McAdam: It won't be long before the Red Sox turn their focus to 2021 and beyond

The losses pile up now, like dirty laundry in the corner, in some unrecognizable heap. Two more came over the weekend in Baltimore, and another Wednesday in Buffalo -- too many of which to keep track.

The Red Sox were the first team in the American League to reach 20 losses, and they stand a good chance to beat everyone to 30, too, at which point it will become official what everyone has known for weeks now -- this will be, literally and otherwise, a losing season.

For now, the Red Sox continue to say the right things, even as the results don't improve much. Mitch Moreland voiced cautious optimism about Tuesday's series-opening win against Toronto, noting that it was the kind of comeback win they hadn't had this season, and perhaps it was a sign that things were about to turn around "if it's not too late.''

But of course, it is too late. It was too late when the Red Sox strung together nine straight losses earlier this month. Thus did the team which has too often dug itself holes too deep for itself early in games also managed to extend that same problem for the entire season.

For the time being, the Red Sox are playing this straight. But come Monday, when at 4 p.m., the trade deadline arrives, it will be time to accept and acknowledge what is plainly already obvious: these games don't matter and it's time to fast forward to 2021 and beyond.



To date, of course, there's been no conceding this point. The veteran established players still fill the lineup card. The team's cadre of prospects still pass the time in the team's alternate training site in Pawtucket.

But there's a good chance some of those veteran players will be shipped to actual contenders between now and Monday and then will come the tacit admission from the Red Sox that, well, the math doesn't look good, and with less than 25 games remaining, it really is time to get a head start on the future.

Never mind the wins and (mostly) losses -- it will be time to focus, fully and unapologetically, on development.

"Well, yes, it's certainly possible that will happen,'' said Ron Roenicke, hours before his team was blown out by the Blue Jays, 9-1. "I've been with organizations before where it's happened. I think you get to a point where it's really important to look at next year -- whenever that point might be. We're obviously not in a real good spot right now. We know if we had a good week, things could change.''

Then, Roenicke collected himself and amended his point in telling fashion with some gallows humor.

"Maybe a great week, instead of a good week,'' he said, bowing to the numbers that have his team 10.5 games out of first place in the A.L. East and six full games in back of the final wild-card spot. "But I think, yeah, it comes to a point where there may be some guys maybe we want to give a chance to start some guys on the pitching staff side. And maybe on the regular side, with the position players, there's somebody we want to give a shot to see what's going to happen next year.

"Next year's important and the years after are important. And if you're not able to find out some things in years when you have a down year, then you're not accomplishing anything. I'm hoping we get really hot in the next week. But there will be a time when we'll start to talk about what's going to happen and how we finish up the season.''

The Sox do have some prospects they would be wise to promote. Certainly, Bobby Dalbec is one, and if the Sox deal Mitch Moreland, that would open up plenty of playing time.

There's Jeter Downs, who could get a look at second base, since it's clear that neither Jose Peraza or Michael Chavis have claimed the position for themselves. More at-bats and innings for Jonathan Arauz would be wise, too.

As for pitchers, September would be the perfect time to audition Darwinzon Hernandez in the rotation. Perhaps Tanner Houck is another pitcher who could be brought up.

There are some complications, including starting some service time clocks early and burning through some options. But those shouldn't be the primary factors when it comes to September playing time.

It's been obvious for a few weeks that the Red Sox wouldn't be qualifying for October. In less than a week, the Red Sox can drop the pretense, look over the remains of their roster that they didn't sell off, and get started on making 2021 better than 2020.