2019 MLB Team Previews- Boston Red Sox
By: Zach Perbeck
The last team to repeat as World Series Champions? New York Yankees who three-peated from 1998–2000. Could the Red Sox continue their historic 21st century run by repeating in 2019? There are a lot of exciting new faces in new places in the MLB this season and we don’t even know where some of the top free agents will land yet! With Bryce Harper and Manny Machado both loosely connected to the Bronx and Craig Kimbrel still unsigned, both teams could make some moves, but at this point who has the edge? Time to see how the Sox look for 2019!
Notable moves made by Boston this offseason
November 1st- Eduardo Nunez accepts 2019 player option to stay in Boston
November 17th- Steve Pearce signs a one-year, $6.25 million contract
November 20th- The Red Sox acquire relief pitcher Colton Brewer from San Diego for INF Esteban Quiroz
December 7th- Boston resigns pitcher Nathan Eovaldi to a four-year, $67.5 million contract which will keep him in Boston through 2022
December 11th- Boston signs CF Gorkys Hernandez to a minor league contract
December 14th- INF Ian Kinsler signs a two-year, $8 million deal with the San Diego Padres
December 19th- Boston signs RHP Erasmo Ramirez to a minor league contract
December 21st- Reliever Joe Kelly signs a three-year, $25 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
January 23rd- LHP Drew Pomeranz signs a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the San Francisco Giants
January 29th- Formerly banned Jenrry Mejia is signed to a minor league deal
Offense
The 2019 Red Sox Lineup looks very similar to that of the 2018 squad, with a few minor changes
- Alex Benintendi (L) → Left Field
- Mookie Betts (R) → Right Field
- J.D. Martinez (R) → Designated Hitter
- Xander Bogaerts (R) → Shortstop
- Steve Pearce (R) → First Base
- Rafael Devers (L) → Third Base
- Dustin Pedroia (R) → Second Base
- Sandy Leon (S) → Catcher
- Jackie Bradley Jr. → Center Field
Boston led the MLB in runs, hits, doubles, total bases, RBIs, batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, and OPS in 2018. They also finished third in the MLB in stolen bases, with the second-highest stolen base percentage, only 0.05% behind the Los Angeles Angels. To summarize, Boston was the best offensive team in the MLB last season. A large part of that was due to AL MVP Mookie Betts.
Betts posted a spectacular line including an MLB-leading .346 batting average, 32 home runs, 80 RBIs (from the leadoff spot), 30 stolen bases, an OPS of 1.078, and a WAR of 10.9. Betts was fantastic, but every great team has a one-two punch, and for the Sox that was Mookie and J.D. Martinez. The newly signed Martinez came into 2018 as one of the top sluggers in baseball looking to continue his success. He did that and more, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting behind his teammate Betts, Mike Trout, and Jose Ramirez. Martinez slugged 43 home runs, drove in 130 runs, averaged .330 (second best in the MLB behind Mookie), and totaled 188 hits. While overshadowed by the AL MVP and Martinez, a third star emerged for the Sox in 2018. Xander Bogaerts came into his own and was rewarded with a 13th place finish in AL MVP voting, tied with former MVP Jose Altuve.
That is some good company to be in if you ask me. Bogaerts fully deserved the honor, finishing the season with career highs of 23 home runs, 103 RBIs, a .522 slugging percentage, and the second-lowest strikeout total of his career (he had one more than his lowest). With these three stars plus the young talent of Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers, the Sox should see great offensive production again, especially with veterans Mitch Moreland, Eduardo Nunez, Dustin Pedroia, and World Series MVP Steve Pearce ready to produce as well.
Defense
The Red Sox have a roster of premier defenders with only one notable hole. Third base. Rafael Devers and Eduardo Nunez combined for 27 errors at third base, which would be the most in the MLB at any position. Devers accounted for 24 of those errors on his own in just 121 games, which was already just one behind Jurickson Profar for the most in the MLB.
Aside from third base, Boston is very solid defensively, especially in the outfield. Gold glove winner Mookie Betts is the best defensive right fielder in the MLB and with Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi in center and right field respectively, Boston has three of the best defensive outfielders in the baseball.
In the infield, Boston has gold glove winners Mitch Moreland and Dustin Pedroia as well as Xander Bogaerts who has improved defensively since returning to shortstop after a stint at third base in 2014. If Devers can improve his defense and be a respectable third baseman, the Red Sox could be the best defensive team in the league.
