Patience is required with the Chaim Bloom-led Red Sox.
Almost a month into the MLB offseason, the Sox have been comparatively quiet. They’ve signed left-hander Joely Rodriguez to a $2 million deal and have reportedly promoted first base coach Ramon Vazquez to bench coach, although the Sox have but to substantiate the transfer.
But the larger transactions have but to return, and it’s no shock; Bloom has hardly ever been lively in November, although early December has been a busy time for him throughout his three offseasons because the Red Sox chief baseball officer.
With the MLB Winter Meetings kicking off Sunday in San Diego, count on the Sox to start out getting busy.
As they think about their roster for 2023, right here’s a take a look at key gamers the Red Sox misplaced from their 2022 roster, and a few potential replacements:
Xander Bogaerts, 30, SS
Skinny: Bloom mentioned re-signing Bogaerts could be Plan A this offseason, however a reunion stays tough to think about. If all of the Sox have been going to supply was $30 million and one yr added to his earlier contract within the spring, are they actually prepared to get near the $200 million deal that Bogaerts ought to command available on the market? Red Sox radio broadcaster Marino Pepén reported this weekend that the Dodgers, Cubs and Twins are actually additionally in on Bogaerts. It was beforehand reported that the Phillies, Red Sox and Padres have been the highest three suitors. At this level, the expectation is Bogaerts will land elsewhere.
Potential replacements: Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson, Willy Adames, Elvis Andrus, Aledmys Diaz.
J.D. Martinez, 35, DH
Skinny: Jose Abreu is proof that turning 35 doesn’t assure a primary base/designated hitter-type goes to regress. Abreu, the longtime White Sox first baseman who reportedly agreed to a three-year, $58.5-million contract with the Astros on Monday, hit .304 with an .824 OPS in his age 35 season in 2022. The issues with Martinez are that he stopped hitting for each common and energy round mid-season and by no means appeared fairly proper on the plate within the second half (.701 OPS). The Sox seem prepared to maneuver on from Martinez and depart the DH spot open to a rotation, although there are a couple of choices available on the market in the event that they select to interchange him instantly.
Possible replacements: Michael Brantley, Josh Bell, Yuli Gurriel, Brandon Belt, Trey Mancini, Wil Myers, Luke Voit, Andrew McCutchen, Justin Turner.
Christian Vazquez, 32, C, and Kevin Plawecki, 32, C
Skinny: It’s not usually a staff with a $200-million-plus payroll components with its complete catching tandem in the midst of the season, however such was the case with the ’22 Red Sox. They made the peculiar determination to commerce Vazquez to the Astros, then watched as he helped them win the World Series, the second of his profession. And they minimize Plawecki once they realized they have been not in competition. With Reese McGuire and Connor Wong on the roster, they need to be ok with their depth, however they’re anticipated to attempt to re-sign Vazquez if not add one other established catcher through commerce/free company.
Possible replacements: Sean Murphy, Willson Contreras, Tucker Barnhart, Austin Hedges, Gary Sanchez, Mike Zunino.
Jackie Bradley Jr., 33, OF, and Tommy Pham, 35, OF
Skinny: In one of many greatest blunders of Bloom’s tenure, buying Bradley and prospects for Hunter Renfroe final offseason was a pricey mistake. Bradley’s bat by no means caught fireplace and the Sox minimize him halfway via the season. Their lack of offensive manufacturing within the outfield led to the commerce for Pham, who was simply OK for the Red Sox, who declined his possibility for 2023. There’s little doubt the Sox will probably be in on all the large free agent outfielders as they take a second likelihood at changing the 30-homer potential from Renfroe and add an enormous bat to the lineup.
Possible replacements: Brandon Nimmo, Cody Bellinger, Andrew Benintendi, Jurickson Profar, Joey Gallo, Mitch Haniger, Robbie Grossman, Jesse Winker, Daulton Varsho, Tyler O’Neill, Bryan Reynolds, Ian Happ.
Nathan Eovaldi, 33, SP, and Michael Wacha, 31, SP
Skinny: The thought right here is that the Red Sox will re-sign a minimum of certainly one of Eovaldi and Wacha, two anchors of the workers once they have been wholesome in 2022. Given Eovaldi turned down the qualifying provide, the Sox would obtain draft decide compensation if he indicators elsewhere, whereas Wacha is unattached. The Sox are keen on each of them and are very a lot in want of high quality beginning pitchers to go along with lefties Chris Sale and James Paxton and righties Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock and Bryan Bello.
Possible replacements: Carlos Rodon, Andrew Heaney, Corey Kluber, Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, Mike Minor, Joe Ross, Noah Syndergaard, Jameson Taillon, Taijuan Walker, Pablo Lopez.
Matt Strahm, 31, LHP, Austin Davis, 30, LHP, Jake Diekman, 36, LHP, and Hirokazu Sawamura, 35, RHP
Skinny: The Sox’ bullpen will unquestionably be a high precedence this winter after they didn’t construct a high quality ’pen final yr. When wholesome, Strahm was certainly one of Alex Cora’s most trusted relievers, however he has vocalized his needs of being a starter and the Sox by no means gave him that likelihood. Diekman was traded mid-season and by no means changed, whereas Davis was let go and simply signed a minor league cope with the Astros. The Sox do have a couple of lefties in Joely Rodriguez, Darwinzon Hernandez and Josh Taylor, although they’ll most likely need yet one more and a handful of righties as they give the impression of being to fortify the bullpen.
Possible replacements: Taylor Rogers, Kenley Jansen, Zach Eflin, Carlos Estevez, Andrew Chafin, David Robertson, Adam Ottavino, Chris Martin, Drew Rucinski.
Source: www.bostonherald.com