Overall, the starting rotation profiles as Boston’s biggest potential weak spot and could be the biggest factor in whether they meet expectations. Former top prospect Brayan Bello will look to have a better sophomore season after putting up a 4.71 ERA over 11 starts as a rookie. After making nine starts in 31 appearances last season, Garrett Whitlock will look to become a full-time starter this year. Kluber and Nick Pivetta will provide a veteran presence in the two and three spots, though neither is a sure thing after they combined for a 4.45 ERA in 2022. The bad news is that, behind Sale, there is a fair amount of uncertainty. If Sale can stay healthy for the full season, it should be a major boost to Boston’s rotation. Sale’s journey back from Tommy John has seen him pitch only 48.1 innings over the past three seasons, while also struggling with broken ribs and fingers. The good news: ace Chris Sale should be healthy for Opening Day for the first time since 2019. When it comes to Boston’s starting pitchers, there’s good news and bad news. Veteran starters Nathan Eovaldi and Rich Hill left for Texas and Pittsburgh respectively, while former All-Stars Matt Barnes and Eric Hosmer were both released. Martinez also went West, signing with the Dodgers. Starter Michael Wacha joined Bogaerts in San Diego, while long-time DH J.D. Their final major addition was trading for speedy, but oft-injured, infielder Adalberto Mondesi from the Royals.Īlong with Bogaerts, several key contributors from the ‘22 team decided to depart in free agency. Boston also brings in veterans Kenley Jansen and Richard Bleier in the bullpen, Justin Turner and Adam Duvall to beef up the lineup and Corey Kluber for the rotation. 336 with 21 HRs and 89 for the Orix Buffaloes. Chief among them is Japanese league star outfielder Masataka Yoshida, who comes to the Red Sox after hitting. The major additions to this Boston roster all seem to have a high-risk/high-reward aspect to them. Trevor Story-their marquee signing from the ‘22 offseason-could be out until the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery in January. Bogaerts’ departure means that Boston will have an entirely new double-play combo for much of 2023. After a 10-year stay in Beantown that saw him pick up two World Series rings, Bogaerts signed a $280M/11-year contract in San Diego this offseason. The biggest difference fans will notice in the Boston lineup this season is the lack of longtime shortstop Bogaerts. However, with a lot of off-season roster turnover, there’s a very distinct possibility that Boston’s downturn last season continues into 2023. 2022 also marked the first losing season in Alex Cora’s four years as Boston’s manager. After all, rebounding after disappointing seasons has been Boston’s MO over the last decade. However, after briefly bouncing back with a second-place finish in 2021, Boston once again found itself in last place in 2022-much to the Orioles’ benefit.Īll of this makes their outlook heading into the 2023 season murkier than Sale’s health over the last two seasons. Surely with stars like Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts and Chris Sale, Boston was bound to bounce back to a position of contention. After all, these are the yo-yo Red Sox, a team that recently went from last place to World Series Champion and back to last place in a three-season span. When the Orioles finished above the Red Sox during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, it seemed like an anomaly.
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