The Boston Red Sox Are Cheap Now

Jon Heyman, Thursday morning:

Young, bright Ben Cherington had to be excited to ascend to the Red Sox GM job. But did anyone tell him he'd have to operate like a small-market club?

Heyman didn't only write what's in that blockquote. He wrote a whole thing. It's in the link, and you should read it, if only to better understand the words that follow.

I'm not a hardcore Red Sox fan. I can tell because when I see the name 'John Wasdin', my skin doesn't sizzle. I don't know all of the itty-bitty details, and as such I can't do this proper justice. But I will make some kind of effort. If I could break down what it seems like Heyman is trying to say:

1. The Red Sox have holes at SS, SP4, and SP5
   
2. The Red Sox haven't spent to fill those holes
   
3. They've acted cheap maybe because John Henry has spent a lot on soccer

Okay. In a vacuum, maybe there's something here. We are not in a vacuum. If we were in a vacuum we would be dead! Maybe we are all dead and this is the afterlife. The afterlife sure looks a lot like life.

There's really only one point that needs to be made to counter Heyman's argument. The Red Sox exceeded the luxury tax threshold in 2011. They're going to exceed the luxury tax threshold again in 2012. They are not cutting payroll. They are absorbing significant raises to Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and so on. That the Red Sox haven't spent a fortune on the free agent market isn't an indication that they're suddenly pinching pennies - they've spent a fortune keeping their guys around.

I don't know how we got to the point where a team with a payroll that will approach $200 million can be said to be operating like a small-market club. If the Red Sox were operating like a small-market club, they would be shedding salary. Instead they are retaining salary. A whole lot of salary. They are not adding a whole lot of salary, but their payroll was already incredibly high.

As for those roster holes, one notes that the Red Sox are still technically in the running for Roy Oswalt, who doesn't seem to have anywhere to go. Daniel Bard is supposed to take one of the rotation slots, and it's hard to see how he's a worse bet than Neftali Feliz. There's a whole host of warm and lukewarm bodies vying for the last spot, and while none of them is sexy, we're talking about fifth starters. Fifth starters aren't sexy.

And shortstop? True, the Red Sox dealt Jed Lowrie. True, the Red Sox left Marco Scutaro in a box on the sidewalk. But the Red Sox have Nick Punto and Mike Aviles. Aviles is a capable hitter. Punto is, based on our evidence, an outstanding defender. According to FanGraphs, over the last four years, Derek Jeter has averaged 4 WAR per 150 games. Punto has averaged 3 WAR per 150 games. Punto isn't a star - far from it - but there's a compelling statistical argument to be made that he's fine. A compelling statistical argument at which Heyman would shake his head, but a compelling statistical argument nonetheless.

And then the soccer stuff. Whatever to the soccer stuff.

Heyman had a thesis in mind. I think there's a good article to be written about the way the Red Sox have conducted their offseason. Heyman didn't write it.