The Boston Red Sox have done a little revamping this off-season, and many think they should immediately be considered the favorite to win the A.L. East. They have a legitimate shot at taking the division, but they will definitely have some competition this year with the Toronto Blue Jays being fairly well-improved. Fans have a right to be excited when their team brings in both Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez in the same year. The question for Boston is, "Can this pitching staff deliver well enough to make this team elite?"

Notable additions and subtractions this off-season

Additions

  • Hanley Ramirez
  • Pablo Sandoval
  • Rick Porcello
  • Wade Miley
  • Justin Masterson
  • Ryan Hanigan
  • Robbie Ross Jr.
  • Alexi Ogando
  • Anthony Varvaro
  • Yoan Moncada
  • Quintin Berry
  • Brian LaHair
  • Jeff Bianchi
  • Humberto Quintero
  • Luke Montz
  • Zeke Spruill
  • Felipe Paulino
  • Dana Eveland
  • Mitchell Boggs
  • Dalier Hinojosa

Subtractions

  • Yoenis Cespedes
  • Allen Webster
  • Rubby De La Rosa
  • Alex Wilson
  • Juan Francisco
  • David Ross
  • Burke Badenhop
  • Ryan Lavarnway
  • Jonathan Herrera
  • Carlos Rivero
  • Jemile Weeks
  • Jason Garcia
  • Gabe Speier
  • Myles Smith
  • Raymel Flores
  • Aaron Kurcz
  • Dan Butler
  • Anthony Ranaudo
  • Drake Britton
  • Ryan Dempster

Biggest Weakness – Starting Pitching

It is clear that the Red Sox have a pretty stacked lineup and a good bullpen, but the starting pitching looks pretty bad on paper. It is five deep, which is a good thing, but it’s looking like all five of their guys should be #4 and #5 guys in the rotation. They are relying on Rick Porcello to potentially be their Opening Day starter, and he has never been any more than a #4. Wade Miley hasn’t pitched well since his rookie year in Arizona, and he isn’t even used to the American League yet. Then they go Masters, Buchholz, and Joe Kelly and, to be honest, it is uncertain what the organization sees in these guys to put so much faith into them. 

Every pitcher on this list has a chance to yet become a consistent reliable pitcher who gives the team a chance to win all the time, but all of them have consistency issues, which have lead their numbers looking less than impressive in the long run. The probably should have signed James Shields to have at least one guy they KNOW they can count on. There is good news, though, as lefty Henry Owens has put up consistently great numbers in his Minor League career so far, and he is just about ready for the MLB.

Biggest Strength – Intimidating lineup

The Red Sox should have a Top-5 offense this season, and if they fall anywhere outside the top five, it should be considered a failure. This lineup is stacked from top to bottom and has a great -ooking heart with the additions of Hanley and Sandoval. Boston will need to win a lot of high-scoring games based on what their pitching staff looks like, but it seems like they are in a position to do so. The Rusney Castillo injury doesn’t even feel like it will hurt them too badly even because they have a stacked bench with plenty of outfielders who would be starters elsewhere. Red Sox fans have the right to feel a little cocky about what offense they are putting on the field this year.

Something to keep an eye on – Blake Swihart

Christian Vazquez and Ryan Hanigan will combine their efforts for the catcher position for the beginning of the year it seems, but the future of the organization lies in the hands of Blake Swihart, who is the unanimous #1 prospect in the Red Sox system right now, and he is just about ready for MLB-level baseball. He is known for his defensive ability and has a rocket of an arm, but he apparently also has some offensive skills as well. He put up an OPS over .900 in AA last season, and as of March 16, Swihart was hitting over .500 in his Spring Training at bats. It is just a matter of time before this 22-year-old takes over behind the plate in Fenway.

Potential Lineup - * = Lefty, ^ = Switch hitter

  1. Mookie Betts – CF
  2. Dustin Pedroia – 2B
  3. David Ortiz – DH*
  4. Hanley Ramirez – LF
  5. Pablo Sandoval – 3B^
  6. Mike Napoli – 1B
  7. Shane Victorino – RF^
  8. Xander Bogaerts – SS
  9. Christian Vazquez – C

Potential Bench

Ryan Hanigan

Allen Craig

Brock Holt*

Daniel Nava^

Potential Rotation - * = Lefty

Rick Porcello

Wade Miley*

Justin Masterson

Clay Buchholz

Joe Kelly

Potential Bullpen

Koji Uehara - Closer

Junichi Tazawa

Edward Mujica

Anthony Varvaro

Criag Breslow*

Alexi Ogando

Robbie Ross*

Starting season on DL

Rusney Castillo

Fantasy Bargain – Hanley Ramirez

Lots of good things should be happening to Hanley Ramirez now that he is in Boston. First and foremost, he is going to be playing outfield, but he should still keep his eligibility at shortstop this season in fantasy. In addition, he is now hitting in a big-time hitter-friendly park, especially for right handed hitters with pop like Ramirez. He should be less injured due to his defensive move to the outfield and could have more energy on a daily basis for the same reason.

Ramirez should be taken in the late first round or early second round because he is one of the best overall hitters in the game for both average and power. Shortstop is a very thin position anyways, and there is a lot of value in his position alone.  Moreover, he could easily steal 20 bags this year on top of everything else. Grab him early with confidence.

Overvalued fantasy player – Xander Bogaerts

He has been hyped for years now, and this writer still cannot wrap his head around why everyone is so in love with him still. Bogaerts has proven that he is not an asset with the bat at this point in his caree,r and honestly, owners should take a chance on him now that Moncada is in the organization too. Even though Bogaerts was amongst the top prospects in the league at one point, it’s just about time to forget about him. In a team stacked with offensive upside, Bogaerts stands as a glaring weakness. Until he puts up numbers that aren’t awful for an extended period of time, don’t draft this guy at all.

Conclusion/Prediction

Boston is a much improved team; there is no doubting that. However, they haven’t put themselves over the top yet. The Toronto Blue Jays are the best team in this division right now, and the Orioles might be a team worth worrying about as well. As stacked as this offense is, the pitching staff looks extremely mediocre, and it will minimize their chances of success by a lot. This is an 86-win team, and that is good for second place in the A.L. East behind Toronto.

Tyler interview Patrick Green @PatGreen1998 about the Red Sox on the radio. Hear what Green had to say.

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