The Boston Red Sox did not have the offseason that many had anticipated. Following the ominous declaration of “full throttle” by team chairman Tom Werner, there were high expectations in the baseball community for the Red Sox to aggressively pursue improvements for the team. However, as it turned out, those expectations were not met.
Boston’s decisions this offseason have left reporters, fans, and players puzzled. When viewed in the context of the highly competitive American League East, widely recognized as the toughest division in baseball, the moves—or lack thereof—by the Red Sox become even more baffling.
While other teams in the division made significant acquisitions, the Red Sox seemed hesitant to follow suit. Despite having ample financial resources at their disposal, including the capacity to afford contracts like Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal if they desired, the ownership group opted for a more conservative approach. Additionally, despite having a farm system teeming with talented prospects for the first time in years, the team chose not to engage in any notable trades.
Numerous missteps by Boston’s front office have been evident this offseason, but a select few have particularly hindered the team’s competitiveness relative to their division rivals. While the Red Sox might not have been expected to top the AL East standings regardless, these decisions have undoubtedly compounded an already challenging situation for the team.
It’s worth noting that Yoshinobu Yamamoto was likely destined to join the Dodgers regardless of other factors. However, the Red Sox’s decision to sign him appears to have been their sole strategy for this offseason.
This is where Werner’s “full throttle” promise becomes relevant — essentially signaling that the Red Sox would go all-in for Yamamoto and no one else. Werner believed that Boston was a contender for Yamamoto’s signature. However, as details of the team’s offers to other players emerged throughout the offseason, it became evident that the Red Sox were offering relatively low contracts to nearly every player they pursued.
While there were rumors that Boston offered Yamamoto more than $300 million, these claims were later disproven. The front office chose not to disclose its offer to the young phenom, leading fans to speculate that it was likely uncompetitive, similar to many other offers made during the winter.
Yamamoto is a highly sought-after asset, and it’s concerning that he was seemingly the Red Sox’s sole focus. Given Werner’s statements, it’s surprising that the organization wasn’t prepared with a backup plan after predictably missing out on the star pitcher.
