Boston Red Sox: Five players primed to bounce back in 2018
Which players from the Boston Red Sox are looking to rebound in 2018?
Last season appeared to be a good one for the Boston Red Sox. A 93-69 finish and a division title are accolades most teams would kill to boast. Alongside the development of future star Andrew Benintendi and the seamless change of “sox” for Chris Sale, it appeared as if the season went well from the outside.
But, things were not so peachy.
The postseason was a disaster for a second straight season. The team was ousted from the first round by the eventual World Champs in just four games. The starting pitching decided not to show up (no starter went past five innings), and the offense was dismal.
In the regular season, things were not all they were cracked up to be.
The progress many of the younger guys in this team’s core nucleus made in 2016 was halted in 2017. Steps back were taken by many. There was never a clear leader, and when we were told that Dustin Pedroia was that guy, the Manny Machado incident made us question it all.
There was drama. David Price seemed always to be picking fights with media members, most infamously Dennis Eckersley, one of the team’s color analysts
The drama, missed expectations, and inconsistent play culminated in the firing of then-manager John Farrell.
Through all the ups and downs of 2017, there’s some hope for 2018 around the Red Sox. Though they’re phasing out of the Giancarlo Stanton talks, they’re becoming more active in trade talks for other power bats such as Jose Abreu. Alex Cora, the new manager, played in Boston and provided new optimism, a unique voice, and most importantly, a new direction.
To go along with the hopes being high for the upcoming season, these five guys are primed for bounce-back seasons in 2018.
5.) Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts
This one may seem a bit out place. 24 home runs with 102 RBI would be a good season for most players. Though not eye-popping, a .264 batting average isn’t terrible either.
But for Mookie Betts, these numbers were a significant step back from 2016.
In 2016, Betts finished second in American League MVP voting. His 31 home runs, 113 RBI, and .318 batting average in just his second full season were as impressive as it got. He seemed on track to becoming one of the league’s most dynamic, all-around superstars.
After this season, he looks more like a glorified Andrew McCutchen.
Apparently, those numbers from 2016 were going to be hard to duplicate. That’s a lot of pressure on a third-year player. His numbers weren’t bad. It’s just that the decline was apparent.
Expect Betts to have his most telling season in 2018. Since he’s already had his breakout, MVP-like campaign and one that included a decline, this upcoming season should have numbers right in between the ones he’s had in the previous two years.
Or he could put up numbers even better than the ones he had in 2016. Now that would be one heck of a comeback.
4.) Boston Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts
Let’s cut right to the chase here: everything was down for Xander Bogaerts in 2017.
His power disappeared this past season, as he only hit 10 home runs compared to his 21 in 2016. He only gathered up 62 RBI this past season while getting 89 in 2016. His batting average also dropped from .294 in 2016 to .273 in 2017.
He only batted .059 in the postseason.
With last season being his fourth full season, a lot more progress should have been made. He’s been all over the place in his previous seasons. It was unknown as to whether or not he was a power bat, a contact hitter, or both.
This season didn’t help decipher that question.
Among all qualified American League shortstops, Bogaerts ranked eleventh in home runs and seventh for RBI and batting average.
His potential was high after 2016, as he was mentioned in the same breath as other elite shortstops such as Francisco Lindor and Corey Seager.
2018 will be a telling one for Bogaerts and his future with the Boston Red Sox. He’ll be a free agent in 2020 and this season will begin to give the Red Sox the confirmation of whether or not they should give him his big payday that he’ll likely be asking for in the future.
3.) Boston Red Sox: Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez had a monster 2016. 30 home runs and 111 RBI is something to boast. But many were skeptical of how he’d perform in 2017 without David Ortiz by his side.
And those skeptics were proven right.
Ramirez took a step back in 2017, with a slash line of .242/.320/.429 in 133 games, to go along with his power and production numbers went down, as he only hit 23 home runs and 62 RBI.
But, as we’ve come to learn, the decline was mainly due to the multiple injuries Ramirez sustained in 2017. He battled injuries to his hamstring, oblique and shoulder. He even required surgery for his left shoulder.
Hi my people, went in for left shoulder surgery today, keep me in prayers. Coming back stronger in ‘18, love you all #RedSoxNation @RedSox pic.twitter.com/axDr10BB5x
— Hanley Ramirez ⚾️ (@HanleyRamirez) October 17, 2017
The hope is for Ramirez to keep to his word, to come back stronger in 2018. But at 33, he’s not getting any younger.
For everyone else on this list, the question is whether or not they’ll bounce back. For Ramirez, it’s if he even gets a chance at consistent playing time.
J.D. Martinez has a name that has been floated out there for the Red Sox to sign, as they’re in need of a power bat. With the Red Sox already having three young, talented outfielders, Martinez would only be able to slot in at DH — Hanley’s position consistently.
It all comes down to whether or not the Red Sox trust Ramirez to bounce back in 2018. And from all factors considered, it seems as if he will.
2.) Boston Red Sox: David Price
Unlike everyone on this list, the Red Sox are hoping David Price can bounce back from a rough couple of years.
Price’s tenure with the Boston Red Sox has been tumultuous at best. His play on the field hasn’t been worth the $217 million the Red Sox have devoted to him. His actions off the field, specifically his handling of the Boston media, haven’t been great either.
Price dealt with left elbow inflammation for most of the season as he went 6-3 with an ERA of 3.38.
Due to his lack of play throughout 2017 and his horrible past in the postseason, he didn’t start a postseason game. But, he did come in for relief twice going 6 2/3 innings with an ERA of 0.00. His best performance as a Red Sox came in Game 3 against the Houston Astros when he went four innings out of the bullpen and gave up zero runs leading to a Red Sox win.
Because that was his last appearance of 2017, Price is currently riding some serious momentum. It appears that with that stellar postseason outing, a new manager and a fresh season, Price is on the way to finding his groove with the Sox and bouncing back.
1.) Boston Red Sox: Rick Porcello
It’s hard to find someone that underwent even close to the same decline that Rick Porcello suffered from in 2017.
In 2016, Porcello went 22-4 with an ERA of 3.15. Those stats were good enough for him to earn the American League Cy Young award.
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Now, I think it goes without saying that no one expected Porcello to be that good. We all knew that we had witnessed peak Porcello in 2016.
We knew that Porcello probably wouldn’t be that good again.
We just never thought he’d decline as hard as he did in 2017.
11-17 with an ERA of 4.65. Those were Porcello’s numbers in 2017. Alongside that, he gave up a career-high 38 home runs.
He was not reliable whatsoever throughout the season.
Next: The big trade that the Red Sox must make.
In 2018, Porcello will fall somewhere in the middle of 2016 and 2017. Porcello did something that is rarely seen in all of the sports: to have your best season and your worst season back-to-back. From now on, Porcello is likely to be a solid #3 starter with a win total every year ranging from 13-17 and an ERA hovering around 3.50.
Nonetheless, no other Boston Red Sox, or MLB player for that matter, is more due for a bounce-back season than Porcello.