Sox Running Out of Time: Boston’s Uncertain Future
Heading into the post-All-Star break stretch, the Boston Red Sox have been aggravatingly inconsistent at a time when the fate of the season was to be decided and have yet to find a consistent identity. From emotional, hard-fought wins against the New York Yankees to contests where the offense decides to take a day off, Boston somehow still finds itself in the mix of a playoff berth in the middle of July. Injuries plagued the pitching staff, forcing Alex Cora to call up Brayan Bello after just under 52 innings in Worcester this season. Jake Diekman continues to crumble underneath the pressure, emphasizing Boston's need for more quality arms in the bullpen.
The Red Sox have not won a single series against an AL East opponent and currently sit two whole games back of the Blue Jays for the last Wild Card spot after dropping two out of three to the Yankees in the Bronx. Whether it is unfortunate luck, a lack of a first baseman, or health, Boston limped into the All-Star break with little to no momentum following a month of June that looked to have turned a failed season on its head. From Enrique Hernandez's injury update to Chris Sale being forced to get pulled due to a hand injury, nothing is going the Red Sox way right now, and if Chaim Bloom cannot find a way to patch up the ship, Boston could be bound for the bottom of the ocean faster than most would expect.
C/O: Getty Images
According to MLB.com, Cora expressed his thoughts on his team heading into the All-Star break, stating, "Like I have been saying all along, the three guys have been amazing throughout the first part of the season...We need more. We need other guys to step up, get good at-bats, finish at-bats, and all that stuff. We haven't done that so far this season...We've been very inconsistent offensively during the first part of the season...We hit our stride (sometimes), and then lately, injuries or not, we should be better than that...We need help from the people here. It really doesn't matter...We can talk about outside or whatever. The guys that are here … they have to be better."
The icing on the cake is the two cornerstone pieces of the entire franchise are due to go on the market when the season comes to a close. Boston has not extended Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts, and with the dismal one-year extension offered to Bogaerts during spring training, it is looking more likely that the homegrown shortstop will find a place that values him more than the Red Sox do. Since buying one of the most storied franchises in all of baseball back in 2002, the Fenway Sports Group has always had a passion for baseball and spending the money to maintain the contending status of the Red Sox. However, this season has been a whole lot different.
Fenway Sports Group acquired the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 29, 2021, and Liverpool spent $82.50 million on Benfica striker Darwin Núñez to push the Reds over the top in an attempt to pass Manchester City. It seems from the outside that while ownership is willing to spend money, they are not willing to go all in despite the fact that it is already over the luxury tax. Liverpool made the Champions League final this past season. And with investment going into that club, the Red Sox are on the brink of losing not only their leader and best player, but an All-Star designated hitter and their No. 1 pitcher in the rotation if the franchise does not get serious about where this team's trajectory is. There is no reason Bloom should be running the team like it is a small market team. The Red Sox have the ability to sign both Devers and Bogaerts, but the longer they wait, the smaller and smaller the percentage of return begins to get.
It is not only the rest of the season that is a massive question mark; it is the seasons preceding this one that could see Boston living a life without two of its biggest stars on the right side of the infield.
The lack of willingness to go out and get more arms to help a pitching staff that started the season without Sale is coming back to hurt Boston. Diekman is not a viable arm at all, and with the release of Hansel Robles, the Red Sox are in a tough spot where they trust at minimum two or three guys out of the bullpen. From putting their faith in Matt Barnes to be the franchise's closer after a stellar first half to bringing back Jackie Bradley Jr, this team has put in a situation where they are playing individuals in spots not suited to their strengths.
Kyle Schwarber has crushed 29 home runs so far this season, which is second in the entire MLB, and just three fewer than Devers and Martinez combined. Boston thought it would be able to stay afloat with Bobby Dalbec and Franchy Cordero playing first base this season, but in the offseason, the Red Sox let one of the best hitters in all of baseball walk, knowing he could have filled the role that has hurt them the most all season. Despite Schwarder not being the best on the defensive side of things, his offensive production makes up for all of it, and that cannot be said for Dalbec and Cordero, who both strike out over 35 percent of the time at the plate. Triston Casas' ankle injury in May could have put the wrench in Bloom's plans, but not having a proven first baseman that can make even the simplest of plays in the field begs the question of the direction and aspirations of the front office heading into this season.
Signing Trevor Story to a six-year, $140 million contract, including $140 million guaranteed and an annual average salary of $23,333,333 towards the end of the offseason, almost seemed like a desperation move. The outfield was still a question mark (and still is) with Jaren Duran's inability to play centerfield, and Boston thought it could make up for all its mistakes by signing a quality infielder to play next to Bogaerts this season. Instead, Schwarber got $20 million per year from the Phillies, and, despite Boston going just $13 million into the luxury tax, it opted to be on the safe side and only signed Story, putting Christian Arroyo in an impossible situation in 2022.
C/O: Getty Images
If the Red Sox are going to go all-in and create a championship contender, spend into the luxury tax like the Dodgers and Yankees have done. Boston believed that patching up a team filled with many flawed players in new positions would work, but in reality, it hasn't in the slightest. Watching the Celtics on the other side of town putting all their chips on the table on a team they believed in should have been what happened with the Red Sox after an ALCS appearance.
Instead, Boston is in the middle of trying to figure out the future of its franchise by not re-signing the players that continue to be recognized by the league for their greatness. Some say the Red Sox can only sign one of the two on the right side of the infield, but in reality, Boston is a massive market with an ownership group with plenty of money. Getting both back on the team is possible, but with the theme of the last offseason, the Red Sox will most likely look to re-sign just one of the two.
One week of quality baseball could change the complexion of the Red Sox this season, but with more and more injuries and problems getting exposed, it is looking like Boston is doomed to miss out on the postseason. Without a first baseman, a right fielder, and several reliable arms out of the bullpen, winning baseball games becomes an incredibly difficult task. So while the Celtics have an offseason to remember, the Red Sox are beginning to regret not investing in a team that deserves a chance to win.
The break was a chance for Boston to regroup and think about the adjustments that need to be made for the second half, but with the next 13 games against teams above .500, Boston will have its work cut out for them. After a sweep to the Rays and a series loss in the Bronx, hope for Boston is dwindling. Given all the uncertainty, not only for this season but for the seasons to come.
