Red Sox Moving and Shaking This Off-Season

MLB.com’s Richard Justice sized up eight MLB teams which have taken the biggest leaps forward this off-season.

And the Red Sox – along with the Blue Jays – are the AL East teams that made the list.

Justice writes Boston appears capable of going from worst to first again after adding Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez to the lineup and Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson to the rotation.

Justice continues the Red Sox may not be done yet – with pitchers Max Scherzer and James Shields still on the free-agent market.

John Tomase also likes Boston’s direction, writing, “it’s hard to ignore the similarities to 2013 as the Red Sox prepare for what they hope will be another bounce-back season.”

Cole Hamels Market

Peter Gammons reviewed what the Phillies could expect as a return in a Cole Hamels trade.

And the history of what teams have received when trading their “aces” shows deals with heavy prospect packages are no sure things.

So one can understand why Philadelphia is taking its time in making a trade – especially because there is always a market for top starters.

Abraham Predictions

Boston beat writer Pete Abraham shared some interesting Red Sox predictions. Noteworthy ones included:

• Look for the Red Sox to acquire one more starter – but not a big-name pitcher like Hamels. The need is definitely there with some rotation question-marks (starting with Clay Buchholz).
• Don’t look for Koji Uehara to lead the Red Sox in saves. Abraham sees the 40-year old coming off a down season as a risk.
• Shane Victorino gets traded in Spring Training. Not a big surprise here. Figure Victorino needs to show he is healthy before he has any trade value.