Since the opening of the free agent market, some teams have been virtually inert and the Boston Red Sox are one of them.
Yes, they added Lucas Giolito for the next two seasons, but it is still not the ultimate solution for a team that finished last in its division in 2023.
The big right-hander will be of great service to his manager, but a lot of work remains to be done on the club's senior management side.
Speaking of senior management, one wonders if Chaim Bloom was that bad in his role when he was heavily criticized for sending Mookie Betts to Los Angeles as soon as he took office? The same Bloom also lost the services of Xander Bogaerts, another high earner on the team.
According to player agents who recently negotiated with the Red Sox, the latter behave like a small market team, without major financial resources, when this is not the case. The Red Sox have the means to achieve their ambitions, but do they really have ambitions?
Was Bloom forced to shed big contracts during his time in Boston in order to save money? It is reasonable to believe this because his successor, Craig Breslow, does not seem to have greater room for maneuver for the moment, according to those who negotiate on behalf of the free agents.
The Red Sox, largely due to their rivalry with the New York Yankees, were once a more aggressive organization in order to not stray too far from, or even outpace, their eternal rivals. For several seasons, things have been different and the team's supporters have instead been witnessing a slimming diet.
It should come as no surprise to see the Red Sox and Yankees finish at the bottom of the standings, because the motivational element that made these two teams inseparable in adversity has faded over time.
Today, one wonders if the Red Sox are not engaging in presenteeism, thus allowing owners to rake in revenue without worrying too much about fans.
Fortunately for them, the affiliate system provides year after year, some elements worth mentioning.
I strongly hope that this is not the case, because major league baseball needs a strong and productive franchise in Boston so that everything does not go to California.
Perhaps the inaction shown by the team's upper management will soon end, because it would be a shame to see this team occupy the bottom of the rankings repeatedly over the next few years.
