3 reasons the Boston Red Sox are being overlooked heading into 2023

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The AL East appears to be the best division in baseball heading into the 2023 season with the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays clear division favorites with the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays both having arguments as potential playoff teams.

In a highly competitive division is clear Boston is being overlooked with ESPN ranking the Red Sox the 19th-best team in the league heading into Opening Day. CBS shows a bit more respect for Boston ranking the Red Sox 16th with the Rays, Blue Jays, and Yankees all far ahead of what is clearly expected to be a fourth-place team. The Ringer continues with the trend ranking the Red Sox 19th with the Rangers and Angels ranked ahead of a far more proven team.

Boston had a rough offseason when you glance merely at the surface losing Xander Bogaerts in free agency and Trevor Story to injury. However, for those that dig a bit deeper looking at the complete roster in comparison to last year’s team, it becomes clear that the Red Sox are a team that is not only being overlooked when it comes to their own division but perhaps as surprise AL contenders with a young roster and a long history of turning into a contender when it is least expected.

Let’s dive into the three reasons the Boston Red Sox are being overlooked heading into 2023.

Mar 25, 2023; Clearwater, Florida, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge (99) congratulates third baseman Josh Donaldson (28) after hitting a two-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The value of the New York Yankees

Sharing a division with the Yankees comes with a steep price. The Yankees have always been box office and what Aaron Judge accomplished last season only added to the hype surrounding the team heading into the 2023 season.

Sharing a division with the Yankees means you will likely be overlooked and undervalued if New York is anything close to a contending team. This isn’t meant to disrespect a historic franchise, but rather to point out the impact of sharing the division with the Yankees.

They are the NFL equivalent of the Dallas Cowboys, a team that draws attention no matter what they fail to accomplish.

Over the last decade, only one team has won the World Series from the AL East … and it isn’t the team wearing pinstripes whose last appearance was in 2009. Each of the two seasons that Boston won the World Series started with the team being overlooked and undervalued.

This isn’t saying that the 2023 Red Sox are World Series bound, but rather that sharing the division with the Yankees comes with a price and that is often being undervalued and overlooked despite clearly having a great offseason.

Mar 27, 2023; North Port, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Masataka Yoshida (7) looks on in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Despite losing Xander, Boston had a great offseason

Paying star free agents instead of keeping your own star players is an unfortunate Red Sox tradition that continued this offseason. Losing Bogaerts hurts but if you put the loss aside and focus on what the Red Sox added, it is clear the team built a more complete roster with improved starting pitching and bullpen depth.

Part of what has Boston’s offseason being underrated is the fact there wasn’t one splashy signing, but rather a myriad of potential impact additions.

Boston signed closer Kenley Jansen to solidify the back end of the bullpen while adding veteran Corey Kluber to the rotation.

Signing Justin Turner, Adam Duvall, Masataka Yoshida, and Jorge Alfaro adds to the lineup. Turner has the potential to be a great value signing while Duvall is a proven commodity as a power hitter and should thrive in Boston.

Yoshida clearly has a high ceiling and has given reason to believe he could quickly become a star in Boston. The Red Sox failed to make one move to replace Bogaerts but looking objectively at their roster this time last season there is reason to feel the team has made needed improvements and has more than enough depth for a surprise playoff run.

Jul 12, 2022; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The top of Boston’s rotation

Make no mistake … if the Red Sox are going to go on a surprise run this season, it will be fueled by the offense and an improved back of the bullpen. However, for Boston to have the consistent success, they will need an upgrade at the top of their rotation. With Chris Sale healthy and the addition of Kluber, they have a chance to find just that.

Watching Sale attempt to take the field for Boston has grown predictably sad for the former ace unable to stay healthy or with any return short-lived. That finally seems to be changing this season with Sale locked in and fully healthy to start the year.

While there are questions as to what Sale is capable of at this point in his career, 2,064 strikeouts and 3.03 ERA speak to the possible ceiling.

Kluber may have his best seasons behind him but is still a very valuable and often durable arm. If both Sale and Kluber live up to their potential at the top of Boston’s rotation, there are zero reasons to believe this team can not compete for a division title, considering the obvious holes on the roster for New York and Toronto.

Boston is a team that opponents should underrate at their own risk. If their history has taught us anything, it is this team is often at its best when being overlooked.

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