Red Sox Campaign In Doubt After Bumpy Offseason

• The Boston Red Sox had pitching concerns prior to the season-ending injury to Chris Sale and are now left with one of the most inexperienced staffs in MLB.

• Despite trading away Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston still has a very good lineup that will have to be relied upon in 2020.

• Boston ownership focused on savings this winter rather than player acquisition.

• Usually neck-and-neck with the New York Yankees atop the AL East, the Red Sox find themselves at +800 to win the division on DraftKings, which is a distant third behind the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.

Chaotic Winter

Just two years removed from winning the World Series, the Boston Red Sox find themselves in a completely different position heading into the 2020 season. It would be a surprise to see Boston contend in a serious fashion, although the shortened 60-game season certainly makes it more of a possibility.

Former manager Alex Cora was suspended for the 2020 season for his role as the ringleader of the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. The team traded homegrown superstar outfielder Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers after the two sides could not agree on a contract extension.

On top of that, ace Chris Sale ended up needing Tommy John surgery that will cost him the 2020 season. Boston didn't do anything to improve a pitching rotation that desperately needed upgrades.

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Offensive Firepower

Even with the loss of Betts, Boston’s lineup still has the potential to be one of the better hitting groups in the American League. Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez are as good of a trio as you will find.

Bogaerts proved his 2018 breakout was no fluke by posting a 6.8 WAR in 2019 to go along with a batting line of .309/.384/.555, 33 home runs and 117 RBI. Devers busted out with a breakout campaign of his own that included a 132 wRC+ and a .377 wOBA. Martinez was his usual powerful self in the middle of the order (36 home runs, 139 wRC+, and a .386 wOBA).

The Red Sox need Andrew Benintendi to regain his 2018 form (122 wRC+) after posting a league-average season in 2019. However, after three full campaigns in MLB, his power has not been as good as expected. Getting solid performances from young players Alex Verdugo, who was the main piece in the Betts trade, and Michael Chavis will be key to give the lineup depth.

Question Marks On The Mound

The starting staff was an issue before Sale’s injury, and now the rotation depth is an even bigger weakness. Rick Porcello departed as a free agent, David Price was traded along with Betts, and now Eduardo Rodriguez has tested positive for COVID-19. That leaves Nathan Eovaldi as the top arm, who was brutal last year after returning from injury with a 5.99 ERA. 

Other projected starters include Martin Perez, Ryan Weber and Brian Johnson, none of whom pitched to an ERA below 5.00 last year. The bullpen is only marginally better with not many reliable arms outside of Brandon Workman and Matt Barnes. Boston's offense will certainly need to carry the load in 2020 for the Red Sox to have any success.

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