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Boston Red Sox 2015 season preview and predictions

By Robby Sabo

Aug 22, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) tosses the ball to shortstop Xander Bogaerts (not pictured) during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) tosses the ball to shortstop Xander Bogaerts (not pictured) during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 25, 2014; Boston, Ma, USA; A man in a panda costume greets Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval after the introductory press conference at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2014; Boston, Ma, USA; A man in a panda costume greets Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval after the introductory press conference at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Additions

  • 3B Pablo Sandoval (Free Agency)
  • LF/SS Hanley Ramirez (Free Agency)
  • SP Rick Porcello (Trade with Tigers)
  • SP Justin Masterson (Free Agency)

Taking one glance at the key additions for this club will bring much excitement to the diehards of Boston. Furthering the excitement is the fact that certain guys like Cuban stud Rusney Castillo and youngster Mookie Betts will pay dividends and don’t even count as new additions due to the fact they were on the club for a cup of coffee last year.

Pablo Sandoval, or a seemingly much heftier Kung-Fu Panda, will bring another David Ortiz like bat to the lineup – and will scare the living hell out of the rest of the league come postseason time.

Panda is one of the more clutch hitters in the playoffs, and adding that righty bat behind another money in the bank guy in Ortiz is ridiculous.

The Boston front office has always had a pining to get Hanley Ramirez back to Boston where he first started his career (before he was shipped to the Marlins for Josh Beckett). Even with Theo Epstein gone, the suits finally got their wish.

Rick Porcello and another former Red Sox in Justin Masterson could turn turn out to be the most critical of all acquisitions this past offseason.

Key Losses

  • Yoenis Cespedes (Trade with Tigers)

There’s not much to speak of when discussing key losses. Cespedes is no doubt a big bat lost in that lineup. The man who was traded for Cespedes during the deadline last summer is Boston’s real true loss.

Jon Lester’s absence in this rotation could be a killer. The one perceived weak point of this personnel group is the starting staff and Lester is now reunited with Epstein in Chicago.

Next: Players to Watch

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