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With spring training set to begin later this month, the Boston Red Sox look to rebound from a subpar campaign in 2014.  Boston restocked its roster this offseason and upgraded its lineup for 2015.

For the most part, the Red Sox are not expecting any major position battles heading into the season.  They have a number of incumbent starters returning and also added several new players to fill needed roles.

As is the case every year, though, there are still a few things Boston must iron out before Opening Day.  Below are three spots likely to be determined by spring training performances.

The Outfield

All signs indicate that Hanley Ramirez is a lock to be the Red Sox’s regular left fielder in 2015.  Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com recently reported that the former shortstop is working out in the outfield in the Dominican Republic and that Ramirez intends to report to Fort Myers, Florida, two weeks early to prepare for his new position.

Via McAdam, Ramirez said:

I’ve been working on balls [hit] over my head and [moving] side-to-side, and hitting the cutoff man. I think if I put in all the work in that I need to put to get better, it’s not going to be that hard. …

There’s just a couple of plays that I have to work on specifically and that’s what we’ve been doing right now.

After Ramirez in left, Rusney Castillo and Mookie Betts appear slotted to play center and right.  However, there is a $13 million wrench that could be thrown into the equation: Shane Victorino.

The 34-year-old veteran is entering the final season of a three-year, $39 million contract with Boston.  Victorino missed most of 2014 due to injuries, but if he’s healthy and ready to go, it’s hard to justify sitting him, especially considering Castillo and Betts have only 62 games of major league experience between the two of them.

Per Rob Bradford of WEEI (h/t Michael Hurcomb of CBSSports.com), Red Sox manager John Farrell spoke last month about Victorino’s potential playing time.

“That’s going to be dependent on what his capabilities are from a physical standpoint,” Farrell said. “We’re a better team if he’s on the field every day as was the case in 2013. That’s not to take anything away from anyone else on our roster. He’s doing everything he can right now to be a player of that capacity.”

Should Victorino look good this March, it’s going to create quite a conundrum for Farrell.  Boston didn’t sign Castillo for $72.5 million last summer to have him ride the bench, and Betts is the guy the Red Sox want as their leadoff hitter, which makes it extremely difficult to take him out of the lineup as well.

Chances of winning one of the three outfield jobs: Ramirez 95 percent, Castillo 85 percent, Betts 75 percent, Victorino 40 percent, anyone else 5 percent.

Opening Day Starting Pitcher

This is a two-horse race between Clay Buchholz and Rick Porcello.  Buchholz is by far the longest-tenured member of the rotation, and his seven seasons in Boston should give him the inside track on beginning the year as the Red Sox’s No. 1 starter.  

Unfortunately, Buchholz is an enigma.  In 2013, he went 12-1, made the All-Star team and posted a 1.74 ERA along with a 1.02 WHIP.  Last season, Buchholz finished 8-11 with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.  This dramatic swing is representative of his entire career in Boston, and it’s hard to predict what sort of numbers he’ll put forth in 2015.

On the other hand, the 26-year-old Porcello may just now be entering his prime.  Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe writes:

Opposing hitters have a .710 OPS against Porcello since the start of the 2013 season, a sharp drop from the .769 it was over the first four seasons of his career.

That has led to a similar decline in his earned run average, from 4.59 in 2012 to 3.43 last season. Porcello was 15-13 in 2014 and threw a career-best 204⅔ innings. His three shutouts — the first three of his career — were the most in the American League.

Abraham also notes that Porcello expanded his repertoire of pitches in recent years to include a four-seam fastball and improved curveball.  Based on talent alone, Porcello is probably the best option to start the Red Sox’s first game of the year.

However, pitching on Opening Day is an honor often bestowed upon players with a history of service to their organization.  Provided Buchholz throws well in spring training, he should be the one to get the nod.

Chances of starting on Opening Day: Buchholz 55 percent, Porcello 45 percent.

The Back End of the Rotation

Following Buchholz and Porcello, there is no clear pecking order throughout the remainder of Boston’s staff.  Ever since the flurry of moves the Red Sox made during the winter meetings in December, the assumption is that Joe Kelly, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson will occupy the third, fourth and fifth spots in the rotation.  What order they will pitch in remains unclear.

Of the three, Masterson could be the one whose position is most in jeopardy.  The righty was downright awful last season, putting up a 5.88 ERA and 1.63 WHIP.  If Masterson gets roughed up in Fort Myers, there are other candidates available to jump in and steal the No. 5 starter gig.

Brandon Workman started 15 times for Boston in 2014, but he struggled mightily and finished with a 1-10 record and a 5.17 ERA.  Despite his poor showing, the 26-year-old is hoping to regain a similar role in 2015.

Per ESPNBoston.com’s Kyle Brasseur, Workman said: “I’m going in there looking forward to competing, hopefully winning a spot. I’d like to be in the rotation. I’m hoping I can win a job in the starting rotation but we’ll see how that goes. I’m doing everything I can right now to prepare for it and get ready to put myself in a good spot to compete for that job.”

The newly signed Alexi Ogando started 18 games for the Texas Rangers in 2013 while posting a 3.11 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.  Ogando battled elbow troubles in 2014 and appeared solely out of the bullpen. Bradford quotes Farrell as saying the Red Sox intend to use Ogando as a reliever.

Also on the 40-man roster is Matt Barnes, rated the No. 7 overall prospect in the organization by SoxProspects.com.  Last season, the 24-year-old Barnes started 22 games in Triple-A Pawtucket with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.  Barnes would likely have to put forth a dominant effort this spring in order to have any shot at cracking Boston’s rotation to begin 2015.

Chances of landing a spot in the rotation: Miley 90 percent, Kelly 90 percent, Masterson 80 percent, Workman 30 percent, anyone else 10 percent.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference.com and contract information from Spotrac.com.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox enter 2015 with a number of fresh faces and many returning veterans.  The end results of a variety of winter dealings so far are favorable to some Red Sox players and not so kind to others.  With spring training lurking around the corner, here are the biggest winners and losers of Boston’s offseason so far, categorized by position players and pitchers.

Position Players

Winner: Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez inked a four-year, $88 million deal with the Red Sox that could turn into five years and $110 million if he stays healthy.  That’s the only argument necessary, but there is more.

