Pedro Martinez tells MLB analyst that the Boston Red Sox could do better than many think in 2023
2022 was not exactly a season to remember for the Boston Red Sox. The 2018 World Series champions have fallen far from the glory they enjoyed a few seasons ago. With a record of 69-93 in 2022, the team finished last in their division.
The Red Sox starters had an ERA of 4.49, placing the rotation 22nd out of 30 teams. Moreover, the team ranked in the bottom ten in both batting average and on-base percentage.
Putting together a winning record is hard when you're outmatched by two-thirds of the opposition. To compound problems for the team, some of their best hitters waved goodbye this offseason. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts has been a consistent .300 hitter since making his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2013.
The San Diego Padres give Xander Bogaerts a contract that will last through his age 41 season https://t.co/RG2VRxUJWI
"The San Diego Padres give Xander Bogaerts a contract that will last through his age 41 season" - Talkin Baseball
Curacao-born Bogaerts signed an 11-year deal with the San Diego Padres this offseason, while JD Martinez, who led the MLB in home runs with the Red Sox during their 2018 championship season, inked a 2-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bogaerts, Martinez, and others represent key losses. Many experts are beginning to believe that the Boston Red Sox, who underperformed last year, will be virtually crippled by these further departures.
A past member of the team, however, was not quick to condemn his former team's 2023 season. MLB analyst Jon Heyman confirmed to his readers that Pedro Martinez offered the following reflection on the prospects for the imminent season:
"Wishful thinking? Pedro Martinez told me he thinks the Red Sox will surprise and at least be better than folks think."
Pedro Martinez is an 8-time All-Star who pitched for the Boston Red Sox from 1998 to 2004. winning both the 1998 and 1999 Cy Young Awards with the team. The 5-time MLB ERA leader retired in 2009 as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.
The Boston Red Sox face an uphill climb in 2023
While Pedro Martinez's vote of confidence may provide some inspiration, the outlook for the Boston Red Sox does not look especially promising this season.
Although the signing of NPB star Masataka Yoshida has been seen by some as a promising move, the Red Sox bats will struggle to measure up against the larger ones that exist in their division.