As we wait (and wait… and wait…) for the Boston Red Sox to do anything of substance this offseason, the picture surrounding the biggest free agent on the market is starting to become more clear.
And that’s a bad thing for the John Henry-owned Red Sox.
Alas, it looks like Shohei Ohtani won’t be playing baseball in a Red Sox uniform next season. ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan’s sources tell him “the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, who were among the initial group of suitors, have turned their attention to other players.”
Ben Nicholson-Smith at Sportsnet writes that industry sources tell him “the negotiations are entering their final stretch with a small group of teams expected to meet with the 29-year-old and his CAA Sports representatives in Los Angeles this weekend.”
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
Besides, it was probably too good to be true. I mean, you didn’t expect a low-budget, small-market team like the Red Sox to be serious contenders to sign the best baseball player on the planet, do you?
They couldn’t possibly have afforded his services, anyway. The bidding war for Ohtani “could reach $600 million” per Passan’s sources, and the cash-strapped Red Sox simply can’t afford to bring on a player like that when their entire team payroll is less than $60 million last season. No, wait, that was the Oakland A’s…
Should we really be surprised that Henry and company weren’t really in on Ohtani? I can’t say I’m shocked, but I had hoped for more when his ownership group promised the team would go “full throttle” — in the very words of Tom Werner — this offseason.
I guess they’re pulling back on the throttle before the Winter Meetings (a.k.a. the true start of free agency) have even begun.
Now, does passing on Ohtani mean the Red Sox aren't going to have a big offseason? Of course not. Even I’ve admitted that Ohtani wouldn’t have been a good “value” signing. Yet they are still primed to make big moves, and I expect they will to some extent. And perhaps this is the team posturing in effort to control the market on Ohtani (although I sincerely doubt it).
But the fact remains: at a time when the Henry-led Red Sox need to make a splash more than ever, there was no bigger splash to be made than signing Ohtani.
All eyes on Yamamoto
While the ship has seemingly sailed on Ohtani, there’s still reason for hope that the Red Sox will sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The other big-name Japanese star on the market reportedly remains in play.
“The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox and Cubs are among the favorites, with the Giants, Blue Jays and Phillies also expected to be in the mix,” per Passan.
Yamamoto would certainly come at a much cheaper price — projected to be north of $200 million — and addresses a more immediate need in a starting pitcher than Ohtani, who we know won’t pitch again until 2025. Yet Yamamoto would certainly still qualify as a “big” splash.
And no, I’m not the only one who believes these Red Sox actually will make a big move or two this winter.
“People tell me that Boston is bound and determined to do something big, whether it’s Ohtani, something else — they need to do something,” Jon Heyman said in a recent appearance on Bleacher Report Walk-Off.
Beyond Yamamoto (and not including Ohtani), there aren’t all that many realistic free agent fits that would qualify as doing “something big.” Signing Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw or Jordan Montgomery would all qualify as “big” signings. There’s always the trade market, too. A trade for Juan Soto would certainly qualify as a big-time addition, and we never know who else might be available behind the scenes.
But the options are limited, and if Ohtani is off the board, Yamamoto is the next big thing.
Montgomery comes to Boston
Eyebrows were raised this week with the news that free agent southpaw Montgomery is currently living in Boston this winter as his wife begins a medical residency and is training at Boston College (as reported by MassLive.com).
If nothing else, that should give Craig Breslow — he lives one town over in Newton — and the Red Sox a home-field advantage in pursuit of the 2023 World Series winner.
Perhaps spending some time in and around Boston will help Montgomery warm up to the market (the irony being he’s moving here during the coldest and most miserable time of year to be here…).
His prior professional experiences in Boston haven’t exactly made for warm memories, though. He’s never won in seven career starts (0-1) at Fenway Park and boasts a 4.00 ERA (16 earned runs in 36 innings) there. Most of those appearances came while he was a member of the New York Yankees, so he wasn’t likely to be well-received either…
While having Montgomery within arm’s reach should make discussions more accessible, dollars and cents will almost certainly determine whether or not Montgomery is going to be willing to hang around beyond this winter.
Diamonds are for Worcester
Diamonds are forever — at least in Worcester. Well, maybe not forever, but at least for the remainder of the WooSox’s 35-year lease at Polar Park.
A group called Diamond Baseball Holdings is reportedly set to purchase the Worcester Red Sox from Larry Lucchino, who is likely to remain in his role as team chairman. Tommy Cassell at the Worcester Telegram confirms that “the team is expected to remain at Polar Park.”
This won’t be Diamond Baseball Holding’s first foray into Red Sox baseball, either. In fact, once the sale goes through, the company will own three of the organization’s six minor league affiliate teams — including the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs and the Single-A Salem Red Sox. Prior to the purchase of the WooSox, the company founded in 2021 owned 26 minor league baseball teams in total.
The company — headed by executive chairman Pat Battle and CEO Peter Freund — says it is “committed to elevating fan experiences, creating ‘centers of energy,’ fostering dynamic engagements for brands and highlighting the evolution of the Minor League Baseball environment. It is grounded in a deep-rooted appreciation for traditions, community and the sport of baseball.”
What does this mean for the Major League Red Sox? Not much, really. The recent successful move to Worcester all but ensures the WooSox aren’t in danger of relocating again anytime soon.