Breaking through the Red Sox’ disappointing free agent class originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Red Sox used to have some of the most coveted free agents in baseball, from Mo Vaughn to Johnny Damon to Jon Lester. Their status made headlines. Their uncertain future kept us awake at night.
But since Xander Bogaerts rejected Boston’s lowball offer and went to the Padres in 2022, the Red Sox have not only not been players for rival free agents, they haven’t lost anyone of significant importance.
This year will be no exception. The Red Sox have eight free agents, and probably only two are worth keeping, but even then only marginally. Let’s go through them.
Goalkeepers(?): Tyler O’Neill, Chris Martin
Even these two cross boundaries. In a world where the Red Sox had a more balanced lineup, O’Neill would likely be a one-and-done. He hit 31 home runs, which was just three short of his career high, but he also missed 49 games in what still amounted to the second-most durable season of his career.
He’ll be 30 in June and probably won’t get any healthier, so normally you’d wish him well. But Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has already been in contact with O’Neill about staying on, as he is virtually the only right-handed power in the organization.
“He’s earned the right to have access to free agency,” Breslow said. “But I think the right-handed power hitter who can blast 30 and change a game with one swing is certainly a pretty desirable asset here.”
As for Martin, he’s nearing the end of the line at age 38, but he remains effective and the Red Sox bullpen is in shambles, with Justin Slaten as the only definitive goalie. Martin is an experienced leader on a young squad, and it is no coincidence that the season fell through after suffering an injury in July.
The Red Sox will have competition for his services as he is a proven eighth-inning player, but he would fill needs on the field and in the clubhouse.
If the price is right: Nick Pivetta
Pivetta is what he is right now: a 31-year-old whose tantalizingly high strikeout numbers are tempered by his propensity for serving up home runs.
Pivetta has vastly improved his command since arriving in Boston in 2020, cutting his running speed nearly in half. All those swipes around the plate increase the likelihood of hangers, though, and Pivetta allowed almost as many home runs (28) as walks (36) this year.
Still, a team will look at the strikeouts (10.6 per nine innings) and believe they can get him to keep the ball in the park. Maybe that team will be the Red Sox, but they should be looking for more significant rotation upgrades this winter.
Goodbye: Kenley Jansen
Whatever slim chance Jansen had of getting back into the swing of things – and let’s face it, he had his eyes on the exit for a while – went out the window when the All-Star closer flew home a few days earlier, until great dismay. from some offended teammates, according to MassLive.
Alex Cora took the blame for this, claiming it was a manager’s decision, but it’s pretty clear that both sides are ready for a break.
But before we dismiss Jansen with a wave, we should acknowledge how effective he was during his two years in Boston. He made an All-Star team and saved 56 games with a 3.44 ERA. He won’t be easily replaced in the back of the bullpen.
Trade deadline disaster: James Paxton, Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims, Danny Jansen
I liked the moves at the time. Even Breslow critics generally admitted that the quartet scored no worse than a C. So much for that.
Paxton lasted two starts and then told WEEI’s Rob Bradford that he plans to retire. Garcia allowed runs in virtually every game he pitched for the Red Sox, while Sims contributed to a pair of killer meltdowns before joining Garcia on the injured list. Jansen stayed healthy, but was acquired to provide right-handed pop, and instead posted a paltry .623 OPS.
The sooner we say goodbye to all four, the sooner we can pretend the deadline was never met.