The last major off season issue for the Red Sox to tackle is acquiring another reliever for the end of the game. It was the club’s weakness on paper at the start of 2010 and continued throughout the season. Hideki Okajima’s production continued to slide. Ramon Ramirez’s lucky first half of 2009 was not replicated in 2010. Other than a small hint from rookie Felix Doubront, no reliever emerged as a viable option to pitch in the late innings with Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon.
Without any other promising internal candidates, the Red Sox will probably proceed with their usual winter bargain hunting. Theo Esptein said as much to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.
“We would like to sign guys with good track records, guys who have great track records, and we may,” Epstein said. “But I think to have a good bullpen you need guys to emerge, whether internally, guys you buy low on, or guys you sign to minor league deals. I think it will be a little bit of both.”
The alternative is to sign free agent to be and closer, Rafael Soriano. He dominated the big boys or the American League East. Soriano struck out nearly a batter per inning and rarely yielded a base on balls.
He will be on the wrong side of thirty next year, as was Keith Foulke when signed with the Red Sox. Then like now, Yawkey Way knew they needed a third horse in the pen to pair with Alan Embree and Mike Timlin. Soriano would play Foulke with Bard and Papelbon as Embree and Timlin.
A three or two year contract between $8-$10 million should secure the services of Soriano based on free agent contracts from the previous two winters. If he is thought of as the last piece to the playoff puzzle for 2011, then the Red Sox should have few doubts about a $25 million commitment.
According to the leaked MLB financial statements to Deadspin.com, a playoff team would earn roughly an additional $4 million, a club getting to the ALCS would reap $12 million and close to $18 million for a World Series appearance. In most scenarios playing meaningful games in October would more than offset Soriano’s salary. And after 2011, Soriano would take over as the closer for Papelbon. At that time, the year-over-year salary variance for a closer would be insignificant, if at all.
The Red Sox will fill their holes around the diamond. But if they open up the vault for a premium reliever like Soriano, then Yawkey Way is committed to winning the World Series in 2011.