Boston Red Sox All-Time Team

The Collector's All-Time Teams series celebrates the opening weekend of the 2023 MLB season in the American League East. Let's take a trip to Fenway Park in historic Boston, Massachusetts for a look at the Red Sox' All-Time roster.

The Boston Red Sox last won a World Series in 2019. After breaking the "Curse of the Bambino" in 2004, the Sox won two more world titles in 2007 and 2013. Looks like they're due for another one soon..

Terry Francona takes over as team manager, allowing Joe Cronin to compete for a roster spot as a player.

Here's the starting lineup Cronin assembled:

Hmm. Tito might have to tinker with this. There's a lot more competition at shortstop and center field, including the former skipper of the Sox' All-Time team.

	Red Sox stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*N. Garciaparra	41.3	0.323	0.370	0.553	0.923	133
	Xander Bogaerts	35.2	0.292	0.356	0.458	0.814	117
	Joe Cronin	27.6	0.300	0.394	0.484	0.878	122
	*Fred Lynn	32.1	0.308	0.383	0.520	0.902	141
	Mookie Betts	42.2	0.301	0.374	0.519	0.893	134

Cronin might have a better shot with his secondary team; Boston's bench is loaded with options. Lynn and Betts are neck-and-neck, with Mookie closing the gap based on his defense. He doesn't qualify as a Dodger yet, and he'll have to win that reserve role from another star the Sox shipped out to Hollywood. 

	Red Sox stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Reggie Smith	34.2	0.281	0.354	0.471	0.826	129
	Mookie Betts	42.2	0.301	0.374	0.519	0.893	134

And he does. Mookie makes the team and earns a platoon split with Lynn in center field.

Jason Varitek, Mo Vaughn, and Jim Rice have locked in their roster spots. Big Mo is the only true first baseman on this roster (if you're wondering, Yaz is starting there.) Bobby Doerr will have to fend off Cronin and Bogaerts for the final middle infield spot.

	Red Sox stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Bobby Doerr	51.4	0.288	0.362	0.461	0.823	115
	Xander Bogaerts	35.2	0.292	0.356	0.458	0.814	117
	Joe Cronin	27.6	0.300	0.394	0.484	0.878	122

On one hand, Doerr is a Hall of Famer who would back up a not-quite HOFer slowed by injuries. On the other hand, Cronin is a Hall of Famer who would back up a not-quite HOFer slowed by injuries.

Bobby Doerr's superior defense and comparable offensive production hold off the challenge from Cronin, who will get another chance with the Washington/Minnesota franchise.

Francona has far fewer decisions to make with the pitching rotation. Boston boasts ten Cy Youngs at the top of the rotation - eleven if you include the man himself.

"El Tiante" appeared on The Collector's 100 Greatest Non-Hall of Famers list. Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield were in camp to compete for the fifth starter spot, but Smoky Joe Wood stays put.

Boston could use an upgrade in their bullpen. They could also use a lefty. Japanese stars Hideki Okajima and Junichi Tazawa have a chance to join their countryman Koji Uehara in the Red Sox 'pen.

Matt Barnes - who ends his Sox career third on the team's all-time list for appearances - was also in the mix.

	Red Sox stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*Bob Stanley	132	3.64	118	1.47	1.364
	*Ellis Kinder	93	3.28	125	1.38	1.303
	Matt Barnes	47	4.07	112	2.78	1.341
	Junichi Tazawa	4	3.58	119	4.34	1.263
	Hideki Okajima	6	3.11	149	2.50	1.246

Another tough call for Terry here, but Stanley's 13 years of competent (or not) long relief isn't enough to stay on the roster. Okajima claims a short relief role, which means more innings for Campbell and Kinder.

Looking ahead, Rafael Devers' 10-year contract will keep him in Beantown long enough to earn an All-Time roster spot. It would be tough for him to supplant Wade Boggs, but he could push Bobby out the Doerr by the end of this decade.

TL; DR: Two changes from the original roster. Smith and Stanley out, Betts and Okajima in. 

Come back tomorrow for our next All-Time Team, the New York Yankees.


Thanks for reading!


 
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