The 31-year-old Ramirez took the field for at least 150 games just once since 2009 and appeared in fewer than 130 contests three times in the last five years.  His best statistical seasons were in 2008 and 2009, when he batted .321 while averaging 28 home runs, 86 RBI and 36 stolen bases.  The value of Ramirez’s contract implies he’s still that player, even though his recent numbers suggest otherwise.  His 2013-2014 two-year averages are .308, 16 home runs, 64 RBI and 12 steals.

Ramirez was also rewarded with the added bonus of no longer having to play shortstop, a position he struggled at defensively in recent years.  Fox Sports’ Jeff Sullivan wrote:

By the numbers, Ramirez looks bad. Over the last few years, he’s been one of the worst defensive shortstops. When he spent a chunk of time playing third base, he was statistically bad there, too. Critics have to allow him an adjustment period there, but still, it’s evidence that points to Ramirez being a defensive liability.

He’ll now get to play in Fenway Park’s shallow left field, where even Manny Ramirez once accumulated 17 outfield assists in a single season.

Honorable Mention: Pablo Sandoval and his five-year, $95 million contract.

Loser: Shane Victorino

In 2013, Shane Victorino was Boston’s everyday right fielder and a key member of the Red Sox’s World Series title run, hitting a game-winning grand slam in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Last season, Victorino was hampered by injuries and only suited up for 30 games.  Even if he can rebound fully healthy in 2015, it’s unlikely there will be a regular position available for him.  In addition to Ramirez in left, the other two outfield spots appear destined for top prospect Mookie Betts and 2014 free-agent signing Rusney Castillo.

Despite the uncertain future, Victorino recently told the Boston Herald that his outlook for this year remains optimistic.  Via Scott Lauber, Victorino said:

I love reading and listening to (manager John) Farrell talk about his starting lineup, but I’m nowhere to be heard. That’s OK. They will know once they see.

[…]

Love being the one that no one talks about. Always have been the underdog in my life. Know one thing: I will be ready and prepared to go when spring training starts.

Victorino is 34 years old and in the final season of a three-year, $39 million contract.  As reported by Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, trade rumors are constantly swirling, and Victorino‘s days with the Red Sox may be numbered.

Honorable Mention: Daniel Nava and Allen Craig, outfielders who find themselves in similar positions as Victorino.

Pitchers

Winner: Koji Uehara

There was not a lot of fanfare surrounding the re-signing of Koji Uehara.  It happened just after season’s end and before the Red Sox made big splashes with the additions of Ramirez and Sandoval.  However, Uehara earned himself a nice chunk of change given his age and recent performance.

Boston retained Uehara‘s services for two years and $18 million.  Considering he was one of the best closers in the game for nearly two full seasons with the Red Sox, that price seems like a bargain.

But in this case, it’s worth looking beyond Uehara‘s 1.75 ERA and 0.73 WHIP over his time in Boston.  He’s turning 39 years old in April, and his numbers fell off dramatically at the end of last year.  Over Uehara‘s final nine outings of 2014, he allowed 15 hits and 10 earned runs in a span of just 7.2 innings.

With the amount of money the Red Sox are paying him, Uehara is virtually assured of keeping his closer role to start the season.  As shaky as he looked down the stretch last year, that’s a huge win for him.

Honorable Mention: Craig Breslow, who inked a one-year deal for only $2 million but has fairly solid job security as the only lefty with significant major league experience in the Red Sox bullpen.

Loser: Anthony Ranaudo

Anthony Ranaudo was spectacular in Triple-A in 2014.  With the Pawtucket Red Sox, he went 14-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.20 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .223 batting average.  The 25-year-old earned a late-season call-up and showed glimpses of his potential in seven starts with Boston.  As a big leaguer, Ranaudo was 4-3 with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

Until baseball’s winter meetings, it looked as though Ranaudo might have a chance to begin 2015 in the Red Sox rotation.  But Boston added three new starting pitchers in the offseason: Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson.  Along with incumbents Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly, the Red Sox now have five accomplished MLB starters.

Barring an injury or something unforeseen, Ranaudo will be on the outside looking in and likely headed back to Triple-A to start the season.

Honorable Mention: Brandon Workman, who like Ranaudo may be squeezed out of a roster spot but at 26 years old could be running thin on opportunities.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference.com and contract information from Spotrac.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2014 season was a major disappointment for the Boston Red Sox, as the defending 2013 World Series champions dropped all the way to last place in the American League East.  In the process, the Red Sox traded away several veteran starting pitchers while looking to retool for 2015.   

During the winter meetings, Boston restocked its rotation by adding Justin Masterson, Wade Miley and Rick Porcello.  Earlier in the offseason, the Red Sox beefed up their batting order with the signings of All-Star free agents Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval.

For the most part, the club looks to be in good shape heading into the season.  In fact, there is only one significant piece Boston still needs—a No. 1 starter.  Unfortunately, it’s a rather instrumental missing piece, and the more time that goes by, the less likely it appears Boston is to get it.

Below are five starting pitchers the Red Sox could still acquire this offseason.  With the market rapidly drying up, not all of them qualify as aces.  Similarly, the key word regarding Boston’s chances of adding any of these players is “could.”  At this point, the most realistic scenario may well be for the Red Sox to stand pat with what they have.

Max Scherzer

The best free-agent pitcher available this offseason remains unsigned.  And while there are no real indications that Boston is in the hunt for Max Scherzer, there isn’t any significant talk of him going elsewhere, either.

Sports Illustrated‘s Cliff Corcoran writes:

The lack of heat on Scherzer this offseason has gone from unexpected to surprising to downright shocking. This is the 2013 American League Cy Young award winner, a 30-year-old stud who has struck out 492 men in 434 2/3 innings over the last two seasons, posted a 3.02 ERA (135 ERA+) and 1.07 WHIP and gone 39-8. There’s not a team in baseball that wouldn’t be improved by signing him, yet the only rumors concerning Scherzer continue to be purely speculative. 

The Scherzer mystery appears to be no clearer today than when MLB‘s free agency period began. The odds of him joining the Red Sox are slim, but Jason Mastrodonato of Mass Live makes a solid case for why Sox fans shouldn’t count out the possibility of their club inking Scherzer:

Before writing off Scherzer as a candidate for the Red Sox, remember that they meet and consider everyone who might be a fit for their team, they wouldn’t have to surrender their first-round draft pick to sign him, showed a willingness to offer six years to Jon Lester and have $55 million coming off the books in 2016.

Nobody past David Ortiz expected them to sign Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, and yet the Red Sox committed $183 million to that cause.

