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MLB Rankings: These Five Teams had the Worst 2021 Offseasons

By Travis Koch

FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom of the Boston Red Sox addresses the media during a press conference during a spring training team workout on February 21, 2021 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom of the Boston Red Sox addresses the media during a press conference during a spring training team workout on February 21, 2021 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

Worst 2021 MLB Offseasons: #3 Boston Red Sox

Notable additions: OF Hunter Renfroe, RHP Garrett Richards, RHP Adam Ottavino, 2B Enrique Hernandez, INF Marwin Gonzalez, OF Franchy Cordero

The Red Sox put their stamp on several trades this MLB offseason, but what did they actually accomplish?

They essentially swapped Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. for Franchy Cordero and Hunter Renfroe. Cordero is toolsy, and Renfroe should knock his share over the Green Monster, though it’s a stretch to argue either is better than their predecessor.

Benintendi was a doubles machine for the Red Sox, and he was rarely an easy out. Bradley Jr. is a top-two defensive center field in MLB, plus he had his most encouraging offensive season to date in 2020. Does Boston honestly believe they’re better off with the newbies?

The Red Sox’s outfield moves are curious; however, a lineup consisting of Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, and Alex Verdugo can cover any blemishes. Their offense scored the fifth-most runs in the AL in 2020, even with Martinez astonishingly slashing .213/.291/.389.

Their pitching, on the other hand, allowed the most runs in the AL. Boston’s staff provoked the highest batting average against (BAA) in the league by a 16-point margin; they also ranked last in walks and home runs.

Justifiably, their starting rotation was a shadow of itself, lacking Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez from start to finish. But Sale will miss part of the 2021 season as well, and Rodriguez will only boost the starting five so much.

Boston hardly addressed its humdrum rotation, re-signing lefty Martin Perez and signing Garrett Richards, whose body has held him to just 41 outings in the past five seasons.

With all their riches and their recent money-saving tactics, the best they could drum up in free agency was a career-long sub-par southpaw and an injury-prone right-hander. Moves like these aren’t going to overcome deficits to the rival Yankees, league-champion Rays, or surging Blue Jays.

Sure the Red Sox made a few headlines this winter, but how much good will come of them?

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