Boston Red Sox 2023 Season Preview
There are a lot of bald spots in Red Sox Nation because of all the head-scratching that took place over the offseason. Boston started the offseason with 13 Major League free agents and only signed one – utility infielder Yu Chang. That list included Xander Bogaerts, who signed a massive 11-year deal with the San Diego Padres. Instead of giving $280 million to the 30-year-old Bogaerts, the Red Sox extended 26-year-old MVP candidate Rafael Devers for 13 years and $331 million. Locking up Devers was the least head-scratching move of them all.
Instead of signing a big free agent on the open market in the United States, the Red Sox opted to give five years and $90 million to Japanese import Masataka Yoshida. Time will tell if that move works out, but Yoshida will be joined by Kenley Jansen, Corey Kluber, Justin Turner, Adam Duvall, Jorge Alfaro, Chris Martin and Joely Rodriguez for one of the older rosters in the league.
Barring any changes or injuries, the Red Sox look to go into the season with four starting pitchers over 30, including two significant injury risks, a lineup with boom or bust potential and a bullpen that could go any number of ways. Depth is virtually non-existent for the Red Sox, so they’ll have to stay healthy to come close to their ceiling.