Tag Archives: Boston Red Sox

Bidding Adieu to Yawkey Way

Wave goodbye to the past; moving on to…the past? Red Sox file a petition to the City of Boston to change Yawkey Way’s name back to Jersey Street.

We all know the reputation that Boston holds when it comes to the topic of racism. Unfortunate, because being of Cuban decent I love Boston. I would live there for the rest of my life if I could. The people of Boston have been about as open armed and welcoming every single time I have gone. To call the City of Boston racist as a whole is the incorrect take. The fact is, racism still exists everywhere in this country, and it is something that needs to be acknowledged. With the most recent story that came to surface in 2017, when Adam Jones was subjected to racial slurs while manning center field. To reiterate, baseball is an all-encompassing, multi cultural sport, and a celebration of many cultures coming together to play the greatest game ever.

How Does Yawkey Fit into This?

So where does Yawkey Way, or more specifically Tom Yawkey, come into play here? Well a background check on Tom Yawkey will reveal that his reputation is extensively shrouded in controversy and discrimination. Coined by Jackie Robinson (who got turned down by the Red Sox after a tryout in 1945) as “one of the most bigoted guys in baseball”.

The Red Sox at the helm of Yawkey were the last Major League team to integrate, when they promoted their first African-American player by the name of Pumpsie Green. Granted, at one point all teams were non-integrated and this was considered “the norm”. However, the fact that Yawkey deliberated for so long to include African-Americans into his Major League team says a lot. Thus, naming a street after himself in 1977 truly coincides with Robinson’s view on the former owner. He was a discriminate, egotistic, selfish person. He should be used as an example of how not to treat others in everyday life, let alone the sports world.

Photo Credit: Getty Images (2013)

The Red Sox have petitioned to change the name back to Jersey Street, which is what the famous street was called before Yawkey Way. To be honest, I’m not so sure of this move. Not changing it from Yawkey Way, but changing it back to a street name that was there since John I. Taylor bought the grounds in 1911 is not much of an improvement. In other words, the name Jersey Street was around for 66 years, and at least 54 of those years were during America’s segregation period. In a way, it also represents discrimination in a way that the name Yawkey Way has.

Possible Replacement Names

I have thought about this for a while and have come across great replacements for the street name. But I (as well as Jared Carrabis of Barstool Sports) cannot think of a better way to honor the Red Sox and Fenway Park than to name the street after Ted Williams, who took a break during the prime of his baseball career to serve in WWII and the Korean War. Williams, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is the best player the club has seen in its 110 year history. He’s a true legend of the game. Looking at the bigger picture rather than the game of baseball, he fought for our country, our freedom and our honor. In short, to have a tunnel named after him simply isn’t enough. It is something that should have been done decades ago rather than now.

This is not the be-all and end-all decision that will wipe racism from this country forever. However, it is definitely a step in the right direction. Could these fixes be improved further? Absolutely. But that’s the thing- it is important to keep the fight against racism continual and on-going. Also I admit, this move seems like something that the Red Sox were forced to do after the Adam Jones incident occurred. I guess late is better than never. As the famous Martin Luther King Jr. once said “The time is always right to do what is right”. And this is something that should be engraved into, not only Bostonians, but to everyone around the world.

Featured Photo Credit: Boston Magazine (2012)

Red Sox Players to Get Excited for in 2018: Carson Smith

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There doesn’t seem to be a player who is deeper under the radar on the Boston Red Sox than Carson Smith. If Boston wants to take command of the AL East this year, the bullpen is going to have to take people by surprise. Smith may not be the biggest stand out in the arsenal. But the potential support he could give to this pitching staff may be a huge difference maker for a contending team.

Injury & Statistics

If you haven’t heard of Carson Smith, you can probably thank Dr. Andrews for that. Carson underwent Tommy John last season before even being able to touch a ball in the regular season. Going under the knife took Smith out all the way into the late portion of the season, only allowing him to appear in eight games. Was it worth it? Carson came back with a healthy possibly stronger arm than before and he sure showed it.

