With high expectations surrounding the Boston Red Sox during the offseason, fans hoped for significant moves that would make a splash in the baseball world. Notable names like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery were mentioned as potential targets in the free agent market. Chairman Tom Werner had pledged that the franchise would be fully committed to pursuing these opportunities.
However, the reality turned out to be quite different. Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy publicly acknowledged last month that the team’s payroll for 2024 would likely be lower than it was in 2023. There were reports that the team informed at least one free agent that they needed to reduce payroll further before considering signing them. News of budget constraints in 2023 also emerged, causing confusion and drawing criticism from both fans and reporters. Many were perplexed as to why the Red Sox, the third-most valuable franchise in Major League Baseball, appeared to be operating with financial constraints more commonly associated with smaller-market teams.
This confusion and frustration have now extended beyond the fanbase and reached the Red Sox locker room. Leading the charge is Rafael Devers, the face of the franchise, who expressed his discontent on Tuesday, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction within the team.
Rafael Devers, the longest-tenured and highest-paid player on the Red Sox, solidified his future with the team by signing an impressive 11-year, $331 million contract extension in January 2023. With pitcher Chris Sale’s recent trade to the Atlanta Braves, Devers now stands as the sole remaining member of the Red Sox from their victorious 2018 World Series championship team. Given his experience with a championship-caliber squad, Devers’ observations within Boston’s spring training complex in Fort Myers, Florida, suggest that he does not currently see the makings of a championship team.
On the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast, closer Kenley Jansen, who has been the subject of frequent trade speculation, also expressed his dissatisfaction. Jansen implied that he feels deceived about the team’s long-term vision, as he had signed a two-year contract in December 2022 with certain expectations that do not seem to align with the team’s current direction.
“I definitely feel frustrated. I came here for two years where Year 1 we were going to compete but by Year 2 they were really going to go for it… They have a different vision now. I get it. It’s part of the business but at the same time I have one more year left here and I’m going to give the fans the best that I have.”
The discontent within the Boston Red Sox organization extends beyond current players. Former player Dustin Pedroia, who is soon to be inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, reportedly reached out to key decision-makers through a FaceTime call. Pedroia expressed his views on the available free agents and made his opinions clear about what actions the Red Sox should take.
In addition to Jansen and Devers’ comments, a report by John Tomase last week revealed that some individuals within the organization feel genuine embarrassment about how the offseason unfolded. Tomase also suggested that principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner may not be aligned in their visions for the franchise’s future. This lack of unity could potentially explain why Werner generated hope in early November by promising that the franchise would operate at “full throttle” during the offseason, only for it to become evident that the organization had no intention of fulfilling that promise.
Tensions were further evident when John Henry responded dismissively to reporters’ requests for a discussion about the team, Craig Breslow evaded a question about the team’s playoff prospects, and manager Alex Cora declined to comment on his return to the team in 2024. These signs point to a potential escalation of conflicts and a potentially turbulent situation within the organization.
