Is there an opportunity that, at age-34, Willson Contreras will get even higher subsequent 12 months? For granted-handed hitter who pulls the ball within the air in left discipline, he’s going to the right ballpark. And there’s very latest historical past of a righty coming from St. Louis to Boston and instantly bettering in a statistical sense. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
However perhaps there’s one other right-handed hitter who might find yourself as a shock mainstay within the Sox lineup subsequent 12 months. Kristian Campbell has bulked up a bit this offseason as he will get used to enjoying within the outfield down in Puerto Rico. And the Crimson Sox group stays invested in his future. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
And talking of righties… Alex Bregman stays unsigned! In fact he does! Completely no one ought to have anticipated a speedy decision to his free company. As of publication, his market stays restricted to 4 groups: the Sox, Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Blue Jays. The Tigers — who provided him the longest deal final season — are reportedly “lukewarm” on Bregman this 12 months, however could also be ready for his market to break down later this offseason earlier than making an opportunistic transfer. (Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press)
I don’t count on a Bregman deal any time quickly — definitely not earlier than Japanese nook infielder Kasuma Okamoto indicators with a workforce within the coming days. Whereas there is no such thing as a concrete info a Crimson Sox supply for Okamoto, they’re nonetheless thought of contenders:
Whereas a reunion with Bregman seems to at the very least be extremely believable if not fairly possible, a reunion with Lucas Giolito doesn’t. And whereas Giolito says he beloved his time in Boston and would like to return, he now acknowledges that “should you have a look at the writing on the wall I dn’ot assume they want one other beginning pitcher. That’s enterprise, child. That’s the way it goes.” (Lauren Campbell, MassLive)
”That’s the way it goes” is an efficient philosophy for coping with lots of issues that may be disappointing, just like the Corridor of Fame voting. That voting can be disappointing to Dustin Pedroia this 12 months within the sense that he’s not going to be elected in 2025. However simply by tallying up the publicly displayed ballots, we already know that he at the very least will get sufficient votes to stay on the poll. Check out the tracker here.
