These three notable Boston Red Sox players won’t be back next season and this is where they will end up signing.
The Boston Red Sox are going to look a lot different next season. Their failures in 2022 should lead to some major changes.
The opt-out in Xander Bogaerts’ contract is expected to be put to use and the team will be in danger of losing one of its best players. There’s a great chance he does still return as letting him leave would feel like a step in the wrong direction. If they had no intentions of keeping him, they made a massive mistake of not trading him in the summer.
Some other Red Sox free agents won’t be back. It’s these three notable Red Sox players who will find new homes in 2023. Let’s predict where they end up.
1) Red Sox free agent prediction: J.D. Martinez will sign with the Diamondbacks
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez had an okay season for the Red Sox in 2022. Injuries took their toll and we could be seeing the end of his major league career. Martinez could certainly find his power stroke again. The ageless one, Nelson Cruz, set a perfect example of how to hit for power gracefully even into your 40s.
For Martinez, the desire to sign a DH-exclusive player could hurt him a little bit in free agency. Add in the back issues and he’s not going to be the most popular free agent. It’s the Arizona Diamondbacks that could be a sneaky team to sign him. That’s the landing spot to predict for him.
Why the Diamondbacks? They have some talented young pitching and some young hitters beginning to grow into everyday players. They lacked the veteran presence Martinez brings to the lineup. To give Arizona a surer thing from the DH spot, Martinez would be a swell reunion candidate for them.
The universal DH will give Martinez many more potential destinations. It’s the Diamondbacks, looking to take a step forward that will ultimately decide to pay this Red Sox free agent.
2) Red Sox free agent prediction: Nathan Eovaldi will sign with the Phillies
Nathan Eovaldi had a very up and down year for the Red Sox in 2022. Like nearly everyone on the roster, injuries were an issue. He was still good enough and has the track record to suggest he’ll have eyes on him when he does become available.
The Red Sox could explore a reunion. However, it’s more likely they seek someone younger. They already won their championship with Eovaldi. Someone else will want to have a chance to do the same.
It’s the Philadelphia Phillies who will end up with Eovaldi. With several free agent starting pitchers of their own, the club will look to upgrade from Kyle Gibson and add Eovaldi as a No. 3 starter behind Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola.
The clock is ticking on the Phillies and their chance to win with the current core. The 2023 campaign should be more all-in than ever before. They lack a farm system to make decent enough trades to add the pitching they need for a real chance at a championship.
Throughout the 2022 campaign, the Phillies have shown a lot of weaknesses. Whether it’s a lack of clutch hitting, inconsistent pitching, or their defense, it’s a roster lacking one definitive formula for winning. Adding Eovaldi to the rotation for a few years won’t be absolute in helping them. He will, however, give them a playoff experienced starter.
3) Red Sox free agent prediction: Michael Wacha will sign with the Orioles
Michael Wacha has bounced around a bit in recent years. The latest team to believe in him, the Red Sox, got a ton from him in 2022. If not for the dreaded injury bug, he’d be a serious Cy Young candidate.
The Red Sox might want to consider a longer relationship with Wacha. He should also test the market as his value has skyrocketed. There is a team within the American League East that should come calling. It’s the rising Baltimore Orioles.
The Orioles are expected to be an active team this winter. All that was missing from the 2022 roster was a reliable starting rotation. They should be in the market for someone like Wacha as well as an arm with a stronger resume.
Because the Orioles shouldn’t seriously believe they can win a championship in 2023, a youngish free agent like Wacha on a multi-year deal is a good step in the right direction. He’s someone the team can win with more in 2023 and set up for a more serious battle in 2024.
Despite having such an awesome year with the Red Sox in 2022, Wacha will not command a whole lot of money. It’ll be more than many suspected he’d get prior to this most recent season. If the Orioles do sign him even to what looks like a reasonable contract, they might end up with a bargain.