Though nonetheless early within the offseason, the Boston Crimson Sox have been one among MLB’s most talked about groups, with the rumor mill connecting the franchise with everybody from Juan Soto to Corbin Burnes.
Coming off an 81-81 marketing campaign, Boston is able to spend cash to enhance the lineup and pitching, with Spotrac estimating the Crimson Sox at present having just below $110M on the books dedicated for the 2025 season. With the Aggressive Stability Tax (CBT) set at $241M for the 2025 season, there’s room for the Crimson Sox to spend this winter … and all indications are that Boston will do exactly that.
So what areas may very well be spending targets for Boston? Let’s dive into that and extra in our three offseason questions surrounding the Crimson Sox.
Who can be Boston’s high pitcher?
The Crimson Sox have choices for the center and again finish of the rotation, together with Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford, however Boston nonetheless wants an ace to guide its beginning pitching. That is why Burnes, Max Fried, Blake Snell and different free brokers have been related to the Crimson Sox already this offseason.
Boston is anticipated to land a giant identify to be the face of the rotation, and maybe that might include a commerce with the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet fairly than by free company. The opportunity of a commerce results in the subsequent query.
Will Boston commerce from its farm system?
On the finish of final season, Boston’s farm system was ranked third amongst MLB’s 30 groups by Bleacher Report. Three of Boston’s prospects are amongst MLBPipeline.com’s most up-to-date high 10 and 4 are among the many high 25, so Boston’s minor league system is stacked.
Definitely prospects are all the time part of future plans for any franchise, however might Boston sacrifice a few of these prospects to land Crochet or one other commerce goal? If the Crimson Sox flip into “win now” mode, a few of these coveted prospects may very well be on the transfer.
How will Boston enhance the offense?
Among the many high gadgets on the want listing this offseason is a right-handed bat that may add some energy to the Boston lineup. No, Soto would not match that description, but when the Crimson Sox might add him as a long-term weapon, Boston followers would doubtless overlook one other lefty within the lineup.
If the pursuit of Soto would not go Boston’s approach, search for the Crimson Sox to deal with the appropriate facet of the batter’s field. That might embody bringing in Teoscar Hernandez, a free agent the franchise chased final offseason earlier than he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, or signing Alex Bregman as was urged by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
A transfer like that might doubtlessly push Rafael Devers to first base, bringing a giant shakeup to the infield in addition to the batting order.
Whereas Boston’s pitching must be a focus this offseason, it is also clear that the offense cannot simply revolve round Devers and Jarren Duran, particularly with the potential lack of Tyler O’Neill to free company.
