The Red Sox have missed out on many vital moves that could have helped the team in 2023 and beyond. The team still has some time to recover before 2023.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has frustrated fans by missing out on re-signing homegrown shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He has also failed to upgrade many key positions, leaving Sox fans wondering what Bloom is trying to accomplish.
Bloom must make moves to keep fans happy and improve a team that disappointed down the stretch in 2022. Bloom must improve the team, or he will be in the hot season in 2023.
Let’s consider what the Sox have failed to do and how they can fix their mistake.
4. Failing to re-sign Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox must sign Dansby Swanson
Bloom’s failure to re-sign Bogaerts seems to bring on a case of post-traumatic stress disorder for many a Sox fan. Memories of the trade were rehashed this week as the Red Sox designated Jeter Downs, a key acquisition in the trade for Mookie Betts, for assignment.
Much like Betts, Bogaerts was a homegrown talent for the Sox. Once again, the Sox have seemingly given away a highly talented player for nothing. Rather than stay loyal to the Red Sox, Bogaerts signed an 11-year deal worth $280 million with the San Diego Padres. He joins a team that has shelled out loads of money for several talented players, including Manny Machado and Fernado Tatis Jr. Juan Soto was traded to the Padres at the trade deadline in 2022. The Sox got veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer in that deal, likely irking Sox fans that they couldn’t have landed Soto instead.
With Bogaerts gone, fans hoped to sign the next top shortstop, Carlos Correa.
Correa signed a staggering 13-year $350 million contract with the San Francisco Giants.
Now Bloom is reported to be “seriously considering” free agent shortstop Dansby Swanson. Noting the big contracts for Bogaerts, Correa, and Trea Turner, it would be interesting to see what kind of deal Bloom would offer for the next man available.
In 2022 for the Braves, Swanson hit .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs, 96 RBI, and 99 runs scored. Swanson earned his first All-Star nod and won his first Gold Glove award.
Bloom will likely want to make a big signing after Bogaerts bolted for the Padres. Bloom will face a scorching hot seat if he doesn’t sign a top-tier shortstop.
3. Sign Jean Segura, move Trevor Story to shortstop
Segura and Story can each play shortstop and second base, but Story is a Gold Glove-winning All-Star shortstop. It’s hard to fathom signing a top shortstop and keeping him at second base. Bloom and the Sox have had a head-scratching time the past couple of seasons, though.
Last season with the Phillies, Segura played in 98 games, hitting .277/.336/.387 with 10 home runs, 45 runs scored, 33 batted in, and 13 stolen bases. Segura has 17 defensive runs saved as a second baseman for his career.
Story has a career of 69 defensive runs saved as a shortstop. He had six defensive runs saved at second base last season for the Sox. Story is an outstanding defender but would ease tensions for Bloom if he uses the best option for a shortstop that’s already on his roster.
2. With Franchy Cordero gone Sox need first base depth; sign Frank Schwindel
Back-up first baseman Franchy Cordero signed with the Orioles leaving the Sox with first base depth that includes Eric Hosmer, Triston Casas, Christian Arroyo, and Bobby Dalbec.
It’s not easy to feel confident in the Sox first basemen.
Schwindel played in 75 games for the Chicago Cubs, gaining legendary status. He hit .229/.277/.358. He had eight home runs, 23 scored, and 36 batted in. This isn’t bad, considering he had some injuries and was playing on a struggling Cubs team trying to get things together at the end of the season.
The Red Sox need some substantial depth at first base. Schwindel would be a great athlete to pair with Hosmer and create other options through the line-up.
1. Not signing an ace-level starting pitcher, re-sign Nathan Eovaldi
Bloom could not sign one of the top-tier starters available on the free agent market such as Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom, or Carlos Rodon.
While the Red Sox may have to look into the trade market to bolster their starting rotation, their best opportunity may be in a player who pitched over four seasons with the Red Sox. Eovaldi started 20 games for the Sox in 2022, going 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA. He tossed two complete games and one shutout. He threw 182.1 innings and 195 strikeouts.
It’s a bit surprising Eovaldi hasn’t landed in a new location, but he would likely find appreciation in a team where he had recent success. After last season, Bloom should consider re-signing Eovaldi as a reward for all he’s done for the organization.