Boston Red Sox- 2013 Preview

2012 Results: 69-93 (5th in AL EAST)

The Boston Red Sox failed completely in 2012. They were not able to come back from the historic September collapse of 2011. They managed to become an even worse team in 2012 and even traded away superstars. The Red Sox ranked 10th in batting average (.260), 27th in ERA (4.70) and 13th in Fielding percentage (.983). To be totally honest, the Red Sox were terrible and there wasn't any real bright spots for them in 2012. The Major League debut of Wil Middlebrooks was great but sadly he got injuried not very long after and didn't play for the rest of the season. That's about all the good news from Boston.

The Red Sox managed to trade away Kevin Youkilis, who had played his whole career since 2004 in Boston, to Chicago. They also traded Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, and Nick Punto to the Dodgers in what had to be the stupidest trade of 2012. It was a "Get Out Of Jail Free Card" if you will for Boston, who managed to trade $400 million dollars to the Dodgers. The deal didn't make sense because of money. Why would the Dodgers take on THAT much money for players who have been in a decline? Simply put, it was a great deal fro Boston to free up alot of money.

How does 2013 look?

Offseason Moves: ARRIVALS

C David Ross - Free Agent (ATL)
C/1B Mike Napoli - Free Agent (TEX) STILL PENDING
1B/OF Jerry Sands - Trade (LAD)
2B Jeff Kobernus - Rule 5 (WAS)
SS Stephen Drew - Free Agent (OAK)
IF Brock Holt - Trade (PIT)
OF Jonny Gomes - Free Agent (OAK)
OF Shane Victorino - Free Agent (LAD)
RHP David Carpenter - Trade (TOR)
RHP Rubby De La Rosa - Trade (LAD)
RHP Ryan Dempster - Free Agent (TEX)
RHP Graham Godfrey - Trade (OAK)
RHP Joel Hanrahan - Trade (PIT)
RHP Kyle Kaminska - Trade (PIT)
RHP Sandy Rosario - Waivers (MIA); 2x: Waivers (OAK)
RHP Koji Uehara - Free Agent (TEX)

DEPARTURES

1B James Loney - Free Agent (TB)
1B/OF Jerry Sands - Trade (PIT)
2B Jeff Kobernus - Trade (DET)
3B Danny Valencia - Trade (BOS)
IF Mike Aviles - Trade (TOR)
IF Ivan De Jesus, Jr. - Trade (PIT)
OF Che-Hsuan Lin - Waivers (HOU)
OF Cody Ross - Free Agent (ARI)
RHP David Carpenter - Waivers (ATL)
RHP Josh Fields - Rule 5 (HOU)
RHP Mark Melancon - Trade (PIT)
RHP Stolmy Pimentel - Trade (PIT)
RHP Ryan Pressly - Rule 5 (MIN)
RHP Sandy Rosario - Trade (OAK); 2x: Waivers (CHC)
RHP Zach Stewart - Trade (PIT)

Without a doubt, the Red Sox have improved greatly this offseason. They managed to sign very good players to smaller, better contracts. They improved the starting rotation with the Ryan Dempster signing, improve the bullpen by signing Koji Uehara and getting Joel Hanrahan in a trade. The lineup itself has improved as well, but there is one problem still. Mike Napoli agreed to a deal with Boston back a month ago and he still has not been OFFICALLY signed. Rumors are that a hip issue has come up and Boston is trying to rewrite the deal to protect themselves in case Napoli gets hurt. The Red Sox have also looked at Adam LaRoche but they aren't really pursing him. LaRoche wants a 3 year deal but no team in baseball seems to want to give him that. You also have to keep in mind that signing LaRoche would cost the Red Sox a draft pick (2nd round) because the Nationals made him a qualifying offer.

2013 Predictions: 82-80 (5th in AL East)
Boston has made great improvements with the team this offseason and they should be a much better team than 2012. The problem is the rest of the AL East has improved greatly as well and Boston hasn't done enough to be at the top. I do believe the Red Sox could compete for a playoff spot, maybe even the AL East, but alot has to go right for that to happen. The starting rotation has to be better. They have great guys in the rotation but they have to return to form in 2013 for the Red Sox to be able to compete. The offense needs to do more of the same as 2012. Keep scoring alot of runs and keep the pressure on opposing pitching. David Ortiz is still a great player and a force in the Boston lineup and getting Mike Napoli right next to him will be great for the Red Sox.

That was basically the problem for the Red Sox in 2012, pitching. The pitching staff was one of the worst in baseball and even though they scored alot of runs, it didn't compare to the amount pitching gave up. The Red Sox are better but the focus in 2013 should be to return to healthy form. If they can do that, then they will be able to keep up with Tampa Bay, Toronto and Baltimore.