The Red Sox hired Chaim Bloom as their chief baseball officer to get the organization back on a track of sustainable success. Though the Red Sox won two World Series titles last decade, they were sandwiched between dreadful last-place finishes and piles of unfavorable headlines.
But they might already be deviating from the plan. On Wednesday, Jim Bowden reported Red Sox ownership is “encouraging” Bloom to make a run for Max Scherzer, who could be dealt before Friday’s trade deadline.
“They’re dreaming of Chris Sale and Scherzer joining the starting rotation of the first-place Red Sox,” Bowden writes.
That’s bad news. The team’s constant deviations from a consistent philosophy are what’s triggered many of their recent woeful summers at Fenway Park. It would be disappointing if John Henry and Tom Werner are reverting back to their impatient instincts just 19 months after bringing Bloom aboard.
On a 99-win pace, the Red Sox are in the midst of their most surprising pennant run since the band of bearded brothers won the World Series in 2013. At the time, the Red Sox were starting a supposed overhaul, as Ben Cherington filled out the big league roster with veterans on short-term deals while rebuilding the farm system.
Sound familiar?
The Red Sox made an upgrade at the deadline that season, but it fit with their supposed long-term vision. They acquired Jake Peavy from the White Sox for Jose Iglesias, whom Xander Bogaerts made expendable. Peavy was also signed for one more year, though his 2014 campaign is worth forgetting.
The cost to land Scherzer would definitely be higher. With three Cy Young’s to his name, he’s the premier starter on the market. His 2.83 ERA over 18 starts suggests he can still pitch.
Though Scherzer, 37, is only a rental, the Red Sox would maybe have to part with one of their three top prospects: Triston Casas, Jeter Downs or Jarren Duran.
That’s a sizable price to pay, and represents a significant departure from their stated desire to restore the farm system. For the last two years, the Red Sox have seemingly allowed Boom to build the club in his vision, and they’re already one of the best teams in the league — with a deeper minor league system. In other words, everything is working out.
Yet, Red Sox ownership reportedly wants to hit “accelerate.”
That has seldom worked out well for them. The Carl Crawford signing was the worst in franchise history, rivaled only by Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, both of whom were signed following the 2014 season.
Yes, two years after recommitting themselves to a more disciplined approach, the Red Sox panicked and splurged on two flawed players.
The result was their second straight last-place season.
Going all-in with Dave Dombrowski led to a championship and the most wins in franchise history, so it's hard to argue with that. But it also spurred the atrocious 2019 and 2020 campaigns -- and left us with David Price.
It’s understandable why ownership would be tantalized with Scherzer. He’s a big name, and as Bowden put it, the idea of him joining Sale at the top of the rotation is downright dreamy.
That would certainly put the Red Sox back on the front page. That is, until we find out who’s starting the Patriots’ first preseason game.
The Red Sox need to stop making big splashes for the sake of buzz. As we’ve seen this season, it arrives organically. Fenway has once again become a cool place to be, with the Red Sox enjoying an 18-8 record at home since the park reopened to full capacity.
Their penchant from thrilling come-from-behind victories helps matters as well.
There are real needs for the Red Sox at the deadline. They could use another arm in the bullpen and veteran first baseman to spell struggling youngsters Bobby Dalbec and Michael Chavis. Those upgrades would improve the team for the stretch run, and not cost Casas or Downs.
With Sale on his way back, the Red Sox may not need another arm at the top of the rotation, either. Don’t get me wrong, it would be exciting to see Scherzer here for a World Series run.
But it may not be the best baseball decision. In addition to the player cost, any team that acquires Scherzer would take on about a $12 million hit toward the competitive balance tax threshold.
He’s also currently dealing with biceps discomfort, and has allowed 11 runs over his last two starts.
Now, the Red Sox may not get to make their own decision on Scherzer. The righty owns 10/5 rights and reportedly would prefer to pitch on the West Coast. It doesn’t seem like the Red Sox are on the top of his list.
Scherzer’s apparent apathy towards Boston may save ownership from themselves.