KNOCK ON THE BOX
Historic Yankees rival trying to crawl out of AL East cellar, again
FORT MYERS, Fla. — I’m old enough to remember when the Red Sox were the Yankees’ great rival.
In its strangely stark feast-or-famine recent existence, Boston — four times a champion this century — has somehow fallen all the way to AL East afterthought. Of course, they could become a force again, if only the historically decorated (but seemingly distracted or disinterested) ownership group starts trying to win again.
The group, headed by John Henry, bought the Pittsburgh Penguins and Liverpool soccer club and lately is investing billions in golf (but not in baseball), raising speculation the Red Sox are temporarily on the back burner.
One Red Sox person said he believes it, that he’s even noticed that the fortunes of the Red Sox and Liverpool go in opposite directions. (Meantime, a club higher-up insisted the Red Sox remain the cornerstone franchise in the ever-expanding portfolio.)
Regardless, the Red Sox are the ones who are down lately, finishing last two straight years and three out of the past four. Yet, with nearly limitless resources and notoriously loyal fans, the Red Sox made player deals that look only incremental. Here’s a partial rundown of their most significant moves — player and otherwise.
1. They hired former pitcher and another Yale man, Craig Breslow, to replace fired chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom.
2. They expanded the role of team president Sam Kennedy, perhaps as compensation for combat pay since he’s the one usually trotted out to take the abuse of those loyal fans.
3. They brought back Kennedy’s Brookline High teammate Theo Epstein, a three-time World Series champion and two-time breaker of historic curses (including theirs in 2004). Yes, that’s a great move, but probably too late to save the season.
4. They brought in a new pitching system, with well-respected Andrew Bailey the new pitching coach. I won’t say they see him as a savior but close.
5. They traded veteran star Chris Sale for second-base prospect Vaughn Grissom. And as fortune would have it, Sale is looking brilliant for the juggernaut Braves while Grissom is suffering from hamstring and groin pain, and will start on the IL.
6. They traded Alex Verdugo to their alleged rival for three young pitchers. Verdugo butted heads with a couple of folks here, but the impetus was mostly to restock a hitterheavy system with pitching.
7. They traded for former All-Star but out-of-favor Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who is currently nursing his calf (but will be OK soon).
8. And, after finishing second (or possibly lower) for several free agents, including the ultra-coveted Japanese pitching superstar Yoshinobu Yamamato (they bid close to $300M and would have gone higher), they signed right-hander Lucas Giolito to a $38M, two-year deal. That seemed like a safe play since he’s known for posting consistent innings totals (enough to qualify nearly every year).
But unfortunately, Giolito looks now like he may miss more than half his contracted Red Sox tenure, as he was diagnosed with a UCL tear and is seeking a second option before deciding on surgery.
At one time the Red Sox may have responded by signing a big free agent. How about left-hander Jordan Montgomery, the former Yankee, postseason hero and Jon Lester type? One uniformed Red Sox person had a ready response to that suggestion: “How about Montgomery and [free agent Blake] Snell both?”
Red Sox decisionmakers did hold a Zoom call with Montgomery three weeks ago, and they’re said to still be in contact and having conversations. But they seem disinclined to the seven-year deal Montgomery seeks, and some still believe a short-term innings-eater (Michael Lorenzen or Mike Clevinger?) may be more likely.
It isn’t like this team is hopeless. It may just need a boost or two. But is one coming? As much as anyone perceives a third straight last-place finish as a fait accompli, there are still some good/great things.
Triston Casas has star potential. Jarren Duran is a basepath terror.
Young center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela may be the real deal. Righthander Brayan Bello, who signed a $55M, six-year extension Thursday, sometimes looks like a star.
Trevor Story is healthy. Manager Alex Cora says the defense is much better and calls Story, who was a plus-8 defensively in 43 games last year a “game-changer.” (Kiké Hernandez was trying to learn shortstop last year.)
Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen give them a strong bullpen back-end. Rafael Devers is a great player, especially when hitting.
They can hit and run, and they can be “pesky,” says special adviser and all-time great Red Sox Pedro Martinez.
Breslow provided a possible explanation for the longer view, saying they are “trying to get away from the boom-or-bust model.”
Outside this camp, there’s a feeling they may stay in “bust” mode. Devers declared upon arriving in camp that “everyone knows what this team needs,” so now there’s a lot of talk about how much they all believe in each other.
Devers didn’t say exactly what that was they needed, though everyone assumed he meant pitching. From here the issue is at the top. The Red Sox need the ownership group — which has won more World Series titles than anyone this century — to regain its baseball focus.