Red Sox Off-Season Grade.. So Far.. Spoiler its a C+

Have the Red Sox made enough moves to beat the Orioles?

For the first time in a while, I am heading into this season with basically no expectations from the Red Sox. Last year, especially with the team making it to the ALCS, there was a glimmer of hope with the thought of Chris Sale being back in Cy Young form and the offense on paper looking great. We all know how that went, although I have tried to block most of it out of my head.

So, it is almost refreshing going into this season and just wanting to see some of our young players develop and maybe not get last place. However, there was a big push by the typical Red Sox “personalities” to make a splash and try and sign someone like Correa. I have patiently sat by and hoped Red Sox do exactly what they have been doing. That is taking low-risk but high-reward guys. There is one move I don’t love, but we will get to that.

Moves I Love

(AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)(Colin E. Braley | AP)

Adalberto Mondesi

Speed. You are born with it. Many wish for it and train for a lifetime to gain it, but there is a certain level of speed and agility you are just born with. Mondesi is one of those people. Sadly, injuries have derailed most of his hype. With the injury to Trevor Story and the departure of Xander Bogaerts, there was a huge hole in the middle of the infield. In recent days Kike Hernandez has posted videos of him playing SS to remind everyone he can. I don’t have much faith in Duran, and I believe the Red Sox don’t, either. Keep Hernandez in the outfield, and hope Mondesi can stay healthy and be a + defender who gets on base and steals some bags. Having to give up Josh Taylor and a player to be named later is very much a low-risk/high-reward move.

Corey Kluber- I am all about the 1-year contracts, and this was a nice affordable one. Klubers’ numbers last year with Tampa were average, but he is a veteran guy in a rotation with a lot of question marks at the moment. The biggest is what Chris Sale will look like.

Masaktaka Yoshida- I won’t pretend that I know much about Yoshida. I watched highlights and then read a bunch of articles about anonymous sources saying he was worth half what the Red Sox gave him. I love this move because it showed the Front Office's initiative to try and address their weak outfield rather than putting more focus on the infield. I feel like since trading Betts and Benintendi; there has not been a clear #1 guy out there, no disrespect to Verdugo. If he was a few years younger, I would have really loved this move.

Moves I am Indifferent About

(Eric Gay / Associated Press)

Justin Turner- If they had a team option rather than a player option, I would have put this in the “loved” category. My fear is that he falls off a cliff and then takes the player option to make his $$$. I don’t think he will be a bust, but it is always worrisome at his age.

Adam Duvall- He is a cheap one-year deal for an average player. Can’t really love or hate it. It will not have a major role, but it adds some depth.

Moves I Don’t Love

Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images

Kenley Jansen- This is just a personal opinion on what I have wanted the Red Sox bullpen to look like for a while. Taking his health issues aside, I do not think they will be an issue, and I pray that he continues to stay healthy. I do not think throwing $32 million at a 36-year-old closer is wise. Last year I wanted Whitlock to be the closer and allow him time to grow into the role and possibly be a solid piece for years to come. The money used on Jansen could have been given to Wacha, someone I feel more comfortable with the rotation than Whitlock. Again, just personal preference.

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