Back for another installment of my MLB Offseason Breakdown for the 2020 season. If you are new here, what I do is write about all the acquisitions and losses the team had, my projected lineups and rotations, grade for the offseason, and my prediction for the team in the 2020 season. Let’s get into it.
Acquisitions and Losses:
Red Sox trade RF Mookie Betts and LHP David Price to the Dodgers for CF Alex Verdugo, C Connor Wong, and SS Jeter Downs
Not a fun offseason for the Red Sox and it was all because of this trade. No fan liked this trade as the Red Sox traded a generational player in hopes the player they got can become a generational player. Makes a lot of sense. The big market team didn’t want to pay their player and just hope that they can build a future of this trade. I will give them credit for getting rid of Price’s contract tho.
CF Kevin Pillar signs a 1 year $4.25 million contract
This was a good signing for Boston as they get a good back-up defending outfielder. The Red Sox know Pillar well as he played against the Red Sox for the past 7 or so years with Toronto. It will be very challenging to replace Betts, because duh hes a former MVP, but Pillar is one of the best center fielders in baseball and is a career .261 hitter.
RHP Rick Porcello signs a 1 year $10 million contract with the New York Mets
The Red Sox made a good decision by not bringing back Porcello because since his Cy Young season, Porcello has not looked the same. In the last 3 seasons Porcello is 42-36 with a 4.79 ERA. No need to being him back, especially with the money New York gave him.
LHP Martin Perez signs a 1 year $6 million contract
The Red Sox replaced Porcello with Perez, but this is not an upgrade. Perez has not found much success in the MLB because in 8 seasons in the MLB, Perez has a career ERA of 4.72 and has a winning percentage of .468.
2B Brock Holt signs a 1 year $3.25 million contract with Milwaukee
This was a very dumb move by Boston not bringing back one of their better players from last season. Holt had one of his better offensive seasons last year, but his biggest draw is that he can play almost every position. Not to mention Holt got very little money from the Brewers, money Boston could have easily given.
Projected Lineup:
C: Christian Vasquez
1B: Mitch Moreland
2B: Jose Peraza
3B: Rafael Devers
SS: Xander Bogaerts
LF: Andrew Benintendi
CF: Jackie Bradley Jr.
RF: Alex Verdugo
DH: J.D. Martinez
Projected Rotation
1. Chris Sale
2. Eduardo Rodriguez
3. Nathan Eovaldi
4. Martin Perez
5. (MLB.com doesn’t have a 5th starter so maybe they are going with a 4 man rotation???)
Offseason Grade: D-
2020 Prediction:
From what it looks like, the Red Sox are looking for the future so this 2020 season won’t mean much. I have the Red Sox finishing 3rd in the AL East and not making the playoffs. They will get around 70-75 wins in 2020, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they make a run because they do have a lot of talent on that team.
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Previous Offseason Breakdowns:
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Atlanta Braves
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Baltimore Orioles
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