Despite losing out on Lester to the Chicago Cubs, the additions of Ramirez and Sandoval show Boston clearly has an open-minded attitude when it comes to spending this offseason.  Isn’t there a chance the Red Sox decided Lester wasn’t worth the cost?  It doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t think any pitcher is worthy of that type of money.  Maybe management will respond to the failed Lester situation by making a serious effort in pursuit of Scherzer?

James Shields

It wasn’t long ago that Boston was considered by many to be the leader as a potential destination for James Shields.  But, the recent news regarding Shields is not encouraging for those hoping he’ll sign with the Red Sox.  Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports:

Two execs say it is their understanding that Shields has a five-year, $110 million offer and is looking for an even higher guarantee. … Free agency is fluid, and teams often mask their intentions or shift course. At the moment, however, sources say: … The Red Sox, projected to be an early favorite for Shields, are maintaining contact with his camp but are “highly unlikely” to sign him.

Going by Rosenthal’s words, the outlook on Shields may not actually be as dire as it sounds.  Boston could easily be masking its intentions regarding Shields to avoid driving up the price.  Not only that, but why would the team maintain contact with Shields if it wasn’t still interested in him?

If five years and $110 million really is the going rate for Shields, it’s hard to imagine the Red Sox are eager to give that kind of money to a pitcher who will be 37 in the final season of his contract.  The same is true for Lester and his six-year deal with the Cubs.  Age and desired length of contract could also take Boston out of the running for Scherzer, who is only seven months younger than Lester.

Ryan Vogelsong

Why is Ryan Vogelsong on this list?  He’s already 37 years old and finished 8-13 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP last year.  Vogelsong is not a top-of-the-rotation guy.

However, after Scherzer and Shields, Vogelsong represents the best of what’s left among free-agent starting pitchers.  He threw over 175 innings in three of the last four seasons, so if the Red Sox want to add an extra arm on the cheap side as an insurance policy, Vogelsong could be it.  Mike Axisa of CBS Sports suspects Vogelsong can be had for one year at $5 million.

Cole Hamels

Buzz surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies‘ desire to move Cole Hamels has been in the air for quite some time. The latest on the Hamels trade possibilities also comes from Rosenthal:

[Hamels’ salary] would increase to $110 million over the next five years if Hamels were sent to one of the nine teams on his no-trade list, requiring that club to pick up his vesting option. 

The Red Sox are one of the teams that Hamels must approve, but whether they are willing to absorb his contract and part with the necessary prospects remains to be seen. Outfielder Mookie Betts probably is untouchable, but perhaps the Phillies could land a combination of young pitchers and left-side infielders; the Sox are deep in both.

While Hamels probably represents the most likely scenario for Boston finding an ace at the moment, there is a logical flaw in trading for him.  The cost to get Hamels is both his high-priced contract and the loss of prospects.  Why not just spend money on Scherzer or Shields and avoid having to part with any young talent?  Or, as follows, the opposite route is a possibility as well.

Jordan Zimmermann

The Washington Nationals have been unsuccessful so far in their attempts to sign Jordan Zimmermann to a long-term contract.  Zimmerman will make $16.5 million in 2015 before becoming a free agent next year.  Via James Wagner of The Washington Post, last month Zimmermann said:

Obviously, I’d like to stay with the Nats. I have no complaints about the Nats. It’s a business. I know that. If they feel they want to trade me and get something in return that will help them later down the road, I totally understand. At the end of the day, I love the Nats. I love this city. I love playing there. … If the deal is right, I’ll definitely sign a multi-year deal. I never once said I didn’t want to stay in D.C. But at the end of the day, the deal has to be right and the deal has to be fair and that’s all I’m asking for. Just pay me what I’m worth and I’ll be happy to stay. If we can’t come to common ground, I guess free agency is the next step.

It’s the kind of quote that makes it sound as if Zimmermann is definitely available for the right offer.  In this case, that offer probably necessitates multiple big-name prospects.

With the exception of a top starter, the Red Sox have both a roster that’s built to succeed now as well as an abundance of talent in the minor leagues.  What’s the point of planning for the future if it sacrifices winning in the present?  Boston is not a rebuilding team, and contention comes at a price.  The Red Sox may need to accept that parting with prospects is simply a necessary evil.

To add a star pitcher, Boston must spend more than it wants to or trade away young players it’s afraid of losing.  There’s no other way to do it.  Whether or not the Red Sox will decide either method is worth the risk remains to be seen.

Statistics via RedSox.com with contract information from Spotrac.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox are among the most aggressive teams in baseball so far this offseason.  They signed a pair of big-name free-agent bats in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.  The Red Sox also revamped their starting rotation with Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson.

But despite these acquisitions, there are still issues Boston must resolve heading into 2015.  Here are three of the most glaring offseason questions the Red Sox have yet to answer.

Who Will be the Opening Day Starting Pitcher?

It’s the hope of Red Sox fans that Boston’s No. 1 starter next year is someone not presently with the ballclub.  The Red Sox projected rotation of Porcello, Miley, Masterson, Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly posted a combined ERA of 4.55 last season.  There’s clearly still room for improvement, and nobody in the group is considered an “ace” by any means.

Both Max Scherzer and James Shields remain available on the open market.  As Peter Gammons recently discussed on GammonsDaily.com, trade rumors continue to swirl regarding Cole Hamels coming to Boston.

Jason Mastrodonato of Mass Live writes:

Two former general managers believe the Red Sox are the favorites to trade for Hamels and the second-most likely team to sign Shields. Writing for MLB.com, former New York Mets GM Jim Duquette predicted the Red Sox would be 3-to-1 favorites to land Hamels, while former Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden gave the Red Sox 5-to-1 odds to sign Shields (the San Francisco Giants are the favorites at 3-to-1).

Would the Red Sox really spend $183 million on Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval yet enter the season with a five-man rotation that has averaged a total of 827 innings over the last three seasons?

If Boston does fail to bring in a top arm, either Buchholz or Porcello is most likely to be handed the ball on Opening Day.

Of the Red Sox’s five starters, Porcello put up the best numbers last season, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 204.2 innings with the Detroit Tigers.  On the other hand, Buchholz is easily the most tenured member of the staff and is just one year removed from an All-Star season in which he went 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.

What Will Happen with the Extra Outfielders?

Current Red Sox Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Shane Victorino, Daniel Nava, Allen Craig, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Brock Holt all spent time in the outfield in 2014.

