The Boston Red Sox rebounded from a tough 2015 campaign to win the American League East in 2016. Will they be able to keep up their potent offense without David Ortiz?
After fielding the best offense in baseball last season while David Ortiz enjoyed one of the most productive final seasons in MLB history, the Boston Red Sox could enjoy another solid season. With Big Papi gone, however, the Red Sox core of young players will need to take another step forward if they hope to support what could be a dominant starting rotation.
Questions lingered during the first half of last season as to whether or not Mookie Betts could one day be a star, but he silenced all doubters with an MVP caliber season. He, along with Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi, has the capability to carry the Red Sox for much of the upcoming season.
But with veterans Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland in the mix, they won’t have to. A potential bounce-back season from Pablo Sandoval could push the offense into a similar realm as the Ortiz-era teams, though nothing is guaranteed with the Panda.
With the emergence of AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello last season, Boston was able to handle a less than spectacular season from David Price. The offseason addition of Chris Sale solidifies Boston’s rotation as one of the best in the league, and Sale should be able to make up for any amount of time that Price misses to start the season.
The back-end of the rotation has plenty of firepower, too. Knuckleballer Steven Wright enjoyed an All-Star first half before succumbing to injury in the second half of the season, but has looked solid in spring training thus far. All-Star lefty Drew Pomeranz has had durability issues during his time with Boston, and Eduardo Rodriguez is essentially guaranteed a spot in the rotation to start the season with Price out.
While Craig Kimbrel wasn’t as dominant as usual last season, he racked up strikeouts and looks poised for some improvements in his second season in the AL East. The addition of right-hander Tyler Thornburg gives the Sox a reliable set-up option, while Matt Barnes and Joe Kelly could be key mid-inning relievers.