With those eight games, Smith put up an ERA of 1.35. In those 6.2 innings of work, Boston saw the arm they’d been craving all season. The craving which led to the impulse signing of Addison Reed. What may be even more exciting is the numbers Smith was able to put up in the only full season of work under his belt in 2015. Even a little of this in the middle of the bullpen could create real problems for other teams in the American League. Especially when it leads to the flame-throwing, rocket arm of Craig Kimbrel.

Game Footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWlXQxEuSrM

Watching this guy pitch is a whole different story. Smith only needs three unique pitches to send opposing hitters back to the pine. A slider that could easily be mistaken for Chris Sales. A sinker with opposite movement of the slider that can not only create plays for the infield, but also dials up the radar to high 90’s. Then to mix it all up, a frozen change up. Smith’s lengthy stature and unique arm release is something not many pitchers have and not many batters see.

With the potential return this season of Tyler Thornburg and improving support of players like Joe Kelly, the Red Sox may have enough backups for the rotation to feel comfortable. A game started off by Chris Sale and closed off by Craig Kimbrel needs a bit of insurance. This is where Carson Smith can and will make his impact this season.

What to Do with Blake Swihart?

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“See my smile? It feels good.”- Blake Swihart after smacking an RBI triple.

Blake Swihart has been, one of the hottest players in Spring Training so far for the Red Sox. While there have only been a handful of games, Swihart shines in every opportunity this spring. First and foremost, I am a Blake Swihart guy. I see him hitting the ball all over Fenway Park, and have seen him blast balls out of McCoy Stadium. However, Swihart being a catcher for the Red Sox no longer seems possible. That being said, I believe there are many other ways in which Blake could contribute to the team.

Ultimate Utility Man

This may be a little redundant with the signing of Eduardo Nunez, but Swihart could take this role and run with it. Swihart is out of options and is looking for any sort of playing time he can get. With questions surrounding Brock Holt and Marco Hernández, who is in need of further shoulder surgery, the Red Sox will be looking for someone to bail them out with injured players or those in need of a day off.

Blake Swihart played 13 games in the outfield in 2016. While this ended up with an injury, that experience is incredibly valuable. Blake played shortstop in high school, and is getting looks in at second base. It is not hard for catchers to convert to first base. This covers the majority of positions the Red Sox are in need of depth this season. While it is unlikely Swihart will reach the levels of 2014-2015 Brock Holt utility man, nonetheless Swihart could be an incredible player for Alex Cora to call upon to fill in any role.

Trade Him

Blake Swihart Thumbnail photo via Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports Images Read more at: https://nesn.com/2015/09/torey-lovullo-returns-to-toronto-as-red-sox-interim-manager-video/

Sep 12, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (left) and interim manager Torey Lovullo (right) talk during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Blake Swihart was one of the many Red Sox players to thrive under Torey Lovullo while he was the interim manager of the Red Sox in the late part of the 2015 season. During the 2015 season, Swihart swung a decent bat with a .274 average, 31 RBIs, and just five home runs. However, one thing to look at is his numbers after Lovullo took over in the second half of the season. In that time Swihart raked with a .354/.415/.490/.905 slash line. The Red Sox letting Lovullo go is something that will always bother me. He could bring things out of his players that other managers just cannot do. If Swihart does move, this would be the time to do it, his value is the highest it can be, and he is out of options. A trade with the Diamondbacks might help both sides.

Although Arizona just signed veteran catcher Alex Avila to a two year deal, he is prone to injuries. Not to mention the Diamondbacks are in need of a utility player, especially one the 2017 National League Manager of the Year knows and likes. The Red Sox could land 23 year-old Tyler Mark in the deal. Arizona took Mark in the 6^th round of the MLB Draft from Concordia. There Mark was the single-season save leader. Arizona attempted to convert him into a starter. This started off slowly, so he returned to the bullpen. Many believe that he now has a better feel and command for his pitches and could become a Major League regular.

Cover image courtesy of NBC Sports.

The Battle for the Fifth Rotation Spot

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With Steven Wright (Knee) and Eduardo Rodriguez (Knee) doubtful for Opening Day, the options for the last spot of the rotation is an internal option.

