Sox Dynasty Or Farrell's Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Sox Dynasty or Farrell’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame?

 

            This past season, Boston Red Sox Manager John Farrell facilitated one of the boldest turn-arounds in Major League Baseball history. For those of you who may have slept through the 2013 baseball season, the Red Sox are world champions. Yes, the team that just one season ago pathetically claimed last place in the American League East is now “King of the Hill” and not looking to relinquish this title for quite some time. But exactly how long can this “Battalion of Beards” stay atop the mountain?  Much to the distaste of Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and his staff, the degradation of the Boston Red Sox is not only probable, but imminent.

            The first blow to the organization is the fact that most of the 2013 championship team has “Free Agent” stamped on their forehead. Stephen Drew, Joel Hanrahan, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Mike Napoli and Jacoby Ellsbury are all on the market right now. Though few of the aforementioned names are expendable, Ellsbury is a widely valued prize. The quick-footed center fielder is fresh off a .298 season with 52 stolen bases. It is likely that bids for this young star will reach nine digits, a number that the Boston Red Sox cannot budget. If the Sox do not resign Ellsbury, that will leave a little surplus change to bring Napoli and “Salty” back for a season or two,  but that may leave Stephen Drew in the unemployment line, as Farrell is banking on the blossoming Xander Bogaerts.

            If you do not believe the loss of Ellsbury is a significant blow to the Sox Dynasty, then recent projections of a serious decline in the Boston offense may sway you. Polls foretell Victorino, Pedroia and Ortiz, to name a few, taking steps back and/or showing no signs of improvement for the 2014 season. Though these numbers are not hard facts, it is fair to say that if Major League Baseball was a pendulum, the Red Sox are preparing for a downswing.  

            In my opinion, the 2014 Red Sox are going to closely resemble the 2013 Red Sox. Some may argue that this is beneficial to the club, but consistency may not prevail in this case. For the years following 2014, we can say “goodbye” to the Red Sox as we know them. The only current players who are contractually obligated to stick around until 2016 are Dustin Pedroia and Clay Buchholz. And by the end of the 2014 season it is likely we will be saying “goodbye” to Ortiz, Uehara, Lester, and Gomes. The Boston Red Sox may want to savor their World Series victory while they can, before their possible demise becomes an even more pressing issue.