On a late Tuesday night, December 9th, 2014, millions of Red Sox fans’ hearts shattered into millions of pieces. Jon Lester, the man who beat cancer, led the Sox to two World Series Championships, and anchored the Red Sox rotation as their ace and leader signed with the Chicago Cubs. He signed a 6-year, $155 million deal with the club, turning down the Giants’ 7 year, $168 million, and Red Sox’s 6 year, $135 million dollar deal, according to Yahoo Sports.
In reality, the Sox lost this bidding war far before this off-season by offering Lester an insultingly low four year, $70 million dollar contract at the beginning of spring training. While Lester was initially open to accepting a hometown discount, the Red Sox clearly crossed the line from hometown discount into degradingly low territory with this offer. This was clearly a cold slap in the face to Lester and company. As a result, he refused to negotiate his contract until after the season.
Then, on July 31st, with the Red Sox sitting in the basement of the American League East, they traded Lester and fan favorite Jonny Gomes to playoff contender Oakland for power-hitting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. This was the final nail in the coffin for the Red Sox’s Lester hopes.
Lester will always be a part of Boston, and he should definitely not be under scrutiny from Red Sox fans for leaving in search of greener pastures. The Red Sox ownership is clearly to blame for their contract negotiating blunders. If the Sox had offered Lester a $135 million deal in spring training, or anything in the ballpark of $100 million, he likely would have signed it.
SHS junior Nate Ryan says in response to the debacle, “I can’t blame Lester for wanting to leave after how he was treated last year. He did what was best for him.”
According to The Boston Herald, President and CEO Larry Lucchino said in response to the Lester failure, “I don’t want to get into a step-by-step dissection through the negotiating process. Just look at the end result. We failed to get done what was our goal. So we are subject to criticism, and rightly so, for that. There were so many steps along the way that could’ve gone differently. I’d rather look forward and say, ‘How about that Red Sox starting rotation, how about lineup for next year, how about that offense?’ Let’s accentuate some of the positives that came out of this offseason.”
And there certainly were some positives that have come out of this offseason. In addition to signing Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, the Sox added pitchers Rick Porcello, Wade Miley, and Justin Masterson.
Shortly after failing to sign Lester, the Red Sox completed a trade with the Tigers, sending outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for righty Rick Porcello, who turns 26 in late December. The 6 foot 5 inch Porcello won the Rookie of the Year award in 2009, and has since posted a respectable 4.30 ERA according to Baseball Reference. Although Porcello has relatively underperformed since his breakout rookie season, he certainly has the talent to have a breakout 2015 season with the Sox.
The Red Sox also signed free-agent RHP Justin Masterson to a one year, $9.5 million deal, according to Major League Baseball’s website. The 29 year old Masterson has posted similar numbers to Porcello throughout his career, being elected an All-Star in 2013 and accumulating a 4.24 career ERA.
The most interesting pickup of all though is definitely the southpaw Wade Miley. Acquired in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Miley had an outstanding rookie year in 2012, with a 3.33 ERA, a 16-11 record, and All Star honors. He finished in 2nd place to Bryce Harper in the NL rookie of the year voting, according to Baseball Reference. Out of the Sox’s current rotation, I have my money on Miley to develop into the Sox’s next ace.
These three, along with Clay Bucholz and Joe Kelly, will be the heart of the Red Sox 2015 rotation as of now. Although Red Sox fans have voiced their concerns about this group not containing a true ace, John Farrell has said he believes someone out this group will eventually develop into an ace. According to The Boston Globe, Farrell said, “Every guy that’s evolved into a No. 1-type starting pitcher, they had opportunity, they had support around them, and performed their ways into their roles, whether it’s pitchers that had been here in the past, that evolved as such.”
The Sox most likely won’t be pursuing high profile free agents like Max Scherzer — the Sox have five young arms that could very well develop into aces. Pitchers are not developed overnight, so Red Sox Nation just needs to be patient in waiting for a new star to develop. Even if Red Sox fans aren’t confident in their World Series chances, Vegas certainly is listing the Boston Red Sox as favorites to win the American League Pennant at 9/1 odds, according to The Boston Herald.
Junior Sarah Whalen is confident in the Sox, saying, “It sounds like a fresh start for the Sox!” For the Sox fans who are quick to scorn their offseason performance thus far, just take a look back to the prehistoric days of the 2013 season, the last time the Red Sox “started fresh.” In addition to new manager John Farrell, the Sox signed a bunch of mismatched, average run-of- the-mill players like Jonny Gomes, David Ross, and aging veterans like Koji Uehara and Shane Victorino, and turned it into a championship season.
So don’t be surprised when all of the stars align for the Sox this season and they are once again playing in the Fall Classic.