On Sunday, Dave Dombrowski hinted to the notion that Steven Wright would not be ready for Opening Day 2018. He is also confident in what the Red Sox have internally with Roenis Elias, Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez. Dombrowski was quoted by the Boston Herald as saying “If (Wright) is not ready, no, we feel comfortable with our internal options.”

This is the right move from the acquisition trigger-happy Dombrowski. There are viable options available to fill in that last spot of the rotation in free agency (Arrieta, Lynn, Cobb etc.). However, having a competition for the final spot is the best thing possible for the club. Acquiring another pitcher in free agency will likely bump the club into the next tier of the luxury tax threshold. This would increase their tax to 62.5%, as well as have their first round draft pick moved back ten spots. Elias, Johnson and Velazquez have what it takes to fill that void.

The Front Runner

As of now, contractually, Brian Johnson seems to be the front runner to snag the last rotation spot. He will be designated for assignment if he is left off of the Opening Day rotation. Elias and Velazquez both have options to start the season in Triple A.

In 2017 Boston caught lightening in a bottle when Johnson pitched a shutout on May 27 against the Seattle Mariners. However, his other four starts were nothing special as he gave up 3+ runs to the Phillies, Blue Jays (twice) and Tigers. If they do well in Spring Training Cora might take Elias or Velazquez. It will be early enough in the season where this decision isn’t pivotal as Rodriguez and Wright are already close to pitching off a mound. Comparing the three pitchers over the spans of their respective and young Major League careers, we find some similar results.

All three pitchers have similar SO9, BB9 and SO/W numbers, as well as WHIP figures that aren’t so great. Elias clearly is the most seasoned member of the three, with 287 Major League innings pitched compared to 31 from Johnson and 24 from Velazquez. If Cora picks Elias, we will probably know what we are going to get from him. He is a below average starter that does not strikeout a whole lot of batters. Elias and Velazquez, however, still have yet to show us who they really are. The sample size of the amount of innings they’ve pitched in the majors doesn’t give an accurate representation of the kind of player they are or can be, but it’s a start. The point is that the Sox just need a decent starter until either Wright or Rodriguez is fully ready.

What to Expect from Eduardo Rodriguez and Steven Wright

In 2017 Eduardo Rodriguez posted a 4.19 ERA with a 1.2 WHIP in 24 starts, which is far more superior to Steven Wright’s 8.25 ERA and 1.8 WHIP in only five starts. Rodriguez will be the front runner for the last spot in the rotation once both players are healthy. He has a lot of potential being only 24 years old, and has a higher ceiling for success than Wright.

Granted, Rodriguez will be on a short leash. Although Wright doesn’t have the most appealing numbers in the world, he has also shown instances of brilliance with his Phil Niekro-like knuckleball. Wright brings a lot of variety to the table with the potential for maximum longevity and a unique arsenal of pitches that batters don’t tend to see in today’s game. This Red Sox rotation has a lot of potential to be the best rotation in the Majors, but they have to bring their A game this season.

Let’s Talk About Dustin Pedroia

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The Legend of Dustin Pedroia

2004 was a very special year for so many reasons. You think one thing when you hear “2004” as a Red Sox fan. We all know what happened that year. It was an emotional, crazy, fun ride that led a team full of idiots past the big bad New York Yankees and to their first World Series title since 1918. But something else historical also happened that year.

In the summer of 2004, a man by the name of Dustin Pedroia out of Arizona State was drafted by the Red Sox with the 65th overall pick. Nobody had an idea what the future would hold. At the time there was a #15 on the Red Sox that everyone loved (and still does)- Kevin Millar. Skip ahead two years to 2006 and you have this kid Pedroia securing #15 for himself.

Pedoria had a tough time during his first year playing in the majors, with a .191/.258/.303 slash line in 32 games. People were down on him. This guy was no good, right? He had no future with this team, right? This little guy. What did he have to offer? Nothing, I’m sure. Ha.

