Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox rebounded from a tough 2015 campaign to win the American League East in 2016. Will they be able to keep up their potent offense without David Ortiz?
After fielding the best offense in baseball last season while David Ortiz enjoyed one of the most productive final seasons in MLB history, the Boston Red Sox could enjoy another solid season. With Big Papi gone, however, the Red Sox core of young players will need to take another step forward if they hope to support what could be a dominant starting rotation.
Questions lingered during the first half of last season as to whether or not Mookie Betts could one day be a star, but he silenced all doubters with an MVP caliber season. He, along with Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi, has the capability to carry the Red Sox for much of the upcoming season.
But with veterans Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland in the mix, they won't have to. A potential bounce-back season from Pablo Sandoval could push the offense into a similar realm as the Ortiz-era teams, though nothing is guaranteed with the Panda.
With the emergence of AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello last season, Boston was able to handle a less than spectacular season from David Price. The offseason addition of Chris Sale solidifies Boston's rotation as one of the best in the league, and Sale should be able to make up for any amount of time that Price misses to start the season.
The back-end of the rotation has plenty of firepower, too. Knuckleballer Steven Wright enjoyed an All-Star first half before succumbing to injury in the second half of the season, but has looked solid in spring training thus far. All-Star lefty Drew Pomeranz has had durability issues during his time with Boston, and Eduardo Rodriguez is essentially guaranteed a spot in the rotation to start the season with Price out.
While Craig Kimbrel wasn't as dominant as usual last season, he racked up strikeouts and looks poised for some improvements in his second season in the AL East. The addition of right-hander Tyler Thornburg gives the Sox a reliable set-up option, while Matt Barnes and Joe Kelly could be key mid-inning relievers.
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Key Acquisitions
Once Dave Dombrowski took over Boston's front office, it was all but expected that he would eventually make a trade of the magnitude of the Sale deal. While he gave up Yoan Moncada, Dombrowski's move signals that the Red Sox won't be complacent after an early playoff loss.
Aside from Sale, Dombrowski made a few minor moves to shore up the team's roster.
LHP Chris Sale
If Sale's most recent start, in which he struck out 10 batters over six innings, is any indication as to what he'll do during the regular season – Boston has a clear ace locked up for the next few years. Last season, Sale posted a 3.34 ERA with a 3.46 FIP and 9.25 K/9 to 1.79 BB/9.
While a higher home run rate last season could be cause for concern in the hitter-friendly Fenway Park, Sale could adjust his approach and generate more ground balls as he did early in his career. On the win-now Red Sox, Sale has a clear purpose unlike his time with the Chicago White Sox.
1B/DH Mitch Moreland
It's more than likely that at some point during the season, Moreland will find himself receiving unjust criticism for a failure to produce as a power-hitting corner infielder. That's not to say Moreland will have a bad season, but Boston has enjoyed unparalleled success from the designated hitter position for years, so it's unfair to Moreland to expect a sudden career transformation.
Moreland will likely rotate with Hanley Ramirez between first base and DH, but Ramirez's defense will likely lead to Moreland seeing the bulk of the action on the field. It's reasonable to expect Moreland to perform better than Travis Shaw did toward the latter half of last season, but more than 25 home runs and higher than a .300 OBP would be pushing expectations. Plus, Sam Travis looks ready to take over first base at some point late in the season.
RHP Tyler Thornburg
In 67 innings with the Milwaukee Brewers last season, Tyler Thornburg posted a 2.15 ERA with a 12.09 K/9 and 3.36 BB/9. With his skill set, Thornburg is a near perfect set-up man for Kimbrel, who boasts a similarly effective arsenal to generate strikeouts. Whereas Carson Smith was supposed to fill that role last season, Thornburg should be able to get off to a quick start and fit alongside Smith once he returns.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Key Losses
The loss of Ortiz and Yoan Moncada are the most significant roster changes for the Red Sox, while the absence of Travis Shaw, Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa shouldn't be much of an issue with the additions made.
DH David Ortiz
Not much else can be said about Ortiz's career, but Boston can only hope that his work ethic and the culture he established carry on to the youngsters now leading the roster. Ortiz led Boston in homers (38), doubles (48), RBI (127) and OBP (.401) last season, so the middle of the order will likely take a hit in terms of run production. Boston may not finish first in the league in runs scored this season, but more run production from Betts and Bogaerts is a very likely scenario.
2B Yoan Moncada
Losing Moncada won't hurt the Sox in the short term, and very well might not be a big deal in the long term. But if Sandoval can't find his way at third base this season and Moncada makes his way to the White Sox roster early on, there will be some wishing Moncada was playing in Fenway. But then, Chris Sale will toss a gem – and those wanting Moncada will quiet down.
1B/3B Travis Shaw
For a time last season, Shaw looked to be the answer at first base. But a second half slump led to a significant dip in playing time, and Shaw was soon traded to Milwaukee. Shaw would have been a nice bench piece this season, but Boston has plenty of other options available.
RHP Koji Uehara/RHP Junichi Tazawa
Both were beloved at various times in their careers with Boston, but the Kimbrel era meant it was time to move on.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Projections
The Red Sox look poised to pick up where they left off in 2016, and could find themselves with a better record by season's end if the pitching staff can stay healthy.
All projections below are for Opening Day, with current injuries taken into account.
Rotation:
Bullpen:
Right-handers: Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly, Heath Hembree, Tyler Thornburg, Craig Kimbrel
Left-handers: Fernando Abad, Robbie Ross Jr.
More from Call to the Pen
Lineup:
2B Dustin Pedroia
LF Andrew Benintendi
RF Mookie Betts
DH Hanley Ramirez
SS Xander Bogaerts
CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
3B Pablo Sandoval
1B Mitch Moreland
Bench:
OF Chris Young, INF/OF Brock Holt, C Christian Vazquez, INF Josh Rutledge
Injured: LHP David Price
2017 Record: 92-70
Division Rank: First
If manager John Farrell can properly utilize every piece of the roster, the Red Sox have the talent to make a deep playoff run in 2017. If he doesn't, however, there's a chance the team will go in another direction at manager in the offseason. All signs point to another successful season for Boston, but it'll take strong efforts from their young players to set a new standard of consistency for the franchise.
