MLB Betting Online: Hope springs eternal in Major League Baseball. Your favorite team made a key offseason move, the prized prospect is ready for his breakout season or the injuries from last year have all healed. Whatever the circumstance, everyone is tied for first at this point.
After three last-place finishes in four years, the Red Sox made some changes to their hierarchy. Out went analytics-minded general manager Ben Cherington, and in came the old-school Dave Dombrowski. Legit prospects were traded for a closer and lefty David Price became the highest-paid starter in history. The Red Sox look very different, even as the goal remains exactly the same: win a World Series.
BOSTON RED SOX
+1348 to win 2016 World Series
+629 to win AL Pennant
A year after attempting to win without an ace, the Red Sox were humbled by the complete and total failure of their plan. When Rick Porcello crumbled, Clay Buchholz got hurt, and Wade Miley struggled to be anything beyond average, the Red Sox found themselves plummeting to the basement.
Now there’s no question who rules the roost. Price is widely considered one of the best teammates in the game, and the former Cy Young winner knows how to lead. That should help Porcello, in particular, find his place in the middle of the rotation, rather than feeling the need to front it.
Behind Price, though, many questions remain. Will Buchholz stay healthy? Will lefty Eduardo Rodriguez build upon an encouraging debut at age 22? Can Porcello bounce back? Is Joe Kelly a starter or reliever? The Red Sox may need to address the rotation with an in-season trade, but they’re at least positioned to do so.
As bad as the rotation looked in 2015, the bullpen limped right alongside it. Dombrowski made it a priority to upgrade the arms manager John Farrell can turn to at the end of games, and he delivered. Craig Kimbrel, one of the greatest strikeout pitchers in history, has been the top closer the past several seasons. Carson Smith, a hard thrower who strikes out more than 11 batters per nine innings, was closing for the Mariners last season.
The Sox received quality seasons from a pair of budding superstars in shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielder Mookie Betts. Bogaerts hasn’t even started his prime yet, and was a Gold Glove finalist while improving in every facet of his game.
Betts just got better and better last year, overcoming some serious bad luck in the first half to finish at .291 with 18 homers and earning a couple of MVP votes in the process. Betts has all the tools to be a franchise cornerstone.
Here’s where things get dicey. In first baseman Hanley Ramirez and third baseman Pablo Sandoval, the Red Sox field their two biggest X-factors. The big free agent signings last year, they disappointed in virtually every way imaginable.
Ramirez bulked up beyond recognition, played a disastrous left field, and showed little interest in improving his defense, which caused friction on the coaching staff. Sandoval, meanwhile, lost a step in the field and faced questions over his ballooning weight. The Red Sox are stuck with them, though. If one or both plays to a level approaching their pedigrees, the Red Sox could be in business. Otherwise ... look out below.
Key Additions: SP David Price, CL Craig Kimbrel, RP Carson Smith, OF Chris Young.
Key Losses: SP Wade Miley, 1B Mike Napoli.
The Red Sox have finished last in three of the last four seasons, so naturally they are a favorite to win the World Series in 2016. That sounds optimistic, given a careful examination of the roster, but stranger things have happened. If Bogaerts and Betts develop into All-Stars, the Red Sox could be ready to roll on offense. Starting pitching remains a concern but, count on this much – they’ll finish closer to first than last.
Prediction: 90-72
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