If you’re a baseball fan, the month of October is the best time of the year. There’s simply nothing like the biting tension, heart-stopping drama and palpable atmosphere of the MLB playoffs: The roar of the crowd for a big hit or a big strikeout; your team’s superstar slugger facing the opposition’s best reliever in a high-leverage situation. All for a shot at glory and making a mark in baseball history with a World Series victory. However, for the Boston Red Sox, there will be no October baseball in 2022.
The Red Sox made an unanticipated and electric playoff run in 2021, dispatching the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card game (1) and besting the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series, (2) before falling short to the Houston Astros in six games in the American League Championship Series. (3) In the offseason, the Red Sox eschewed making a splash signing or trade for a big name, in favor of a more piecemeal approach.
President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom, brought in veterans like Michael Wacha (4) and Rich Hill. (5) Needless to say, this did not pan out, as the team got off to a dreadful 11–19 start in April and May; (6) however, they played very well from mid-May to late June, going from eight games under .500, to 11 games over at one point. (6) But then the wheels came off.
The team suffered a disastrous July, going 8–19, (6) and essentially knocking them out of the playoff hunt. At the trade deadline, Bloom opted to go with a half-in, half-out approach, trading veteran catcher Christan Vazquez (7) to Houston, but acquiring veteran players like Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer. (8) The Red Sox would finish at 78–84, last in the AL East, and missing the playoffs, even with the expanded format. (6)
The 2022-23 off-season will be a pivotal one for both the team and Bloom, who is likely on the hot seat following 2022’s disappointment. The Red Sox will have a lot of possibilities to consider on both the free-agent and trade markets this upcoming winter. As stated in these pages before, pursuing a big name like Aaron Judge is one scenario, albeit probably not the most likely. (9)
But even if the Red Sox did sign Judge, there are plenty of other holes on the roster to fill. Starting with the rotation: Wacha and Eovaldi are free agents, and it would be wise to bring them back. They could scoop up a big name, like Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom or Clayton Kershaw, on the free agent market. There is also the possibility of trading for a younger player, such as Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes (10) or Cleveland’s Shane Bieber.
The Red Sox bullpen was a flaming disaster in 2022, finishing with the second worst reliever earned-run-average in the American League, and fifth worst in the entire majors. (11) New York Mets’ closer, Edwin Diaz, is a free agent this off-season, (12) and should absolutely be on the Sox’s radar. They could also trade for a solid reliever from a non-competitive team, such as Kansas City’s Scott Barlow, Texas’s Jose Leclerc or Pittsburgh’s David Bednar.
The Red Sox also need to revamp their outfield. Fan favorite, Enrique Hernandez, (13) re-signed on a one-year deal for 2023, but he projects more as a bench player, and they need more outfielders who can hit. Brandon Nimmo, (14) coming off a great year for the Mets, would be a suitable option. They could also, again, see what’s available on the trade market, such as the talented but inconsistent Dodger, Cody Bellinger.
And, with J.D. Martinez having likely played his last game in Boston, (15) the Red Sox will need a new designated hitter for 2023. Trading for two-way phenom, Shohei Ohtani, entering the last year of his contract in Anaheim with the perennially disappointing Angels, would make any Sox fan’s mouth water. (10) Ohtani would immediately become both Boston’s ace and most dangerous bat. However, it would likely take a massive haul of prospects, something Bloom has shown much reluctance to do.
It’s obvious that the Red Sox’s idea that they could cheap out on their roster and still win was ill-conceived from the start. A major change of direction is needed, and to return to competition in 2023, ownership will have to open up the checkbook. Not only that, but the front office will have to show a willingness to deal some prospects for established major leaguers. Perhaps, after a blockbuster, or two, this offseason, October baseball will return to Jersey Street next year.
1. https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS202110050.shtml
2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2021_ALDS2.shtml
3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2021_ALCS.shtml
4. https://www.mlb.com/news/michael-wacha-red-sox-deal
5. https://www.mlb.com/news/rich-hill-red-sox-deal
6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2022-schedule-scores.shtml
7. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/christian-vazquez-trade-details-astros-red-sox/r5yf4slob4kbrdpogvnj4bhb
8. https://sportsnaut.com/eric-hosmer-trade-boston-red-sox/
9. http://www.umassmedia.com/sports/why-aaron-judge-may-save-the-red-sox/article_d2465f44-3aa1-11ed-acf5-13a0e02dd109.html
10. https://archive.ph/o/BZfm2/https://theathletic.com/3610411/2022/09/20/mlb-unpopular-trades-offseason/
11. https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=0&type=0&season=2022&month=0&season1=2022&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2022-01-01&enddate=2022-12-31
12. https://www.sportscasting.com/3-reasons-why-edwin-diaz-is-about-to-break-bank-mlb-free-agency/
13. https://www.mlb.com/news/enrique-hernandez-red-sox-extension
14. https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/09/red-sox-wont-sign-yankees-aaron-judge-but-should-chase-mets-slugger-mlb-insider-says.html
15. https://www.mlb.com/news/j-d-martinez-hits-two-homers-as-red-sox-win-season-finale