Post by Boston Red Sox on Oct 20, 2020 8:56:37 GMT -5
-- Boston, Massachusetts
Red Sox fans have been clamoring during this prolonged offseason, as the team has made some major moves and is seeing some of it's top prospects emerge this year, igniting a fire in the fanbase. Let's take a look at the new faces the 79-83 team added to make itself a true challenger instead of the pretender of last year.
The Red Sox started by re-acquiring past #1 overall pick Roger Clemens, five years after trading him to the Baltimore Orioles for pieces that have all been moved since in the recycling long term effort to build a complete team. Since leaving Boston, Roger Clemens has racked up 70 wins in the last 4 years, while never having an ERA above 2.44! This move signals the return of a true ace in a competing Boston team, a staple the team has always prided itself on being able to provide for the fans.
Not even close to finished, the team moved extra contracts during the Roger Clemens trade, and further lowered the payroll by shipping RF Jessie Barfield to Baltimore in a supplemental deal to provide salary relief. This spot opening up allows the Sox to promote #1 overall pick Manny Ramirez, the most highly touted minor leaguer in the Boston system, or you would be saying that with any other team. The Red Sox also called up SP Pedro Martinez, adding a future definite ace to the back end of a rotation that already boasts Clemens, and breakout second year pitcher Curt Schilling. The Sox rounded out the rotation by trading for SP Sid Fernandez from Los Angeles, and re-signing SP Ralph Citarella in free agency. The latter move was a surprise as the team had offered Citarella a larger contract while he was still with the team, and he chose to seek free agency. It appeared Citarella overvalued his worth, and this move cost him 5 million over the next two seasons, although he did get a 3rd year at the lower rate.
Star closer Mike Henneman was the other big addition from free agency, as the team needed to shore up it's pen something fierce, showing a glaring hole in last years team when the bullpen cost the team a terrible amount of wins. MR Rick Steirer and MR Mark Grant came in smaller trades from Milwaukee and the newly anointed Florida respectively, rounding out a bullpen that still includes young upstart Matt Turner and reliable veteran Joe Beckwith, and moving from the rotation to set-up is Bret Saberhagen, who struggled in the first half of last year, but showed some promise in the second half. Saberhagen is excited at the prospect of showing his versatility and knows that if he succeeds a spot in the rotation awaits him on any injury.
I predict this Red Sox team will win the wildcard spot with a 102 - 60 record!
Red Sox fans have been clamoring during this prolonged offseason, as the team has made some major moves and is seeing some of it's top prospects emerge this year, igniting a fire in the fanbase. Let's take a look at the new faces the 79-83 team added to make itself a true challenger instead of the pretender of last year.
The Red Sox started by re-acquiring past #1 overall pick Roger Clemens, five years after trading him to the Baltimore Orioles for pieces that have all been moved since in the recycling long term effort to build a complete team. Since leaving Boston, Roger Clemens has racked up 70 wins in the last 4 years, while never having an ERA above 2.44! This move signals the return of a true ace in a competing Boston team, a staple the team has always prided itself on being able to provide for the fans.
Not even close to finished, the team moved extra contracts during the Roger Clemens trade, and further lowered the payroll by shipping RF Jessie Barfield to Baltimore in a supplemental deal to provide salary relief. This spot opening up allows the Sox to promote #1 overall pick Manny Ramirez, the most highly touted minor leaguer in the Boston system, or you would be saying that with any other team. The Red Sox also called up SP Pedro Martinez, adding a future definite ace to the back end of a rotation that already boasts Clemens, and breakout second year pitcher Curt Schilling. The Sox rounded out the rotation by trading for SP Sid Fernandez from Los Angeles, and re-signing SP Ralph Citarella in free agency. The latter move was a surprise as the team had offered Citarella a larger contract while he was still with the team, and he chose to seek free agency. It appeared Citarella overvalued his worth, and this move cost him 5 million over the next two seasons, although he did get a 3rd year at the lower rate.
Star closer Mike Henneman was the other big addition from free agency, as the team needed to shore up it's pen something fierce, showing a glaring hole in last years team when the bullpen cost the team a terrible amount of wins. MR Rick Steirer and MR Mark Grant came in smaller trades from Milwaukee and the newly anointed Florida respectively, rounding out a bullpen that still includes young upstart Matt Turner and reliable veteran Joe Beckwith, and moving from the rotation to set-up is Bret Saberhagen, who struggled in the first half of last year, but showed some promise in the second half. Saberhagen is excited at the prospect of showing his versatility and knows that if he succeeds a spot in the rotation awaits him on any injury.
I predict this Red Sox team will win the wildcard spot with a 102 - 60 record!
