This summer, the Boston Red Sox, like most other clubs, lost a few players to free agency and trade.
However, most other clubs attempt to fill the void created by prior players who depart in the winter. What about the 2024 Red Sox? Not very much.
The Red Sox will be missing certain fan favorites, among others, from their Opening Day roster, and they would have been better off with them. Some of the guys Boston released will make the front office regret letting them depart this season. others are nearing contract years, others have moved on to amazing teams, and some are just impact players who leave a huge hole on a squad when they go.
The Red Sox’s current lack of expenditure seems contradictory. Sure, the front office is saving money now by not investing to retain some of its departed players, but failing to attract fresh and relevant talent will make it more difficult to bring additional talent to the Red Sox in the future. And it appears that moment has already come.
Three former Red Sox players who will make Boston regret releasing them in 2024.
It’s been said that the Red Sox were eager to get rid of Alex Verdugo, so much so that they made an unusual deal with the rival New York Yankees in exchange for a package of arms. Verdugo, a superb fielder with a terrific bat when in his stride, has joined a far superior club than the Red Sox’s.
Verdugo is approaching a contract year, which means he will most likely be working harder in all aspects of his game to earn the best possible wage in 2025. And he’s in the same batting order as sluggers Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, which should allow him to do so effectively. He will also be playing in an outfield with far smaller dimensions than Fenway Park. Sure, Yankee Stadium’s left-center field extends over 400 feet, but playing in right at Fenway will prepare any outfielder to defend at a high level.
Verdugo’s offensive productivity deteriorated with each year he was with the Red Sox; the 27-year-old concluded the 2023 season hitting.264/.324/.421. Verdugo was a streaky hitter in 2023, but anything is possible in a contract year. Perhaps some hitting coaching from Soto and Judge will increase Dugie’s productivity.
Swapping Verdugo for Tyler O’Neill may be a fair deal if O’Neill returns to form, but the Red Sox would most certainly miss Verdugo’s offensive productivity in his batting order place.
