Of course the biggest loss with be veteran David Ortiz. Finding a power hitting DH will be key to keeping the momentum from this season moving forward. Several baseball experts are predicting the front office will make a big signing this winter.
Rumors have already started with most of these reports having Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion as the top free agent target this off-season. The 33-year-old had another terrific season with the Blue Jays, hitting 42 homers and knocking in over 100 runs in helping the Jays’ reach the ALCS.
This team is already one of the best hitting lineups in the game and adding another big bat will help take pressure off the pitching staff and generate a buzz with the fans after losing Ortiz. But that’s not the only need for this club as the potential loss of three key members of the bullpen could also create some issues.
Koji Uehara, Brad Ziegler and Junichi Tazawa are all set to hit the open market later this year and the front office will do its best to resign at least two of these players, but depth is key to winning, especially in October and help could be needed.
Ian Browne of MLB.com has assessed this teams strengths and weaknesses heading into winter and suggests some youth be injected to the bullpen. Kenley Jansen of the LA Dodgers is a solid option and with his experience in closing games, the duo of Jansen and current closer Craig Kimbrel would become one of the best eighth and ninth inning shutdown combinations in baseball.
While wining a World Series would of been a fitting close to ‘Big Papi’s’ career, the experience of battling for a postseason berth will help this team in the future. That pressure of playing big games is important to the growth of the franchise and with some key additions, look for the Boston Red Sox to have another strong season in 2017.
