The Boston Red Sox had yet another disappointing season. After a much more promising start to the 2023 season than the previous year, Boston slipped back to last place in the American League East and ultimately finished with a record of 78-84.
Boston also fired their chief baseball officer in Chaim Bloom and are still in the process of finding his replacement.
But it's obvious that the team will need to do things a little bit differently if they want to get back into postseason contention in 2024 and contend for their first World Series title since 2018.
The offseason will be a good opportunity for Boston to make the necessary adjustments to improve its ballclub. There will be plenty of free agents who could help them out. They may also want to use the trade market to help bolster their roster.
But that doesn't mean that every player available should be on their shopping list. In fact, there are a few who they may want to avoid all together. Some may be from outside the organization, while others could be impending free agents that spent the 2023 season in Boston.
James Paxton
Paxton was signed by the Red Sox prior to the 2022 season. Unfortunately, he missed all of 2022 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
He even began the 2023 season on the injured list. The veteran left-hander returned in May and got off to a strong start, but his season was ultimately cut short in September due to right knee inflammation.
The 34-year-old finished with a record of 7-5 and an ERA of 4.50. He brings some upside, considering that he averaged 9.5 strikeouts per game. However, his injury history presents several issues.
Boston's pitching staff was also less than stellar, having posted a 4.52 ERA, which was the fifth-worst mark in the American League. They'll need to target some top-level pitchers if they want to get back into contention again in 2024, and Paxton is far from the pitcher he once was.
Somebody like Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Sonny Gray, or even Yoshinobu Yamamoto would be ideal for a team that has finished in last place in the AL East three times in the last four years. Paxton's time in Boston was marred by injuries, and the team needs certainty when constructing their 2024 rotation.
Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn is yet another curious case. He was an All-Star in 2021 and had a solid season in 2022 with the Chicago White Sox. However, 2023 was far from ideal for the veteran right-hander and former World Series champion.
This year, Lynn won 13 games with the White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, but had an ERA of 5.73. His start in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks was also uninspiring, as he allowed four solo home runs in the third inning before being pulled.
Though Lynn does bring veteran experience, he will be turning 37 next May.
Of course, for him to even be an option for the Red Sox, the Dodgers would have to decline his club-option for next season. But should the Dodgers let him go, he is not somebody that the Red Sox should put on their shopping list for 2024.
He is far from the top-level pitcher that the Red Sox truly need in order to be a force in an ever-competitive American League East that featured three postseason teams in 2023.
Boston would be best served looking elsewhere in order to bolster their starting rotation this winter.
Max Muncy
Much like Lynn, Muncy would have to have his club option for 2024 declined by the Dodgers.
Boston could stand to add somebody who could play second base and be used as a designated hitter if they can't keep Justin Turner. Fortunately, Muncy can do that.
However, the Dodgers veteran slugger also had a bit of a down year. Even with 36 home runs and 105 RBI. Muncy had a poor batting average of .212, which doesn't inspire much confidence after he hit for a mere .196 average in 2022.
To make matters worse, Muncy struck out 153 times, which is 12 more than his total from last season.
Prior to losing Xander Bogaerts in free agency, Boston had Trevor Story playing second base. Bogaerts signed with the San Diego Padres last offseason, which gave Story the full-time job at shortstop.
But Muncy is likely not the guy they need to add a little thump to their lineup, and they might be best served trying to re-sign Turner or potentially even dive back in with J.D. Martinez, who was teammates with Muncy on the Dodgers this year after spending five seasons in Boston, winning a World Series title in 2018.