The Never Weres

With the baseball lockout ending last week, players are starting to report to Spring Training with April 7th set to be Opening Day. How lucky for Major League Baseball that it just so happens the first game is the Red Sox vs. the Yankees. The lockout lasted 99 days so if you have forgotten what the Red Sox did and didn’t do in the short-lived off-season no one would blame you. I forgot about their biggest signing thus far.

So where are we? Let’s start with who is returning to the team from the group that went to the ALCS last year.

Catchers: Christian Vázquez, Kevin Plawecki, Connor Wong

Infielders: Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, Christian Arroyo, Bobby Dalbec, and Johnathan Araúz.

Outfielders: J.D. Martinez, Alex Verdugo, Kiké Hernandez, Jarren Durran

Pitchers: Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta, Tanner Houck, Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, Kirokazu Sawamura, Darwinzon Hernandez, Josh Taylor, Garrett Whitlock, Austin Davis, Phillips Valdez

The Red Sox are returning all but one starter from the playoff squad last year. Which leads us to the players that are not coming back.

Hunter Renfroe: Traded to Milwaulkee for Jackie Bradley Jr. and two prospects.

Eduardo Rodrigues: Signed with Detroit in Free Agency

Adam Ottavino: Signed with the Mets in Free Agency

Garrett Richards: Option was not picked up

Matrín Peréz: Signed with Texas in Free Agency

Those are the players who got regular playing time who will not be a part of the 2022 Red Sox. Now lets take a look at the additions. (All these additions are as of 4 PM on Sunday)

Rich Hill (LHP): Signed a 1 year deal

James Paxton (RHP): Signed for 1 year with team options for the next two years

Michael Wacha (RHP): Signed a 1 year deal

Jackie Bradley JR. (CF): Returns to Boston in Renfroe trade

The big name that is still undecided for Boston is Kyle Schwarber. With baseball adapting the universal DH, his options have opened up to many more teams. Signs seem to point to him going elsewhere.

The Red Sox are always in the fold when it comes to top Free Agents. Carlos Correa is the prize free-agent this year and Boston has been tied to him but his asking price might be too much. Plus, with Xander Bogaerts entrenched at shortstop it’s unlikely that he signs. The player that the Red Sox have been most linked to is Seiya Suzuki a 27-year-old Japanese outfielder who is looking to move from the NPB in Japan to the majors. A Gold Glove caliber right-fielder with power from the right side is exactly what the team needs. (If only they had a world class right fielder in the prime of his career)

Spring Training officially started Sunday for the Red Sox. There were pictures of players arriving at camp! Hopefully this was a good refresher after the long winter and the lockout.