Ramirez is poised to take over for Yoenis Cespedes (traded to Detroit) in left field.  Castillo and Betts look to be the front-runners for center field and right field.  Holt may serve as a utility infielder, and Craig can back up first base and third base as well.

However, that still leaves Victorino, Nava and Bradley Jr. battling for the fourth outfielder position.  After hitting just .198 in 384 at-bats last year, Bradley Jr. could begin 2015 in the minor leagues.

Nava was eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, with the Red Sox tendering him a contract expected to be worth $1.9 million, according to Mastrodonato.  Victorino is entering the final season of a three-year, $39 million contract and has $13 million still coming his way.  Clearly, Nava is the better bargain of the two, which will come into play if Boston looks to deal one of its excess outfielders.

Can Dustin Pedroia Get Healthy?

This question is one that is out of the Red Sox’s control, but it’s also something that should have a major impact on Boston’s success next season.

On Opening Day of 2013, Pedroia tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb.  He played through it all year, having surgery the following November.  Pedroia batted .301 that season, but he hit just nine home runs, his lowest power output since his rookie year.

In the Red Sox’s home opener in 2014, Pedroia reaggravated the same hand.  Again he played through it, this time hitting only .278 with seven home runs.  With Boston out of the playoff race, Pedroia elected to have another surgery this past September.

According to Red Sox manager John Farrell, Boston’s second baseman is in line to be back to his old self by spring training.  Via the Providence Journal‘s Tim Britton, Farrell recently said:

He’s doing great, he really is. He’s able to swing the bat a little bit off the tee. Physically the strength and the range of motion continue to improve. And I think one of the more exciting things as we go into and begin to get closer to spring training is getting Pedroia back to 100 percent health and strength.

If Pedroia can be fully healthy for the first time since 2012, the Red Sox’s 2015 postseason outlook dramatically improves—add in a bona fide ace, and Boston might have to be considered a World Series favorite.

Statistics via RedSox.com with contract information from Spotrac.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox are one of baseball’s most active teams this offseason.  In the last eight weeks, they added high-priced All-Stars to bolster their lineup and made several moves to strengthen their depleted starting rotation.  Boston also re-signed arms for its bullpen and recently completed a trade for a new backup catcher.

But of everything the Red Sox have done so far, which deal brought them the most bang for their buck in return?  Which transaction qualifies as the biggest steal to this point?

The answer is the acquisition of Rick Porcello.

The Red Sox traded Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Wilson and Gabe Speier to the Detroit Tigers for Porcello.  Wilson and Speier are a pair of young pitching prospects that Boston was not concerned about letting go of.  In his analysis of their value in the trade, Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com wrote:

[Wilson] doesn’t have back of the bullpen potential, but could comfortably slot into a sixth inning or maybe even seventh inning role on some nights, especially against right-handed dominant lineups. The Red Sox, however, have a surplus of potential relievers who have a similar profile in the high minors, thus in dealing him they move from a position of strength. … 

Speier is a long way from the majors and already has Tommy John surgery on his resume, making him a lottery ticket at this point. … Speier doesn’t have much physical projection, but could develop an average three-pitch mix with some upside potential. 

The meat of the deal was clearly Porcello for Cespedes.

Both players are in line to become free agents after the 2015 season.  The Red Sox can extend a qualifying offer to Porcello that would result in a compensatory draft pick should he decline it.  As noted by WEEI.com’s Alex Speier, Cespedes‘ contract does not include that provision, which was likely the impetus for the inclusion of the two minor leaguers in the trade.

Cespedes was an All-Star in 2014 who hit 22 home runs along with 100 RBI.  But he also batted .260 with an on-base percentage of just .301.  After adding free-agent Hanley Ramirez earlier this offseason, the Red Sox have a new slugger who can play left field and replace Cespedes‘ bat in the lineup.  Boston also owns more than enough outfield depth in Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Shane Victorino, Allen Craig, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Daniel Nava.

In late October, a New York Daily News report from Bill Madden stated that Cespedes and the Red Sox were unlikely to agree on a new contract after Cespedes fired his previous agent and hired Jay-Z’s Roc Nation:

Roc Nation, which — like it did with Robinson Cano — is expected to seek a much larger, long-term contract and make a big splash about it. Two other reasons the Red Sox are open to dealing Cespedes are his open disenchantment with Boston and his refusal to pay any heed to their coaches. “He marches to his own drum and the coaches all hate him,” said a Red Sox insider.

Clearly, Boston was happy to move Cespedes.  Receiving Porcello in return has the potential to provide enormous dividends for the Red Sox in 2015.

In a rotation that currently includes Clay Buchholz, Wade Miley, Justin Masterson and Joe Kelly, Porcello is the one who appears most likely to grab the reigns as the No. 1 starter.  Even though he has six full seasons as a major leaguer under his belt, Porcello is still just 26 years old.  In 2014, he threw a career-high 204.2 innings with a career-low ERA of 3.43.  Porcello also led the American League in shutouts last year with three.

Over his first five seasons, Porcello posted a combined 4.51 ERA.  Via Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal, Red Sox manager John Farrell credits Porcello‘s improved curveball for his better 2014 numbers.

“Particularly this past year, where he’s starting to use his curveball a little bit more, it spread the strike zone top and bottom a little bit more consistently where his sinker becomes that much more effective,” said Farrell.

Speier suggests Porcello was actually that good all along:

However, his breakthrough may have had as much to do with the defense behind him as with his own work on the mound. A pitch-to-contact sinkerballer, Porcello had suffered for years as a result of a Tigers infield that had myriad defensive deficiencies. The team upgraded in 2014, with Nick Castellanos taking over at third for Miguel Cabrera, Cabrera moving to first and Gold Glove candidate Ian Kinsler joining the club as a second baseman. The result was a year in which Porcello‘s actual ERA reflected the kind of contact that he elicits, as well as the frequency of his strike-throwing (he averages 5.5 strikeouts and just 2.2 walks per nine innings in his career).

If Porcello can repeat his 2014 success in 2015, the trade should be a huge win for the Red Sox.

Last summer, they dealt impending free-agent ace Jon Lester for Cespedes.  In essence, Boston gave up two months of Lester on a last-place team this year for a full season of Porcello next year—when the outlook is suddenly much brighter.

It’s hard not to view that as a steal.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference.com.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

With Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings now in the rear-view mirror, what’s next for the Boston Red Sox?

