Red Sox 2018 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2018 Boston Red Sox predictions? With baseball season just two weeks away we’re breaking down all 30 teams and handicapping the futures market.
MLB Red Sox Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The Red Sox won the division last season but the playoffs either revealed or simply suggested that Boston is lagging behind the other top contenders in the American League. Did the front office do enough to close the gap in the offseason?
2018 MLB Team Previews – Boston Red Sox
- American League East +175
- American League +625
- World Series +1100
Key Additions:
- OF JD Martinez
JD Martinez was looking for more than 5 years and $110 million but that’s all he got from the Red Sox. So after a lot of speculation, Martinez finally lands in Boston after his career year in 2017.
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This is a class Dave Dumbrowski move to bring in a high-profile free agent who seemingly has reached his peak. Martinez hit 45 homers in 119 games in 2017 and posted an OPS of 1.066.
But even if Boston bought Martinez’s services when he peaked, he should help an offense that had no pop whatsoever. The Sox will gladly take 30 homers and some decent productivity in the other at-bats.
Key Losses:
- None
Red Sox Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- RF Mookie Betts
- 2B Dustin Pedroia
- LF Andrew Benintendi
- DH JD Martinez
- 1B Hanley Ramirez
- 3B Rafael Devers
- SS Xander Bogaerts
- CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
- C Christian Vazquez
Martinez is taking over Mitch Moreland’s spot in the starting lineup. Boston loses some defense at first base but addresses the most pressing need from last year’s team, which was a power bat in the middle of the lineup.
Red Sox Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- LHP Chris Sale
- LHP David Price
- RHP Rick Porcello
- LHP Drew Pomeranz
- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez
All we really know is Sale should get the ball on opening day and that Eduardo Rodriguez won’t start the season healthy.
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E-Rod had knee surgery in October and will start the season on the DL but he very well may only miss a couple of weeks.
Porcello was a disaster in his Cy Young defense season. He didn’t look much different but seemed to give back all that he got from the baseball gods in 2016. He should fall somewhere in between his performances of the last couple seasons.
After Sale, Pom was Boston’s best starter last season. I’m definitely not buying any more of him going forward though. I’m concerned about him staying healthy, for some reason.
I liked how John Farrell used David Price out of the bullpen when he returned from injury last season. It doesn’t look like that’s how things will be in a new season, though. Back to the starting rotation for Price.
Red Sox Predictions: Projected Closer:
- RH Craig Kimbel
The best in the game in the regular season got hit a bit against the Astros in the postseason. Kimbrel has yet to have a vintage, dominant postseason that a close of his ability dreams of.
Tyler Thornburg may finally be available for Boston out of the ‘pen this season after doing zilch in return for Travis Shaw last season.
2018 Boston Red Sox Prediction:
Martinez was the big add but Alex Cora will be the one who makes the biggest difference for Boston this season. John Farrell was laboring last season and some didn’t think he’d ever be shown the door after what he went through to stay with the team after cancer treatment.
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But the front office made the move and it’s going to be for the better. Alex Cora is a shrewd baseball mind and is going to be a fantastic manager. I have my doubts about the front office but not the man running the dugout.
Boston’s season win total is at 91.5 and I’m willing to go over. Is the pitching good enough, though?
My concern is the starting rotation. Rodriguez looks like he will be back earlier than expected, but what can we really expect? It it’s how he threw down the stretch last season, it would be huge.
Sale logged a ton of innings last season and faltered as he approached 300. I just don’t trust Pomeranz to have the same sort of season he had in 2017.
Price is the guy who could pick up the slack. He did very little last season and is still a live arm, in his prime, getting paid a ton of money to perform in Boston. He’s on the edge with many Boston fans and this season could be the finishing touch on him getting thrown off the cliff.
What do you think of our 2018 Boston Red Sox
predictions?
Comments are welcome below.
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