Regardless of end-of-season guarantees of a “full-throttle” strategy to the 2023-24 offseason, issues have been pretty quiet for the Crimson Sox throughout their first yr below new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s steerage because the membership prioritized short-term commitments in free company and on the commerce market with out making a significant splash. That led to a different disappointing season at Fenway the place the membership posted a lackluster 81-81 document that landed them third place within the AL East and 4 video games out of an AL Wild Card spot. After a season that noticed a lot of children take steps ahead and with extra prospect expertise nearing the majors, Breslow’s second winter on the helm figures to be extra energetic than his first.
Assured Contracts
Rafael Devers, 3B: $284MM by way of 2033
Trevor Story, SS: $77.5MM by way of 2027 (contains $5MM buyout on 2028 membership choice)
Masataka Yoshida, DH: $55.8MM by way of 2027
Brayan Bello, SP: $53.33MM by way of 2029 (contains $1MM buyout on 2030 membership choice)
Ceddanne Rafaela, CF/SS: $48.75MM by way of 2031 (contains $4MM buyout on 2032 membership choice)
Liam Hendriks, RP: $8MM by way of 2025 (contains $2MM buyout on $12MM mutual choice)
Garrett Whitlock, SP/RP: $14MM by way of 2026 (contains $1MM buyout on 2027 membership choice; extra membership choice for ’28)
Choice Selections
2025 monetary commitments: $105.93MMTotal long-term monetary commitments: $562.79MM
Arbitration-Eligible Gamers (projected salaries by way of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
Non-tender candidates: None
Free Brokers
Disappointing because the 2024 season was for the Crimson Sox when it comes to their document, one main silver lining for the membership this winter is that almost all of their key contributors stay below long-term crew management, which means they’re going to be capable of focus extra on upgrading the roster than patching holes created by departing veterans. Specifically, they’re extraordinarily properly set-up within the outfield with Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela all at present locked in on the main league stage, to not point out the presence of Masataka Yoshida and (assuming his membership choice is picked up as anticipated) Rob Refsnyder.
With prime prospect Roman Anthony knocking on the door of the majors and even getting some buzz as Baseball America’s #1 prospect, the Crimson Sox stay flush in outfield expertise at the same time as they watch Tyler O’Neill and his 30-homer energy depart totally free company. In fact, that is to not say O’Neill’s bat will not be sorely missed within the Crimson Sox lineup. As a crew, their 104 wRC+ was a hair above common, putting them in a three-way tie with the Brewers and Mariners for the tenth-best determine within the majors. Whereas that is actually a good quantity, even a prospect as gifted as Anthony cannot be anticipated to seamlessly change the 131 wRC+ O’Neill offered to the membership in a resurgent 2024 season.
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