By Brandon Murdock
It appears that the Red Sox are in limbo at the moment. After a last-place finish in 2023, 78-84, the fanbase has been calling out for improvements.
Despite being a big-market team, ownership has proven not to want to spend money over the last few years, causing much confusion and blame towards those with the GM duties.
Firing Chaim Bloom was supposed to be a step in the right direction, at least in the eyes of the fanbase. Mixed with the hiring of Craig Breslow and the front office assuring the fan base that this off-season would be “full throttle”, Sox nation had a lot to be excited for.
Sitting here on January 5, 2024, the biggest off-season moves have come from the Los Angeles Dodgers, signing both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for over one billion dollars. The Yankees also made a huge splash with the acquisition of Juan Soto.
Meanwhile, the “full throttle” Red Sox have traded for Tyler O’Neil from the St. Louis Cardinals and gave Chris Sale to the Braves for Vaughn Grissom, an exciting young player. They also signed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito. Not ugly but not nearly what the fanbase was expecting.
Fortunately for everyone involved, there is still a lot of off-season left and plenty of names to help fill some of the dire needs of the team.
Grissom helps fill the need at second base, but the Sox are still looking for a legit ace and a RHH power bat.
The ace will most likely come via trade, and the name that many have wanted to keep an eye out for is Jesus Luzardo. Luzardo is a 26-year-old left-hander with the Miami Marlins who fits all the requirements. Young, controllable, and talented.
Getting him will not be easy and would most likely require giving up young outfielder, Jarren Duran, and some prospects headlined by Nick Yorke and a veteran pitcher like Nick Pivetta.
The cost would be steep but it would be huge for the team that has not had an ace since a healthy Chris Sale back in 2018.
Add that with another pitcher signing like Shota Imanaga or Jordan Montgomery and this Red Sox rotation could look lethal. (Luzardo, Montgomery/Imanaga, Bello, Giolito, and Kutter Crawford)
Now, finding that RHH power bat, many people have looked at Teoscar Hernandez as a potential option but I am hesitant about giving him four years with the young outfield talent the Red Sox possess.
A cheaper option and less of a commitment could come in the form of Jorge Soler.
Soler is pure power and would feast at Fenway Park. He would also be relatively cheap as he would be in the ballpark of $10-20 mil AAV. I would also give him a one-year deal with a mutual option for a second year. This way there is cover-up for when Roman Anthony comes up and if Miguel Bleis goes on a surge and forces his way into the conversation.
The Red Sox are a mess at the moment and with Winter Weekend not too far away, there should be a big desire to make some moves. I think this is the best possible outcome for a competitive 2024 season.
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