Red Sox Still a Bridge Too Far

"We still think that if we push some of the right buttons, we can be competitive at the very highest levels for the next two years. But we don't want to compromise too much of the future for that competitiveness during the bridge period, but we all don't want to sacrifice our competitiveness during the bridge just for the future. So we're just trying to balance both those issues.''

That is how Theo Epstein, in December 2009, started the 2010 season, lowering expectations for the 2010 MLB season while raising expectations for the level of talent coming for the future. Needless to say, the concept of a "bridge period" did not endear itself to Red Sox fans that were used to contending and typically start the year with dreams of October rather than what position the Sox will be drafting in the following June.

As it turns out, Epstein wasn't too far off.

As disappointing as Boston's season has been in 2010, the results on the field for the Red Sox really haven't been all that bad when factoring for the amount of injuries that Boston sustained throughout the year. Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, arguably the heart and soul of the team, were both lost to season ending, fluke injuries for the last third of the season. The team's lead-off hitter, Jacoby Ellsbury, has been unable to recover from broken ribs sustained in the opening week and was essentially lost for the season. Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez depleted the catching corps with lengthy stays on the disabled list. And none of that includes the trips made by Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Bucholtz, Jeremy Hermida, Mike Cameron, or any of the others who enjoyed their trip to the DL.

So instead of their everyday line-up that was reported to have a $163 million price tag on it, the Red Sox have had to live off of the likes of wandering veterans and independent league finds like Darnell McDonald, Daniel Nava, Eric Patterson, Kevin Cash, Jonathan Van Every, and Bill Hall. And while this large market team has been trotting out a bunch of has-beens and never-weres, they will somehow still produce between 85 and 90 wins on the season, while finishing in third behind the two best teams in baseball, Tampa and New York. Yes, it could have been better, but it also could have been a lot worse.

Now that the season is almost lost, the Red Sox are beginning to test that bridge, awarding extended playing time to some of the team's top prospects in hopes of seeing what 2011 may hold. Currently on the roster, Boston is holding open tryouts for outfielders Ryan Kalish and Josh Redick, and first baseman Lars Anderson.

Anderson, while having not yet hit a home run during his call-up, is a huge power prospect for Boston. Depending on what the Sox choose to do with Adrian Beltre during the off-season, Anderson could become the starting first baseman next year with Youkilis moving over to third. Beltre has more than earned an extension with his play, but given that he is represented by Scott Boras, Beltre is also likely to test his worth on the open market, leaving Boston looking to fill the role. With no real game-changers coming up on the 2011 free agent market, Anderson may earn the position during this tryout and spring training.

Kalish and Redick may be different stories. Kalish, while going through some struggles, has shown he is capable of handling an everyday job. Redick has struggled during multiple call-ups during the last two seasons and may need another year of polishing at the Triple-A level. That said, they may both start the season in Triple-A anyway because of Boston's current contractual obligations to Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron, and J.D. Drew. Ellsbury may have a chance to be moved in the off-season, but given his injuries this season, his value is probably lower than Boston will let him go for. Plus, Boston will likely only choose to trade Ellsbury if they manage to land a big-name replacement for him in either Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth. Neither Redick nor Kalish will benefit from being a fourth outfielder next season.

So while the bridge may be closer, Boston is likely still another season from seeing true fruition from their farm system, adding Casey Kelly and Jose Iglesias to the mix with Kalish, Redick, and Anderson. Until then, this may still be a bridge too far for most Sox fans.

Sources:

- Steering It From The Bridge, Boston.com

- MLB Salaries, CBSSports.com

- Red Sox Stats, RedSox.com

- Potential Free Agents for 2011, mlbcontracts.blogspot.com