These days, the Boston Red Sox are coming off their second straight disappointing postseason. After two 93-win division-winning seasons, the Red Sox have failed to live up to expectations. So much so that someone lost his job.
John Farrell, also known as “Manager John” (nickname from David Price), and “Loverboy” (nickname from affair with now girlfriend, Jessica Moran), has finally been fired after much speculation over the last few years. Although this was an inevitable move and was long overdue, there are still many moves expected to come.
Just about everyone can agree on the three voids that need to be filled: one is bringing in a new coach, two is finding a leader in the clubhouse, and three is acquiring a big bat. The nice thing is that you can find two of the three in one, but it’s going to be tough to find the right person.
As far as coaches go, there are already many potential candidates. Right now, the names being thrown around are Alex Cora, Brad Ausmus, Jason Varitek, and Gabe Kapler. I would prefer Cora, but it’s tough to predict who the Red Sox will choose. Look for a decision to come within the next couple of weeks. Dave Dombrowski said he doesn’t want to rush the process, but at the same time, he expects it to be sooner rather than later.
Maybe the most important thing that this team needs is a big bat in the middle of the lineup. Red Sox fans were used to having both David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez at the heart of the lineup for six seasons, resulting in two World Series Championships. Without Ortiz, the Red Sox hit 168 home runs this year (27th in the Major League) in a season where the MLB crushed the baseball and set the record for most home runs hit across the league (6,105). Two free agents on the radar are Eric Hosmer and J.D. Martinez. Both are power-hitting first-base players, but Hosmer is definitely a more proven player. He’s won a World Series with Kansas City, and many view him as a good leader. Although he’d be a good fit here and is a potential leader, we need to understand the difference between Boston media outlets and those in Kansas City.
Outside of signing a big name free agent, the Red Sox also may look to make a deal for a stud. Giancarlo Stanton, a pure power hitter, has been linked to the team a lot in these last few months. To me, this is a deal that one has to make if it presents itself. Just about everyone should be on the table: Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr. should all be brought up in discussions.
If Derek Jeter and Miami ask for either Andrew Benintendi or Rafael Devers, it would be wise to just increase the offer with other players, maybe even all three of the guys I first mentioned, along with some prospects. Devers and Benintendi should be the only untouchable guys on the roster. They appear to be two promising players for years to come. Devers could be a 30+ home run player, with Benintendi not too far behind.
Back to Stanton, although it’s a no brainer to bring him in, there are still some red flags that need to be addressed. Stanton plays in Miami, a place where baseball comes after both the Heat and the Dolphins. He doesn’t have to deal with the media—except when a big event like the All-Star game comes around.
This bitterness toward Boston media was discussed on the Gasper and Murray show on 98.5 FM. Christopher Gasper discussed how Stanton was cold to the media and did not want to speak to anyone. Also, he’s never played any postseason ball, so I’m not sure that he knows what it takes to win. Sure, it’s not his fault that his team has been bad, but he still might not be the leader the Sox need.
This will be a very interesting offseason for the Boston Red Sox and hopefully, many of our questions will be answered. Dombrowski decided not to answer any questions in his press conference following the firing of Farrell, so hopefully he can make decisions as soon as possible to clear things up. The quote that had the most substance from the presser was, “I didn’t supply the players that would give us enough runs. I think we do need that. That’s part of our offseason goal.” At least we know two things, Dombrowski definitely will find a power hitter and a new coach—let’s just hope one of them will be a leader.