The Red Sox recently added several pieces to their starting rotation, but they lack an ace to carry them. Boston continues to have an overabundance of outfielders as well, not to mention a few other areas that could use some tinkering. Here is a look at what the Red Sox need to do over the remainder of the offseason.

Acquire a No. 1 Starter? 

Max Scherzer and James Shields are still out there on the open market as free agents. As Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe recently reported, rumors of the Red Sox potentially trading for the Philadelphia Phillies‘ Cole Hamels will not go away. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal stated that Boston has also discussed a possible deal with the Washington Nationals for Jordan Zimmerman.

Boston’s fans would undoubtedly like to see their club make a major move for a top-tier starter. But at this point, there’s a fairly decent chance that’s not going to happen. Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston suggests the Red Sox may opt for more pitching depth, rather than a star:

In the absence of a big move, the Sox could try to acquire another young arm with big-league experience, like Miami’s Nathan Eovaldi, a 24-year-old right-hander who is a hard thrower (95.7 mph was his average velocity in 2014) and had a much better fielding independent percentage (3.37 FIP) than ERA (4.37), which may be a function of a high batting average on balls in play (.326). The Marlins are looking for a first baseman and a bat to hit behind Giancarlo Stanton, and they could have some interest in Allen Craig.

Boston entered the Winter Meetings with two starters projected to be in the club’s 2015 rotation, Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly. The team then acquired Wade Miley, Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson. From ESPN Boston’s Joe McDonald, after the signing of Masterson, who had a 5.88 ERA and 1.63 WHIP last season, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said:

We clearly see Justin as a starter. That’s what he’s really been just about all the time since he was traded, so that’s the role we expect him to be in, and if he’s what we think he will be then he’ll be a good one. Justin has had experience pitching out of the bullpen, so obviously he can do that, but we’re signing him to be a starter.

Could this be an indication that no further moves are coming and the Red Sox rotation is now complete with those five players? Considering some of the other comments Cherington made lately, that might very easily be the case. Via Jason Mastrodonato of Mass Live, Cherington said:

We’ve been able to acquire the three starters we have this week while still maintaining what we consider the top end of our young pitching and still have what we think is good pitching depth, beyond the five guys that will likely begin the season in the rotation.

And from the Providence Journal‘s Tim Britton, Boston’s GM stated:

Once Opening Day is gone, the whole No. 1 starter thing kind of is overrated. Whoever takes the ball that night, it’s their responsibility to help us win. You’re going to pitch every five days; the order doesn’t really mean as much once you get past Opening Day. We feel like we’ve put together a rotation now that can help us win every game. We’ll figure out the order in spring training.

At first glance Cherington‘s words suggest he is more than happy with his squad’s current starting pitching situation. However, Boston may well still be pursuing an ace anyway. Britton makes a great argument for why Red Sox supporters shouldn’t necessarily take those quotes too seriously:

A few things to digest…it would be bad form for Cherington to express dissatisfaction with a rotation full of established major-league regulars. …

Second, it would be bad business for Cherington to express dissatisfaction with his rotation. … Now that the Red Sox have five starters, they can convincingly pretend to walk away from the negotiating table with the Phillies or Nationals if the price looks too high. (It’s easier to haggle over the price of a car when you drove to the dealership instead of walked.)

If Boston is content to head into the 2015 season with a rotation of Porcello, Buchholz, Miley, Kelly and Masterson, can it still compete for a division title?  C.J. Nitkowski of Fox Sports believes so, writing:

And while you wonder how the Red Sox can win a division without an ace, remember who won the American League East a year ago: The Baltimore Orioles, with a rotation that posted a 3.61 ERA, good for 12th best in baseball, to go along with a 4.18 FIP, 28th in baseball.

The Red Sox have a very good, not great, starting rotation. One that can be more than enough when backed by good defense, good offense, and a good bullpen, much like the Orioles had a year ago.

However, of the five Boston starters only Porcello (3.43) posted an ERA below 4.00 last season (Kelly 4.11, Miley 4.34, Buchholz 5.34 and Masterson 5.88). Matching Baltimore’s 2014 production with this group will be no easy task.

Shed Some Outfielders

Below is a guess at the Red Sox batting order in 2015:

1. Mookie Betts, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Hanley Ramirez, LF
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
6. Mike Napoli, 1B
7. Rusney Castillo, RF
8. Xander Bogaerts, SS
9. Christian Vazquez, C

Brock Holt played every position besides pitcher and catcher last year and is a nice option as an all-around utility player. Allen Craig has spent much of his time in the outfield over the course of his career, but he can also be used as a backup first baseman or third baseman. That leaves Shane Victorino, Daniel Nava and Jackie Bradley Jr. all fighting for time as reserve outfielders.

It doesn‘t make any sense for Boston to enter the season with six, seven or eight outfielders (depending on if you include Craig and Holt). Somebody has got to go.

Find a Home For Will Middlebrooks

Will Middlebrooks batted just .191 with two home runs and 19 RBI in 63 games in 2014. By signing Sandoval, the Red Sox made it quite clear that Middlebrooks is not their third baseman of the future. The Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber recently discussed some options for the 26-year-old:

Middlebrooks said he spoke to general manager Ben Cherington last week — one day after Sandoval signed his five-year, $95 million contract — but received few answers about a situation that he calls ‘blurry.’

He still doesn’t have to clear waivers to be sent to the minors and could conceivably open next season in Triple A. He also could move across the infield and begin working out at first base, where Mike Napoli has only one year left on his contract.

Or he could be traded, part of a package to bring back a starting pitcher.

His recent numbers prevent him from having much trade value, so it’s hard to imagine Boston would reject any reasonable offers from teams showing interest in Middlebrooks.

Add a Veteran Lefty to the Bullpen

At the moment the Red Sox have four left-handed relievers on their 40-man roster—Drake Britton, Tommy Layne, Edwin Escobar and Eduardo Rodriguez. Not a single one of them has thrown even 50 total innings in the major leagues.  

Before spring training starts, expect Boston to bring in at least one lefty with some big league experience under his belt. Middlebrooks or one of the extra outfielders could come in useful in making this happen.

The Red Sox have taken several significant strides towards recovering from their last place season in 2014. But, if they’re aspiring to return to their championship form of 2013 there is still much work to be done.

Statistics via RedSox.com

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The 2014 MLB winter meetings have come and gone, with the Boston Red Sox as one of the event’s most active participants.