Have you ever heard of someone who had an awful season but an awesome one the next? If not, now you do. That’s because Dustin Pedroia did just that. His struggles in ’06 were a small sample size, anyway. He didn’t even play enough games for it to qualify as his rookie year. In Spring Training of 2007, Pedroia was competing for a job at second base with Alex Cora, who is coincidentally now the manager of the current Boston squad. Pedey won the job and started on the Opening Day roster in 2007. He struggled once again to begin the year, slashing .182/.308/.236/.544. So what would he do now? I’ll tell you what he did.

Rising up the Ranks

He posted a .415/.472/.600/1.072 line in May, remained hot for the rest of his rookie season and never looked back. He finished the year hitting .317/.380/.442, helped lead his team to a World Series championship, and was named Rookie of the Year. I’m pretty sure Pedroia has only flipped his bat on a home run once in his career, and it’s one of the best home runs in Red Sox history. It was Game 7 of the ALCS against Cleveland, a series that the Red Sox came back from a 3-1 deficit. It was the 7th inning and the Sox were up 3-2 at that point. Pedroia came up with a man on and hammered a ball into the Monster seats and finished with a sweet bat flip. That made the game 5-2, and Boston eventually won it 11-2 on their way to the World Series title.

After a great 2007 season Pedroia had an even better one in ’08, hitting .326/.376/.493 and winning MVP. Boston came up short that year, losing to Tampa in seven games. However, Boston got their revenge in 2013, when they would beat the Rays in the ALDS in four games on the way to their third World Series championship win in the last nine years. Pedroia got his second ring.

O’ Captain My Captain

Pedey is the heart and soul of this Red Sox team no matter you believe it or not. He is the captain of the team and a leader. He leads by example of how you should play the game and how you can be a winning ballplayer. Pedroia is the kind of guy where when he starts talking, everyone shuts up and listens.

Pedroia eats, sleeps, and breathes baseball. He would take a line shot in the face for this team. He’ll scoop any ground ball that comes his way and fire it over to first or flip it to second for a smooth double play. He’ll hit consistently every single year even as he gets older.

One of the problems with Pedroia throughout his whole career have been injuries. Do you want to know why he tends to get injured? Because he plays his ass off. He’ll do risky things for the sake of the team. For the sake of winning. Those things can cost you. But Pedey’s a tough guy.

Nowadays every player just wants money. They don’t care about being loyal like the old players used to. Players will go anywhere if they are offered big bucks. Guys will go from the Red Sox to the Yankees to get more money. They don’t care. But Pedroia? He’s the definition of loyal. In 2013, he took less money so he could stay with Boston, signing an 8 year, $110 million deal. This guy is a leader. He’s a winning player. Someone you can look up to.

Pedroia once said “People always ask me if I wish I were bigger. I tell them no. I always wanted to be a miniature badass.” He definitely is a miniature badass. A miniature badass for the Boston Red Sox, that is. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cover image courtesy of MassLive.com.

Don’t Expect a Typical Lineup for the Red Sox

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The Red Sox Might Change Things Up

J.D. Martinez is a Red Sox and everyone that has been following this team is aware of it. Granted, he hasn’t been officially introduced yet, but Sox Nation shouldn’t be worried. Martinez was seen on Wednesday the 21st reporting to camp in Fort Myers. So now that Dave Dombrowski has finished his 2017/2018 offseason campaign, it’s time to take a peek into what we are in store for once the season gets rolling.

It seems Alex Cora is going to take a less analytical approach when constructing his lineup, as opposed to a lineup that favors a lefty or righty starting pitcher. Cora was quoted as saying “if you can hit, you can hit.” When asked about how he will construct the lineup, he gave a very uncomplicated answer.

“You put the best lineup out there. I hate reiterating last year because I want to turn the page, but you saw what happened at the end. We had five righties. And it didn’t matter.”

Given, nobody really knows if that success will translate over to the Red Sox lineup. However, if it has worked before, maybe Cora can replicate those winning ways by building the lineup that will hit and get on base regardless of who is on the mound.

