MLB Notebook: Coolbaugh - Theo Epstein’s return to Red Sox creates more questions than answers; ownership admission; Sox get Corbin Burnes’d & more

With some skin in the game and a reputation that precedes him, there’s a real chance that Epstein’s homecoming could lead to some real change. Hey, after the self-induced disaster of the “full throttle” offseason, we’ll surely take it… 

A sheepish admission

Listen closely… can you hear that? It’s very faint and a little hard to make out. But it almost sounds like… it can’t be… is that… a long-awaited admission of apathy and neglect from Red Sox ownership? 

No way, no chance… right? But apparently, it’s true. 

According to MassLive.com, the decision to bring back Epstein was “at least in part, due to Red Sox ownership privately acknowledging that they have, at times, not given the club the attention it has deserved in recent years as the FSG portfolio has rapidly grown.”

Finally. It sure took 'em long enough… 

Instead of harping some more on ownership and Sam Kennedy for calling you a “liar” for questioning the team’s commitment — which, mind you, would be fully warranted — I’m going to take this admission as a positive development.

While the responsible thing to do would’ve been to say this publicly instead of letting it slip out behind closed doors through nameless, faceless sources, the fact that they’ve had this internal realization is nevertheless a good thing. 

See guys? I told you I’m not always negative… 

(And as a quick aside… good job, Red Sox fans. You’ve made yourselves heard loud and clear. They’re actually listening… maybe.) 

Of course, we know firsthand that their talk is cheap and actions will tell the true story of ownership’s intentions. If these are more empty words that aren’t backed up by any substantive changes, then you may resume with your pitchforks and torches…

It would have been nice if ownership had this come-to-Jesus moment at the start of an offseason that included the greatest baseball player on the planet and a hearty group of talented pitchers with pedigree up for grabs, but hey… we can’t always get what we want.

Could FSG’s non-Sox spending actually be… a positive?

Alright, what the heck… let’s continue with this whole “positivity” thing.

You’ve already heard me eviscerate ownership for their latest non-baseball investment in the PGA Tour, but let’s take the paper bags off our heads for a second and consider the possibility that, in the long run, these investments could make the Red Sox better.

There’s a reason Henry keeps making these deals, and it isn’t because he wants to hoist the FedExCup… it’s because he wants to make more money. For all the criticism rightly thrown his way by fans of his sports teams, there is no denying that he is among the most successful businessmen in America. 

If expanding that FSG portfolio goes as planned, Henry and company are going to make a lot of money. It’s conceivable we could see that potential inflated cash stockpile re-invested back in the Red Sox at some point. Why he and ownership haven’t publicly used this rationale to justify their recent purchases, I’m not entirely sure. It’s logical, at least. 

Of course, that does nothing to make Red Sox fans feel any better in 2024. And on the other hand, there’s also the potential that Henry is stretching himself too thin and instead of making all of his teams financially stronger, they become weaker.

Though the saving grace to that outcome is that it would make it more likely Henry will finally look to sell the team…

The frustrating reality is that there was a way to do both of these things, to grow the portfolio and field a contending Red Sox team at the same time. Henry and company simply decided against it — as I wrote on Thursday, most likely as a cost-saving measure for their new sizable golf investment.

Sox get Burnes’d by Orioles 

Now, let’s get back to reality…

Still in desperate need of starting pitcher, Breslow and the Red Sox missed out on yet another available arm that could have made a difference. And what’s worse, that arm is headed to their own division.

A big week in Baltimore that saw the Orioles get a new owner crescendoed with the 101-win defending American League East champions adding former Cy Young Award winner and three-time All-Star right-hander Corbin Burnes.

The deal came at the price of Baltimore infield prospect Joey Ortiz — the 63rd ranked prospect in the league by MLB.com — plus young left-handed reliever DL Hall and a competitive balance draft pick. 

On face value, that certainly seem like a package the Red Sox could have matched without having to mortgage the future. There certainly could have been a deal to be made after Burnes was long-rumored to be available. 

I’m not sure what it was about Burnes that Breslow found unappealing — while his Cy Young season is now three years removed, Burnes was 10-8 with a respectable 3.39 ERA, a 1.069 WHIP and notched his third consecutive 200-strikeout campaign last season.

Perhaps it was an unwillingness to pay Burnes his likely upcoming big-money deal. The 29-year-old will make nearly $16 million in 2024 before becoming a free agent in 2025. Clearly the Orioles were willing to take that risk, and it seems like a wise one given that they are in a rare position to contend. Maybe this is part of Breslow waving the white flag, conceding that team is unwilling to climb an ever-steepening hill to compete this season.

Another recent Cy Young winner plus a recent World Series champion remain to be had on the starter market, but there continues to be no apparent traction on any deals to bring Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery to Boston. 

The team still might sign one of those pitchers or trade for a starter this offseason, but for now it seems this was another missed opportunity to bolster the rotation with a talented pitcher in the middle of his prime without having to break the bank. 

Oh well, on to the next target of interest…