2013 Red Sox

My friend Bill caught up with me at a holiday party. He said, & I quote, "what the hell are the Red Sox doing overpaying by millions of dollars for these average players." I said to Bill the same thing I said awhile ago in a post on this year's hot stove. The Sox philosophy was no long term deals. That put them out of the running on Hamilton, Greinke & more recently Swisher & Jackson. Next, you can't look at the money because it's ridiculous for every signing. Is Victorino or Napoli worth $39 million? No, but that was the going rate for a contract limited to 3 years. Over the next couple of years you can expect to see several key additions to the big team from players now in the minors - Bogaerts, Bradley Jr., Brentz, de la Rosa, et al. The option for the Sox brass was to rush the kids up to majors or let them perculate a year or two longer so they are better prepared to stay when they arrive. Look at Middlebrooks. He took over for an injured Youk & never left. Every addition this year - Dempster, Gomes, Ross, Uehara, Victorino, Napoli, Hanrahan - they are all place holders until the kids come up. Don't forget the impressive dump of Beckett, Gonzalez, Crawford (& Punto!). The Sox need another year in 2013 to turn things around. As injuries crop up, as trades are made at the deadline in July & as the September call-ups occur, we will get a chance to see the future stars of the Sox for 2014 & beyond. I'm looking forward to seeing the transition.