How “bridge year” got to be a dirty term is a lesson in the power of cerebral sloth, but as soon as Theo Epstein said it in 2009, “bridge year” became code for “we’re not trying this season.”
That’s a deliberate misinterpretation of a plausible idea. Teams that consistently “go for it” in the winter months eventually resemble the Padres or Mets, who have already begun cutting down their excessive payrolls following their elimination from the postseason. Sometimes making a small step back is necessary to make a huge move ahead.
That link is provided by the bridge. The Red Sox have never hidden their plan to wait for the arrival of exceptional minor leaguers Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel to assemble what they believe will be the core of the club that will be the franchise’s next big success. (A few of us have doubts.) They have seats to fill in the meanwhile, though, and they haven’t done much to wow their supporters this winter.
Their salary would not even approach $200 million if the season began today, and it would be far less than the $237 million initial luxury tax level. Assuming a reasonable estimate, they could spend an additional $35 million without incurring any fines. That should be plenty to construct a respectable bridge with rebar and everything, offering some defense against indifference.
Among all the frustrations of Craig Breslow’s first summer, the roster’s lack of any simple, temporary solutions may rank highest. It’s unpleasant if ownership doesn’t want to invest a lot of money in free agency, but there are solutions.
2013 is a prime example, as Ben Cherington brought in veterans like as Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, and Jonny Gomes to wait for the arrival of Mookie Betts and company from the minor levels. A World Series championship from the Red Sox was his prize. That’s an extreme scenario, but Chaim Bloom made an ALCS club even in 2021 with Kiké Hernández, Hunter Renfroe, Garrett Whitlock, a Rule 5 choice, and Kyle Schwarber, a trade deadline addition.
All of the above, with the exception of Whitlock, offered us some temporary relief, but it appears that the Red Sox no longer see the benefit in that.
This winter, there was a chance to do something similar, but the Red Sox declined. Before Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s market crashed and he signed a $325 million deal to come to Los Angeles, the club thought it could compete with the right-hander from Japan.
Even so, there were still plenty of excellent players available at fair salaries. However, the Red Sox have largely stayed inactive, with the exception of signing right-handed reclamation project Lucas Giolito to a two-year contract and acquiring second base prospect Vaughn Grissom from the Braves in exchange for left-hander Chris Sale.
What if, just rationally, their winter had consisted of any or all of the following?
Sign veteran Justin Turner again to play DH and cover Triston Casas and Rafael Devers at the corners. After hitting 96 runs in his career with the Red Sox, Turner just signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Blue Jays. He’s still valuable in the near term, even at 39.
In the event that Turner is unable to play, sign Mariners catcher Mitch Garver to a two-year, $24 million contract. Right-handed power is needed in the lineup, and last year’s catching duo of Reese McGuire and Connor Wong was hideously bad. Even if he only receives 350 at-bats, Garver, who is now largely a DH and prone to injuries, would balance the lineup with his enormous power.
Overbid the Cubs for Shōta Imanaga, a left-hander. The other available Japanese pitcher inked a convoluted contract for up to $80 million over five years, with a guaranteed $53 million over the first four years. Imanaga may be the Mets’ equivalent of Kodai Senga in the winter, given his cheap status. Perhaps the most aggravating thing of all for the Red Sox is that someone who signed a fair contract was passed over for a serious bid.
Put Jorge Soler on the sign. As seen by his 36 home runs in Miami last year, where he earned $15 million, the 2019 American League home run champion can still leave the yard. Soler is still a free agent and may be acquired for a low price. Even if he is a below-average defender, his right-handed power alone makes him a better match than Masataka Yoshida, the starting left fielder.
There are a million more combinations that might result in a bridge. Teoscar Hernández, a slugging outfielder who can destroy Fenway Park, inked a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers. The Yankees acquired All-Star right-hander Marcus Stroman for about the same sum of money that the Red Sox paid Giolito. Reliable right-hander Kenta Maeda committed to the Tigers for $24 million over two years.
To support a faltering rotation or balance a lineup that leans primarily left-handed, the Red Sox might have taken advantage of any of them. Rather, they essentially took no action, which is why the bridge is still blocked.
