Since the Red Sox's season came to an end yesterday at the hands of the Houston Astros it is now time for them to look ahead to the offseason.
The Red Sox have a lot to work on considering how abruptly their season ended but they still have some amazing talent. All they need to do is make these 6 moves and we'll be back in the World Series.
#1 Fire John Farrell
Yes, I know it seems a bit harsh right off the bat but John Farrell has got to go. He hasn't done much with the team since their 2013 World Championship season considering that we've had 2 last place finishes and 2 ALDS eliminations since then. It's been especially weird for the fans to get eliminated in the first round, let alone twice and overall there just seems to be a lack of energy. Jason Varitek, David Ross, and David Ortiz would all make great new managers for this exciting team. They all know the Red Sox well and they could all bring a lot of energy to the team.
#2 Find a Place for Blake Swihart
Blake Swihart has the ability to be the Red Sox backup catcher to Christian Vazquez especially after Sandy Leon hit .225. Swihart can not only play catcher but left field as well. He's still young enough (he'll turn 28 next April) and he's got a lot of potential and talent. If Boston can accept that Leon isn't good enough then maybe Swihart will have what it takes to be on the 25 man roster.
#3 Get Their Injured Players Ready for 2018
Tyler Thornburg and Steven Wright both missed basically all of 2017 due to injuries which ended up being very disappointing. Thornburg was someone Sox fans looked forward to seeing after trading Travis Shaw for him, but he never got to play. If the Red Sox can get these guys as well as David Price up to speed by opening day then they will all be able to contribute. But if Thornburg gets injured again or doesn't live up to expectations, we may need a backup plan.
#4 Boost the Bullpen
Bryan Shaw would be a solid bullpen addition for the Sox considering that lots of their relief pitchers were inconsistent this season. Shaw is a solid, but not a spectacular pitcher, but the Red Sox could use someone like him. He'd also be given more of a chance to shine here than in Cleveland with Miller and Allen running the show. Bryan Shaw could and should be the reasonable and good bargain pitcher that would set their bullpen over the edge.
#5 Add the Final Piece to the Pitching Puzzle
Every year the inconsistency and decisions made regarding the starting pitching staff baffle me. David Price, Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, Steven Wright, and Drew Pomeranz are all All-Star pitchers that theoretically should be their starting 5. But with injuries and Porcello having his worst season ever, it may be time to add someone new. Tyson Ross and Michael Pineda are among pitchers that the Red Sox could get for cheap along with veteran CC Sabathia. A 6 man rotation wouldn't be the worst thing for them especially if they managed to win with it.
#6 Get a Player Who Can Hit a Home Run
I don't know how else to put this: THE RED SOX CAN'T HIT A HOME RUN. The 2017 club was 27th in baseball with home runs. Just to let you know the teams in that area are the Braves, Phillies, Giants, and Pirates. Their 168 homers is pitiful for a season jam-packed with home runs and pitiful for a team with a payroll of about 200 million dollars. J.D. Martinez and Khris Davis would be great additions, even if they only hit around .250 that wouldn't matter they need a home run hitter. If all else fails they may need to pick up Giancarlo Stanton, but there's now way they can take on that contract, not unless they want another Carl Crawford to come to town.
The Red Sox aren't bad don't get me wrong. They have a lot of assets and a solid lineup. But with the game of baseball changing, they need to change with it. Otherwise it'll be a long time before they win it all again.
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