Now that the dust has settled in San Diego, it’s time to evaluate Boston’s offseason to this point.  Below are individual grades for each move the Red Sox have made, as well as an overall assessment of their performance.

Re-signed Koji Uehara for Two Years, $18 Million

At first glance, two more seasons at $9 million each seems like an awful lot to pay for a reliever who will turn 40 years old next April.  But the qualifying offer it likely would’ve taken to keep Koji Uehara for one season was set at $15.3 million.  By comparison, the two-year contract is fairly cheap.

However, after giving Boston multiple seasons of outstanding bullpen work, Uehara struggled mightily down the stretch last year.  Over his final nine appearances, he gave up 15 hits and 10 earned runs in just 7.2 innings.  There’s a reasonable chance Uehara‘s days as an effective closer may be over.

Grade: B

Signed Pablo Sandoval for Five Years, $95 Million

Heading into the offseason, third base was a major area of concern for the Red Sox.  In 2014, Boston’s players at the position batted a combined .211 with a .271 on-base percentage and .308 slugging percentage.

Pablo Sandoval was the cream of the crop for free-agent third basemen.  In six full years in the big leagues, he’s averaged 17 home runs and 73 RBI per season while batting .292.  But his OBP has fallen in each of the last four years, from .357 to .342 to .341 to .324.  His slugging percentage is also in decline, dropping from .552 in 2011 to just .415 last season.

If these trends continue, the Red Sox may regret Sandoval’s $19 million average salary in the latter years of his contract.

Grade: B+

Signed Hanley Ramirez for Four Years, $88 Million

The Boston Red Sox spent $22 million per season on a shortstop when they already have Xander Bogaerts in line to play the position for years to come.  The plan looks to be to move Hanley Ramirez to left field, but Boston’s roster is already overflowing with outfielders as it is.

Even though the Ramirez signing fills a hole that doesn’t exist, adding a big bat to the lineup is always a plus.  Ramirez is a career .300 hitter with a .373 OBP and a .500 slugging percentage.  He is on the wrong side of 30, though, and is no longer the player who averaged nearly 25 home runs and 40 stolen bases from 2006 to 2010.

Grade: B-

Traded Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and a Minor Leaguer to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Wade Miley

In 174.1 innings spanning four seasons, Rubby De La Rosa has an 8-15 career record with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.  Allen Webster has pitched 89.1 innings in the big leagues with a 6.25 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.

Wade Miley owns three full seasons of experience as a major league starter, posting a 38-35 record with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.

In this deal, the Red Sox likely gave up two players with middle-of-the-rotation potential for a guy who is already there.  Considering Boston only had one pitcher on its roster with more than 50 starts in the majors (Clay Buchholz), adding some experience was a necessary move.

Grade: B+

Traded Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Wilson and Gabe Speier to the Detroit Tigers for Rick Porcello

The Red Sox had Yoenis Cespedes, Hanley Ramirez, Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Shane Victorino, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Daniel Nava all lined up to play in the outfield in 2015.  Trading away Cespedes begins to bring some clarity to that dilemma.

Despite being a fixture in the Detroit Tigers’ rotation since 2009, Rick Porcello is still just 25 years old.  Via Tim Britton of the Providence Journal, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said of Porcello:

We’ve had a pretty strong combination of scouting and analytics work on him. We feel he’s been one of the better starting pitchers in baseball. He sort of got buried in the names in Detroit. He’s been really good in his own right. Given his age, we feel there may be more upside. Even what he is right now we think is really going to help us. … 

If we had known in July that we weren’t going to sign Jon Lester, I think we would’ve been happy to trade him for Rick Porcello. I guess this is sort of the net-net. We’re excited to have Rick on board.

A free agent after 2015, Boston got Cespedes for Lester last summer.  More on Lester shortly.

Grade: A-

Signed Justin Masterson for One Year, $9.5 Million

In Justin Masterson, the Red Sox reacquired a pitcher who began his career with Boston back in 2008.  The right-hander struggled this past season, putting up a 5.88 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals.  

Grantland‘s Jonah Keri called the signing “a classic buy-low move,” writing: “At his best, Masterson has one-strikeout-per-inning stuff, with enough command to make him an effective innings eater (he hurled 206.1 frames in 2012 and 193 in 2013 before his injury-plagued debacle season in 2014). At his worst, he’s an injury risk and potential arsonist at Fenway.”

Due to his sidearm delivery, Masterson is extremely effective against right-handed batters:

He’s also held righties to a .220 average over the course of his career.  On the other hand, lefties have hit .287 against Masterson, including a ridiculous .320 in 2014.  Masterson is a $9.5 million arm who may be best suited for a situational role out of the bullpen.

Grade: B

Overall

The Red Sox added a top-of-the-line third baseman in Sandoval.  They replaced one big bat (Cespedes) in the outfield with another (Ramirez).  Boston also brought in three potential starting pitchers without dealing away any of their top prospects.

But after the trade of Lester in July, far and away the biggest need the Red Sox had was to get their hands on a new ace to lead the rotation.  None of the pitchers they’ve added (Miley, Porcello and Masterson) are anything resembling a bona fide No. 1 starter.

Boston was reportedly close to wooing Lester back, but he chose the Chicago Cubs instead:

You’d be hard-pressed to find a Red Sox fan who wouldn’t have preferred to see Boston pay Lester $25-26 million for each of the next six years rather than Ramirez $22 million annually for the next four.

It’s very difficult to consider the Red Sox’s offseason a success so far when they have yet to address their most glaring weakness.

Grade: C

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, with contract information via Spotrac.com.

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Coming off an unexpected last-place finish in 2014, the Boston Red Sox look to be a major player in free agency this offseason.  Big names like Jon Lester, James Shields and Pablo Sandoval are being widely discussed as players Boston may go after.

On the other hand, which available free agents should the Red Sox stay away from?

The following three players are among those most likely to be sought after this winter, and each could potentially fill a need for Boston.  However, there are also a variety of reasons why it’s in the Red Sox’s best interests to avoid them altogether.

Francisco Liriano

Last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Francisco Liriano went 7-10 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 175 strikeouts in 162.1 innings.  There’s no question Boston might desire a left-handed starter with those kind of numbers, but is that really the pitcher the Red Sox would be getting?

The 162.1 innings were the second most Liriano has ever thrown in his career.  He’s never pitched more than 191.2 innings, and in four of his eight seasons as a starter, Liriano was on the mound for less than 137 innings.  Durability is clearly an issue for the 31-year-old.

