As GMs meet, ball gets rolling
The Red Sox have been in offseason mode for more than a month. They’ve fired one manager, hired another, put together an entire coaching staff, and sent four players for surgery.
It’s time to start rebuilding the roster.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will settle into Orlando, Fla., today for the start of baseball’s general managers meetings, an often quiet week when the foundation generally is set for bigger moves to come.
“We need to score more runs,” Dombrowski said. “Some of that has to come internal. When you start looking at some of our guys, some of them didn’t have as good, I don’t think, of offensive years as they’re capable of having. So, some of that increased production comes internally. But we do have probably the open spot of first base/DH, and so that’s a place we’ll try to create some offense there.”
Adding offense will be Dombrowski’s priority, but he also could look into a reliable late-inning reliever, depth for the rotation, and additional options at second base where the Red Sox will be without Dustin Pedroia for at least a month.
All of those situations are complicated by a roster that already has most positions covered and a payroll that owes significant raises to a long list of arbitrationeligible players including right fielder Mookie Betts, shortstop Xander Bogaerts and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr.
It’s entirely possible none of the Red Sox holes will be addressed these next three days, when the game’s general managers officially discuss rules and other big picture issues, while privately discussing trade and free agent possibilities. The GM meetings are rarely as fruitful as next month’s winter meetings, but they’re often a stepping stone.
Elements to keep in mind:
Payroll will climb
After the Red Sox stayed below the competitive balance tax threshold last season, Dombrowski said he does not expect to be so restrained this season. That means payroll is likely to climb above $197 million after sitting just below $195 million last season.
Just how far beyond the threshold are the Sox willing to go?
Their goal is to add a big bat, and the best on the free agent market is outfielder J.D. Martinez, who is seeking roughly $200 million, according to ESPN. That’s a significant amount of money when Betts alone is about to see his salary jump from basically the league minimum to well into the millions.
Qualifier non-factor
At the end of these meetings, the nine players given qualifying offers must finalize whether to accept or decline. The Red Sox, predictably, did not extend a qualifying offer to any of their free agents, but they could show interest in several players who have a qualifying offer attached.
Eric Hosmer and Carlos Santana, the top first basemen on the market, were each given a qualifying offer, which means the Sox would have to forfeit their second draft pick to sign either one.
“I don’t think a qualifying offer for someone we really thought was the guy would make a difference,” Dombrowski said.
With ace Chris Sale signed for two more years, and closer Craig Kimbrel in his final year of team control, the Red Sox seem focused on winning now.
Creativity a need
If the Red Sox want to go the trade route, their top chips are likely already locked into major league roles. There’s no one in the farm system who could match the value of left fielder Andrew Benintendi or third baseman Rafael Devers, which might keep the Sox from making a huge trade splash unless they get creative.
That might take Giancarlo Stanton, the biggest trade chip on the market, out of the picture, though reports out of Miami still link the Red Sox to the Marlins in trade talks for the slugging outfielder.
Dombrowski is willing to stay internal at second base, suggesting an opportunity for Brock Holt, Marco Hernandez, Tzu-Wei Lin or Deven Marrero while Pedroia recovers from knee surgery. He also has Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg returning as late-inning options, easing some need in the bullpen, and Hanley Ramirez is expected to be available at first base, meaning the Red Sox can add offense without having to fill a specific position.
“That’s not to say (Ramirez will) be our first baseman because we may decide to have a first baseman and have him DH,” Dombrowski said, “but the anticipation is he’ll be able to play first base for us.”
That creativity could expand to the newest X-factor: building a team that suits new manager Alex Cora.
“If they didn’t believe what I was preaching in that interview in New York, I would probably be in Houston hanging out,” Cora said. “They trust what I’m preaching.”