Pitching
Boston was led by Chris Sale in 2018 and got help with the acquisition of Nathan Eovaldi at the trade deadline. The Red Sox were not spectacular in terms of pitching as they finished in the middle of the pack in most statistical categories, but their staff and bullpen kept them in games enough so that their high-powered offense could win the game.
The 2018 Boston Red Sox’s Opening Day Rotation (2018 stats included)
LHP Chris Sale 12–4 with an ERA of 2.11 in 27 starts
LHP David Price 16–7 with an ERA of 3.58 in 30 starts
RHP Rick Porcello 17–7 with an ERA of 4.28 in 33 starts
LHP Drew Pomeranz 2–6 with an ERA of 6.08 in 11 starts
RHP Steven Wright 3–1 with an ERA of 2.68 in 4 starts
While injury issues plagued most of the rotation throughout the season, Sale, Price, and Porcello all made it to the postseason along with newcomer Eovaldi and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. Heading into 2019, with Pomeranz gone (thankfully), the Red Sox are looking to roll out a rotation very similar to that which they used in October (2018 stats):
LHP Chris Sale 12–4 with an ERA of 2.11 in 27 starts
LHP David Price 16–7 with an ERA of 3.58 in 30 starts
RHP Nathan Eovaldi 3–3 with an ERA of 3.33 in 11 starts
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez 13–5 with an ERA of 3.82 in 23 starts
RHP Rick Porcello 17–7 with an ERA of 4.28 in 33 starts
As long as the Sox get Sale and Price back on track, Eovaldi and Rodriguez are two high-upside starters who have multiple above-average pitches in their respective arsenals. In my opinion, Porcello is the wild card for Boston. Will he be 2016 Rick Porcello who won the AL Cy-Young Award? Or will he be 2017 Porcello who lost 17games? 2018 showed us that Porcello is still a very good pitcher, he racked up 17 wins and posted a career-high 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings, 0.9 higher than his previous high. With five pitchers with the ability to be 20 game winners, the Sox rotation should be a strength in 2019 as long as the starters remain healthy.
After losing it’ s two best relievers, the bullpen is looking to remake itself. With Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier vying for the closer spot vacated by Craig Kimbrel, the Boston bullpen is going to be very deep and I can imagine many call-ups from Portland and Pawtucket throughout the season in order to keep the arms fresh.
The following names could be impact arms in the bullpen throughout the year for Boston with their potential roles:
Matt Barnes (R)- Closer/Set-up Man with a triple-digit fastball and a very hard 12–6 curveball
Ryan Brasier (R)- Closer/Set-up Man with fastball and sinker combo in the high 90s to pair with a wipeout slider
Tyler Thornburg (R)- Middle Reliever/Set-up Man
Darwinzon Hernandez (L)- High-strikeout prospect with a plus fastball and slider who could be called up mid-season to either start or bolster the bullpen
Bobby Poyner (L)- A crafty lefty with an 88–89 mph fastball and a plus changeup who could be very valuable for Boston
Hector Velazquez (R)- Valuable innings eater who contributed innings in both the rotation and bullpen in 2018 and should do the same in 2019
Durbin Feltman (R)- Dominant college closer at TCU with a plus fastball and slider as well, who could be called up to bolster the bullpen
Strengths
Boston had the best offense in baseball in 2018 and they should be among the best offensive teams again in 2019.
With two true power pitchers at the front of the rotation and three solid options behind them, the Boston rotation should continue to dominate in 2019
Weaknesses
Boston needs to add a piece to its bullpen if they want to be a contender again. Craig Kimbrel is still on the market but was not great down the stretch last season. Boston could piece together a bullpen with what they have but a wise idea would be to add a veteran arm.
Available Free Agents that would fit well in Boston
Relievers: Craig Kimbrel (RHP), Tony Sipp (LHP), and Aaron Loup (LHP)
Final Verdict
The Sox are still here and after winning their fourth title of the 21st century they have positioned themselves to repeat. With an in-season bullpen acquisition, the Red Sox could further solidify themselves as favorites. It is never a run-away in the AL East but the Red Sox have certainly positioned themselves to contend with the Yankees and Astros once again. Watch out for Boston when October rolls around.
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