In 2014, National League pitchers had a combined ERA of 3.66, while their American League counterparts posted a 3.82 ERA.  Rarely is it a surprise to see a starter struggle after switching leagues from the NL to the AL.  In Liriano’s case, there’s already an abundance of data to go on from the first six years of his career.

Over 840 innings in the AL, Liriano had a 4.40 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.  In his last AL season, 2012, Liriano was 6-12 with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP—that is not a pitcher Boston should be interested in.

Hanley Ramirez

One-time Red Sox prospect Hanley Ramirez is a shortstop by trade, but he could come back to Boston to play third base.  Ramirez manned the hot corner for 98 games during the 2012 season with the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chad Finn of Boston.com makes a case for the Red Sox to pursue Ramirez, writing:

This is a player who was eighth in the MVP balloting in 2013 — despite playing just 86 games. When you hit .345/.402/.638 in that span, with 20 homers, your half-season is better than most players’ full season. He wasn’t as good last year, and missed 34 games. But he did play 157 in 2012, and he was one of the most durable players in baseball for a five-year stretch during his Marlins youth.

From 2006-2010, Ramirez batted .313 while averaging 25 home runs, 78 RBI, 39 steals and 152 games per season.  The problem is, it’s not 2010 anymore.

Over the last four years, Ramirez hit .277 with average numbers of 17 home runs, 66 RBI, 16 steals and only 116 games played.

Ramirez is no longer a superstar, but he’s most likely going to demand superstar money.  Andy Martino of the New York Daily News predicts four years and $68 million.  The Dodgers already extended Ramirez the standard one-year $15.3 million qualifying offer, meaning the Red Sox would have to part with a draft pick (in the second round because of their poor record in 2014) in order to sign him.  The same is true of Liriano.

Max Scherzer

Of all the free agents available this offseason, Max Scherzer is generally considered to be the cream of the crop.  From Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan:

To turn down a guaranteed $144 million contract, as Scherzer did last spring, takes an enormous amount of faith in self and elbow. And while Scherzer’s luck on balls in play waned a bit from his 2013 Cy Young season, his strikeout, walk and home run rates were practically identical over the last two seasons. Scherzer, 30, wants $200 million, and even if some of the highest-end teams claim they won’t go crazy on pitching contracts this winter, Scott Boras has a way of making money appear.

Boston would be better suited to let somebody else pay Scherzer $200 million and turn its attention elsewhere.  Passan also states that Jon Lester can probably be had for “somewhere in the neighborhood of the six-year, $144 million deal Cole Hamels got in 2012.”

What does Scherzer have that makes him $50 million or so better than Lester?

Both pitchers are 30 years old.  Lester owns the added bonus of being left-handed, and Scherzer does not.  The two have identical 3.58 career ERAs.  Neither pitcher has ever missed significant time due to injury, and since 2009, Scherzer‘s first full season as a starter, they each have strikingly similar statistics:

Scherzer: 91-46, 191 starts, 1183.1 innings, 1255 strikeouts, 3.61 ERA, 1.22 WHIP

Lester: 89-59, 193 starts, 1241.1 innings, 1195 strikeouts, 3.52 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

Like Liriano and Ramirez, Scherzer was given a qualifying offer, so he would come at the expense of a draft pick, but since Lester was traded this past season, the Oakland A’s didn’t have that option with him.

James Shields, 32, is perceived as a tier slightly below Lester and Scherzer, but his numbers since 2009 are actually quite comparable:

Shields: 82-66, 200 starts, 1355.2 innings, 1178 strikeouts, 3.62 ERA, 1.23 WHIP

In a recent Bleacher Report article on what it would take for Boston to land Shields, I examined several current contracts of star pitchers and speculated that $100 million over five years would be more than enough to get the job done.  Does it really make any sense for the Red Sox to spend $200 million on Scherzer when they could get Lester for $150 million or Shields for $100 million?

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If the Boston Red Sox intend to make a playoff push in the second half of the season, they’ll likely need to go after some outside help.  Below is a shopping list that may come in handy for the Red Sox as the trade deadline approaches:

1. Offense
2. More offense

To say that Boston is “offensively challenged” would be an understatement.

The Red Sox recently went eight straight games without ever scoring more than three runs, and they only managed to put up that many once during the stretch.

On the way to winning the World Series in 2013, Boston led all of Major League Baseball in averaging 5.27 runs per game.  This year’s club is scoring nearly a full run-and-a-half less.  From ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes:

The Sox averaged 3.86 runs per game in their first 72 games. Only five times in their history have they averaged fewer. Two were war years (1943 and 1945), one was 1968 — when the entire big leagues went into a collective slump, prompting a lowering of the mound — one was in 1932, when the Sox lost 111 games and one was in 1992, when they finished last.

Edes also notes that Boston is on pace to plate just “306 runs” at Fenway Park, which would be the team’s lowest home output since 1945.

For the Red Sox to have a chance of returning to the postseason this year, their lineup will have to become significantly more potent.  Any efforts Boston might make to bolster its roster will almost certainly involve outfielders.

David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli are fixtures at DH, second base and first base, respectively.

Before the season started, catcher A.J. Pierzynski was signed to a one-year $8.25 million contract with the though that either Christian Vazquez or Blake Swihart (both ranked among the organization’s top 10 prospects) would fill the position in the future.  If Pierzynski is to be replaced, it’ll be from down on the farm not through a trade.

Last month Boston re-signed Stephen Drew at roughly $10 million for the remainder of the season, then installed him at shortstop and shifted phenom Xander Bogaerts to third base.  Barring a catastrophic slump, neither of them will be going anywhere either.

The Red Sox’s infield is locked in.  The outfield, on the other hand, is a mess.

Center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is struggling to hit above .200, right fielder Shane Victorino isn’t healthy and left field is a revolving door of various players.  Brock Holt and his .318 batting average have been a very pleasant and unexpected surprise, but sadly he can’t play every position simultaneously.

In order to combat its scoring woes, here are three outfielders Boston may want to pursue in the weeks ahead:

Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Red Sox are rumored to be showing interest in Kemp, but there are conflicting reports as to the validity of the rumors.  On Sunday Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe wrote “The Red Sox, who need to improve their righthanded hitting, spent significant time watching Kemp last week.”  However, on Monday WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford countered with:

According to a major league source, there is “nothing going on” regarding the Red Sox and a possible acquisition of Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.

