The Boston Shuffle: A Season to Forget for the Red Sox
As the 2019 season draws to a close, perhaps the greatest surprise of the campaign has been the futility of the 2019 Boston Red Sox.
Every time I see Alex Cora on television, cool anger burns in his eyes as he stares out from the dugout at his players striking out in the clutch, committing crucial errors at key moments or allowing indiscreet home runs to crush the Red Sox spirit. It’s no wonder Cora wonders why he’s experienced an existential crisis this year. What the hell has been going on?
The Boston shuffle.
Cora knows after one of the greatest Red Sox seasons ever last year, much was expected of this year’s team. It’s essentially the same cast of characters as last year. That they failed to repeat their past success is a major disappointment for everyone connected with the Red Sox. And while Cora’s not the reason for this failure, it stings nonetheless.
The broader question is whether the Red Sox difficulties should be blamed on the failure of Dave Dombroski to add more weapons to his arsenal of pitchers? Or his failure to address the lack of production at first and second base. Will Dombroski be allowed to reorganize the talent base of next year’s team? Or will John Henry look outside the organization for new leadership? And what will that mean for the marginal players on the roster? The Boston shuffle.
What About a Relief Pitcher?
Dombroski certainly could have tried to steal Zach Britton or Adam Ottavino before the Yankees signed them had he felt the need to add to the bullpen after deciding not to resign Craig Kimbrel.
Dombroski could have even considered dealing one of his overpriced pitchers to Seattle for Edwin Diaz in the off-season.
Perhaps Rick Porcello (or David Price) combined with a young pitcher like Darwinzon Hernandez and infielder Michael Chavis (and another prospect?) might have brought Diaz, Robinson Cano (who could have been an offensive force in Fenway at second base, first base or DH) with another player coming back to Boston as well. Mitch Haniger? Would this have made the Red Sox a more formidable factor in the AL East?
Who’s on First in 2020?
The Boston Red Sox have holes to fill. They need help at first and second base. It seems Dustin Pedroia has come to the end of his illustrious career. Mitch Moreland will be 34-years-old and had a rough season. And while Brock Holt has had a good 2019, he’s an effective utility player—not a starter.
The Red Sox can live with Jackie Bradley Jr.’s anemic offense in centerfield for one more season because his defense is so superb. But he’s approaching his age 30 season. It might be time to cut bait before his last arbitration award moves him north of the $8.5 million he earned this past season.
If Dombroski moves Bradley Jr., perhaps the Sox shift Mookie Betts into centerfield. Find someone else to play right field (along with J. D. Martinez part of the time). There are many choices out there for a shrewd organization.
Unfortuntely the Yankees are not going to trade Boston Mike Tauchman or first baseman Luke Voit. Perhaps Boston can find their own versions of these productive players.
As for Betts, how much money does he want in order to stay in Boston? Reportedly he rejected a ten-year, $200 million offer after his MVP season last year. How far will Dombrosky go to retain Mookie Betts after his down season? Time will tell.
Let’s not forget J.D. Martinez who can opt-out of his deal this off-season after a good season nowhere near as potent as last season’s numbers. The question is will he opt out at age 32? Or does he decide that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? Chances are he stays.
Who’s the Starter Today?
Boston’s starting pitching is aging and expensive—and three of their five starters were injured at some point during the 2019 season. Some experts say Boston’s pitching was the engine behind Boston’s disappointing season. Think of it as the Boston shuffle.
Their ace Chris Sale looks like he avoided Tommy John surgery but will be shut down until next year—after he signed a five-year $145 million free-agent contract before this season. He earned $15 million this season and will earn $30 million next year.
David Price, Boston’s number two starter, was injured during the season and perhaps for that reason pitched inconsistently and ineffectively at times. He has three more years on his contract at $32 million per season, which means Boston cannot move him without eating a lot of money. While he’s not an albatross yet, that day may be coming.
Rick Porcello is a free agent and probably won’t be re-signed for the coming season, since he earned about $20.5 million this season. Unless Boston wants to see if he can regain his old form and give them quality innings again. If not, this could become an open slot in the Boston rotation. A chance to start Darwinzon Hernandez or another young starter for wages close to the MLB minimum salary.
Nathan Eovaldi signed a four-year $68 million deal prior to the season. He missed significant time during the 2019 season with an elbow issue. At $17 million per year with arm issues (including Tommy John surgery in 2017), it remains to be seen how effective Eovaldi will be as a starter next season.
Boston’s fifth starter Eduardo Rodriguez pitched inconsistently this season and is under Boston’s control through the 2022 season. He earned $4.3 million in 2019 and pitched like an ace at times this season. He will definitely be back in 2020.
Given the paucity of prospects in Boston’s farm system, there’s little high-end talent to plug into their pitching staff. Unless they plan to move one of their bullpen arms into the rotation, trade for a younger pitcher or take a chance on someone like Matt Harvey off the scrap heap—where the Oakland A’s recently found him and signed him to a minor league contract.
Boston has won four World Series in the first two decades of the 21st century, so they have every reason to be proud of their accomplishments. But if they expect to compete in the coming years they are going to need to overhaul their architecture, find hidden gems (the way they signed David Ortiz after Minnesota released him years ago) and blend a new talent base around Rafael Devers, Xander Bogearts, and Betts (if he remains with the club).
Whether it’s Dave Dombroski making the decisions or someone else, they will have their work cut out for them. Think of it as the Boston shuffle.
