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‘It’s not enough’: MLB insider slams Red Sox’ offseason approach amid A.L. East competition
"The Red Sox need to do one of two things: win more or bid higher."
The latest on the Red Sox: Following the recent news that infielder Alex Bregman was leaving the Red Sox in free agency to sign a reported five-year deal with the Cubs worth $175 million, Boston fans (and even former players) have voiced their displeasure with the lack of aggression from the team’s front office.
And in a recent piece of analysis from ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the current Red Sox offseason situation came into greater focus.
“The Red Sox need to do one of two things: win more or bid higher,” Passan wrote, comparing Boston’s free agent falterings with their American League East opponent, the Blue Jays, who also suffered several prominent near-misses in recent years.
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Acknowledging the series of trades that Boston has pulled off — the Red Sox have added first baseman Willson Contreras as well as pitchers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo — Passan credited Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, but added a stark secondary point.
“It’s not enough,” he added. “Not in the AL East, let alone the entire landscape of the game.”
Chiding Boston owner John Henry for not spending more, Passan noted that “it is generally not good business to alienate paying customers through degradation of product.”
“If the season started today,” Passan explained, “the Red Sox would be a playoff contender, sure, but with Toronto and Baltimore improved and the Yankees the Yankees, is that enough?”
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Bregman alternatives remain available, including Bo Bichette and Ketel Marte, and that is a clear place for Boston to start in the short-term quest of picking up the pieces.
“Getting Bichette, who’s the obvious choice with Bregman gone and Ketel Marte off the trade market, would provide a huge boost.”
Still, Passan closed on an ominous note. Asking if the current Red Sox team — even with the possible addition of another free agent like Bichette or Marte — has enough talent, he bluntly answered his own question.
“The answer, compared to their peers, is: No.”
Scores and schedules:
The Bruins defeated the Red Wings 3-0 on Tuesday. Boston will host the Kraken on Thursday at 8 p.m.
The Boston Fleet play the Toronto Sceptres tonight at the Tsongas Center at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Celtics face the Heat in Miami at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the Patriots play the Texans at Gillette Stadium in the AFC divisional round at 3 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
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- Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson among 6 finalists for NFL’s fan-voted Rookie of the Year award
- Revolution sign Cristiano Oliveira of Somerville as Homegrown Player
- Report: Celtics ‘would love’ to trade for former Defensive Player of the Year
- Boston Legacy FC acquires Olympic gold medalist Nichelle Prince in trade with Kansas City Current
- Olympic fans get first chance to buy tickets to 2028 Games in Los Angeles
- After viral hockey brawl among 8-year-olds, investigations are underway
- Report: Chargers fire offensive coordinator, OL coach after wild-card loss to Patriots
- Bill Belichick breaks down what went right for the Patriots and wrong for the Chargers
- Joe Mazzulla repeated the same two words for an entire press conference after Celtics’ loss
Mic’d up Patriots: The Patriots released an extended cut of the sights and sounds from the playoff win over the Chargers.
“It’s literally Payton Pritchard”: The Celtics’ guard recently surprised a group of kids at a local basketball court.
On this day: In 2006, the Patriots lost to the Broncos 27-13 in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, the first postseason defeat of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era. However, the game is almost more remembered for the remarkable hustle play of New England tight end Ben Watson, who chased speedy Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey the length of the field. Even amid a loss, it remains an iconic play in Patriots history.
Daily highlight: Wisconsin men’s basketball defeated Minnesota 78-75 at the buzzer on Tuesday thanks to John Blackwell.
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