Dempster Diving

After the August Mega-Trade that shipped their three largest contracts to Los Angeles, it appeared that the Red Sox philosophy on player acquisitions had shifted.  Following their worst performance in over forty years, a   season which left them out of the playoffs for a third consecutive year, it was clear that change was needed. A team that was originally built through a system of over-spending and prospect-pillaging, had abandoned their practices and seemed to settle on a process based in value and prospect development.

Simply put, it is starting to look like the Sox are finally making personnel decisions in the best interest of baseball, and not based on pink hats and sell-out streaks. However, as the New Year approaches,  fan's faith in this ownership group is shaky at best, and results will be the only way to sway public opinion.

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With that said, lets take a look at some of the more notable moves them Sox have made thus far:

• Joel Hanrahan, RHP

Andrew Bailey struggled to stay healthy or effective in 2012, while Hanrahan has earned 76 saves with a 2.24 ERA over the last two seasons.  Acquired  from Pittsburgh via trade, the Sox went and got themselves a legitimate closer for just a few mid-level prospects (and Mark Melancon).
Grade: A-

2102 Free Agent Aquisitions

• Stephen Drew, SS

They signed JD Drew's brother!? For nearly 10 Million Dollars!?  Yup.  And I am okay with it.  It is clear that Iglesias is not a Major League ready hitter, and Xander Bogaerts is still at least a year away.  So, Lil' Drew will get a crack at it, and under a one-year deal, Stephen needs to put up or shut up.
Grade: C+

• Ryan Dempster, RHP

While his struggles against American League hitting are both well documented and troubling, Ryan Dempster is a reliable innings-eater.  You might not realistically expect him to compete for a Cy Young, but you can expect 12 to 15 wins and 175+ innings out of the 35 year-old pitcher.  However, Dempster's greatest value will come in the form of clubhouse leadership.  he is one of the most well-liked and respected players in the game. 
Grade: B

• Jonny Gomes, IF/OF

He had solid numbers in 2012, and his utility at First base or Outfield will allow Gomes to get plenty of AB's. Another excellent clubhouse leader as well.
Grade: B-

• Shane Victorino, OF

The Flyin' Hawaiian landed in Boston under a 3 year, 39 Million Dollar contract.  At 32 years-old, he is basically an older, more expensive version of Coco Crisp. 
Grade: C-

• Koji Uehara, RHP

At 37, the Japanese Uehara established himself as the best set-up man in the game.  In 37 appearances, he posted an ERA of 1.75, and a WHIP of 0.91.
Grade: B+

So, it appears that the philosophy is to play it safe.  They acquired several character guys, and made sure not to burden themselves with lengthy contracts.  They finally realized that they have the resources to overpay on short-term deals, which essentially provide more flexibility and allow them to hedge poor signings.  They have definitely improved this roster in many areas, but they still lack a few key pieces that could help them contend. However, as it stands today, they are no better than the fourth or fifth most talented roster in the AL East, so, I wouldn't start warming up the Duck Boats quite yet. 

-Kevin Aherne

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