#23
The Boston Red Sox went from cellar in 2020 to the ALCS in 2021 back to the cellar in 2022. Will 2023 see another bounce back? Or will they stay in the cellar?
#11 - 2nd in AL East, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Round
MIH - Trevor Story
MIP - Chris Sale
PTW - Jeter Downs
2022 Results
#17 - 78-84, 5th in AL East
Highest WAR (Position) - Xander Bogaerts
Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Michael Wacha
The Red Sox got hurt by being in the best division in baseball in 2022. Only finishing 6 games under .500, they were still only good for last place in the AL East. Thanks to more injuries, Chris Sale only pitched 2 games in 2022, bringing his grand total of 11 starts in the last 3 seasons. Trevor Story had an okay first season in Boston. The season wasn't bad, but when you are chasing down the rest of that division, it feels like they had a long way to go.
Additions / Subtractions
No fan base is more dejected entering the 2023 season than the Boston Red Sox. They watched cornerstones Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez leave in free agency. Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer moved on after mid-season acquisitions. Starters Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, and Nathan Eovaldi left in free agency. Jeter Downs, one of the centerpieces of the prospect haul in the Mookie Betts trade, gets DFA'ed, marking a sign of admitting they lost that trade. Last offseason's prize signing Trevor Story is out for most of the year. They did bring in some talent with starter Corey Kluber, closer Kenley Jansen, infielders Justin Turner and Adalberto Mondesi, and outfielders Adam Duvall and Japanese import Masataka Yoshida. That's some huge turnover! There was also a lot more star power walking out the door than walking in. At least they were able to re-sign Rafael Devers to a big extension or else this offseason would have been a colossal failure. Otherwise he would have been the next Red Sox superstar to be traded or leave in free agency.
Most Important Hitter
Masataka Yoshida
The biggest wild cards on any roster are Japanese imports. These superstars in the Japanese league are trying to be the next Ichiro or Hideki Matsui or Shohei Ohtani. Sometimes they become the next Kazuo Matsui, Kosuke Fukudome, or Tsuyoshi Shinjo. The latest to make the transition is Masataka Yoshida. He is slated to be the keeper of the Green Monster in leftfield to start the season, but how will he transition? Looking at the rest of the offseason the Red Sox had, it looks like they are expecting Yoshida to come in and produce immediately to help pick up the massive hole left behind by the likes of Bogaerts and Martinez. If he hits, the Red Sox are in much better shape than some think. If he misses, the Red Sox may be in some trouble.
Most Important Pitcher
Chris Sale
Chris Sale is being paid like the ace of the Red Sox. For the last 3 seasons, he has been cashing the checks with no production. He is signed on this megadeal for at least the next two seasons. If he can get on the field, he has the tools to still be one of the best pitchers in baseball ... I think. Have the injuries aged his body too much? He is entering his age 34 season. He is not a young pitcher anymore. The Red Sox are relying on him being back at the elite level because there is not much depth and top end talent behind him.
Prospect to Watch
Triston Casas
The Red Sox may have 4 prospects in MLB's Top 100 right now, but their system is ranked 19th according to Bleacher Report due to a lack of depth. One of their top prospects is Triston Casas. Ranked the 23rd best prospect in baseball and the 2nd best prospect in the Red Sox system, Casas is slated to be the starting first baseman on Opening Day in Boston. Casas is a big dude with a big bat. At 6'4" and 252lb, Casas could easily be a 40 homer guy. Barely staying under the threshold to maintain rookie status, Casas played in 27 in 2022 for the Red Sox and homered 5 times. He is definitely a bat the Red Sox are hoping will pop in 2023.
2023 Prediction
5th in AL East
I don't really see any other outcome for the Red Sox this season. They watched too much talent leave and didn't bring in enough to make up for it. Even with last year's talent, they were in the cellar. Also, their division is so stacked. This division had 3 teams in the playoffs in 2022 with the Orioles just missing. There's really no other option for the Red Sox. Either something goes drastically wrong in Tampa, Toronto, Baltimore, or the Bronx, or ... the Red Sox finish in the cellar for the third time in 4 seasons.
Fearless Prediction
This is Chris Sale's last season for the Red Sox.
At some point, the Red Sox have to realize they need to stop trying to half compete and just need to sell off and rebuild. I think that starts with Chris Sale. If he pitches well this year, he gets traded at the deadline or in the offseason to a contender who thinks they are one arm away. If he pitches poorly, they might just eat the money and let him go. Either way, this could be the end of his road in Boston.
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