The Boston Red Sox’s current act is unlike any other in Major League Baseball.
Boston’s last three seasons have featured two last-place finishes with a World Series title slapped in the middle. It’s a sandwich that obviously tastes better because of the 2013 triumph, but for an organization striving for long-term, sustainable success, the bottom of the American League East is considered unacceptable.
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington refused to sit on his hands at the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline as his club struggled to stay afloat. He started making moves geared toward the future, with the end result being a roster drastically different than the one the Red Sox broke camp with back in March. The question, however, is whether Boston is better-positioned for a return to contention in 2015.
It’s nearly impossible to predict Boston’s 2015 Opening Day roster — NESN.com Red Sox beat writer Ricky Doyle gave it a whirl — because there are so many avenues Cherington could explore. The Red Sox have the financial flexibility to be active in free agency and the assets to make a splash on the trade market. A successful recipe likely will require the perfect combination of both.
Ricky caught up with ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes on Friday to discuss the Red Sox’s offseason. The two chatted about the starting rotation, the outfield, third base and whether a press box seating upgrade could be in the cards for Ricky in 2015. There might even be a weather reference or two.
The delicious dose of podcast pandemonium is below.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/171645517″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
