The Boston Red Sox have a lot of work to do this offseason. However, Boston's winter couldn't start until they found a suitable replacement for Chaim Bloom, who they fired for a lackluster major-league product in 2023. It's tough to place all of the Red Sox's struggles on Bloom, as he was dealt a tough hand and was often hamstrung by Fenway Sports Group and John Henry. Breslow will deal with the same issues, though he at least has a good farm system to work with thanks to Bloom, ironically enough.
Back in mid-September, we wrote a story regarding some Boston Red Sox who won't be on the roster next season. Those players, as discussed by writer Kevin Henry, still remain unlikely to re-sign (though some have expressed interest in staying). Here is a brief summary of each:
- Joel Rodriguez: "Boston will need someone in the bullpen they can count on, and the 31-year-old southpaw didn't show he was that person in 2023."
- James Paxton: "Paxton will be 35 next year on Opening Day, perhaps helping push Boston toward a youth movement and away from him."
- Adam Duvall: "Duvall has likely lived up to that salary, but he certainly hasn't exceeded it. With that in mind, unless Duvall were to come back on a sweetheart deal in 2024, it seems like an easy decision for Boston to find someone else to fill his place on the roster."
- Adalberto Mondesi: "While the Red Sox have been patient with Mondesi, him being out for the entire season hasn't helped the team embrace what he could potentially do to help in Boston."
- Corey Kluber: "Kluber does have a team option in place for 2024, but it makes little sense for the Red Sox to pull the trigger on that deal. Expect Boston to walk away from the Kluber experiment after one season."
Here is the complete list of players, as discussed by Henry.
However, there should be plenty of turnover with Breslow in charge now. While those five may still leave, three more are almost certain to find a new home as well.
Red Sox should let Dinelson Lamet walk
The Red Sox signed Dinelson Lamet to a minor-league deal in August. Lamet made several starts in Worcester, posting an ERA under four and earning himself a call-up. In his only outing with the big-league team, Lamet was lit up, and posted an ERA of 13.50. Lamet was once viewed as one of the best young pitching prospects in baseball. However, he flamed out with San Diego, failed to live up to his potential in Colorado and now is on the outs in Boston.
Lamet will find another home before next spring because of his potential, but he can only receive opportunities on his past for so long. Eventually, he will have to prove himself in the majors again. His best season was arguably his rookie year in San Diego, which was 2017.
Lamet had the right to reject his outright assignment, and the Red Sox essentially got him for free, as the Rockies were on the hook for the remainder of his 2023 contract regardless of how things went in Boston. But make no mistake about it -- he will not be back.
Red Sox won't bring back Justin Turner
Justin Turner is 38 years old and, frankly, seemed destined to play in Boston at some point in his career. Turner spent the 2023 season with the Red Sox and fit right in, slashing .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs, turning back time in the process. However, Turner's performance also makes it all the more unlikely that he stays with the Sox.
Turner has a player option after this season that would pay him $13.4 million in 2024. That's not bad money by any means, but he could also potentially get more on the free-agent market. There's a chance Turner opts out, tests the market, and returns to Boston. Nothing is out of the question. However, even if he were to be a full-time DH, Turner's production could earn him another lucrative short-term deal loaded with incentives.
Alex Cora removed Turner from his final home game of the season so the Fenway Park faithful could give him a standing ovation. Does that sound like a player the Red Sox are confident is returning?
Breslow has tough, quick choices to make on several of Boston's best players. Turner is a veteran they can afford to lose, though it'll hurt some in the interim.
Red Sox ought to trade Chris Sale
Chris Sale isn't an ideal trade asset. The Red Sox would likely end up taking some of his remaining contract. However, if there is any velocity left in his once-explosive left arm, Sale is worth selling to the highest bidder so Boston can start over in their rotation and get him off the books. Breslow knows this -- Sale was a bad contract, and hasn't lived up to the billing in quite some time. Chaim Bloom had a chance to trade Sale at the 2022 trade deadline, per WEEI's Rob Bradford:
"Per a major league source familiar with the situation, just before the 2022 trade deadline - and a few weeks after Chris Sale had broken his finger in his second outing of the season - a team approached Bloom about dealing for the lefty," Bradford wrote. "The acquiring club was agreeing to take on all of the money left on Sale's contract (2 1/2 seasons of more than $50 million), while sending some semblance of players. The Red Sox wanted better players than were offered and no deal was done."
Will Breslow make the same mistake? Sale did come back to Boston in 2023 after a long stay on the injured list. He went 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA. Sure, Sale's performance was nothing spectacular, but it might be enough for another team to take on some of his remaining salary and deal an intriguing prospect back their way.
That ought to be enough.
