Red Sox Sign Hendriks....and others (2/19/24)

Today had some news for the Boston Red Sox although its pretty laughable. The good news was the Sox signed 35 year old all-star closer Liam Hendriks to a 2 year, $10 million dollar deal.....the bad news was, in case everybody forgot, he had Tommy John surgery last year after going through treatable cancer and isn't expected to pitch this coming season. He wasn't the only injured guy the Sox signed, let's look at some of the other laughable decisions that's been made since the new year started.

                                   "We have no interest in competing this year." - Sam Kennedy

January 3rd - Already covered the Red Sox signing Lucas Giolito

January 24 - Christian Arroyo and James Paxton officially were gone as Arroyo signed with the Milwaukee Brewers while Paxton went to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In response, the Sox signed 30 year old minor league journeyman pitcher Melvin Adon...yippie.

                                                         Paxton out, Adon in

January 30 - Heart and soul of the 2023 Red Sox Justin Turner signed a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. It would have been unfair for the soon to be 39 year old Turner to replicate his 2023 season but at the same time, a lot of rapport and good vibes left with him.

                                                                Good luck in Toronto

January 31 - The Sox responded to losing Justin Turner by.....claiming 28 year old utility infielder Romy Gonzalez off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. Gonzalez hit a whopping .194 last year, fun!

                                                    Replacing Turner with Gonzalez.....yeah

Feb 2 - The Sox sent a bag of cash to the New York Mets for 32 year old backup catcher Tyler Heineman, mostly a depth signing. The Sox also signed 30 year old journeyman relief pitcher Michael Fulmer.....who's not going to pitch this year due to injury, just like Hendriks. Seems to be a pattern here.

                                                                  Another backup catcher

Feb 6 - The Sox signed 27 year old utility infielder Dalton Guthrie who hit an amazing .167 last season. Full throttle!

                                                              Another utility infielder

Feb 7 - Remember when the Sox signed Max Castillo the same day they signed Lucas Giolito? They put him on waivers and on February 7 he was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies. Easy come, easy go.

                                                          That didn't take long

Feb 9 - On the same day Corey Kluber retired, the Sox signed 37 year old journeyman reliever Lucas Luetge to a minor league deal. Luetge inexplicably became one of the New York Yankees best relievers in 2021 and 2022 before falling off a cliff last year with the Atlanta Braves. If nothing else, he's an experienced pitcher to mentor anyone coming up in Worcester.

                                                    Wish they had him two years ago

Feb 17 - Already covered the Red Sox trading Schreiber for Sandlin

Feb 19 - The Red Sox signed injured free agent pitcher Liam Hendriks to a 2 year $10 million dollar deal. Pretty much the exact same contract they gave to James Paxton when he pitched 2/3 of an inning in rookie ball in 2022 before making just 19 starts last year. A 35 year old pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery and cancer treatment is a huge risk but the rumor is the Sox are trying to trade Kenley Jansen. If they're successful then Hendriks might be their closer next year......coming off Tommy John surgery after turning 36 in Spring Training. Just another sign of the times that this franchise is a joke.

                                              Almost unhittable in 2019 and 2020

The bottom line is all these signings are just depth moves on the verge of spring training but with Jordan Montgomery, Adam Duvall and Blake Snell still unsigned, all these moves are amplified in the anti-ownership campaign. Kennedy himself said today that Sox GM Craig Breslow is operating under "parameters" which basically means Craig has no budget to work with. Breslow has to play Billy Beane when he should be playing Theo Epstein. Its going to be a long year.....