The Red Sox' season is off to such a disastrous start, it's hard to pinpoint the biggest problems with the grossly underachieving World Series champions. At first glance, one might select the starting rotation, which sports the worst ERA in all of baseball. An underperforming MVP at the top of the lineup, Mookie Betts, also shares his portion of the blame for the Sox' 9-15 record. These disappointments are all the more glaring, because nobody expected this high-priced rotation or menacing lineup to scuffle. As a result, the real problem on this team has been able to hide through the first three weeks of the campaign.
At least until Tuesday, when Heath Hembree and Colten Brewer surrendered four runs out of the bullpen in crucial spots. The Red Sox got swept in a lethargic doubleheader against the anonymous Tigers –– some guy named "Brandon Dixon" had the big base-clearing double in Game 2 –– leading them to squander any momentum they had built with their weekend sweep over the division-leading Rays.
Entering the season, the Red Sox' bullpen was the obvious weakness on the most expensive team in baseball. Their playoff success, which was largely dependent on Nathan Eovaldi, David Price and Chris Sale throwing lots of relief innings, seemingly convinced Dave Dombrowski they didn't have to add this offseason. In fact, the Red Sox' pen got even worse, losing Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly to free agency. The latter signed a three-year deal with the Dodgers, whereas the former is inexplicably still available.
Through three weeks, it's clear the Red Sox are at least one man short at the end of the game. While Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes have impressed in their high-leverage roles –– five runs in 20.2 innings –– the rest of the bullpen has operated as a collective turnstile to home plate. They've surrendered 45 earned runs in 68.2 frames.
Though the season is still young, it's apparent the Red Sox are panicking a bit. Last week, they traded Blake Swihart to make room for supposed pitch whisperer Sandy Leon, who's now seen 19 runs score in his 23 innings behind the plate. This week, they called up three of their best prospects –– Michael Chavis, Darwinzon Hernandez (for one game, at least), Travis Lakins –– in an apparent attempt to ignite some sort of spark. But all of these moves are trimming around the edges. While the Red Sox are making panic moves, they might as well make one that will have some legitimate impact.
It is time to sign Kimbrel.
The only thing Kimbrel would cost the Red Sox is money. As ESPN's Jeff Passan outlined in Spring Training, the Red Sox would be forced to pay a substantial tax on Kimbrel, assuming his salary would propel them over the last level of the luxury tax. If Kimbrel wants a prorated rate of $17 million, the Red Sox would actually pay around $27-28 million, factoring in the tax. So for the privilege of signing Kimbrel for five months, the Red Sox would outlay a $10 million premium.
He is worth the money. The Red Sox are in win-now mode, considering how much cash they have tied up for years down the line. They are already on the hook for $175 million next year with just nine players, not including J.D. Martinez, a first baseman, or anybody they would acquire for the beleaguered bullpen. Boston is a much better team with Kimbrel than without him. An extra $10 million or so shouldn't stand in the way of John Henry improving his club. The man has a net worth of $2.7 billion. He can afford the premium.
Nathan Eovaldi's latest elbow issue is a reminder of how tenuous the Red Sox are. Baseball America ranks their minor league system last in the league, and their flexibility to bring aboard long-term reinforcements is limited.
Kimbrel represents the perfect short-term boost. He's much more expensive than Leon, but also much more effective. The Red Sox might as well field their best team while they're going all-in.
