McAdam: A look at how the Red Sox stack up against other AL playoff teams

It's been a quiet offseason for the Red Sox. And that's an understatement.

In the wake of their World Series win last October, the Red Sox have made exactly two major league transactions -- re-signing both first baseman Steve Pearce and righthander Nathan Eovaldi.

That's it. End of story.

There have been a handful of minor league deals, but when it comes to the major league roster, the changes are minimal. In fact, the two signings are really "changes,'' but rather, the return of two players who were acquired by the Red Sox during the 2018 season.

Of course, the Red Sox' roster is a talented one, good enough to win 108 games during the regular season and another 11 in October. The same starting rotation and the entire lineup will return, virtually guaranteeing the Sox will contend again in 2019.

But how does that set up the Sox when it comes to the other playoff teams from a year ago. We take a look at the other four teams from the 2018 A.L. postseason and see how the Sox compare.

NEW YORK YANKEES

ADDITIONS: RP Zach Britton; RP Adam Ottavino; SP James Paxton; SP J.A. Happ; SP CC Sabathia; INF Troy Tulowitzki; INF D.J. LeMahieu.
LOSSES: INF Neil Walker; OF Andrew McCutchen; SP Lance Lynn; SP Sonny Gray; RP David Robertson
BETTER, SAME OR WORSE: Better.

The Yankees brought back Happ and Sabathia as free agents and added Paxton via trade. They also added Tulowitzki and LeMahieu to bolster their infield depth. The latter will be important, since shortstop Didi Gregorius will miss at least the first half of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The Yankees have options in the infield and could slide Gleyber Torres over to short, or have either LeMahieu or Tulowitzki at short.

The bullpen may be the best in the league, but there are still some questions about the rotation.

Still, as things are currently constituted, the Yankees loom as the Red Sox' biggest threat to repeat as pennant winners.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

ADDITIONS: 1B Jake Bauers; RP Oliver Perez; 1B/DH Carlos Santana.
LOSSES: RP Andrew Miller; RP Cody Allen; OF Michael Brantley; C Yan Gomes; INF Yonder Alonso; 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion
BETTER, SAME or WORSE: Worse

The Indians' window is starting to close, thanks to financial limitations. They had their highest payroll in franchise history last season, but lost in the Division Series and suffered a lot of free agent losses.

The bullpen has been depleted and the outfield has suffered a decline, too.

The Tribe can be thankful for two things: The rest of the A.L. Central is still rebuilding and no team poses much of a threat. Also, Cleveland's rotation is still strong, which should ensure another division title, but little else.

HOUSTON ASTROS;
ADDITIONS: OF Michel Brantley; C Robinson Chirinos; INF Aledmys Diaz
LOSSES:SP Charlie Morton; SP Dallas Keuchel; C Brian McCann; INF/OF Marwin Gonzalez; C Martin Maldonado
BETTER, SAME or WORSE:  Worse


Houston upgrades their outfield with the addition of Brantley and signed Chirinos, an underrated receiver and pitch framer.

But they lost two key starting pitchers in Morton and Keuchel and it won't be easy to replace their innings. Moreover, don't overlook the loss of Gonzalez, one of the game's most versatile and valuable super utility players who helped out in both the outfield and infield.

The Astros still have a terrific core (Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, George Springer) and two horses at the front of the rotation (Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole). But Morton and Keuchel will be sorely missed.

OAKLAND A's

ADDITIONS: SP Marco Estrada; SP Mike Fiers; RP Joakim Soria; INF Jurickson Profar
LOSSES: C Jonathan Lucroy; INF Jed Lowrie; SP Trevor Cahill; SP Edwin Jackson; SP Brett Anderson; SP Kendall Graveman
BETTER, SAME OR WORSE: Worse

The A's lost a good chunk of their starting rotation to free agency and replaces those pitchers with a couple of journeymen in Estrada and Fiers.

A bigger concern is the loss of Lowrie, who enjoyed a terrific season but became too expensive for the ever budget-conscious A's. Profar is versatile, too, but lacks Lowrie's offensive upside.

Oakland surprised everyone in the second half and somehow managed 98 wins and a wild card spot and they have a history of overachieving. But it's difficult to envision them repeating that success in 2019.