There had been reports that the Sox were heavily scouting Los Angeles, with Kemp as a potential target. But while the Red Sox continue to explore multiple avenues in regard to upgrading their outfield’s offensive production, according to the source there is no momentum regarding any deal involving the Dodgers outfielder.

Regardless of whether or not Boston is currently chasing Kemp, he’s definitely someone who could add a spark to the Red Sox’s batting order.

Kemp made the All-Star team and finished second in the NL MVP voting in 2011 and was again an All-Star in 2012.  He’s been plagued by injuries ever since, though, appearing in just 73 contests in 2013. After getting off to a slow start this season, Kemp is batting .310 in 44 games dating back to May 3.

The major downside with Kemp is that he still has five-and-a-half seasons left on an eight-year, $160 million contract that runs through 2019.

Dexter Fowler, Houston Astros

Fowler is in the second season of a two-year, $11.6 million deal, and he is eligible for arbitration in 2015. But he likely doesn’t fit into the Astros’ long-term plans, and they could be happy to trade him in order to build for the future.

This season Fowler is hitting .277 with six home runs, 24 RBI and a .383 on-base percentage.  But like Kemp, he has overcome a slow start, batting .313 with a .431 OBP in 174 plate appearances since May 12.  Fowler also has stolen six bases, which would lead a Red Sox club that has swiped a total of just 27 bags all year.

Seth Smith, San Diego Padres

Smith will be a free agent at the end of the season, and San Diego might be eager to get what they can for the 31-year-old before his contract expires.  In 64 games for the Padres, Smith is hitting .286 with a .396 OBP.

His power numbers are what should be of great interest to Boston, though—Smith’s eight home runs would rank third on the team behind Ortiz (17) and Napoli (9), while his .519 slugging percentage would be tops on the Red Sox by a large margin over Ortiz’s .478.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Despite a 32-38 record, the Boston Red Sox are still only 5.5 games back of a playoff spot in the American League.  Barring a complete collapse, the Red Sox figure to be buyers when the July 31 MLB trade deadline arrives.  With that in mind, what are Boston’s greatest needs going forward, as they look to stay alive in the postseason race?

In their past three games, the Red Sox have scored a total of just five runs.  They dropped a pair of 3-2 decisions to the Cleveland Indians over the weekend and held on for a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

In fact, two of Boston’s last four victories are of the 1-0 variety.  The Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles by that margin on June 10—the only run Boston could manage in the three-game series in Baltimore.

Simply put, the 2014 edition of the Red Sox is struggling to get runners across home plate.

Collectively, Boston is hitting only .246 on the season, and that drops even lower to .240 with runners in scoring position.  Last year the Red Sox led all of baseball by averaging 5.27 runs per game.  This season that number has fallen off dramatically to 3.91.  Fifteen of the club’s 38 losses are by just a single run.  If the Red Sox had won roughly half of those 15 contests they’d be near the top of the AL East. 

Clearly Boston needs offensive help, but what about pitching?

Jon Lester and John Lackey are a solid one-two punch, posting ERAs of 3.33 and 3.24 respectively.  And with Clay Buchholz and Felix Doubront on the disabled list, Brandon Workman and Rubby De La Rosa have filled in admirably.  Workman is 1-0 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in five starts, while De La Rosa is 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in four outings of his own.

At the moment Jake Peavy is the weak link in the Red Sox rotation.  Peavy has an ERA of 4.53 and a career-worst 1.44 WHIP to go along with just a single win in 14 starts.

Even with Peavy’s struggles, starting pitching should not be an area of concern for Boston.  Buchholz and Doubront are close to returning, and top prospects Allen Webster and Anthony Ranaudo are both throwing very well for Triple-A Pawtucket.

In the bullpen, Koji Uehara is following up a spectacular 2013 with another great year in 2014.  Uehara has converted all 15 of his save opportunities, and has a minuscule 0.57 ERA to go along with his equally impressive 0.66 WHIP.  The Red Sox closer has not been scored upon in his last 20 appearances (21 innings in total), dating back to May 1.  Similarly, Burke Badenhop hasn’t given up an earned run since April 18, a streak of 29 consecutive innings.

Relief pitching is also not an issue Boston must worry about.

If pitching isn’t the problem, what can be done to fix the Red Sox’s lackluster offense?  

Boston began the year with five outfielders on its roster: Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Grady Sizemore.  Those five players are batting a combined .219 (161-for-734).  Victorino leads the bunch at .242, and he should come back soon from a hamstring injury, which he is currently rehabbing in Pawtucket.

Brock Holt has recently added some life to the outfield, hitting .400 in 25 at-bats since moving there.  Via Scott Barboza of ESPN Boston, Red Sox manager John Farrell had this to say about shifting Holt from the infield:

The need drove it, to be honest. As a guy returned we found where the opening was and stuck him there and he’s continued on, whether it’s been first base when Mike Carp broke his foot to [Mike Napoli] coming back — stick him in left. And then put him in right. It’s a pretty good showing on his part.

Victorino’s return and Holt’s hot streak shouldn’t stop Boston from trying to add a quality bat in the outfield.  Not necessarily a star, but a solid player who could hit sixth and drive in some runs behind David Ortiz and Napoli.  For the season, Red Sox No. 6 hitters are batting just .217, a full 40 points less than their opponents’ .257 average from the same spot in the order.

If any potentially incoming outfielder also possesses good speed and power, he might help Boston’s plight immensely.  The Red Sox have stolen only 24 bases this year, the third-lowest total in MLB.  Their 63 percent success rate (24-of-38) also ranks third from the bottom.

Along the same lines, Boston has a total of just 50 home runs this season—only four other clubs have fewer.

Of course all of this could change in the next six weeks.  Nava is 11 for his last 26, raising his batting average 70 points from .134 to .204.  If he keeps hitting like the guy who finished fifth in the AL in on-base percentage last year (.385), the team’s outfield woes might be solved.

Last week on WEEI’s The Dennis and Callahan Show, Red Sox president Larry Lucchino was asked about potential trade deadline activity.  His response was:

Every year is different. Every year is a different configuration of teams ahead of you or behind you, so there’s no formula. But there is a realistic assessment made, but it’s not made at this point when there’s 96 games [left] in the season, it’s made generally much later. In our case, it’s almost always made in late July, not in early June.

Statistics courtesy of RedSox.com 

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