Batting Order

A probable lineup for opening day could look something like this:

Mookie Betts
Andrew Benintendi
Hanley Ramirez
J.D. Martinez
Xander Bogaerts
Rafael Devers
Eduardo Nunez
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Christian Vazquez

Eagle eye viewers of this article will notice something strange. Hanley is hitting in the third spot of the lineup. Alex Cora has confirmed this move and believes that the former slugging shortstop can be a flash in the pan that this team has been missing since David Ortiz retired. In 2016 when he batted fifth behind Ortiz, he produced a .290/.363/.506 slash line. In 2017 when he batted in the same slot, he scraped up a very bland looking .264/.344/.429 slash line. Thus, Ramirez seems to produce better numbers when there is a power bat in the same lineup.

If Hanley does not get to a flying start when the season begins, don’t think that Cora will hesitate to move Hanley from 3 to 5 before totally giving up on him. Hanley will need to begin the season like his hair is on fire. Otherwise his playing time could be about as minimal as it has ever been.

Other notes on this lineup include the speed towards the tail end of the lineup (Nunez batting 7th, JBJ batting 8th). This gives the lineup a unique element since speedy baserunners tend to usually bat first (however we are seeing the birth of a reborn leadoff stigma. See: Charlie Blackmon, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, George Springer among others). The lineup this way is front heavy but not necessarily lacking talent at the end. All in all, it is a very well balanced lineup for many reasons and could possibly stay similar for the entire season. For that to happen though, the players need to show the baseball world what they are really capable of putting together as the young, talented, athletic bunch they are.

Featured Image Credit: Boston Herald (2018)

2018 Outlook for Drew Pomeranz

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Boston Trades for Drew Pomeranz

In July of the 2016 season the Red Sox acquired Drew Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres. The Sox gave up Anderson Espinoza, their top pitching prospect who had received comparisons to Pedro Martinez. At first it seemed like Dombrowski made a mistake as his new pitcher struggled. Pomeranz was in the midst of breakout season with San Diego, but in 14 games with Boston he had a 4.59 ERA. Last year he rebounded by winning 17 games with an ERA of 3.32. Pomeranz will be looking to build on that success in 2018.

Photo Credit: Michael Dwyer/ Associated Press

Pomernaz’s Breakout 2017

In 2010 Pomeranz was taken fifth overall in the MLB draft. Since then he’s pitched for four teams, including the Red Sox. Last year was the first season of his career in which Pomeranz was able to stay healthy and pitch to his potential. However, last season was not entirely great for the former fifth overall pick, as for the early part of 2017 he continued to struggle. Through for the first two months of the season he had an ERA of 4.24. From June on he was a different pitcher and became the second best starter Red Sox. Boston needed this badly, as David price was injured and would not return until the playoffs. The question for Pomeranz is can he repeat the success he had last year.

Photo Credit: Ap Photo/ Charles Krupa

Expectations for 2018

Last season was not a surprise for Pomeranz based on his potential when he was drafted. If the Red Sox are going to make a championship run, they will need the 2017 version of Pomeranz. Down the stretch he showed fatigue last year as he pitched the most innings of his career. Pomeranz is projected to slot into the third spot of the Sox rotation behind Sale and Price. This will take some pressure off him as the team won’t be relying on him as much as last year. The Sox offense is also expected to be better, which will not help just Pomeranz but all of the Red Sox starters. Pomeranz may not win 17 games again this year, but he should be a solid number three with an ERA under 4.00.

Photo Credit: Bob Chiara/ USA Today Sports

Final Thoughts

Pomeranz like many other Red Sox starters will be highly motivated. He will be a free agent after this season. He is also coming off a playoff start against the Astros, in which he lasted only two innings. Those two factors should push Pomeranz as this season as he could be in for a big 2018.

Sam Kennedy Blames Pace of Play

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Red Sox President and CEO, Sam Kennedy, is blaming the drop in Red Sox viewership over the past couple of seasons on the MLB’s pace of play issues.

