The Boston Red Sox’s offseason has been a significant letdown so far, particularly because of the misconception that ownership would be revitalized following consecutive last-place finishes in the American League East.
However, in reality, the ownership group seems less invested in the current team and continues to reduce payroll. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow himself acknowledged the shortcomings of the team’s offseason efforts. Despite reportedly having strong interest in certain players, the Red Sox have displayed minimal aggressiveness in pursuing them.
This trend persisted into spring training, as the Red Sox allowed a valuable right-handed slugger, Jorge Soler, to sign with the San Francisco Giants without much resistance. According to reports, the Red Sox were not seriously pursuing Soler towards the end of his free agency.
Breslow has emphasized the team’s need for a right-handed hitter throughout the offseason, ideally someone with positional versatility. While Soler was considered the best available right-handed bat, his profile as a designated hitter rather than an outfielder limited his fit with the Red Sox.
Soler became a more logical option for the Red Sox after they passed on outfielders like Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernández earlier in free agency.
Soler became a more logical option for the Red Sox after they passed on outfielders like Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernández earlier in free agency
Currently, it seems that the plan to replace Justin Turner’s production relies on internal options evolving, such as Masataka Yoshida taking on primary designated hitter duties or Wilyer Abreu having a breakout season.
This approach aligns with the team’s overall strategy this offseason: maintaining the status quo and hoping for improvements. While there are promising young players who could have breakout seasons in 2024, the reluctance to bolster the roster with external help remains puzzling.
