Three-time World Series champion in a Boston Red Sox uniform and recent Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz has never had his tongue in his pocket and he’s not shy about commenting on the work leaders of his former team.
The 47-year-old Dominican is not very optimistic about the short-term future of the Sox and especially how the club’s management has handled the Xander Bogaerts and JD Martinez files. The two players headed to California, either to San Diego in the case of Bogaerts and to Los Angeles for Martinez.
The long-term signing of Rafael Devers is a good thing, but he won’t be well surrounded at the heart of the roster and that’s what puts the team in a zone of uncertainty as the 2023 season approaches.
According to Ortiz, the pitchers will avoid making good offerings to Devers in order to want to face his teammates and the offense should suffer.
Playing in a very competitive division and depending on the emergence of the Baltimore Orioles, the Red Sox are condemned to offer inspired baseball, but their reputation as blue-collar major league baseball may stick with them for a long time to come. .
Big Papi compares the current situation to the 2014 season, when having been unable to add punch on offense to support him in the lineup, the Red Sox had a losing season and had to settle for fifth. rank of their division.
The arrival of a few veterans (Adam Duvall, Justin Turner), as well as the signing of the Japanese Masataka Yoshida did not convince Ortiz that the team was heading in the right direction and he considers that Devers is too young and inexperienced to manage a downturn as well as taking everything on your shoulders.
Few in quality, the next generation will appear in the person of Triston Casas, who should start the season at first base.
If at least the rotation of starters could make the difference. Supposedly in good health, Chris Sale will be back to play the role of leader on the mound. Fragile, however, it remains a big question mark.
Do not expect miracles in Boston this season and the pride of David Ortiz will be affected.