“People don’t want to get home at 11:30 or midnight. They have to work the next day. We understand that. We’d like a crisp, faster game. We’d like every game to be started by Chris Sale. You get an amazing product.” –Sam Kennedy in a WEEI interview

First of all Sam, way to throw the majority of your starting rotation under the bus. Second of all, pace of play is not the reason behind people turning off the Red Sox. Under the current ownership, Red Sox fans continue to be fed spoonful’s of garbage. Overpaying for Pablo Sandoval and then telling us he is only 17% body fat is going to make fans angry. Especially Boston fans, lies make us furious. Firing Don Orsillo, a beloved color commentator because ownership thought he was to blame for the dip in views, is going to upset fans. Back to back last place finishes, then mustering out only one playoff win does not make fans happy. Lowballing Jon Lester, trading him away, and then getting angry because he did not resign is not pace of play’s fault.

Constantly changing the team strategy does not make fans feel confident in their team. Trading in clubhouse guys for big money players who do not want to play here upsets fans. Being concerned primarily with making the most money instead of assembling the best baseball team hurts fans. I am not saying the Red Sox need to win the World Series every year or we will not watch. Instead, I am saying when you see fans are mad, address the problem instead of finding the nearest scapegoat.

Fans who go to see a 7:00 PM night game plan on staying until 11:30 or midnight. That is what fans go to see. They want to see the Red Sox play, it does not matter how long the game takes. MLB trying to lure new fans in by changing the pace of play rules does nothing but hurt the game. It only alienates the fans who are loyal to the sport. People who do not like baseball will not suddenly turn around and watch like a diehard just because the game gets shortened by twenty minutes.

Red Sox ownership continues to do an incredible job during their time here. If they continue to alienate fans however, things may change.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2017/08/red_sox_reward_sam_kennedy_with_extension_and_promotion

Courtesy of Matt Stone and the Boston Herald

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn

Cover image courtesy of The Boston Globe.

J.D. Martinez Is Shipping up to Boston, Thank Dave Dombrowski

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J.D. Martinez Now Plays for Boston

This offseason has been tedious and uneventful. As far as being a Red Sox fan goes, this offseason has just been about waiting to see any rumors for J.D. Martinez. Him and Scott Boras have been trying all offseason to get as much cash as they can. The Red Sox were always the favorites to land J.D., but there were rumors of him potentially going back to Arizona. But the wait is now over. Dombrowski and Boras were able to come to an agreement. J.D. Martinez is now on the Red Sox.

The deal is for five years and $110 million with an opt out after the second year. I absolutely love it. It’s not the $210 million Boras was asking for at the start of the offseason.

This is a huge move for the Red Sox. This is the bat they’ve needed ever since the moment Ortiz retired. That’s why the offense hasn’t been as strong as they were in 2016. Lots of the players having down years didn’t help either. That’s another reason why this deal is great. Getting J.D. Martinez to be in the center of a lineup of guys who are due for a bounce-back year is exciting. The Red Sox are slated to make another deep postseason run. With this huge addition to the team, one can only assume that Boston will squash the underdog label they have been given. Analysts and top places for US gamblers to bet are underestimating this year’s squad very early. However, Boston is embracing their role as the dark horse.

Thank the Man Behind the Curtain

Everyone (including myself) freaked out when the Yankees traded for Stanton. But do you know who kept his composure? A man by the name of David Dombrowski. When everyone else panicked as soon as the Yankees got their guy, Dombrowski stayed smart through the whole process. He remained stoic until Boras agreed with the contract he wanted and got J.D. Martinez. You can make an argument that Martinez is in fact better than Stanton, and there are numbers to back that up.

You have to give Dombrowski all the credit in the world for this one. He was willing to be patient and not give in to what Boras wanted, knowing that the market was incredibly small for Martinez. And look where we are now. It’s hilarious because all offseason fans have been upset that the Red Sox haven’t done anything. Well let me tell you something- it’s been that way for every single team. But now the dominoes are starting to fall.

Overall this is a huge deal for the Red Sox. It should not only get fans excited, but will get people to not take this team lightly anymore. This is a deal that will make us a true threat to the Yankees.

