Boston Red Sox mismanaged 2019-20 offseason already

With their decisions made during the last offseason, the Boston Red Sox completely mismanaged the 2019-20 offseason already.

The Boston Red Sox had numerous decisions to make heading into the 2019 campaign. Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly, two key parts of their bullpen, were free agents, as were postseason heroes Steve Pearce and Nathan Eovaldi. Chris Sale was an impending free agent. Then there were extensions to consider for Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts, as well as the coming opt-out for J.D. Martinez. Depending on how the Red Sox approached that offseason would go a long way to determining their future.

Boston made several moves that, at the time, seemed questionable at best. Kimbrel and Kelly were allowed to walk without much of an effort being made to retain either. To make matters worse, the Red Sox did nothing to replace those relievers, hoping that in-house options would be able to pick up the slack.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox did bring back other players. Eovaldi, despite inconsistent results and an extensive injury history, was given a four year deal worth $68 million. Pearce, a platoon bat at best, was handed $6.25 million on a one year contract. Sale and Bogaerts were given extensions, which may have been the only two moves from the offseason that made sense.

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But now, the Red Sox face a financial crunch. Dave Dombrowski, who had guided Boston to a championship and through the previous offseason, is gone. Betts and Martinez still need to have their futures determined. And, ownership is looking to get below the luxury tax line, dropping their payroll below $208 million.

Those decisions from the previous offseason are beginning to roost. If the Red Sox are serious about getting under the luxury tax, it is unlikely that both Betts and Martinez return. While Betts is one of the better players in the game, it seems inevitable that he will test free agency after the 2020 campaign. Could Boston actually look to trade Betts, rather than being left with a compensatory pick?

If Betts stays, then it is likely that Martinez is out the door. Although Betts may be the best player on the team, Martinez is their most feared slugger, a true power hitter that anchors the Red Sox lineup. Both players are essentially irreplaceable on their roster.

On top of those two players, Boston has plenty of questions in their pitching staff. The rotation completely broke down this season, and Rick Porcello is a free agent. The bullpen needs plenty of work, particularly in the later innings. That championship, even if it is just one year ago, feels much further away.

And yet, some of these decisions would not need to be made had the front office not bungled the previous offseason. The refusal to address the bullpen, and the asinine contract to Eovaldi, have helped put Boston in a difficult situation. It may not be one they can spend their way out of, especially given the comments from ownership.

The Boston Red Sox have not entered this offseason, yet it has already been mismanaged. That happened last year, when Dave Dombrowski made numerous moves that did not make any sense.