2014 Red Sox offseason reset

That was fun. As Red Sox Nation begins to come down from an unexpectedly jubilant offseason, the upcoming MLB season is beginning to come into focus. The Red Sox will bring the core of their 2013 World Series champs back, minus one very popular leadoff hitter. How does the lineup look? Rotation? What about the young guys? We tackle those and other pressing questions as we recap the offseason and start the clock from zero on a new campaign.

Who replaces Jacoby Ellsbury?

The Red Sox lost their biggest (in terms of money) in-house free agent this offseason when Jacoby Ellsbury signed a seven-year, $153 million deal with the New York Yankees. Ellsbury leaves holes, atop the lineup and in center field. Boston could slide Shane Victorino over to the position, entrust it to Jackie Bradley, or fill it with a free agent. In any case, the Sox should expect a downgrade in speed and batting average.

Should they extend Lester’s contract?

World Series hero Jon Lester is entering the final year of his contract. If the Red Sox want to lock up the 30-year-old lefthander to a long-term deal, they’d be better off doing it now than letting it linger into the season. Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels, also 30, signed a seven-year, $153 million extension in 2012, which may serve as a blueprint for the kind of deal Lester receives. Lester was 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA in the postseason, with two victories in the World Series.

Will Xander Bogaerts break out?

Depending on whom you talk to, Xander Bogaerts is the most exciting Red Sox prospect since Hanley Ramirez, or he’s even better than that. Baseball America ranked him the No. 8 prospect in baseball after the 2012 season, and his early poise during the World Series has inspired hope that he’ll come around sooner rather than later. Bogaerts is just 21, but he seems locked into an everyday role for 2014.

Will a young arm be ready?

Among baseball prospects, it seems pitchers are a special subcategory. They’re the most difficult players to predict for future success but also possess some of the highest ceilings. The Red Sox have several highly touted pitchers seemingly poised for big things, including Matt Barnes (pictured), Anthony Ranaudo, Allen Webster, and Henry Owens. One or more of them could help the big club at some point this year, as could Dalier Hinojosa, a 27-year-old righthander signed out of Cuba this offseason.

Will A.J. Pierzynski give way to young catchers?

The Red Sox elected to let starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia walk, and they signed A.J. Pierzynski (pictured) to a one-year deal to fill his role. Pierzynski will share time with veteran David Ross, but waiting in the wings are catching prospects Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez. Swihart was taken by the Red Sox with the 26th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He spent all of 2013 with High A Salem, where he hit .298 with 29 doubles, 7 triples, 2 home runs, and 42 RBIs in 103 games. The 23-year-old Vazquez is more of a defensive specialist. He was named MVP of the Portland Sea Dogs in 2013 after leading the team with a .289 average.

Did they get the back end of the bullpen right this time?

Going into last season, the Sox thought their bullpen would be anchored by Joel Hanrahan, Andrew Bailey, and Andrew Miller. Injuries allowed an opening for Koji Uehara, who exceeded everyone’s expectations in the closer’s role. This season, there are questions as to who will get the ball to Uehara. Miller should be back to help Craig Breslow in a setup role, and Edward Mujica, acquired from the Cardinals, gives the Sox some late-inning depth.

Is a starter expendable?

It’s very early, but at this point the Red Sox appear to have six solid starting pitchers, with Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Felix Doubront, Jake Peavy (pictured), and Ryan Dempster all capable of going deep into games. Peavy and Dempster are each due to make more than $13 million in 2014, and with young pitchers waiting in the wings, one of them might be expendable in a trade before the season starts, freeing up money for the Sox to make another move.

What’s up with Stephen Drew?

The Sox would probably be happy having Drew stick around to spell Bogaerts and others, for the right price. He hasn’t shown it consistently, but Drew provides that rare extra-base power at a position usually lacking it. The Sox will have to decide whether or not to sign Drew or go in another direction in the infield.

Can Will Middlebrooks bounce back?

A three-home run game on April 7 got Sox fans salivating at the promise of great things from the young third baseman, but Middlebrooks disappointed with a .227 average and 17 home runs in 2013. He’ll get a chance to prove himself again this season, and fans should be excited at the prospect of a player who hit 15 home runs in 75 games in 2012 returning to similar power numbers.

Are 2013 performances sustainable?

It takes a little luck to win the World Series, but the performances of three Red Sox players in 2013 stand out as we approach a new season. Koji Uehara, Craig Breslow, and David Ortiz each overacheived at some point. Uehara’s 1.09 ERA in 73 appearances constituted one of the best seasons ever by a reliever. There’s nowhere to go but down, even if he’s terrific again. Breslow’s 1.81 ERA was a career best. And there’s no way Ortiz is batting .688 in another World Series.

Can John Farrell be this perfect?

It’s easy to credit manager John Farrell for turning around a poisonous clubhouse and removing any stench left behind by the Bobby Valentine era, but it’s also easy to keep spirits high when a team is winning. The Red Sox didn’t face much adversity in the loss column in 2013. Can Farrell skipper the team through a rough stretch or two?

Who hits leadoff?

Jacoby Ellsbury’s absence may be felt most acutely at the top of the order. The Sox have a few choices for a new leadoff hitter, including the two players who might replace Ellsbury in center field, Shane Victorino and Jackie Bradley. A more interesting choice would be Daniel Nava, who hit .303 with a .385 on-base percentage last season. If Nava can cut it in the leadoff spot, the rest of the lineup falls into place more naturally.

What will the competition be like?

The Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays, and Orioles all have question marks heading into 2014. The Yankees lost their best hitter, Robinson Cano, to Seattle, but spent big dollars on Masahiro Tanaka, Carlos Beltran, and Brian McCann. The Rays still don’t appear to have enough bats, and the Orioles and Blue Jays have yet to put it all together. Of course, the Red Sox weren’t thought to be contenders last season until they forced themselves into contention and refused to leave.

Your turn

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