The Red Sox were busy in the last week of 2023, but there are still significant holes on the roster.
Craig Breslow, the Boston Red Sox’s chief baseball officer, was hard at work in the final days of the 2023 calendar year, arranging multiple high-level trades and seeking to enhance the club ahead of the new season.
Despite Breslow’s efforts, the Red Sox still have glaring deficiencies in their roster and questions about how the front office will operate under the watchful eyes (and limited budget) of ownership.
With Spring Training starting next month, here are five New Year’s Resolutions for the Red Sox to consider.
Be assertive.
No crowd wants their team to capitulate and accept mediocrity (or worse). This is especially true for large-market clubs with a long track record of success.
The Red Sox must be aggressive in order to produce favorable results year after year. This entails taking some risks and, most all, spending money. While no one is urging that the Red Sox make impulsive or ill-advised financial decisions, engaging a bidding battle for another important starter or middle-of-the-order bat would show that this franchise’s ultimate goal is to get back on track and win baseball games.
Adding Lucas Giolito and trading Chris Sale for Vaughn Grissom was a good start, but additional moves are needed. Signing Teoscar Hernández, signing Jordan Montgomery, or dealing for Jesus Luzardo are a few examples of how the Red Sox may demonstrate their aggression and boost their chances of competing in the AL East.
Consolidate the rotation
Last season, the Red Sox were frantically trying to put together a five-man rotation after Spring Training. Tanner Houck and Nick Pivetta, who were both bullpen candidates following poor spring outings, eventually made it into the starting rotation. Because of injuries to Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, and James Paxton, Alex Cora was obliged to include them in the rotation.
Injuries happen, and the Red Sox must be better prepared for one in 2024. This year, if a handful of starters are injured or underperform, the team must have adequate depth in place to avoid relying on miracles from spot starting.
Make a choice between Jarren Duran and Bobby Dalbec.
A Bobby Dalbec move seems long overdue at this time. His name has been floating about in trade rumors for over a year, including last Spring Training when the Red Sox tried him out at several infield spots to increase his trade worth. He’s not a reliable middle infielder, but he’s surrounded by Rafael Devers and Triston Casas in the corners. The Red Sox would probably benefit more from trading him than from retaining him in Triple-A.
