Just 18 months after winning their fourth World Series this century, the Red Sox jettisoned their manager, shipped away their MVP right fielder, shelved their ace and reckoned with allegations that cast doubt on the authenticity of the best season in franchise history.
Of course, those developments were all swirling long before the will-they-or-won't-they saga of a pandemic-shortened MLB season presented itself, delaying the dread that was always scheduled to accompany Red Sox baseball in 2020.
The team was mostly absolved in an electronically aided sign-stealing scheme that was said to have migrated over from the Astros along with skipper Alex Cora, commissioner Rob Manfred finally ruling on April 22 that team video replay operator J.T. Watkins would bear the brunt of the punishment with a one-year suspension.
The team was also docked a second-round draft pick but was otherwise spared. However the damage was already done to Cora, who was dismissed as Boston's manager on Jan. 14 as he serves a one-year suspension for his role as the bench coach who helped devise the Astros' scheme.
In his stead is former bench coach Ron Roenicke, who owns a 342-331 career record as a manager.
There was much more finality to the way the team handled a February trade sending 2018 MVP Mookie Betts _ a homegrown, five-tool phenom who at 27 is entering his prime _ and front-end starter David Price to the title-hungry Dodgers.
Boston's bloated payroll _ which resulted in Dave Dombrowski's ouster as president of baseball operations in September 2019 _ was a talking point throughout an uninspired title defense in which the Red Sox finished 84-78 and missed the postseason. And Betts, who reportedly turned down multiple contract extensions with an eye on fully testing free agency, had made himself a target for new baseball boss Chaim Bloom, a Yale-educated Rays import.
Boston eventually closed on a deal that would send Betts and David Price to the Dodgers for outfielder Alex Verdugo and prospects Jeter Downs, a shortstop, and catcher Connor Wong.
It's a swap that gives the Red Sox financial flexibility but little else in terms of competing for AL East supremacy with the loaded Yankees.
Pitching appears to be a weakness, and that was true before No. 1 starter Chris Sale underwent Tommy John surgery on March 30. The lanky left-hander had never regained full health since logging 32 starts and leading the majors with 308 strikeouts in 2017. But that didn't stop ownership from signing off on a five-year, $145 million extension in March 2019 _ precisely the kind of checkbook blunder that apparently made John Henry and Co. unwilling to open the vault for Betts.
Sale's injury leaves Eduardo Rodriguez _ who stabilized an injury-riddled staff with 19 wins in 2019 _ to assume the top spot in a suddenly barren rotation. Price, while prone to off-field drama and his own injury woes, takes with him a 46-24 record and a 3.84 ERA over four seasons. And Rick Porcello, no longer resembling the 2016 Cy Young winner but still very much an innings eater, was allowed to walk in free agency.
Playoff hero Nathan Eovaldi was hurt for much of the first season of a four-year, $68 million deal. The rotation is rounded out by bargain arms Martin Perez and Collin McHugh, but a 60-game season will give Bloom plenty of latitude to employ the "opener" tactic favored by his former club in Tampa. Presumptive closer Brandon Workman and Matt Barnes are the mainstays in a bullpen otherwise rife with question marks.
Can the talented leftovers in the lineup produce enough runs to mask the team's deficiencies on the mound? Breakout seasons from shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.309 batting average, 33 homers, 117 RBI) and third baseman Rafael Devers (.311/32/115 at age 22), along with steady production from All-Star designated hitter J.D. Martinez (.304/36/105), paced an offense that was fourth in the AL in runs a year ago with 901.
But after subtracting a superstar from the outfield and a brilliant young manager from the dugout, it's fair to wonder if a painful Red Sox winter might just swallow up this bizarre summer while it's at it.
