Leandre: It's time for Red Sox to put up or shut up
With the New York Yankees acquiring superstar outfielder Juan Soto, it's time for the Red Sox to flex their muscles.
When the Red Sox fired Chaim Bloom in mid-September, it seemed to signify a change in philosophy.
No more were they to be patient with player development — it was time to invest in the product on the Fenway Park diamond. Chairman Tom Werner all but confirmed that when he described the Red Sox as being “full throttle” this winter back on Nov. 2, when Craig Breslow was introduced as the new Chief Baseball Officer.
While we’re still two months away from Truck Day, with many top free agents on the board, it’s time for the Red Sox to stop letting their mouth write checks their actions can’t cash.
When a team like the archrival New York Yankees acquires a player the caliber of Juan Soto, it makes everything you do feel almost insignificant. While the likes of outfielders Lourdes Gurriel Jr. or Michael A. Taylor would be worthwhile pickups, they pale in comparison to that of Soto.
When the team fired Bloom, who was the point man for three last-place finishes in four years, they signed an unwritten letter to Red Sox Nation that said, “We’ll be back.”
While panic-signing players riddled with red flags for name value is bad process, trying to contend in a division whose fourth-place team added a top-three-to-five hitter in the sport while targeting Gurriel, Taylor or 37-year-old catcher Martín Maldonado is not sufficient.
It’s time for them to respond in a big way.
No, this isn’t Jordan Montgomery big. No, this isn’t Jesus Luzardo trade-level big. This is Yoshinobu Yamamoto big.
Boston’s been pretty vocal, whether through Breslow or manager Alex Cora, about its need to improve the starting rotation, particularly at the top. There’s only one pitcher available that the Red Sox can add without blowing up the farm system that solves that need: Yamamoto.
The 25-year-old is expected to meet with teams, including the Yankees on Monday, and likely will make his free agency decision after Shohei Ohtani. While several teams want him, there’s no reason the Red Sox should come up short in being the last team standing.
You want to reignite the fire in an agitated fan base? You want to prove to said fan base that you still care? You want to actually address the needs of the team instead of just acknowledging that you have them? Sign Yamamoto.
There’s no excuse. Get it done.
Don’t conjure up a half-baked rotation and throw your hands up as if to say “We tried!” It’s time to make some noise.
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Jordan, you are right...enough talk, get it done!!
Such impatience! Do you realize how few move’s have actually been made? By anyone?
Ohtani’s decision is delaying everything. It comes in cascades. The teams in on Ohtani are also in on Yamamoto. Snell and Montgomery are waiting to see what Yamamoto gets.
And so on