Red Sox Reportedly Lose Out On Top Free-Agent Target To Dodgers

Boston missed a huge opportunity

Scott Neville | Jan 7, 2024

Red Sox Reportedly Lose Out On Top Free-Agent Target To Dodgers /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox ownership group and front office entered the offseason making bold claims about their deep resources and desire to go "full throttle" but have quickly proven to be full of it.

After missing out on both Japanese sensations, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow pivoted to right-hander Lucas Giolito on a semi-lucrative short-term deal.

They've since been linked to some notable names but rumors of a tight budget and unwillingness to spend have come down in droves. The latest miss further bolsters those reports.

"BREAKING: Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year, $23.5 million contract," ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Sunday. "Hernández joins Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow on the new-look Dodgers, who add another All-Star bat to the lineup."

Hernández was heavily linked to Boston but there was speculation that the Red Sox wanted to move money around before committing to the two-time Silver Slugger.

The deal was for just one year at a reasonable price point. The fact that the Red Sox could not beat that offer is criminal.

If the trends continue, the Red Sox might roll into the season with another mediocre-at-best roster destined for another last-place finish in a division full of genuine contenders who actually want to win.

More MLB: Red Sox Reportedly 'Seriously Bidding' For Premier Starting Pitcher

Published Jan 7, 2024

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu