Pedro Martinez has dire prediction for Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are at a potential crossroads in the coming years.

Xander Bogaerts is going to opt out of his contract and will receive an impressive deal during free agency. J.D. Martinez is another Red Sox free agent and is not guaranteed to come back. Then there is the Rafael Devers question for the 2023-24 offseason. It is enough for the legendary Pedro Martinez to sound the alarm.

Pedro Martinez sees major problems ahead for Boston Red Sox

Martinez had said that he feels if Bogaerts opts out and he and Martinez end up with another team, that Devers will follow suit. Once that happens, he warns that the essence and culture that the Red Sox had built will be lost and it may be some time until that returns, if it does in the near future.

There are obvious ways to keep that from happening. The Red Sox can simply pay Bogaerts what he deserves instead of trying to nickel and dime him prior to the offseason. The same can be said with Devers although he is a year away from free agency. Martinez is 35 years old and his 117 OPS+ was the worst of any full season since 2013, but he could still be a player that teams look to bring in to upgrade their lineup and for his winning experience.

In the end, the Red Sox are going to stick to their plans. Chaim Bloom is going to follow what his formula says and will base his offseason decisions on that instead of emotion or anything that cannot be quantified.

But that is where the Red Sox are missing out. The clubhouse and team chemistry are not what they once were. The lack of attention to that aspect was clear when the Red Sox let Kevin Plawecki go, a move that was highly unpopular amongst the players. It is something that is not likely to change either.

That is what Martinez is afraid of. He had been a part of the Red Sox 2004 championship team and knows what sort of presence is needed. He knows that having those players who embrace the culture of the organization are vital. And that is something that the Red Sox could lose in the near future.

Pedro Martinez sees disaster in the Boston Red Sox future. Unless they can keep their core together, they will lose a major part of their identity.