Plan A didn't work. Now, it's time for Plan B. And we're not even talking about fixing the actual act of playing the great game of baseball in an effort to snap this Red Sox five-game losing streak.
This is about what resides around the corner, and how the Sox' current plight should make them prioritize altering their blueprint.
The time is now. Ownership and Chaim Bloom have to present close to their best offers to both Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers.
The previous path was one that led Bloom to appear on the Greg Hill Show and admit that neither party were "aligned" in their estimation of the players' worth. That, of course, was code for the Red Sox not coming anywhere near what Bogaerts and Devers were asking.
Now, you're running out of time to answer a very important question: Is there ANY chance either or the two can be kept around.
Starting with Bogaerts, things haven't played out in the Red Sox' negotiating favor. Not only has the shortstop continued to establish himself as the best offensive player on a team with virtually no offense, he has also entrenched his reputation in baseball as a potential $30-million-a-year player at his position. (He currently ranks second in OPS of all Major League Baseball shortstops.)
Then other part of the equation that has to be factored in is the image portrayed by the player the Red Sox believed they potentially had as leverage in case Bogaerts decided to opt-out after this season - Trevor Story. On top of the infielder's horrific start to his Red Sox career, the juxtaposition against Bogaerts isn't a flattering one.
Bogaerts leaves, the idea of Story simply sliding over to shortstop is currently more uncomfortable than ever.
Now is the time to reverse course and aggressive toward a new deal with Bogaerts. This is a player who desperately wants to stay, and a commitment to him would absolutely be a step in the right direction to relieving what feels like a beaten-down bunch.
And if Bogaerts doesn't like what he hears, or the Red Sox simply don't feel like it's worth the investment it will take to keep the 29-year-old, then you have the clear path to trading him in the next 2 1/2 months. If Sox miss that window, and don't determine if there is a chance to retain Bogaerts for years to come, there is a strong chance the end result is a payoff of a draft pick and some money to spend on more unknown.
The impetus behind making close to your best offer to Devers is slightly different. Think Mookie Betts.
As the 2019 trade deadline approached there was very real conversations regarding the merits of dealing Betts even though he still was under contract through 2020. The Red Sox - who were 1 1/2 games behind the eventual playoff-bound Rays at the deadline - decided to hold on to the outfielder despite sitting worlds apart in regards a possible extension.
By the time the Red Sox got to February the following year, it became clear to Bloom that Betts and the Red Sox weren't going to come to an agreement, resulting in the deal with the Dodgers. If that decision was made in July, the haul back for Betts would have been next-level.
The story is playing out eerily similar when it comes to Devers.
As is the case with Bogaerts, the leverage has swung even more over to the player's side, with Devers offering one the very few legitimate threats in the Red Sox' batting order, but playing top-notch defense at third base along the way.
The other part of this is trying to imagine life without these two. Take out Bogaerts and Devers and the batting average of those players participating for the Red Sox in Sunday's loss are: .176, .194, .294, .222, .217, .212, .139, .202, .133, .213.
You can say it's early, but it's not early enough to prevent from the Red Sox living with a 10-game deficit in the American League East, and 6 1/2-game hole when it comes to the Wild Card.
The Red Sox didn't plan on having to make these big decisions on May 9, but so be it. This is their new world.