The Boston Red Sox have several things to do in the offseason before thinking about getting out of last place in the AL East.
With a 78-84 record, Boston was bested by all teams in their division, and they could lose, among others, their best player: Xander Bogaerts.
The organization is already in contact with Scott Boras, his agent, to try and bring him back.
That doesn’t mean he will solve all the issues on the squad, though.
Contenders need a solid bullpen to even think about making it to the playoffs, and the Red Sox’s was just not good this past season.
The unit finished with a collective 4.59 ERA, the fifth-worst in the majors.
Evidently, the group needs a lot of work to be a finished product.
Boston Has Its Eye On Lugo
Boston is reportedly interested in a top reliever from the free agent market.
“Red Sox are being ‘linked’ to reliever Seth Lugo, per @ChrisCotillo. He’s coming off another solid season in 2022, with a 3.60 ERA/3.76 FIP across 65 IP. 9.6 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9. In 14 of his outings this year, Lugo recorded more than 3 outs. Versatile arm,” podcaster Tyler Milliken tweeted.
Red Sox are being “linked” to reliever Seth Lugo, per @ChrisCotillo.
He’s coming off another solid season in 2022, with a 3.60 ERA/3.76 FIP across 65 IP. 9.6 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
In 14 of his outings this year, Lugo recorded more than 3 outs. Versatile arm.pic.twitter.com/SeR5ChyE5C
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) November 10, 2022
Lugo will be 33 soon, but has compiled an above-average 3.48 ERA in a brilliant MLB career to this point.
He has been one of the most reliable arms in the New York Mets’ bullpen in recent years, but he might not be a priority signing for them because they have to retain Jacob deGrom and put some focus on a rotation that is also losing Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker.
His best years are probably behind him, but that doesn’t mean he can’t contribute some solid innings of an ERA below 3.80 for a couple of extra years.
NEXT: Red Sox Reveal 2 Notable Roster Moves
Paul Paquin says
spending will continue to be an issue with these red sox !i see more breathing room after 2023! losing both Bogaerts &Devers is a very high possibility! Henry will have Bloom trade for younger assets (farm hands)! carbon copy of Betts deal! Henry is focused on building up his New England sports brand! buying other sports teams! after 2023 they will have @ 150 million to play with if Henry doesn’t spend it all on other teams like a NFL team, or NBA team! lousy drafts and free agent’s signings! Going cheap has hurt! I see another last place team in 2023! signing injured players, and older ones with regressive skills are not building championships! Poor evaluations and a direct hit on integrity of coaches!
Paul Paquin says
2023 will be same as 2022! contracts for both Bogaerts & Devers will not happen, similar to Betts offer being too low and trading them for farm hands like in the case of Betts! poor draft choices and poor trades create an evaluation based on poor results! You only trade players to improve not just to trade them! So far Betts has outshined all those traded to sox for him! Sox management took a massive bloodbath on that trade because the management team in Boston has no idea about players skills! Until they hire baseball skill level administrators they will sink not swim! all the pass championships are the work of Dombrowski period end of story! Yes, it cost money, but get real nothing is free! George Steinbrenner once said I’d go get what I needed to win for MY FANS!!!!! John Henry your no George Steinbrenner!