losses. Bloom’s 3 years or 2.3 years have produced no division titles, no rings and results that are 4 wins above losses.
Loving the players on the team makes sense but expecting an uptick seems very aggressive. The Yankees are younger and better, Toronto continues to improve and have much more talent, Tampa is a team that Boston could beat in the next few years but probably won’t based on recent history and Baltimore just needs pitching to stay in front of the Red Sox for many years..
An 84-78 year ended the most successful tour by a GM in Red Sox history. Now that same record would be an excellent year. Things have really changed as well as expectations.
Enduring more mediocrity? Is that really something to look forward to? I think all Red Sox fans should take stock of the results by Bloom and ask the simple question: Was 108 games over .500 better than 4 games over .500? If the answer is the 4 games then all the optimism is deserving.
Enjoy the players because the results are going to be brutal for years. Time to wake up and smell the stench. 194-190 is not sustained success!! Thinking the glass is half full is very patriotic but change is really needed. Keep the players and fix the choices made by those in charge and prove to Red Sox Nation that the ship isn’t completely out of control and sinking.