The Boston Red Sox Have No Ceiling

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The Boston Red Sox won 93 games and a division title last season, and they’ve only gotten better. The offense underachieved last season, and just about every player will probably increase their production in 2018. They’ve replaced John Farrell with a younger manager who better fits the team in Alex Cora. This alone guaranteed the Red Sox would be a good team in 2018. After bringing on JD Martinez, the 2018 Boston Red Sox have no ceiling

The Missing Power

JD Martinez is finally a Red Sox!

Image Credit: Yahoo Sports

The Boston Red Sox put up the sixth most runs in the American League last season, but the offense as a whole didn’t feel that great. This was due to the fact the Red Sox finished dead last in the AL in home runs. They could mash singles and doubles, but they lacked a guy that could change a games outcome with just a swing of a bat.

After a long and tedious offseason, that need has finally been met. The Red Sox signed the best power hitter on the market, JD Martinez, to a very reasonable five-year deal for $110 million. It’s no secret that the Red Sox wanted him from the start of free agency, but they played their cards right. Instead of overpaying, they got their top free agent on a deal that won’t burden the team years down the line.

And boy does Martinez fill a need. Martinez has hit 105 home runs in the past three seasons. By comparison, Mookie Betts is the next closest on the Red Sox with 73 homers. Martinez is more than a one-trick pony, as his average slash line over the past three seasons has been .297/.364/.586. He’s not just a great power hitter, he’s a great all-around hitter. Players capable of hitting for power and average are becoming increasingly hard to find, and the Sox found one.

Internal Offensive Improvements

As mentioned earlier, the Red Sox offense as a whole regressed in 2017. Just about everyone underperformed from their previous seasons. The Red Sox young core of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr. are projected by just about every source to improve on their 2017 season. Hanley Ramirez has changed his offseason workout regimen, and there’s plenty of reason to believe he’ll have a great bounce back year.

While the established players should bounce back, two very young players should continue to improve. Left fielder Andrew Benintendi and third baseman Rafael Devers are entering their second full year in the pros, and should play huge roles in the team’s success.

Benintendi had a good 2017, finishing second in the rookie of the year voting to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. However, his season was streaky and he went through the normal highs and lows of being a rookie. Those lows shouldn’t be as low or last as long with a full year under his belt. Outside of Mookie, Benintendi could be the best all-around player on the Red Sox. He could even make an MVP push if everything breaks right.

The Devers Factor

Devers could make an even bigger impact. The third baseman was promoted to the majors at age 20 after just one week in AAA Pawtucket simply because the Red Sox third base situation was that bad. Most any other player would struggle given such a drastic rise in competition, but Devers thrived. His major league career began with a home run, and he never slowed as the season went on.

Devers became arguably the best power bat on the 2017 Red Sox. In just 58 games, the Red Sox rookie hit 10 home runs with a .284/.338/.442 slash line. He had a knack for big moment plays, most notably his homer against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and his inside the park homer against the Houston Astros in the playoffs. This is great production for any rookie, nevermind a 20-year old who got called up primarily out of desperation.

His fielding needs some work, but that should improve with time. He’ll never win a gold glove, but he should figure out how to be a major league fielder. Obviously, major league players hit the ball a lot harder than the AA guys he faced the first half of the season. He made a few great defensive plays his rookie year, and his mechanics should improve with time.

Even if you don’t believe Devers can match his rookie production, there’s no way he can be worse than what the Red Sox sent out in 2017. In his half season in the pros, Devers compiled a respectable 0.9 WAR. By comparison, the primary third base options in the beginning of that season (Tsu-Wei Lin, Devin Marrero, Pablo Sandoval, Brock Holt) put up a combined -0.8 WAR. By default, Devers at third will be better than whatever the alternative is.

The Starting Pitching

As great as the lineup is, the rotation is just as good

Image credit: Boston Herald

While the offense struggled in 2017, the starting pitching was mostly dominant, and most of those pieces are returning healthier than ever. Chris Sale and a now-healthy David Price are arguably the best one-two combination in baseball. Sale is a top-five pitcher, and should be in the Cy Young running again. Price isn’t what he was, but he’s still a great pitcher who would be the ace on most teams. His elbow is a concern, but as long as he’s healthy he should remain one of the best #2 starters in baseball.

