Dustin Pedroia reportedly reached out to Red Sox management about signing free agent pitchers
"He was very clear about his feelings."
Dustin Pedroia’s pitch to Red Sox management: As the Red Sox enter the 2024 season, expectations appear to be lower heading into spring training than they were in most the preceding two decades (an ESPN power ranking recently placed Boston 17th).
The team has several roster issues (starting pitching being one of the most pressing), hindered by management’s apparent aversion to pursuing higher-reputation free agents. In a recent column, Boston Globe Red Sox reporter Peter Abraham highlighted this by citing an anecdote involving former Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Despite team chairman Tom Werner promising in late 2023 that the Red Sox would approach the offseason “full throttle,” major signings failed to happen. Still, several notable free agents remain available, a fact which Pedroia recently reminded team management of.
“The Sox will never be irrelevant, but uninteresting is on the table again,” wrote Abraham. “It led Pedroia to FaceTime a dinner that Cora and some executives were attending Sunday night and remind the group that several high-profile free agents remained available, starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell among them.”
Montgomery, a 31-year-old left-handed starter who helped the Rangers win the World Series last season, is still without a contract (and has reportedly been living in Boston during the offseason). Snell, also 31, is a two-time Cy Young Award winner, including 2023 (when he won the National League award).
The result of Pedroia’s FaceTime remains to be seen. Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy told Abraham that, “We appreciate that perspective from Pedey.”
“He was very clear about his feelings,” Kennedy added.
According to Spotrac, the Red Sox total payroll ($158 million) currently ranks 11th in the league, trailing the Yankees (who lead the league) by over $132 million.
Trivia: In Dustin Pedroia’s MVP season (2008), he led the Majors with 213 hits. In Red Sox history, two other players have both collected exactly 213 hits across a season. Can you name them?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: One happened in 2011, the other in 1978.
Scores and schedules:
The Bruins won 4-3 in a shootout against the Stars on Monday. Boston returns to the ice on Wednesday to play the Oilers in Edmonton at 10 p.m.
Also from Monday, the Boston Cannons won the Premier League Lacrosse Championship Series with a dramatic 23-22 win over Philadelphia.
The Celtics will be back in action following the NBA All-Star break on Thursday in Chicago against the Bulls at 8 p.m.
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- Lefty Driesell, coach who built Maryland into college basketball power, dies at 92
- NBA All-Star weekend takeaways: Lots of points, lots of winners in Indy
Matthew’s Slater’s announcement: The legendary Patriots special teams ace has officially called time on his career.
On this day: In 1980, the U.S. men’s hockey team rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat West Germany 4-2 and clinch a spot in the Lake Placid Winter Olympic medal round.
The underdog Americans would famously go on to upset the Soviet Union two days later, but would not have been in a position to do so had they not staged a comeback in the final first round game.
Daily highlight: Here’s the moment Matt Kavanagh won the Championship Series for the Boston Cannons in overtime against Philadelphia on Monday.
Trivia answer: Adrian Gonzalez, Jim Rice
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