A New Age For The Red Sox (And Me Too)
Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images
It was a late Sunday night in Georgetown. I was at Rhino bar, the local Red Sox bar, with my friend LJ and we were watching Game 4 of the 2007 World Series: Red Sox vs. Rockies.
I remember cheering with the crowd when Papelbon got the last out, and like Papelbon, my friend LJ climbed on top of some bar tables to do a little jig. I was 23 and life was good, it was my first full year in Washington DC, I was a few months into a new job, and I was excited to start real life in a big city.
Today I turn 26. I’m rounding the corner on my Quarter Life Crisis and as I look back to that wonderful night it seems all but distant. Like the years prior to 2004, I saw the Sox stumble into the playoffs and lose in heartbreaking fashion; whether it was the one game short against the Devil Rays or the complete sweep to the Angels this year. The question comes to mind: after two World Series wins in three years, have the Sox peaked?
To me the answer is yes.
Looking at the 25 players that won a World Series in 2007, 12 remain and could shrink to 11 if Mike Lowell is dealt this off-season. Now that’s not a sign of a complete turnover but a Red Sox team without Manny, and shells of players in the form of David Ortiz and Mike Lowell just couldn’t cut it this year.
There is new talent on the rise with Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Daniel Bard and Jacoby Ellsbury- but that means additional pieces are needed to form a new core, a new core to take us into the Postseason and perhaps another championship.
It is a tough word to say but I think it’s clear that 2010 could be a rebuilding year for the Red Sox.
To rebuild we need to focus on the long term building blocks, find veterans to fill holes til better talent can be acquired, and figure out how to find that aforementioned talent- either through the farm system or through trade/free agency.
With the Red Sox due to debut two more acquisitions from this off-season I want to take a look at how the team stands and who is realistically here for the long haul.
Projected Rotation
1. John Lackey: With his 5-year $82.5 deal Lackey is going to be headlining our rotation well into the new decade, which is good because…
2. Josh Beckett: Beckett is entering the last year of his contract- however there is a $12 million club option for 2010 but the Sox now have flexibility to let Beckett go and still have someone at the top of the rotation.
3. Jon Lester: Can be retained by the Sox all the up to 2014, plenty of time for Lester to develop into the Ace we think he’ll be.
4. Daisuke Matsuzaka: He’s caused a lot of headaches lately and unfortunately he’s not going anywhere soon. Signed til 2012 we can only hope he really is in as good as shape as he says he is.
5. Tim Wakefield: Thanks to his knuckleball, Wake could realistically pitch into his late-40s. Previous to this off season, the Sox have been enjoying a recurring club option on Wakefield which they gladly re-upped for the past few years. The new 2-year deal tells me that even though he had a great season, the Sox are looking to keep him for less or his days maybe numbered come 2011.
6. Clay Buchholz: It’s popular opinion that the Red Sox will try and move this young commodity while it’s hot. He’s not tied down to the team long term and could be a major piece in a deal to land a big bat. Of course we thought he’d be gone by July last year too.
7. Boof Bonser: Given Wakefield’s risk for injury down the stretch and Daisuke’s risk for injury/poor performance all season, Bonser is more likely our long relief/spot starter for the season.
8. Junichi Tazawa: Another spot starter, he’s signed through 2011 and has a really interesting perk: he gets 2 round-trip tickets from Japan to the US.
Projected Lineup
C – Victor Martinez: The Red Sox exercised their club option on Martinez which will keep him on the team for 2010, there has been some rumblings for a long-term deal, and given the state of the position we could use some some long-term talent there.
1B – Kevin Youkilis: Signed through 2012 with a 2013 option, Youk gives the Sox a viable option for either first or third base.
2B – Dustin Pedroia: His six year deal signed in 2009 makes him 1/2 of the middle infield foundation for many years to come.
3B – Mike Lowell: Until we see if a deal gets pulled off we have control of Lowell until 2010. If he does get traded the popular name out there to fill in would be Adrian Beltre, who would definitely be a power bat in the line-up and at age 30 wouldn’t be too bad for a couple of years. Still someone to man the hot corner is one of the holes for the Red Sox right now.
SS – Marco Scutaro: He’s not the SS of the future and the team has to realize he’s coming off a career year. The two year deal says to me that Jed Lowrie has two years to become the starting option or else the revolving doors continues.
Cameron
LF – Mike Cameron/?: Hope that the Red Sox can re-sign Jason Bay are growing slimmer and slimmer. Mike Cameron’s two year deal maybe a sign that he’s going to be the stop-gap until we find somebody else.
CF – Jacoby Ellsbury: This is a young talent that Boston has under contractual control until about 2012ish I think, I’m sure he’ll be signed for longer than that down the road.
RF – J.D. Drew: Signed til 2011, it looks like we’ll be looking for quite a few outfielders in the coming years.
DH – David Ortiz: We are seeing Big Papi in his twilight years, regardless of his second half comeback. His contract runs out in 2010 and I have a feeling we will not be exercising the 2011 club option on him unless he turns things around.
Bench Players
C – Jason Varitek: The captain’s days as a starter maybe done. By exercising his player option after the club declined theirs might mean that his days in Boston are also numbered.
1B – Casey Kotchman: The Red Sox plan to bring him back for 2009 which gives them another option if Youkilis needs to move to 3rd base.
SS - Jed Lowrie: Lowrie still has a lot to prove as a shortstop, and we’ll see if after Scutaro is gone, if Lowrie can take his place.
OF – Jeremy Hermida: Hermida looks to be our 4th/5th outfielder pending any other deals made. His one year deal means he’s our next Rocco Baldelli.
OF – Josh Reddick: He looked great in his debut weekend against Baltimore (I was there), still remains a long-term outfielder prospect.
IF – Tug Hulett: He’s nothing but an interesting name, acquired from Kansas City, I see him spending time in the minors but could be called up to fill in around the infield if needed.
Bullpen
RS Bullpen Band: If you've never seen them do this live, you are missing out.
RS Bullpen Band: If you've never seen them do this live, you are missing out.
CL – Jonathan Papelbon: The Sox have him under control for a couple more years, but with Bard waiting in the wings who knows if he’ll still be here after that.
Hideki Okajima: Has been a great arm in setting up Pabelbon but his deal is set to run out and isn’t really a long-term closer candidate.
Daniel Bard: If he can take the next step in becoming a dominant closer, it may make a Papelbon exit easier to stomach.
Manny Delcarmen: Becomes arbitration eligible in 2010, so this season will be an indicator if the Sox want to commit to him long-term.
Ramon Ramirez: Which one? Doesn’t matter both will become Arbitration eligible somewhere between 2010-2011. We’ll see which one stays with the team then.
Scott Atchison: Signed through 2010 with 2 club options, could be a bridge reliever if he works out.
Related Posts
2 Responses to “A New Age For The Red Sox (And Me Too)”
Leave a Reply
First – Happy Birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day! And onto the Red Sox. I have a “few” years on you and I’ve seen a lot of Red Sox teams come and go. I’m not so convinced that we need to have this HUGE rebuilding or “bridge” year. Yes, we were swept by the Angels but I think there was more to it then just a lack of talent. The team did not play with the intensity that was necessary to win. Something was lacking from the team last season – but it seemed to more drive and desire lacking then talent. I’m hoping that the additions that Theo is making to the team will be a good thing – I guess we will know in a few months.
[...] 4 Sport Boston: A New Age For The Red Sox (And Me Too) [...]