The Red Sox had a strong start to the season, but the final stretch revealed that Boston still needs something extra to achieve its goals.
The offseason promises to be interesting for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. While manager Alex Cora’s position is secure, Breslow and his team must determine which players fit the vision for the Red Sox moving forward.
NESN broadcaster Lou Merloni joined Tom Caron and Alex Speier on the “310 To Left” podcast to discuss Boston’s season, highlighting both the highs and lows. Merloni shared his wishlist for the Red Sox’s offseason moves.
“It starts with the rotation,” Merloni said. “As you mentioned, you have to look at where Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes, and Max Fried are. I think these moves happen via trade. There are too many lefties in the organization, not just in the majors but also in the minors. One guy I’d love to see here is Garrett Crochet.”
“… At some point, they have to realize you don’t need five elite pitchers because you also need offense. This was the worst offense in baseball. Four great pitchers is enough. Give one up. I think the Red Sox will make some trades. They need more right-handed hitters, and they need to add a couple of those bats. For me, they also need a top-tier lefty, a legitimate left-handed arm in the bullpen.”
Boston was linked to Blake Snell last offseason, and Corbin Burnes was another speculated target. Garrett Crochet was also considered as a potential trade deadline acquisition, though Merloni noted it wouldn’t have been smart for any team to trade for him at the time due to his situation with the Chicago White Sox.
The Red Sox might revisit those options while looking to strengthen areas where they’re lacking. Merloni also acknowledged that if Roman Anthony or any other prospect from the “Big Four” advances to the majors, further decisions will be necessary.
It will be interesting to see what moves Craig Breslow makes in his second year at the helm.
