PREAMBLE
There’s nothing more anyone can say besides, “It can only get better from here.” Right? A younger, hungrier roster along with a brand new shiny manager should allow the Sox to avoid another 120-loss season, but then again, it is the Sox. At the end of the day, we’re all waiting for Jerry to kick the can or sell the team in order to have some hope of making the Pale Hose a contender again.
MANAGER
I believe Wil Venable was the best option out of the candidates that were interviewed. The fact he chose to lead the Sox over the Marlins is one of America’s unsolved mysteries but I won’t complain one bit.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Andrew Vaughn: $6.4M – TENDER – Seems like every year Vaughn is on the cusp of a breakout, but falls short. Is a .260-15hr-70rbi season going to be the norm or is he eventually going to play like a 3rd overall pick should? Time will tell, but also, time may be running out.
- Nicky Lopez: $5.1M – NON-TENDER – One of the few players to play hard the entire year, was a solid stop-gap for a rebuilding team. He deserves to play for a winner, adios.
- Garrett Crochet: $2.9M – TRADE – Explanation to follow
- Gavin Sheets: $2.6M – NON-TENDER – Has light-tower power but that’s about it.
- Enyel De Los Santos: $1.7M – NON-TENDER – There’s better options out there.
- Jimmy Lambert: $1.2M – NON-TENDER – There’s better options out there.
- Justin Anderson: $1.1M – TENDER – I like what I saw from Anderson.
- Steven Wilson: $1M – NON-TENDER – Too injury prone and was awful in high-leverage situations.
- Matt Foster: $900K – NON-TENDER – A nice story but he is replaceable.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Yoán Moncada: $25M ($5M buyout) – DECLINE – Boy did I want him to be an absolute stud. He showed promise but the guy can’t get out of his car without pulling his hamstring. Maybe he should stick to his singing career.
- Max Stassi: $7M ($500K buyout) – DECLINE - That one friend who is part of the group project but didn’t participate.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Michael Soroka (Made $3M in 2023) – RETAIN – Good long-relief/spot-starter who could hold some value come the trade deadline next year.
- Mike Clevinger ($3M) – LET GO – Personal issues aside, was great in 2023 but injuries make this an easy decision.
- Chris Flexen ($1.75) – RETAIN – For that price, you could do worse for a #4-5 starter. Good innings eater as well.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: C – Carson Kelly (1 year, $2 million). Veteran backup to Lee until Quero is ready.
No. 2: DH – Justin Turner (1 year, $10 million). Veteran DH for a rebuilding team that could hold value come the trade deadline.
No. 3: SP – Martin Perez (1 year, $8 million). Veteran starter who could hold value come the trade deadline.
No. 4: RP – Jose Leclerc (1 year, $7.5 million). De-Facto closer who again could hold value come trade deadline. Rinse and repeat.
TRADES
No. 1: SP - Garrett Crochet to Milwaukee for OF – Sal Frelick and RP – Craig Yoho (#20 Brewers prospect). Brewers are loaded with OF prospects just like the Orioles were, and Sal Frelick has everything you’re looking for as a table-setting CF/RF. Can play multiple positions but had his highest DRS in RF. Top of the lineup guy with speed and a decent glove who seems like a good starting point in a Crochet trade. Crochet would be a perfect compliment to Freddy Peralta at the top of the rotation as that team is ready to contend for years to come.
No. 2 : OF – Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets for 3B – Brett Baty and UTIL – Luisangel Acuna. Mark Vientos has made Brett Baty expendable in Long Island. Still 24, Baty still has time for growth, and what better way then on a rebuilding Sox team. Robert Jr. fills the CF void as Harrison Bader heads to free agency. Robert Jr. played un-interested most of the year but maybe a jump to a contending team will allow him to reach his full potential. Acuna slides in as the starting 2B but has the ability to play all over the diamond.
SUMMARY
Veteran signings and some trades for young players with huge upside that don’t break the bank, the team below should be able to compete for 60 wins. That’s not saying much, but the future looks promising.
LINEUP:
- CF/RF – Sal Frelick (LH) - $800k
- 1B – Andrew Vaughn (RH) - $6.4mil
- LF – Andrew Benintendi (LH) - $17.1mil
- DH – Justin Turner (RH) - $10mil
- 3B – Brett Baty (LH) - $800k
- C – Korey Lee (RH) - $800k
- RF/CF – Oscar Colas/Dominic Fletcher (LH) - $800k
- SS – Brooks Baldwin (Switch) - $800k
- 2B – Luisangel Acuna (RH) - $800k
BENCH:
- C – Carson Kelly (RH) - $2mil
- IF – Bryan Ramos (RH) - $800k
- IF – Lenyn Sosa (RH) - $800k
- OF – Dominic Fletcher/Oscar Colas (LH) - $800k
Miguel Vargas starts the year in Charlotte to regain his confidence and get full-time AB’s. Ramos and Baty will platoon to start the year and then a free-for-all for DH AB’s once Turner is gone. Quero gets called up when Kelly is dealt and Montgomery gets recalled when he’s ready for full-time MLB AB’s. Colas has his last shot to make an impression before he is dealt.
ROTATION:
- Drew Thorpe (RHP) - $800k
- Martin Perez (LHP) - $8mil
- Jonathan Cannon (RHP) - $800k
- Chris Flexen (RHP) - $1.75mil
- Sean Burke (RHP) - $800k
BULLPEN:
- Michael Soroka – LONG/SPOT STARTER (RHP) - $800k
- Jared Shuster – LONG/MID/LEFTY SPECIALIST (LHP) - $800k
- Jairo Iriarte – MID (RHP) - $800k
- Justin Anderson – MID (RHP) - $1.1mil
- Jordan Leasure – MID (RHP) - $800k
- Fraser Ellard – LH SPECIALIST (LHP) - $800k
- Gus Varland – SETUP (RHP) - $800k
- Jose LeClerc – CLOSER (RHP) - $7.5mil
TOTAL PAYROLL: $66.5mil
60-65 wins could be had with this team. Lots of promise on the farm with the likes of Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, Colson Montgomery, Edgar Quero, Jacob Gonzalez, etc. due to make the club by 2027. Another long year awaits the Pale Hose however for 2025.
