If there is one word to describe the 2019 Red Sox, it would be complacent.
After a weak start in April, the Red Sox simply did not seem like they cared throughout the season. It was a satisfied group, who had the demeanor that one World Series was plenty to get both fans, and especially media off of their back. If you don’t believe my take, believe David Price who said it himself after the World Series victory.
“I hold all the cards now, and that feels so good” said Price, less than an hour after the final out was made to crown Boston 2018 World Champions.
The Red Sox played like a team that held all the cards. A team that had no expectations for themselves because the 2019 season did not matter to them. They proved the media wrong in 2018, so there was no motivation to prove them wrong again.
Price put up an MVP showing in October, Chris Sale got the final out, and Mookie Betts took home a regular season MVP trophy. The biggest questions on the Red Sox were answered. So what was left for the Red Sox to prove? If the 2019 season proved anything, it was who wanted to be here, and who did not.
The offseason after the World Series started with two huge financial movies. Boston extended Chris Sale and Xander Bogaerts. Sale got a five-year $145 million deal, a contract that many thought of as steep.
However after failing to re-sign Jon Lester and watching him win another World Series in Chicago, the Red Sox were not waiting around for a hometown discount. Sale got market value and was set to spend the next six years in Boston, as his contract did not start until 2020.
Bogaerts on the other hand, did take the hometown discount. A six-year $120 million deal was a hometown steal for the All-star shortstop. If Bogaerts had walked, he would have surely got more money on the market. This was the first sign in 2019 of the players who wanted to be here, and the players that were just ok with being here.
The seasons these two players had exemplified the actions they took in contract talks. Sale took the mound on opening day and got shelled by the Seattle Mariners. Three innings, giving up seven earned runs including three home runs had people talking about the eventual last place and 68-94 Seattle Mariners like a playoff threat. Sale followed this by losing his next five starts in April with a 4.67 ERA in the month.
Sale’s abysmal 2019 did not stop in April. He seemed to figure it out in May and June, posting a sub 3.00 ERA in those months, before ending up on the injured list after getting blown out by the Blue Jays on July 3.
Sale spent the rest of the season back and forth between the IL and getting picked apart on the mound. After coming back from the IL, the lefty held a 5.67 ERA from his first start in his return until he was shut down for the season in August.
Bogaerts on the other hand, simply tore it up in 2019. The shortstop had his best year statistically in just about every category. He shattered his career highs in home runs, RBI’s, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and WAR.
He was a constant in a season full of inconsistencies. Not often do you see a player have a contract year after receiving a contract, especially in baseball. Bogaerts is not the type of player to brag about where he is, or rave about how much he loves his situation, but in a season of complacency and lack of caring, it was refreshing to see Bogaerts let his actions do the talking.
While contract talks and production do not define a player and their love of the team they play for, they often give an idea as to where the player’s main focus is. As we head into the offseason, the next two players on the list on big money contracts become Betts and JD Martinez. In 2018, both were in the MVP race with Betts ultimately finishing first. But in 2018, both had something to prove.
Betts was coming off a down year after a 2016 MVP season and was surrounded by questions of whether or not it was who he was, or an anomaly. He responded with career high numbers in almost all offensive categories. He also won a gold glove for the third consecutive year. Betts had something to prove and he proved it…..Until he disproved it.
Betts’ home run, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and stolen base numbers all dropped. Some slightly, others drastically. While it’s tough to maintain MVP numbers for multiple seasons, that is also why $30 million per-year contracts are not just handed out. This remains the big discussion for the Red Sox.
In the offseason, the Red Sox have a big decision to make. Trade the star of their franchise and deal with the backlash if he puts up big numbers elsewhere, or sign him to a $300 million dollar deal (at minimum) and hope he plays up to his contract. Based off of word coming out of Betts’ camp, it seems he would like to test the market and get the best available offer.
Does Betts like being with the Red Sox? It seems like he does. But does Betts love being in Boston? Right now it seems like not nearly enough to take even a slight pay-cut to stay. The proof is right in front of the Red Sox eyes as to whether or not to sign a player who only wants to stay because of the money.
Here is a list of Red Sox players that came or stayed with the team because of financial reasons: David Price, Chris Sale, Pablo Sandoval, Carl Crawford, John Lackey, Rusney Castillo.
Here is a list of Red Sox players that took a pay-cut or signed for less than their expected value in free agency: Xander Bogaerts, David Ortiz, Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes.
There is a trend here. Players who have previously signed for the money fall off. Eight years removed from signing Carl Crawford to the first of many notably bad signings and Red Sox fans still plead ownership to pull the trigger on players that simply do not care whether or not they are in the city.
The same could be said for Martinez, who noted in an exit interview with Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe that he “doesn’t mind moving around.”
If both Martinez and Betts would rather chase the money, then Red Sox fans need to let them go. In baseball, talent is not everything. The 2013 Red Sox were built off of a good locker room with players who enjoyed being in Boston. The 2018 team had loads of talent, but could not put together a championship run until everyone bought in.
Boston may want to keep their talented players, as all teams do, but it may not give them the best shot to win. The Philadelphia Phillies signed prized free agent Bryce Harper to a 13-year, $330 million contract. Harper and Philadelphia however will be watching from their homes as the superstar’s former team the Washington Nationals will be fighting for a playoff spot.
Baseball is a strange sport, that many times does not need a single superstar to win. There is constant proof that often the biggest superstars do not bring championships. Boston would be smart to follow in this concept.
One Response
The author’s message is simply true. Betts wants the biggest contract possible, but he is not anti-Red. Sox. It is time to move on from Betts. He wants more the Red Sox than can pay him. Probably 350-400 million range.