The Boston Red Sox are set to kick off spring training this week in Fort Myers, Florida. While there is sure to be some minor roster tinkering before Opening Day arrives, Boston is poised to enter the 2015 season with the team it currently has.
The Red Sox made several key additions this offseason, highlighted by the signings of All-Star sluggers Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. But, what about the moves Boston didn’t make?
The following are the three biggest missed opportunities the Red Sox failed to cash in on this winter.
Acquire an Ace
Boston brought in three new starting pitchers in Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson. None of them fits the billing of a No. 1. A trio of big-time free agents was available in Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields, but the Red Sox whiffed on all three.
In hindsight, Boston’s inability to sign Lester likely dates back to last April, when he was still a member of the Red Sox. At the time, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that Boston offered Lester a contract extension of four years between $70-$80 million. The “lowball” bid put the wheels in motion for Lester’s trade to the Oakland Athletics. Eventually he signed with the Chicago Cubs for six years and $155 million.
On the topic of Scherzer, Rob Bradford of WEEI writes:
The Red Sox did have interest in free agent Max Scherzer, actually valuing him as much as Jon Lester. But after numerous discussions with Scherzer’s agent, Scott Boras, it became clear the righty’s price tag was going to be too big for the Red Sox’ to swallow.
According to one source, at no point during the offseason did Boras hint that he was concerned Scherzer wouldn’t get his money, potentially leading to a more palatable reduced rate. In the end, the former Tigers hurler inked a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Nationals.
Bradford also states that the Red Sox met with Shields at the winter meetings. However, they didn’t feel Fenway Park was the right place for him considering he has a career 2-9 record and 5.42 ERA in Boston.
Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies recently told USA Today Sports’ Bob Nightengale that he would be willing to wave his no-trade clause to go to Boston, saying, “Of course, I would. It’s a fun city. There’s no better feeling than to have a chance to win every year, and they give you that chance. I’m all ears.”
According to Rosenthal, the Phillies want either Mookie Betts or top prospect Blake Swihart in return for Hamels. The Red Sox do not appear interested in parting with either one. Bradford says the two sides “aren’t remotely close” to a deal.
Prepare for Life After Koji Uehara
Boston re-signed Koji Uehara for two years and $18 million. Uehara is coming off two spectacular seasons as the Red Sox closer, but he also gave up 15 hits and 10 earned runs in a span of just 7.2 innings over his final nine outings of 2014.
Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald shared Uehara‘s thoughts on why he struggled at the end of last year:
It was more physical,” Uehara said after arriving in Red Sox camp Monday, four days before the mandatory reporting date for pitchers and catchers. “I didn’t talk about it at that time, but I think I’m over it.”
Uehara wouldn‘t elaborate — “I’m not getting into specifics,” he said through translator C.J. Matsumoto — except to say the issue “wasn’t fatigue” from the Red Sox’ long run to the World Series in 2013. General manager Ben Cherington noted Uehara dealt with a “little lower back issue” in August that cleared up by the end of the year.
Uehara will turn 40 years old before Opening Day of 2015. How confident should Boston be that he’ll return to form? The Red Sox could’ve served themselves well by putting more effort into a backup plan.
David Robertson saved 39 games for the New York Yankees last season, then signed with the Chicago White Sox for four years and $46 million. Former Red Sox lefty Andrew Miller struck out 103 batters in 62.1 innings in 2014, while also posting a minuscule 0.80 WHIP. Miller inked a four-year, $36 million free-agent deal with the Yankees.
Brandon Morrow is two seasons removed from posting a 2.96 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 124.2 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays. A former starter and closer, Morrow represented a low-cost option—he signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres for $2.5 million. Similarly, Casey Janssen went to the Washington Nationals for one year and $5 million. Janssen saved 81 games over the last three seasons with Toronto.
If Boston reconsiders adding more bullpen depth in case Uehara breaks down, Rafael Soriano is an intriguing possibility still on the free-agent market. The 35-year-old has 209 career saves, including 40-plus in three of four seasons from 2010-2013.
Make Use of Their Abundant Minor League Talent
This “missed opportunity” is two sides of the same coin. The Red Sox bolstered their lineup and restocked their starting rotation without trading away any of their top young players. Betts, Swihart, Henry Owens, Garin Cecchini, Rafael Devers, Manuel Margot, Brian Johnson, Matt Barnes, Trey Ball, Deven Marrero and a host of other prospects are all still part of the organization.
Last month Keith Law of ESPN ranked Boston’s farm system the fifth best out of 30 major league teams. The question is, are the Red Sox trying to win in 2015, or are they planning for the future? It looks as though they are attempting to do both simultaneously. The money they spent on Sandoval and Ramirez clearly shows an interest in being competitive now. But, Boston’s starting rotation leaves much to be desired.
Hamels was always available. Matt Latos and Jeff Samardzija were both traded this offseason. Who knows, maybe the right offer could have even pried away someone like Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds, or Chris Sale from the White Sox.
If the Red Sox had been willing to part with a few quality prospects, they could’ve significantly increased their chances of returning to glory in 2015.
Contract information via Spotrac.com
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