Regardless of end-of-season guarantees of a “full-throttle” strategy to the 2023-24 offseason, issues had been pretty quiet for the Purple Sox throughout their first 12 months below new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow‘s steerage because the membership prioritized short-term commitments in free company and on the commerce market with out making a serious splash. That led to a different disappointing season at Fenway the place the membership posted a lackluster 81-81 file that landed them third place within the AL East and 4 video games out of an AL Wild Card spot. After a season that noticed quite a few children take steps ahead and with extra prospect expertise nearing the majors, Breslow’s second winter on the helm figures to be extra lively than his first.
Assured Contracts
- Rafael Devers, 3B: $284MM via 2033
- Trevor Story, SS: $77.5MM via 2027 (contains $5MM buyout on 2028 membership possibility)
- Masataka Yoshida, DH: $55.8MM via 2027
- Brayan Bello, SP: $53.33MM via 2029 (contains $1MM buyout on 2030 membership possibility)
- Ceddanne Rafaela, CF/SS: $48.75MM via 2031 (contains $4MM buyout on 2032 membership possibility)
- Liam Hendriks, RP: $8MM via 2025 (contains $2MM buyout on $12MM mutual possibility)
- Garrett Whitlock, SP/RP: $14MM via 2026 (contains $1MM buyout on 2027 membership possibility; further membership possibility for ’28)
Choice Selections
2025 monetary commitments: $105.93MM
Whole long-term monetary commitments: $562.79MM
Arbitration-Eligible Gamers (projected salaries by way of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
Non-tender candidates: None
Free Brokers
Disappointing because the 2024 season was for the Purple Sox when it comes to their file, one main silver lining for the membership this winter is that almost all of their key contributors stay below long-term crew management, that means they’re going to have the ability to focus extra on upgrading the roster than patching holes created by departing veterans. Specifically, they’re extraordinarily effectively set-up within the outfield with Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela all presently locked in on the main league degree, to not point out the presence of Masataka Yoshida and (assuming his membership possibility is picked up as anticipated) Rob Refsnyder.
With prime prospect Roman Anthony knocking on the door of the majors and even getting some buzz as Baseball America‘s #1 prospect, the Purple Sox stay flush in outfield expertise at the same time as they watch Tyler O’Neill and his 30-homer energy depart at no cost company. After all, that is to not say O’Neill’s bat will not be sorely missed within the Purple Sox lineup. As a crew, their 104 wRC+ was a hair above common, inserting them in a three-way tie with the Brewers and Mariners for the tenth-best determine within the majors. Whereas that is actually a good quantity, even a prospect as gifted as Anthony cannot be anticipated to seamlessly substitute the 131 wRC+ O’Neill offered to the membership in a resurgent 2024 season.
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