The Boston Red Sox have had the best offseason of any team. They acquired and signed hitting to bolster an already sturdy lineup. They have a balanced rotation, with four pitchers that could win more than 15 games. But their bullpen needed work.
If this was done by ever-aggressive General Manager Theo Epstein, the team would be set as the best the American League—and perhaps baseball—has to offer.
Closer Jonathan Papelbon was inconsistent this past season and the middle-relievers weren’t all too dependable. Epstein recognized this, as four recent signings can transform an already dangerous team into one much more feared.
First, Matt Albers, formerly of the Baltimore Orioles, was signed to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old spent three seasons with the Orioles after being traded from the Houston Astros in the deal that sent star shortstop Miguel Tejada packing. He was once a highly touted prospect in the Astros organization but couldn’t translate his success on the farm to the majors.
As one of the many reasons why Baltimore’s bullpen has been poor the past few seasons, the big right-hander had a 4.50 ERA and allowed 13 baserunners per nine innings with the team.
Albers isn’t a headline-grabbing signing, but he should provide the depth Boston needs. He won’t be a setup man, but since he has been a starter before the team could use him in long-relief as well as a specialist against right-handers. In whichever capacity they decide to use him he provides versatility, as does the next pitcher signed by Epstein, 25-year-old Andrew Miller.
He was signed by the team this past season but non-tendered on December 2nd. Once a heralded prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization and thought highly enough to be the centerpiece of a deal that netted the Tigers Miguel Cabrera in 2007, Miller struggled against major league hitting.
With the Florida Marlins he was primarily used as a starting pitcher and struggled to a 10-20 record accompanied by a dreadful 6.41 ERA. Despite his record, ERA, high walk-rate, and overall ineffectiveness, the Red Sox are focusing on his youth and repertoire and see plenty of potential for success. Since he has been a starter for most of his career Boston could use him primarily as a long-man out of their bullpen.
Sound familiar? Albers and Miller were similarly regarded when working their way through the minors, parts of big trades, struggled to succeed, and now find themselves on one of baseball’s better teams with an opportunity to earn a significant role. Both can be retained well past this year, too.
Miller will be arbitration-eligible after 2011, while Albers, who does not yet have four years of major-league service, can be kept around for the 2012 and 2013 seasons if they so choose. The two are well under 30 and are low-risk, high-reward signings.
Their roles are not set in stone, but the Red Sox know how they are going to use their newest arrivals. Former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks was signed to a two-year contract worth $12 million and not long after Dan Wheeler agreed to a one-year deal worth $3 million.
Jenks, 29, had 173 saves and a respectable 3.40 ERA in five seasons with the White Sox, though this past season was his worst with the franchise. He has a powerful arm, possesses far better control than Miller and Albers, and collected four saves in the 2005 playoffs for Chicago, a postseason run that ended in a World Series championship.
Wheeler has been similarly successful and postseason-tested throughout his career. The 33-year-old, who is returning to his hometown, pitched brilliantly for the Tampa Bay Rays as a setup man over the past three-and-a-half seasons. He was particularly difficult against left-handed hitters in 2010, allowing them to only bat .196.
There is little doubt he will be used in that capacity, though he isn’t chopped liver against right-handers either, giving the Red Sox plenty of options.
The quartet is thrilled to be joining the Red Sox, but being from the Boston area Wheeler was especially happy to join the team:
“I’m very excited. I guess there’s always been a little part of me that’s always wanted to wear the Red Sox uniform, there’s no question about that. The first goal was to make it [to the Majors], now that I’m going to have a chance to put that actual uniform on, I’m real excited about it.”
Boston can shorten the game now with these four pitchers in the fold. They have the offense. They have the starting pitching. Now, with Wheeler, Jenks, Albers, and Miller complimenting Papelbon, Daniel Bard, and Hideki Okajima, Boston has the ideal team on paper. Epstein is far from done, too.
For the first time his team’s payroll is more than that of the New York Yankees. He means business at the helm of the new Evil Empire. So, it should come to the surprise of few that he’s still scouring the market for relievers, particularly interested in left-handers. Considering how Boston’s offseason has gone to date, Epstein—the modern-day George Steinbrenner—will get who he desires.
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