Boston has several weaknesses it needs to improve; it’s not a matter of what but in what order.
With only a few weeks before winter meetings begin in December, the Red Sox must get their priorities straight before they enter free agency negotiations. Here are Boston’s most important free agency decisions this offseason.
Ranking the Red Sox’s most important free agency decisions this offseason
1. Who their ace will be
Signing a No. 1 starter is a non-negotiable. Though Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford are solid middle-rotation pitchers, and Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock’s returns add depth, none can substantially raise the rotation’s floor and ceiling. Blake Snell, would substantially raise the team’s playoff potential. While Boston’s rotation was serviceable, adding a star starter is critical to taking the Sox to the next level.
2. How to strengthen the bullpen
Behind Luis García and Lucas Sims, who were acquired at the trade deadline, the bullpen had a 5.45 ERA after the All-Star break. García and Sims had an 8.22 ERA and a 6.43 ERA, respectively, and not a single save before they got hurt in late August.
Ultimately, relief pitchers held a combined 4.39 ERA and 1.34 WHIP and blew 39 saves, tied for third worst in the league. Boston got a jump start on improving their bullpen by signing lefty Justin Wilson, but they can’t stop there.
3. Which righty bats should join their lineup
Sox batters hit below a .250 batting average and struck out a league-high 506 times against southpaws. To make matters worse, Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kyle Teel, three of Boston’s top four prospects, are lefties. That leaves chief baseball officer Craig Breslow no choice but to add at least one righty bat this offseason.
4. How to improve plate discipline in their lineup
Next year’s line frequently — 1,570 strikeouts and a 28.0% whiff rate won’t get the Sox to the playoffs. Though
