This post was originally published on this site.
∗ The start of spring training is now just over two weeks away and the Red Sox remain in desperate need for a righthanded-hitting infielder for their lineup.
They’ve got plenty with which to deal, too — either an everyday outfielder like Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu or a promising young starting pitcher like Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. That’s significant trade bait that should enable the Sox to find what they need.
But chief baseball officer Craig Breslow needs to be careful here. It would not be wise to give up any of the aforementioned players for someone with only a year of control remaining (Nico Hoerner) or another lefty bat (Brendan Donovan).
For that matter, Isaac Paredes seems like insufficient return, too. Paredes is, at best, an average defender and isn’t much of a power threat and certainly isn’t worth surrendering either Duran or Abreu.
Of course, the calendar being what it is, there aren’t a lot of available options. Many teams are set and don’t want to disrupt their rosters this late in the offseason. But there are no quality choices remaining on the free agent market, either, forcing the Sox to trade to fill this obvious hole.
Breslow has done well to upgrade the starting rotation this winter, and Willson Contreras is a nice fit at first. But by waiting this long to acquire either a second baseman or third baseman, one who contributes both offensively and defensively, he’s boxed himself in somewhat.
∗ I’m not feeling optimistic about the Patriots in Denver. They’ve been too sloppy on offense in the postseason with too many fumbles and too many sacks allowed.
It’s unlikely that Jarrett Stidham is going to beat the Pats and New England’s defensive unit has been playing well, but the Broncos defense is fully capable of dominating and pressuring Drake Maye and Co. into making mistakes.
Denver 23, Patriots 20. But what do I know?
∗ A little over two months ago, Charlie McAvoy suffered a broken jaw when he was struck in the face by a shot. For a time, it looked like this was going to be another season interrupted by injury for the Bruins’ defenseman, who last season suffered a shoulder injury in the Four Nations tournament and didn’t return after that.
But improbably, McAvoy is currently playing the best hockey of his career, adding offensive contributions to his already stout defensive play. He’s the team’s second highest-paid player and is finally playing commensurate with his talent.
∗ The notion, as advanced by an anonymous executive to The Athletic, that the Kyle Tucker contract with the Dodgers was the tipping point in uniting MLB owners to seek a salary cap in the next CBA is laughable.
Pushing for a cap been a part of the owners’ agenda for decades. They’ve tried, without success, to implement one time and time again. They won’t get one this time around, either. The only question remaining is how much damage they’re willing to inflict on the game before, again, conceding defeat.
∗ This week has seen the continuation of an embarrassing local TV news tradition: With the Pats getting ready for the AFC Championship Game in Denver, local TV reporters did their live shots outside Gillette Stadium, unapologetically dressed in team merchandise.
Imagine news reporters wearing campaign buttons if a Massachusetts politician were running for the White House. Same thing.
∗ Gotta love the game production people at American Airlines Center in Dallas. When opponents of the Dallas Stars commit a penalty, they wait for the on-ice official to announce the infraction, then play the trademark sounder from Law and Order.
∗ RIP to Belmont’s Wilbur Wood, who confounded American League hitters, the Red Sox included, with his dancing knuckleball in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1972, Wood threw an astonishing 376.2 innings, a modern-day record that will surely stand forever. Wood started an astonishing 49 games that season.
Wood’s major league career actually began with the Red Sox, after making his debut at 19 and appearing in 16 games over four seasons before being sold to Pittsburgh in 1964.
∗ Ah, social media: such a warm, inviting place. Last week, because I committed the cardinal sin of failing to vote for certain players for the Hall of Fame, I was called the usual assortment of names.
My personal favorite was being told that I had, apparently singlehandedly, “ruined the Hall of Fame.” That one, I don’t mind telling you, kind of made me blush.
∗ Is there a job in America for which Philip Rivers is not being considered?
∗ The recent turnaround in play by Bruins’ No. 2 netminder Joonas Korpisalo shouldn’t be overlooked. The NHL’s compressed schedule means the Bruins can’t overwork Jeremy Swayman over the final couple of months and having a dependable backup is essential to grabbing a playoff spot in the league’s bunched-up standings.
∗ The first season of Hijack on Apple TV+ was brilliant. The second is off to a very slow start, but I’m counting on Idris Elba to save it.
∗ Congrats to the Indiana Hoosiers for winning the college football national championship. With the game played in south Florida, some of the players were old enough to celebrate the following day with Early Bird Specials at local restaurants.
∗ With his new contract extension, the Cleveland Guardians guarantee that Jose Ramirez will be a “one man, one team” guy, joining the likes of Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett, Cal Ripken Jr. and too few others.
∗ Long before there was Joe Montana and Steve Young in the uniform of the San Francisco 49s, there was quarterback John Brodie, who died recently at 90.