The Red Sox have spent money this offseason, signing seven free agents to big-league deals, while trading for two pieces of the major league puzzle. They do have one of the game’s highest payrolls, sitting at about $207 million. Yet there is a perception that this has been a nickel-and-dime approach.
Time will tell.
This is what we know: Chaim Bloom’s strategy leading into 2021 was to not handcuff the organization with deals beyond 2022. It is after that year we will truly see which path the Red Sox are venturing down, with both Xander Bogaerts and Chris Sale carrying opt-outs, and the contracts of Nathan Eovald, Christian Vazquez and J.D. Martinez expiring. (A group Andrew Benintendi would have also been a part of if not traded.)
Each of the acquisitions represent some significant upside, although there isn’t one that doesn’t carry significant risks to go along with the potential reward. So as spring training gets ready to kick off, let’s partake in the exercise of ranking which of the newcomers mean the most to the 2021 Red Sox …
1. Garrett Richards (one-year, $10 million/$10 million team option in 2022)
Richards gets the lead spot because of what he represents: A true difference-maker in the starting rotation. In baseball, there is no more important position. If the righty is able to harness the stuff and success he had before the last few injury-plagued seasons, this is a HUGE win for a rotation that still needs to buy some time before the Bryan Matas of the world are ready.
2. Kiké Hernandez (2 years, $14 million)
It would go a long way if Hernandez became the Red Sox’ first don’t-worry-about-it second baseman for an entire season since Dustin Pedroia. He is also a fail-safe in an outfield situation that carries all kinds of uncertainty at the corners.
3. Martin Perez (1-year, $4.5 million/$6.5 million team option in 2022)
We can’t be a hypocrite and suggest Perez’s lot in life isn’t important after pumping up Richards’ opportunity to make a difference. The lefty showed flashes of consistency in 2020. In order to be a true game-changer, however, more is going to needed to shake almost-not-quite reputation.
4. Hunter Renfroe (1-year, $3.1 million)
Renfroe is going to be getting his big chance to become an everyday player. And considering the side of the plate he hits from — righty — the ability for the 29-year-old to be relied upon on a regular basis will be key. The backup plans are either not ready or needed elsewhere.
5. Franchy Cordero (Eligible for free agency after 2023 season)
The importance of Cordero’s success int 2021 isn’t just because there aren’t a whole lot of outfielders with the physical tools this guy possesses, and if he is able to harness that ability it can be a huge swing for the lineup. It is also because much like the Mookie Betts trade, the perception of Bloom’s ability to evaluate talent will be tied to his return for Andrew Benintendi.
6. Hirokazu Sawamura (2 years, $2.4 million)
The Japanese reliever gets the slight nod over his fellow bullpen newcomer Adam Ottavino because of the two-year commitment. If the Red Sox get the guy who dominated in the second half of last season, Sawamura can help what is currently somewhat of an uncertain late-inning conundrum.
7. Adam Ottavino (1-year, $9 million)
Getting the good Ottavino would be a huge win for Bloom for two reasons: 1. It might help keep the Red Sox in contention; 2. If the Red Sox aren’t in contention he would get back very real value at the trade deadline.
8. Marwin Gonzalez (1-year, $3 million)
If this was the 2017 Gonzalez he would be at the top of the list. But, unfortunately for the Red Sox, this isn’t the 2017 Gonzalez. Perhaps the most important part of the 31-year-old’s existence is the ability to serve as a switch-hitting fail-safe for a first base position that is currently being led by rookie Bobby Dalbec.
9. Matt Andriese (1-year, $1.8 million/$3.5 million club option for 2022)
Perhaps Andriese can evolve into something more than a back-of-the-rotation swingman, which is what he seems to be now. If he doesn’t that is OK, also. That sixth, seventh and even eighth guy who starts for this team will have to be legitimate. Andriese has shown enough to suggest he can fill that role at levels at least similar to that of Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez in the 2018 run.
