Preseason 2015 MLB Playoff predictions
AL East: Boston Red Sox (91-71)
2014 finish: 5th in AL East (71-91)
The Boston Red Sox had a tumultuous 2014 season where they struggled to a 71-91, AL East-worst record. The team’s best hitter was second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who batted just .278. Boston was 18th in the MLB in batting last season, when they ranked 1st in batting in 2013 when they won the World Series. While Boston batted 18th in the MLB, their pitching was worse and ranked 23rd in the league and it seemed Boston got rid of their whole staff in the summer. They released Chris Capuano, traded Jake Peavy to the Giants, traded Felix Doubront to the Cubs, traded Jon Lester to the Athletics, traded John Lackey to the Cardinals and traded Andrew Miller to the Orioles.
This left a lot of offseason work for the Red Sox, but they handled it with perfection.
Key additions: RHP Rick Porcello, 3B Pablo Sandoval, RHP Justin Masterson, LHP Wade Miley, LF Hanley Ramirez, RHP Anthony Varvaro.
Key losses: 3B Will Middlebrooks, LF Yoenis Cespedes, C David Ross.
Boston traded away Yoenis Cespedes to the Detroit Tigers, who wasn’t a high performer for the team after they acquired him in the trade that sent upcoming free agent Jon Lester to the Oakland Athletics, for a solid pitcher in 26-year-old Rick Porcello, coming off of the best season of his career with Detroit. Porcello won 15 games with Detroit including three complete game shutouts.
Boston also acquired Wade Miley in a trade. The 27-year-old left-handed starter should fit in well with Boston adding a much-needed lefty to the right-handed rotation. Miley is coming off a rough season in Arizona, but as a rookie in 2012, Miley was an All-Star and placed second in rookie of the year voting after going 16-11 with a 3.33 ERA. Justin Masterson was another notable offseason signing for Boston as well. Masterson is coming off a rough season as he started poorly with Cleveland and was moved to St. Louis where he continued his struggles to a 5.88 ERA total on the year, but the Red Sox will hope to straighten out the 29-year-old righty.
While Boston did rebuild a debilitated rotation that now consists of Clay Buchholz, Porcello, Miley, Joe Kelly and Masterson, they still need a rotation ace. They could still find that this offseason if they choose to make a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies who are shopping left-handed veteran Cole Hamels. The Red Sox are waiting it out, we’ll see if they ever jump on it.
Furthermore, the Red Sox signed two of the top position player free agents this offseason in 3B Pablo Sandoval formerly with the San Francisco Giants and LF Hanley Ramirez formerly with the Dodgers. Sandoval will fill a much needed role for Boston after their third basemen batted .211/.271/.308 in 2014. Sandoval batted .279 last season with 164 hits, 16 homers and 73 RBI’s.
I expect the Kung Fu Panda’s numbers to go up in Boston, especially with the favorable right field fence. Hanley Ramirez will likely be put in the three or four spot for Boston depending on where they want David Ortiz. Ramirez batted a solid .283/.369/.448 last season with 127 hits and 71 RBI’s. He’s a great bat to add to the Red Sox lineup and should find success in Boston.
2015 team batting MVP: 3B Pablo Sandoval
2015 team pitching MVP: SP Rick Porcello
2015 key under the radar player: SS Xander Bogaerts
With the plethora of great offseason moves, the Boston Red Sox will completely flip their season around from the team they had last year. It won’t be as solid as their 2013 World Series winning squad, but they will find a way to win the AL East over the Toronto Blue Jays with the Baltimore Orioles in decline from last season and the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays struggling as well.