The crew behind that duo is pretty impressive. Drew Pomeranz probably won’t be able to match his 2017 production, but he’s still a safe bet to finish the season with a 3.50-3.70 ERA and get six to seven innings a start. That’s the recipe for a good third starter. Contrarily, Rick Porcello will almost certainly not be as bad in 2018 as he was in 2017. He probably won’t win the Cy Young again, but he doesn’t need to. Expect Porcello to finish the season with an ERA around 4 and eat at least six innings every time he gets the ball.

The biggest wild card here is what Eduardo Rodriguez can do. He’s flashed his huge ceiling ever since being called up in 2015, but injuries and inconsistency have plagued the pitcher. He will miss part of the season with a knee injury, but expect big things when he comes back. A new manager might just be the change E-Rod needs to finally break out and become the pitcher he’s capable of. If he can do that, he immediately becomes the #3 guy in the rotation.

The Depth Starters

The Red Sox have their top five set in stone, but all five won’t be healthy for all 162 games. Fortunately, the Red Sox are pretty well set with their backup plans. Knuckleballer Steven Wright has performed well in the past as a starter, and will likely take E-Rod’s spot in the rotation while he gets healthy. It looks as though Wright has finally put his shoulder injury behind him, which bodes well for the Red Sox. The last time Wright was healthy was in the first half of 2016, when he earned a spot at the All-Star game.

The Red Sox are pretty well set even if calamity strikes and they need two spot starters at once. Both Hector Velasquez and Brian Johnson have shown they’re capable of performing adequately when their number is called. While neither player should be used as anything other than a last resort, they’re both capable of starting a major league game and keeping the Sox in it.

The Bullpen

This is arguably the weakest part of the Red Sox roster, which says a lot about how strong every other part of the Red Sox is. The Sox still have a top-five closer in Craig Kimbrel, and it sounds like Cora is willing to use him in more than just save situations. Kimbrel has been one of the best relievers in baseball for years, and that shouldn’t change now.

Addison Reed left in the offseason, but the duo of Carson Smith and Tyler Thornberg will fill his role. Smith looked as advertised in limited outings last season, and Thornberg had a great 2016 with the Milwaukee Brewers before missing all of 2017. All three aforementioned arms can blow up the radar gun and could prove to be a dominant grouping in the final three innings of the game.

The guys behind the top three aren’t bad either. Joe Kelly, Brandon Workman, and Matt Barnes all have their flaws and limitations, but each has shown flashes of brilliance. Each can come into a game early and keep the now-explosive Red Sox offense in it. Of this group, Workman has the highest upside.

Injuries robbed Workman of his 2015 and 2016 seasons after a failed attempt at being a starter in 2014. Workman faltered down the stretch, posting a 6.10 ERA in September and October. Before that, though, Workman put up a very impressive 2.15 ERA in 29.1 innings of relief. Workman’s late season skid was probably due to fatigue; he hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2014. If Workman can come back and last a full season, the Red Sox have yet another dangerous arm.

The Competition

The Red Sox are a very good team and could very easily break 100 wins if everything goes their way. However, don’t plan the World Series parade yet. The AL is stacked with high talent teams, and 2018 should be a great season for baseball.

The reigning champion Houston Astros are the team to beat, and they’re not going anywhere. Superstars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa will wreak havoc on the league for the next decade. Their championship wasn’t a fluke, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the Astros went back to back.

The New York Yankees have an impressive young core of sluggers, and just added NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton. The Cleveland Indians remain an incredibly difficult team to beat as long as it’s not an elimination game. Just like 2017, these three teams and the Red Sox should make up the top four American League teams.

The Red Sox are now on that level. Sure, they won the division last season, but everyone knew what was awaiting them in the playoffs. This year, a division title isn’t the best case scenario. With a new power hitter, offensive improvements from within, and a great group of pitchers, these Red Sox are ready to challenge for a World Series title.

Cover image courtesy of MassLive.com.